by Kathleen Brown
For The Advertiser
It’s been said that gifted gardeners are blessed with a certain green appendage that enables them to grow things, while others beg and poke at a little lump in the dirt, which may or may not be photosynthesizing its last breath.
But 34-year-old Daniel Parson, a Clinton agriculturist, seems to be spreading his “green thumb” wherever he can sink a spade.
Parson’s Produce, located on the Bush River Farm in Clinton, contains one acre of various crops that he cultivates and sells to a number of Laurens County residents in a subscription-type membership.
Every Wednesday, his “subscribers” can come by the farm and pick up the vegetables, from okra to Swiss chard, that Parson has harvested that week.
“I have all kinds of stuff, diversity is my thing.” Parson said.
At least half of his members are in some way associated with Presbyterian College, due to his wife’s position as an English professor. This close relationship with the college enabled Parson to hear about a grant that the college’s environmental group, “Green Hose,” received that would apply and fund any sustainability programs. The specific program refers to the method of farming that produces large amounts of crop without causing environmental damage.
Eager to share his passion and talents, Parson asked, and was granted his own assignment under the grant that will be funded by the school for two years.
“I think it’s going to be a fun project,” Parson said
P.C. has given Parson a 7,500 sq. foot plot of land on campus to hold a student-run organic garden under his management. He plans to work closely with the students, which will include the P.C. garden club, freelance volunteers, and several freshman seminar classes.
“We chose to start this fall because everyone will be back in school,” Parson said, “and we’ll be able to harvest before they go home.”
Parson plans for students to be able to grow their own crops using his distinct organic methods, and then sell them back to the P.C. dining hall when they are harvested.
“Young people nowadays don’t get that much exposure to it (farming),” Parson said. “The actual cycle of taking food from where it’s produced and having it on the table for dinner – you don’t see that.”
Several P.C. students, like senior Hunter Barnhardt, have already put in their time at Parson’s Produce plot.
“I know that Daniel really believes in what he’s doing,” Barnhardt said. “It’s great when we can get produce from our own property, especially organically.”
Barnhardt is excited to see the growth of the P.C. plot and hopes that he can continue to help out where he is needed with the garden.
“It (the success) is really going to depend on how involved people get with the garden from the beginning,” Barnhardt said.
Parson plans to use his own method of farming that he has developed since graduating from Clemson University with a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture.
“I first got into agriculture because I wanted to grow my own food.” Parson said. “Now this is my living.”
Since Clemson, Parson has worked on several organic farms and has owned his own, most recently, a one-and-a-half acre plot in Atlanta.
Although Parson has farmed strictly organically on his plot in Clinton, due to the plot’s previous occupation, as alpaca grazing fields, he cannot legally call his produce organic.
“Right now it’s been three years since the last prohibited substance was on this land.” According to Parson, an organically prohibited item could be the hay that was used or pesticides.
“People always ask me, ‘if you’re organic how do you deal with the pests and crop fertility,’ and my answer is ‘crop rotation,’” Parson said.
Parson explained that his method of crop rotation is derived from a modern practice used in Japan involving sustainable agriculture.
"Crop rotation, deals with each plant’s specific (scientific) family,” Parson said. “For example I would never plant potatoes after tomatoes.”
Parson’s passion for agriculture goes hand in hand with his efforts to be eco-friendly.
“The organic movement is really a relationship with the environment, and food is place where I do that.” Parson said.
P.C. students will get their hands dirty in the campus plot this Saturday during the school’s Freshman Service Day, when Parson hopes he can share the passion he has for agriculture.
“Until I fall over in the field one day, this is what I’ll be doing.” Parson said with a smile.
No comments:
Post a Comment