Growing Good—The PAR Garden at the Anne Springs Close Greenway
Tucked away in a sunny corner of the Dairy Barn entrance at the Anne Springs Close GreenwaySM, the Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) Garden is a place where community grows in more ways than one. Powered by volunteers and sustained by a shared mission of giving, this special garden has already donated nearly 4,000 pounds of fresh produce to those in need this year alone – and the season is in full bloom!
Established in 2000 by dedicated Greenway volunteer Betsy McClean, the PAR Garden is part of a nationwide movement started by the Garden Writers Association (now GardenComm) in 1995. The initiative encourages gardeners to donate a portion—or even all—of their harvest to help feed their communities. Thanks to the ongoing support of the Anne Springs Close Greenway, the Master Gardeners of York County and the Carolina Orchards Ladies Garden Club, the local PAR Garden at the Greenway has become a flourishing hub of generosity and education.
The garden is home to rows of vegetables, vibrant herbs, a pollinator garden buzzing with life and a flock of egg-laying chickens. While many of the daily tasks—planting, harvesting, weeding and watering—are completed by volunteers, special projects are often supported by local Scout troops and corporate volunteer groups. Children in Greenway Youth Programs also have the opportunity to engage in the garden, learning firsthand about sustainable practices, food systems and caring for the land.
This summer, amid the heat and humidity, a dedicated team of volunteers is hard at work three mornings each week. On any given Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 8:00 and 9:30am, you’ll find 5 or 6 volunteers—sweaty but smiling—tending to beds of tomatoes, squash, onions, peppers, green beans, rainbow chard, okra and more.
All this produce is donated weekly to organizations fighting hunger across York County, including:
- Fort Mill Care Center
- The Community Café (Lake Wylie and Fort Mill)
- Clover Area Assistance Center
- Manna House at Pathways in Rock Hill
And there’s always room for more helping hands. Whether you have a green thumb or have never picked a weed in your life, volunteers of all skill levels are welcome. Training is provided on-site—just bring your energy, curiosity and a willingness to dig in. Sign up in Volunteer Hub. Youth 16 and under are welcome to volunteer with a parent present.
In the PAR Garden, it’s not just about growing vegetables. It’s about cultivating compassion, learning and community—one row at a time.