Peachy the Magazine June July 2014 | Page 130

Green Space Make-Overs through community gardens and education is also a large park of their work. Beginning with Elliotborough Park in 2010, the CPC expanded the park to include 20 garden beds available for lease to members of the community, four of which grow produce for a local homeless shelter as well as for neighborhood residents. Lettuces, rainbow chard, mustard greens, kale, and other greens abound from the Elliotborough Community produce that can be incorporated into meals created daily by Charleston’s local Crisis Ministries. In April 2014, CPC launched the Magnolia Park Community Garden in West Ashley, which offers 40 garden plots for lease to the community. Fourteen plots are maintained by the CPC which, again, will grow and harvest produce for local food banks. The CPC’s hope is that these gardens will serve as an opportunities for neighbors and communities through educational opportunities to get their hands dirty together, while reviving the parks and inspiring urban gardening. Elliotborough Park was the Conservancy’s first community garden. Residents can lease beds in the garden and the Conservancy maintains some public beds, donating much of the harvest to a local homeless shelter. 128 PEACHYTHEMAGAZINE.COM