By Javar Juarez (CUBNSC)
Columbia, S.C. - On a vibrant Saturday morning, the T.S. Martin/Edgewood Community in inner-city Columbia, South Carolina, bustled with purpose as residents, city officials, and youth gathered to build a future rooted in hope. Under the guidance of Ed Brogdon, founder of Back to Eden, and the leadership of Columbia’s Parks and Recreation Department, young volunteers filled the raised beds of a new community garden near W.A. Perry Middle School. This garden symbolizes more than just plants; it is a bridge across generations, linking the past, present, and future.
Alfonza’s Landscaping generously delivered loads of red wood chips, creating pathways between the garden’s sections. Once completed, the garden will boast a stunning custom fountain from Las Vegas, Nevada, designed by landscape architect and horticulturist Ed Brogdon. His vision for the space is both peaceful and practical—a tranquil garden where residents can grow together.
The young volunteers came from several local initiatives, including South Carolina Youth Challenge and the GEMS program. These groups provide critical support for young people, sharpening academic and leadership skills while fostering community engagement. GEMS, sponsored by the 100 Black Women of Columbia, encourages young women to become compassionate, service-oriented citizens. Side by side with elder mentors, the youth of Edgewood helped lay the foundation of a project intended to spark growth in an area often overlooked.
Planting Seeds of Hope Amid Struggles
A walk through the Edgewood/T.S. Martin's area reveals both its potential and its challenges. Residents are painfully aware of the neglect in their community, as illegal dumping continues to degrade property values. Some quietly fear that the lack of investment might be a prelude to gentrification, where neglect drives prices down before developers move in. Although residents expressed frustration with longstanding political leadership, their voices are often drowned out—leaving them feeling unheard and unseen.
Local gardener, children’s author, and civic activist Dexter Ashford expressed optimism about the garden. "It’s great to see the positive feedback. A community garden offers more than fresh vegetables; it builds a sense of connection," he said.
A Conversation with Horticulturalist Ed Brogdon
The inspiration for this garden dates back to a discovery in the will of the late Joseph Azars, a community activist and former candidate for public office in Columbia. Azars had originally intended to create a garden on his private property on Richland Street. However, city policies prevented a garden from being developed on private land. That roadblock set the wheels in motion for Brogdon to collaborate with the city and identify a suitable location.
“This project started back in 2021, and it’s taken us three years to break ground,” Brogdon explained in a phone interview. “The key to any community project is involving the youth. Our education system too often emphasizes memorization without application. But here, we encourage young people to apply their knowledge—like calculating soil volume while building these raised beds.”
Through hands-on work, Brogdon nurtures not only plants but also the minds and spirits of young people. "I ask them about their passions and try to steer them toward careers aligned with their natural interests. There’s nothing worse than working a job you hate, even if it pays well."
Brogdon’s "Green Iceberg Project"—the umbrella initiative for Back to Eden—embodies a philosophy of hidden potential. "Like an iceberg, you only see 10% of the garden’s value above the surface. The remaining 90% is the unseen impact—educating youth, building community pride, and reconnecting people with the earth."
Gardening as a Form of Healing
Brogdon also shared how gardening can serve as a form of therapy, both for individuals and communities. He referenced studies demonstrating that gardening stimulates brain activity, fostering new cell growth, even in patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. “It’s nearly impossible to worry while digging in the dirt,” Brogdon noted.
This philosophy extends to the South Carolina Youth Challenge cadets, who marched in formation to begin the day’s work but quickly shed their military rigidity as they immersed themselves in the task. “By the end of the day, they were laughing and working like any other group of kids. That’s what gardening does—it grounds us in the present moment.”
A Garden with a Future
While the project is still in its early stages, the plan is to divide the garden into two sections. Half will be dedicated to educational use by students at W.A. Perry Middle School, integrating science, math, and environmental studies into the curriculum. The other half will offer residents the chance to lease garden beds, giving them the opportunity to grow their own produce.
Brogdon emphasized the importance of maintaining the garden long-term. "It would break my heart to come back a year later and see it abandoned. That’s why I’m working closely with the school and the city to ensure it remains a vibrant part of the community."
The ribbon-cutting ceremony, scheduled for November 15th, will mark a new chapter for the T.S. Martin/Edgewood Community. Brogdon hopes that many of the youth who helped build the garden will return to celebrate their contributions. "I want them to be proud of what they’ve accomplished and know that this garden will stand as a testament to their hard work for years to come."
A Call to Action
As the garden nears completion, Brogdon issued a heartfelt invitation to the community. "We need men with wheelbarrows and shovels to join us on the final workday. It’s inspiring to see young people learn how to push a wheelbarrow for the first time, but they need support from the community."
This project is more than just a garden—it’s a symbol of what can be achieved when generations come together with a shared purpose. The people of Edgewood have planted not just seeds in the ground but seeds of hope in their hearts. As they nurture this garden, they are also nurturing a vision for a stronger, more united future.
Through efforts like these, the T.S. Martin/Edgewood Community is not only growing vegetables but also reclaiming its identity, one raised bed at a time.
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