On a mission to pass along her knowledge as well as preserve the culture through the arts, she and her husband, Reverend Jerry Harper, created the Gullah Preservation Society of Georgetown County, Inc. Although many aspects of Gullah culture have been passed down for generations, one incredibly influential theme is the culinary arts. Learning how to best grow a garden, knowing when and when not to plant certain things, and even growing food for medicinal purposes were all prevalent aspects that are still important today. In hopes to promote these natural values as well as create an outdoor gathering space for their organization to stay active in the community (during the pandemic), Zenobia and her husband opened the Gullah Preservation Community Garden.

The Garden offered several crops throughout the year, but Zenobia especially loves planting crops that the Gullah culture traditionally grew and brought to South Carolina called “soul food” such as okra, peas, and corn. She also grows garlic and elderberry which have always been herbal remedies (that can be supplemented for big pharma) to support immunity and well-being. Zenobia believes it’s meaningful for people to understand the connection between the food they eat and the land where it’s grown. This specific garden is not and was never meant for commercialization – the harvest is simply free to anyone who needs or wants it as well as seeds to encourage others to try growing their own.

With the help of her master gardener, Tim Chapman, she has been able to organize and use her design talents to create a beautiful layout. The Garden has truly become Zenobia’s peaceful place to work and reminds her of when she was growing up on the same streets. “Because growing food was a part of life in our culture, every yard, no matter how small, always had something blooming, like figs, pears, pomegranates, or pecans. When reflecting, it’s interesting how often we take this way of living for granted. Relearning how to grow a garden just as I learned from my mother and grandmother served as a reminder of why the Gullah people did what they did to sustain community and health.”

Okra for Elders

The GPS Community Garden was able to harvest and distribute 100 + pounds of okra.  The elders of our community are very partial to fresh okra and are often dissatisfied with the price and quality of grocery store bought okra.  Many of them reached out to us long before harvest to pre-order, and we were happy to provide as much as we did.

Mrs. Thelma Came to Weed

2025 brought us an AWESOME new volunteer, named Mrs. Thelma Cotton.  She faithfully comes to the garden at least 3 times a week to weed.  Mrs. Thelma was having pain issues and felt she needed to get active and out in the sun to absorb more vitamin D.  She is also limited in the foods she can eat.  Her time in the garden has helped to eliminate some of her pain, and our winter garden provides her with plenty of the fresh vegetables that she is able to eat.

GPS encourages others to give growing a try

The GPS was visited by a group of middle school aged young people from Conway South Carolina.  They toured the garden and had a great time asking questions and tasting fruits and veggies, they had never tried before.  They are very serious about starting their own small home gardens. We also got a visit from a young 30-year-old, who is inspired to plant a small garden on the same property where his family currently own a business on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.  

Sharing GPS Community Garden Sunflowers

Once you plant sunflowers for a couple of years, you never have to plant them again, they just pop up all over the garden, and WE GROW SOME HUGE SUNFLOWERS, some growing 10 feet tall.  Folks often come to get seeds, seedlings, and we’ve had a fair share of husbands and boyfriends asking to pick flowers for the ladies they love.   

Thank you and looking forward to Spring 2025!!!!