City of Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant’s Suburban Farm Now a Summer Camp

By Bethany Heasley, City of Mount Pleasant

The middle of suburban Mount Pleasant may not be where you’d expect a fully functioning 5-acre farm, but Growing Minds Farm is proving that its possible for farms to thrive anywhere! Just over ten years ago, Katie Donohoe spearheaded the first horticultural program at South Carolina’s largest high school. After several years of seeing this program impact so many, Katie founded her own non-profit organization, Growing Minds Farm, in 2015 to reach even more of her community. Transforming bare land into a fully functioning educational farm, they host programs all over the Lowcountry for all ages to come learn about sustainable living. When Mount Pleasant Recreation Department heard about the great work that Growing Minds Farm was doing, they knew they wanted to be involved. A few months later, Grow Your Own Adventure Summer Camp was born. This summer, Mount Pleasant Recreation Department will be offering an opportunity for children ages 7-11 to go to the farm and learn all about the art, science, and importance of growing their own healthy food. The hope is to instill a sense of connection to farming and for children to understand the origin of their food throughout the week. Each day will bring a new plant-based lesson through a craft or planting activity. Kids will also include time to explore the STEM outdoor learning lab, do garden work, care for resident goats and chickens, and gather eggs! Mount Pleasant Recreation Department is thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Growing Minds Farm and can’t wait for children to come away from their time at camp with a new perspective on their food and environment!

A trio of goats take a stroll at Mount Pleasant’s Growing Minds Farm