PROSPERITY — Dr. Oscar Lovelace talked the importance of the community aspect of the new Living Water Foundation Community Garden and Education Center during the Newberry County Governmental Association.

According to Lovelace, they are already connected to Little Mountain and Pomaria with the garden, along with Prosperity, where it will be located.

“Some of you are probably aware, Rodger Winn, who lives in Little Mountain, is an organic gardener, and seed saver extraordinaire. He has agreed to be the gardener for our Community Garden,” Lovelace said. “One of the reasons he’s excited, in order to keep heirloom produce heirloom, it can’t cross pollinate, having gardens in different places is an opportunity heirloom gardeners and seed savers cherish.”

Shelby Hamm, with the Pomaria Community Food Bank, is on the Living Water Foundation Board, and is working with the Community Garden.

“Others interested in having a community garden, we are glad to share with you what we’ve learned, or if you’d like to get involved with this project, we love for you to do so,” Lovelace said.

The Community Garden will be on two acres of land on U.S. 76. Lovelace said they are also partnering with Clemson University, with their Creative Inquiry Project. He said this allows a student to partner with a professor and other students from other colleges in order to facilitate and learn from the community project.

“This garden is a way to get people working together and getting to know each other, a benefit for our community,” Lovelace said. “We want to create fresh produce grown in the healthiest way possible, encourage people to plant their own garden to consume their own produce, but also provide healthy produce to people who don’t have access to it.”

The first component of the Community Garden to be constructed will be a shed for people to get fresh free produce. This will also be where people can donate to help sustain the garden.

“We raised about $10,000 at our benefit, we had a great turn out. We are having another fundraiser in October, shrimp and grits, with Carolina grits and Carolina shrimp,” Lovelace said.

Dr. Oscar Lovelace discusses the Living Water Foundation Community Garden and Education Center, which will soon be coming to Prosperity.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1_DSC_0901.jpgDr. Oscar Lovelace discusses the Living Water Foundation Community Garden and Education Center, which will soon be coming to Prosperity. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@newberryobserver.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @TheNBOnews.