Thanks to a $25,000 grant received from the Municipal Association of South Carolina, the town of Lane will be branching into agritourism. Residents of the small town have to drive ten miles to the closest grocery store, and there is little access to fresh food. For this reason, Lane has been designated a food desert.
Mayor Charlie Fulton hopes the grant will help solve the issue. The Norfell Bennett Agritourism Project’s namesake was a successful farmer in the area. He grew collards, cabbage, butterbeans, peas and a variety of other crops that were harvested and shipped up north. The town wanted to honor his legacy and work in agriculture.
The grant funding will be used to create a farmer’s market, and to build raised vegetable gardens that community members can rent to grow food for their home use.
“We also want to engage young people to plant their own garden box, and teach them about growing so they can sell their own produce at the farmer’s market,” says Fulton.
The town will also be working with local farmers to get their product to the farmer’s market to sell. The market will include a demonstration area where people can learn more about vegetables and how to use them. The organizers hope to invited chefs to teach people to prepare recipes with fruits and vegetables, as well.
The project team has been working with both Clemson University and South Carolina State extension programs to develop the project. A new nonprofit called Lane 21 Development Corp. is being created to run the effort in conjunction with the town.
The farmer’s market is set to begin in June of 2024 and will be located beside Lane Recreation Center on Broomstraw Road. Fulton says work will begin on the shed for the market once the ground dries out. He anticipates it will be completed by May. Right now, they are focused on just fresh food, but eventually will bring in makers and crafters for value-added items like soaps and other products. The community garden is located behind Lane Community Center.
For more information on any of these projects, contact Charlie Fulton at Town of Lane at 843-387-5151 or stop by the Town of Lane offices at 7 Oneita Avenue.
