FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Jan. 29, 2015) -- Tucked away in a shady grove off Washington Road is one of Fort Jackson's best kept secrets. The road leading there is unpaved, a stream of fresh water running alongside the bumpy path. It's peaceful without being remote, but you'd be forgiven if, once there, you forgot that Gate 1 is just a short walk away.
This land is reserved by the installation for gardeners. One section is designed for use by disabled veterans, whereas the rest is for active-duty Soldiers, military retirees and their families.
"It's a major hobby of my wife's and mine," said Norman Peters, a retired Soldier who has raised collards, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard greens and other vegetables at Victory Garden since 2005. "We enjoy working with plants, the ground and nature. We love being outside. It's quiet and peaceful out there."
Fort Jackson's gardening program has been around for decades with varying degrees of success, said Valerie Kinsley with the Directorate of Public Works, who serves as the garden plot manager. There are three garden areas on post. One is reserved for disabled veterans; one for active-duty Soldiers, retirees and civilians; and one for housing residents.
Whereas the garden for disabled veterans is managed separately, Victory Garden and the plots for residents may be reserved in January for the duration of the year. There is a waiting list for plots at Victory Garden, though.
"We have (one) garden strictly for people who live in (on-post) housing, and that one's only been around for a few years," Kinsley said. "That one needs a lot of attention."
The garden reserved for people living on post is located on Knight Avenue, but interest in that location has tapered off in recent years. Whereas the Washington Street gardens are divided into plots, there has been so little interest in the residence garden that the space has not needed management, Kinsley said.
"Right now, there's only one gardener in it," she said. "The most I've had there is eight. I wish more residents in housing would get involved."
There are no fees associated with the post's gardening program.
Although a stream is located near the garden for retirees, Peters said there is no running water at the site. This may be a deterrent for some people, he said.
"The only running water is a creek, and you either have to use a bucket or gas-powered pump to get water to the garden," he said. "When it's 100 degrees in the summer and you have to carry bucketfuls of water out of the creek, it can be tough."
He said gardeners are also responsible for providing their own tools and other equipment at the site.
"The only thing the Army supplies is the land," he said. "The fences and sprinkler systems belong to the individual gardener."
Peters said the garden produces more food than his family can eat. Friends and local charities are usually the recipients of his surplus food.
"We have a lot of friends come harvest time," he said. "They bring their grocery bags with them."
The gardens reserved for disabled veterans have raised beds and sidewalks for greater accessibility.
This area is traditionally maintained by a unit on post and is not included as part of the annual reservation process.
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