Gardening Programs Helping HDC Residents Bloom

Gardeners from two of the five Human Development Centers (HDCs) across the state will visit the Arkansas Department of Human Services Central Office in Little Rock this month for a special Plant Pop-Up Sale.

The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 15 outside the Blue Umbrella storefront at 700 Main St. in Little Rock, will feature plants grown by residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Conway Human Development Center (CHDC) and Jonesboro Human Development Center (JHDC). Purchases will benefit gardening programs at both HDCs, so please join us to support them – rain or shine!

CHDC and JHDC are cultivating more than just plants in their on‑campus greenhouses. Their gardening programs have become places filled with learning, teamwork, and community connection.

The Greenhouse team at CHDC includes Rebakah Burris, Christen Hitchcock, and Michael Starkey, who together bring years of experience and a shared love of gardening to the program. Established in the 1970s, their greenhouse has a long history of producing everything from vegetables to houseplants. Residents learn hands‑on skills such as seed starting, soil mixing, propagation, and harvesting. With 24 residents rotating through classes each week, the greenhouse stays active all year. CHDC also contributes significantly to campus beautification, providing plants to homes, office spaces, training areas, and gazebos.

JHDC’s program, known as Green Works, has grown steadily through partnerships with AmeriCorps and the Northeast Arkansas Master Gardeners. Led by Eli Fore, Cathy Hickman, Annette Goad, and Rhonda Williams, the program offers opportunities for approximately 60 residents to participate in greenhouse and gardening activities. Residents learn about plant care and responsibility while growing everything from elephant ears and monsteras to cucumbers and succulents. In 2016, JHDC built Ecoworks for their residents — a building that includes a store, greenhouse, and a hoop house, allowing for regular plant sales.

RSVP for our upcoming Plant Pop-Up Sale here.