Junior environmental science major Mathew Amico has always loved the outdoors. 

Upon coming to the University of South Carolina, he felt stifled by the lack of nature around him. Amico took a volunteer shift at the Sustainable Carolina Garden, and all that changed. 

“It was really nice to … have a space to come to that was outside, and, like to, like, get my hands in the dirt, touch grass again,” Amico said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is amazing. I should start gardening.’” 

Three years later, Amico is one of the garden coordinators for the Sustainable Garden, on Wheat Street at The Quad dormitories. The garden is part of Sustainable Carolina, which is the student-led branch of the Office of Sustainability. 

The garden is one of seven different teams within the Office of Sustainability. Its mission is to bring affordable, organic produce and provide service opportunities to the community. 

Alongside senior environmental science student Emma Batson, Amico gives garden tours and alerts organizations on campus to different opportunities. 

Batson and Amico coordinate garden volunteering hours for the community as well as work weekly in the garden, Batson said.  She said their goal is to make sure everyone has fun and gets work done.

“We want to make sure that people aren’t scared to be coming out here,” she said. 

Batson said she likes being in the garden because it reminds her of the importance of protecting nature. Being surrounded by people who share that vision makes it an even better experience for her. 

There are 25 plots available each semester for students and faculty to use to grow something pretty or edible, Amico said. They can also take money out of grant funding to do so.

“You get to experience just, like, you know, a little bit of a slowdown compared to being, like, in a classroom setting,” he said. “And you also are really taking care to make sure that you’re getting that time outside.” 

The garden brings its produce to the community through the farmers market held each Tuesday on Greene Street in front of the Russell House student union. 

Sophomore chemical engineering student Bella Mudd attends the farmers market from time to time, even though she’s not part of the sustainability garden efforts. 

Mudd works in the Zero Waste branch of Sustainable Carolina, hosting events to educate the community about minimizing waste. Mudd said every aspect of Sustainable Carolina works to foster community. 

“You learn so much about sustainability and just different things like environmental issues and how you can, like, make an impact,” she said.