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Local group hopes to put a small farm in Columbia area food desert

With a focus on giving affordable healthy food options, a nonprofit is hoping a small community garden could offer solutions.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A local non-profit is looking to put an urban farm in Columbia.

The goal for Robert Percival's nonprofit is bold yet simple -- promote healthy lifestyles. 

He runs the Living Wright Foundation, a nonprofit in Columbia, focusing on providing healthy food options for people who live miles away from a grocery store. 

 "There's hardly a bigger thing that we can do as an organization to draw people's attention to nutrition and to their ability to take care of their own, at least a portion of their own nutrition," he adds, "There's not a sufficient access to healthy affordable foods because of distance from the sources and income levels."

His organization is seeking zoning approval to bring a small farm and community garden to Columbia, with a multitude of vegetable and herb options. He tells News19 the plan is to put gardens on a plot of land behind Anthony's Dairy Bar at 2200 Two Notch Rd. He hopes to have a farmstand that would operate whenever Anthony's isn't in service. They're investing close to $50,000 with the help of community partners to make the farm a reality.

"I think the larger impact really is going to be on our visibility to people and our inspiration to people in the local community," Percival explains.

The idea is gaining support among nearby residents. 

Angela Williams lives directly next to the site, she says she'd like the healthy alternative.

"Some people that can't get the food, that might be a benefit to them too. People with EBT, they might want fresh fruits and stuff like that so I think that's a good thing to be coming into the community," she says.

Charles Ellis lives near the proposed farm and says it would be nostalgic. 

"That would be right on time. It would bring back memories. My father grew everything, all we did was buy meat, and the veggies came from him," he adds. "A lot of the veggies help keep my energy up, so that would be great for me.

Percival also tells us they plan to take soil samples before they have a full picture of what types of plants they have. The zoning board meeting is Thursday, February 1, at 4 pm in the city council chambers at City Hall on Main Street.

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