Amanda Taylor, Forestry and Natural Resources Agent
One of the unique projects to spring from the Beaufort County Senior Leadership program is Heritage Community Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity in Northern Beaufort County. Headed by previous Senior Leadership participants, this group of volunteers established a farm on the Whale Branch Middle School campus. This school lies within a food desert, leaving many students without affordable access to fresh produce. During the last few months, the farm has produced hundreds of heads of collards and over 80 pounds of sweet potatoes, all of which were sent home with students free of charge. During bi-monthly “Farming Friday” programs, students help maintain the farm and apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom to the real world.
The program has expanded to the neighboring elementary school, where Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Agent Amanda Taylor is leading agriculture and natural resources themed “Farming Fridays” with 1st and 4th graders. Collaborating with the STEM coordinator for the school, the students have assembled bluebird houses, constructed new garden beds, and filled the beds using the Hügelkultur method. Plans include planting native trees, constructing a “bug hotel” for beneficial insects, planting seasonal vegetables, and clearing a walking trail to facilitate visiting the nearby salt marsh. Urban Horticulture Agent Glen Payne, 4-H Agent Meghan Barkley, and EFNEP Agent Patti Chapman have also gotten involved in the program, with the potential for further collaborations in the future across program teams.
A product of Extension programming and now a partner with Extension, Heritage Community Farm inspires the next generation to be stewards of the land and care for their community. If you’d like to stay updated on their projects, visit their website:https://www.heritagecommunityfarm.org/ or follow them on Instagram @seedingchange.beaufortsc.
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.
