Build A Gullah Geechee Transitional Housing Farm

Gullah Geechee Garden Project mission is to preserve Gullah Geechee agriculture, food history and to be a safe haven for children in need.

Vision: To build a transitional housing farm for foster care youth

"If you give a hungry man food, he will eat it. [But] if you give him land, he will grow his own food." Fannie Lou Hamer, Freedom Farm Cooperative

At 12 years old Katelyn "Akua" Page entered the foster care system in Charleston SC. Her first placement was at a group home called Jenkins Orphanage

History of Jenkins

Jenkins Orphanage was started by Rev Daniel Joseph Jenkins in 1891. He was called to create an orphanage after discovering four boys huddled together for warmth on a random snowy day in Charleston SC. Jenkins was born into slavery and orphaned at a young age himself. He realized that the community was in need of an orphanage since the ones available were only opened for white children. Jenkins orphanage mission was simple: to create a safe haven for African-American children in need.

Rev vision was for his children to be self-sufficient, to be able to grow their own food, to feed and clothe themselves.

Gullah Geechee Garden Is more than just a garden project. It's a resource to educate communities about Gullah Geechee agriculture, food history and to continue Rev Daniel Joseph Jenkins mission of creating safe havens for children in need, especially those from historically excluded groups such as BlPOC youth.

To raise funds for the transitional housing farm this project is offering Gullah Geechee Garden workshops for schools, families and organizations.

What's Gullah Geechee?

Gullah Geechee people are descendants of agricultural engineers stolen from West Central Africa and forced to work on coastal plantations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Gullah Geechee people were often isolated on these coastal plantations known as the Sea Islands. This isolation created a perfect environment for them to preserve their African culture and language that's at risk of extinction but still lives on today.

Wanna learn more about Gullah Geechee?

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