Community Development Institute (CDI)

Past 2022 Trainings

Community Gardening: A Tool in Community Development

Community Gardens are more than a place to grow produce, herbs, and flowers. It’s a tool to bring a community together through youth/school gardens, entrepreneurial gardens, or communal gardens. As community gardens come in many shapes and forms it’s important understand all the aspects to managing a garden from relationships, group dynamics, planning and organizing, financial costs, group decision-making, and the associated opportunities and challenges that come with establishing a community garden. Attendees joined us in Pawley’s Island, SC for a site visit to Carolina Human Reinvestment’s community garden to learn how they started their community garden and how it has grown over the years. Furthermore, Clemson Extension and SCACED discussed partnership, financial and other resources for organizations to access as they establish and grow their community garden.

This in-person, full day training was geared towards groups who are looking to start a community garden or grow their current program.

Trainers:

• Amy Dabbs, Statewide School & Community Gardening Coordinator, Clemson extension, Clemson University

• Didier Guedjo, Executive Director, Carolina Human Reinvestment

• Ken Harvin, Program Associate/Rural Prosperity Coordinator, SCACED

Broadband Community Training

Broadband Community Champion Training Initiative address barriers and the lack of broadband access in rural communities.  The goal of the initiative is to certify Community Broadband Champions to marshal sustainable support from key community stakeholders.  Our design empowers local leaders to attract service providers and capital to expand rural broadband service. Counties selected to participate are engaged in three (3) training sessions; access, adoption and use of broadband; K-12 education; and rural healthcare providers.