Project Highlight: Willington (McCormick) South Carolina
Restoring Our Own Truth through Education and Demonstration (ROOTED) Community Science Project, Willington (McCormick), SC
Project Team: Dr. Rev. ErNiko Brown, Dr. Agnes Pasco Conaty & Mr. Samuel Bamidele
The Willington, South Carolina project, “Restoring Our Own Truth through Education and Demonstration (ROOTED)” has undertaken the restoration of a historically segregated school building. This project seeks to repurpose the site for community use, stimulate local employment, and address food scarcity in the region, which is designated as a food desert. The site will also have a 3.5-acre farm to support access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Environmental assessments, including soil sampling and water quality monitoring, are being conducted to ensure the site’s suitability for these initiatives.
Since joining the Thriving Earth Exchange program, the Organized Uplifting Resources and Strategies (OURS), founded by Community Lead and CEO of OURS, Rev. Dr. ErNiko Brown, has received many amazing resources and connections. Community Science Fellow, Dr. Agnes Conaty, has been intentional with creating meaningful connections in the science world because of the historical significance this site holds. One major connection is Dr. Bhupinder Singh Farmaha, Associate Professor and Nutrient Management Specialist of the Agricultural Service Laboratory of Clemson University. Through his staff, Soil Technician Mr. Hunter Lander, they have been instrumental in soil sampling and analysis for the team in conjunction with our expert Community Scientist, Mr. Samuel Bamidele, who has been graciously serving in an advisory capacity on the project.
Recently they received results from Clemson University and have been working on the breakdown needs for proper soil nutrition to grow food on the farm in the community. While working on the ground with soil health, Rev. Dr. Brown has actually broken ground on cleaning up around the school so that community members who went to the school could see what remains.
Read more by visiting the project page here
Community Science Hubs
This project is part of the Capacity Collaborative Community Science Hub and is supported in part through a generous grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
