LORIS, SC (WBTW) – The Buck Creek Foundation is leasing a portion of the old Clardy Nursery in hopes of creating a program for those with special needs to grow and sell organic produce in the community.
Dale Holt, chairman of the Buck Creek Foundation, says the Clardy Nursery began as a science project growing tomatoes and quickly prospered into a thriving business in 1954.
“It grew to a business that employed probably 22 people in our city,” Holt said.
The Clardy Nursery provided produce to most local restaurants and the community in Loris until it shut down in 2012.
Holt is looking to bring the nursery back to life, but this time, include people with special needs. He says they will grow all-organic produce on the farm, and then sell it back to the community and local restaurants.
The project, called ‘Giving Hope Gardens’ hits especially close to home for Holt, because his son is autistic. He says he has two years left before he must leave Loris High School.
“When you outgrow the school system, and the school bus stops coming by, then there aren’t a lot of options,” Holt said.
According to Holt, Giving Hope Gardens would be a beneficial place for those with special needs to go once they finish school.
“What we want to do is provide options for those who are in our same situation that don’t have the benefit of going to college, or going to a job,” Holt said. “We want to provide them with a place they can come, and they can learn transition skills to hopefully get a job in a department store, or a grocery store or box store.”
The Buck Creek Foundation is currently renovating the nursery to get everything in order by this fall, and they are hoping to be fully operating by the end of 2019.
“Our community didn’t choose where they are,” Holt said. “They didn’t choose the path that they’re on, and so what we’re doing is truly helping individuals who may not be able to help themselves.”
The Buck Creek Foundation is a nonprofit organization. To find out how to volunteer, make a donation, or to learn more, click here.
