Community Garden breaks ground in Spartanburg

Spartanburg County Foundation and Hub City Farmers’ Market partner with Leadership Spartanburg on community project

SPARTANBURG, SC – Downtown Spartanburg will soon have a place where community members can grow nutritious food and learn about gardening, cooking, nutrition, and health.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday, June 3, for the Spartanburg County Foundation (SCF) Community Garden, managed by Hub City Farmers’ Market, and coordinated by the Leadership Spartanburg Class of 2016. The SCF Community Garden is a non-profit garden, which will be located at 150 S. Church Street, across from Spartanburg City Hall and the downtown library.

Troy Hanna, president and CEO of The Spartanburg County Foundation, stated: “The Spartanburg County Foundation is pleased to be partnered with the garden to promote health, wellness, and nutrition throughout our community. The Spartanburg County Foundation Community Garden will not only produce nutritious food, but will also serve as an educational opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles.”

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Spartanburg Class of 2016 had a singular vision when it came to their service project: to work as a class to make a long-term impact on the well-being of the community. The garden project came to fruition through a team of 30 Leadership classmates and a variety of public-private partnerships.

“We hope to provide a place that people from all walks of life – from the educational world, to folks who live downtown, to families who don’t have access to healthy food options – can enjoy and use,” noted Martin Huff, Leadership project lead and Development Manager with Johnson Development Associates.

The SCF Community Garden will allow Spartanburg’s downtown area to continue to flourish and maintain its focus on healthy lifestyles and community-mindedness. The garden will be planted, cultivated and harvested by local citizens who will rent garden plots, share ideas, gardening tips, recipes and community pride. Hub City Farmers’ Market will be managing the plots and ensuring that those residents are successfully caring for the land they are cultivating.

“The Hub City Farmers’ Market is thrilled to be a part of the new community garden on Church Street,” said Caroline Sexton, executive director of the Hub City Farmers’ Market. “Situated in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, this garden highlights the importance that our city places on healthy eating and active living. It is our hope that the garden will bring together a diverse group of downtown Spartanburg residents to live and learn about food and gardening in a community setting.”

Volunteers from the Leadership class will be constructing the garden over the next few months, with a targeted opening date of fall 2016.

Spartanburg residents can get involved with the SCF Community Garden starting today. To make a donation or sponsorship to the garden, or for more information about how to reserve a rented garden plot, contact Caroline Sexton at [email protected].

About the Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit organization supported through membership investment and strategic partnerships. Our mission is to enhance the economic vitality and lifestyle environment of Spartanburg County. For more information, visit www.spartanburgchamber.com.