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

Building Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development along the Coastal Plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina has increased linkages between farmers and suppliers as well as increased the public's awareness of the benefits of sustainable farming and the economic and ecological impact that farming has on the local food system. This project has meshed sustainable agriculture and community development in order to not only provide community residents with access to healthy foods, but also to introduce faming and community gardens as a sustainable and viable economic engine. The project has increased income for farmers and local entrepreneurs, who have ventured into the production of value-added products.

Introduction

Building Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development along the Coastal Plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina helps to build a regional network that provides stronger connections between sustainable agriculture and sustainable economic development.
The project lends itself well to the concept of community sustainability. Creating jobs is an important community development concept. The project intertwines sustainable agriculture and economic development by helping to retain profits and jobs within the region and that helps to stimulate the local economy.

Building Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development along the Coastal Plain regions of Georgia and South Carolina provided stronger conncections between sustainable agriculture and sustainable economic development. Objectives and performance targets of the project are as listed below:

-Solicit participation for a Food Systems Working Group
-Develop a regional strategic food system plan
-Increase the current network of 20 farmers to build local food system
-Develop a community kitchen to support entrepreneurship efforts
-Establish a "locally grown" marketing campaign that celebrates the region's unique cultural heritage
-Increase public awareness of the benefits of a local food system
-Develop community gardents