HARTSVILLE - On Sunday, a group of adults and children from the Darlington County Head Start Program, the True Dads Program and Jacob’s Ladder along with Nancy Myers and her grandchildren cleaned up the vacant lot on Fifth and Poole Streets between Tony’s Fireside Grill and Burger King.
The 100-foot by 280-foot lot will serve as a community garden for Hartsville with several goals in mind: to educate participants on the value of incorporating vegetables into their diets, to provide after-school activity for children, to foster good community spirit, to beautify the neighborhood and to help establish pride in the community.
City Council approved a resolution supporting the use of the vacant lot as a garden during its March 9 meeting. The city will also waive business license and service fees for the project.
The community garden concept is in keeping with the city’s comprehensive plan, supporters say.
Walter Copeland, the property owner, has given permission to use his property free of cost for the sole purpose to establish a community garden.
Pressley Coker and Bonnie Gardner have volunteered to help prepare the soil by paying for soil testing, as well as by personally plowing, tilling, spraying and fertilizing. Mary Ridgeway of Kalmia Gardens and Coker College has agreed to assist in plotting out the garden. Other members of the community have offered to supply miscellaneous materials.
There are several homes in Hartsville that are scheduled to be demolished. With the assistance of Teresa Mack, doors, wood, windows and cinder blocks will be recycled into work benches, dividers and plot markers.
Rules and regulations will be developed by the Executive Committee overseeing the garden. Committee members include Howard Tripp of Hartsville Family YMCA, Tim Ringer of Walmart, Todd Shifflet of CareSouth-Carolina, Glynnis Thornwall of Gardner’s Fertilizer & Seed, Nancy Myers, Mary Ridgeway of Kalmia Gardens, Presley Coker and Dan Hill of Kalmia Gardens.
The lot will be divided into appropriate plot size with each plot being “leased” for $5 to $15 depending on size per plot per year.
Each organization, group or person will be responsible for their plot including planting, watering, weeding and keeping their area clean.
The gardeners will be able to grow, consume, share product with friends and family. They will be asked to sell a portion of their produce at the Good Living Marketplace and the gardeners will keep all profits. There will not be a charge to participate at the marketplace.
To sign up for a plot, call Nancy Myers at (843) 858-0742.
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