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Robert Harris, Jr. Helps Community Through Local Gardens

Sierra Wilder
/
KRCU

If you see tomato vines or pepper plants sprouting in Cape Girardeau parks this summer, there is a good chance Robert Harris, Jr has been there. Harris has planted seven gardens in Cape Girardeau parks, starting in 2002. 

Harris finds different partners to help him plant each garden. On Wednesday, he was joined by a half a dozen people at Washington Park to start a new one. Harris said there is a need for the gardens in the community. 

“Seniors whose social security checks don't go quite far enough,” Harris said, “there’s people who have been sick maybe like myself, a cancer survivor, and when you get out of the hospital you need something to kind of help out.”

Harris takes the food to food pantries or other places where there is a sufficient need for his crops. Harris also likes to give the vegetables to seniors as well as people who have been sick and need a little help. 

“We like to take it to food pantries like a Catholic charity," Harris said. "Even here with the neighborhood connections they have meals where they serve food every month, and so when we can take food to those types of programs. Then we know a greater number of people are being served.”

Harris plants okra, squash and cucumbers at the Washington Park garden. The crops will be ready to pick around July or August. 
 

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