b'Eastover Community Garden Inspires Unity By Debra Young, photos by Michael DantzlerEveninruralcommunitieswherepropertyownerscommunities.USC offered him the opportunity to havelargetracksofland,communitygardenscanparticipateincommunityorganizingandhewent be a better option than going it alone.Communitydoor-to-door to see if people were interested in fresh gardensbringneighborstogethertoworkthefood,iftheyconsideredtheircommunityafood garden and are a great way to stay physically fit anddesert,andifimprovementswereneededtomake encouragehealthyeating.Nooneismorekeenlyhealthyfoodmoreaccessible.USChadaworking awareofthebenefitsofcommunitygardensthanrelationshipwiththetownofEastoverandthe photographerandcommunityorganizerMichaelEastover Branch of the Richland County Library and Dantzler.Michaelwasinstrumentalinstartingawas already considering starting a community garden communitygardenintheEastovercommunitythere.Wantingtohelpwiththiseffort,Michael locatedinruralSoutheastRichlandCounty,SCsaidhestartedtheGreatOutdoorsCommunity knownasLowerRichland.GardeninEastoverwith Whilehegrewuparoundno money and a few willing gardening,Michaelsayshevolunteers.Hereceived neverhadanyinterestinprogrammingassistance gardeningoragriculture.fromtheRichlandCounty AfterreadingTheGoodLibraryandtheEastover FoodRevolution:GrowingFireDepartmentprovided HealthyFood,People,water.Unfortunately,the andCommunitiesbygardenonlylastedthrough CharlesWilsonandWillthe summer due to a lack of Allen,Michaelsaysthingsfunding.changed.He explained thatThoughhisfirstattempt hiseyeswereopened,andatcommunitygardening he was inspired to plant twoonlylastedforoneharvest, rowsofvegetablesinhisMichaelsayshewasnot familysbackyard.WhenWe dont have fresh produce in thediscouragedanddecidedin heplantedthosetworows,area and residents have to drive 252015 to try it again without hisentirefamilycameoutmiles to the nearest grocery store toany help from USC but with to work in the garden, whichthe help of a few dedicated he saw as a unique thing. Itpurchase fresh produce.volunteers in the community. wasthenthatherealizedMayor Phillip Gunter Hisvolunteersincluded gardening is a way to bringRooseveltGipson,who peopletogethertotalk,livedacrossthestreetfrom socialize and eat food together. Michael says food isthe garden, and James Young, who donated funds to a universal language that connects people. assist with the garden.They donated the harvested vegetablestotheEastoverSeniorCenter,andany leftoversweretakentotheEastoverlibraryand How It Got Started given away.Michael quickly realized that the garden Michael says he started posting about his garden couldserveasacommunitygatheringplace.He on social media in 2014 and one of his teachers putinvited artists from Charleston and Columbia to take him in contact with staff at the University of Southpictures of the garden.He called the photo collection Carolinas(USC)SchoolofPublicHealth,wherethe GardenofEquilibrium. Thephotos,hesays, theywereresearchingcommunitygardensinruralshow people of color at peace in the garden- peace beyond our trauma and day-to-day stresses.22IMARA'