Building Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development along the Coastal Plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina

View the project final report

• 2009 annual report

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn, potatoes, sunflower
• Fruits: berries (blueberries), melons, berries (strawberries)
• Vegetables: sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, greens (leafy), lentils, onions, peas (culinary), peppers, cucurbits, tomatoes, turnips
• Additional Plants: herbs, native plants, ornamentals

Practices

• Crop Production: cover crops, crop rotation, irrigation
• Education and Training: technical assistance, demonstration, farmer to farmer, participatory research, workshop, youth education
• Farm Business Management: agritourism, marketing management, farm-to-institution, value added
• Pest Management: compost extracts
• Production Systems: holistic management, organic agriculture
• Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis
• Sustainable Communities: community planning, leadership development, public participation, urban/rural integration, community services, employment opportunities, community development

The project “Building Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development along the Coastal Plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina” is founded on the principles of linking sustainable agriculture and community development. Specifically this project will utilize results gleaned from a food system survey to develop and implement a strategic plan that recognizes the economic, environmental, and social interdependence between farming and communities. In addition, the project will develop a plan to facilitate the development of entrepreneurs engaged in value-added agricultural activities. This project will solicit public participation to develop Food System networks throughout the coastal plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina, and increase public awareness and knowledge of the benefits of sustainable farming on the farmer, consumer, community, and environment. The project will build capacity through its partnerships with local government, state government, federal government, non-profit and community agencies and organizations. It will focus on entrepreneurial efforts and opportunities and on value-added activities that build on the agricultural and nonagricultural assets of communities. By its very nature, the project will promote a long-term strategy that will be more productive and profitable to local farmers while integrating natural resource protection, cultural preservation and civic engagement.

Objectives

The overall goal of the proposed project is to build a regional network that will provide stronger connections between sustainable agriculture and sustainable economic development. Established partnerships will be expanded to connect farmers to suppliers, and the project will support entrepreneurship value-added activities. The following objectives will enable the goal to be met.

1. Solicit participation for a Food Systems Working Group.
2. Develop a Regional Strategic Food System Plan.
3. Increase the current network of 20 famers to build local food system.
4. Develop a Community Kitchen to support entrepreneurship efforts.
5. Establish a “Locally Grown” marketing campaign that celebrates the region’s unique cultural heritage.
6. Increase public awareness of the benefits
7. Build Community Gardens