Our goal was to use this opportunity to learn about community gardening in 2024 since it was our first attempt as a jump start to be implementing a more organized community garden in 2025. Therefore, because of planting the USDA community garden, we have not only provided fresh vegetables for some residents of the community as well as our church congregation but have been recognized and/or presented with opportunities to share our community garden with others. Our primary focus for distributing the fresh vegetables was devoted to the senior citizens due to the ongoing high rate of health conditions in our zip code of 29203. We were able to share fresh vegetables to seniors after noon bible study, Friday Food Pantry, drive through hot meal Saturdays, as well as those in general invited to the garden to harvest vegetables. Approximately 75 community members have been fed from the community garden.

Our partners are the Bethlehem Baptist Church and Wiley Kennedy Family Life Center. Bethlehem Baptist Church allowed us to plant the community garden on property owned by the church without cost and have given permission to expand the garden in 2025 utilizing church ministries. Also, the church provided the garden team from within its membership. The Family Life Center allowed us access to water usage, meeting space with a local Master Garden Coordinator monthly, and additional staff when needed. 

Training provided to the gardeners included information sessions and real garden conversations provided by Jacqueline Kopack Jordan, Area Horticulture Agent and Master Garden Coordinator with Clemson University Cooperative Extension. 

Some of the general feedback from garden beneficiaries: 

The community needed this garden. I know I need to eat more fresh vegetables but can’t afford them, and the garden should continue.

 “I wholeheartedly support the initiative to establish a community garden in 29203, recognizing its potential to enhance community connections, promote sustainable practices, and address critical health issues such as type II diabetes through improved access to fresh, nutritious foods.”

Gwendolyn Singletary, Wiley Kennedy Foundation “In addition to the numerous issues facing 29203 area, we can add food desert to the list. The community garden would benefit the community to improve overall community health and increase the number of people the BBC Community Development Corporation can serve.”

Attach copy of published media or link to news report that includes the name of the grantor  (USDA).   2024 Healthy Churches.mp4

Other opportunities where USDA-NRCS was publicly acknowledged for their contribution toward the BBC Community Garden

• 29203 Urban Garden – Community Engagement Tuesday, January 16, 2024

• Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
  
• 4201 North Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203

• Presentation – Gethsemane Baptist Association – Congress of Christian Education Session, October 2024
• Wholespire Richland and Prisma Health – Health 
• WIS-TV 2024 Carolina Carillon Parade