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Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
My name is Charity Coleman, founder of Sankofa Soil.
Sankofa Soil grew from a simple belief: that gardens can connect people to both the land and their heritage.
My journey began as a Hoop House Fellow with the Gullah Farmers Cooperative. Before that opportunity, I had only a small amount of gardening experience, and building my first high tunnel and managing a production garden was completely new to me. It was a lot of hard work, and I relied on family, friends, and volunteers who believed in me and were willing to help. Together, we built the garden from the ground up and grew a beautiful crop of lettuce and other vegetables.
The real turning point came when I hosted my first Farm-to-School event.
I remember being nervous and wondering whether children would enjoy the gardening activities I had planned. But that nervousness faded away as I watched them light up with excitement. They asked questions, explored the garden, got their hands dirty, and wanted to learn more. In that moment, I realized that children are not afraid of nature or hard work, They simply need someone to guide them and give them the opportunity.
That experience changed everything for me.
While working with the cooperative, I was also responsible for receiving produce from local farmers, inspecting it, and packing/prepping it for delivery to customers. That work gave me the opportunity to spend time with many of the older Gullah Geechee farmers in our community. I listened to their stories, learned how they farmed growing up, and gained knowledge that cannot be found in books.
Helping them and advocating for them became my second love.
The more time I spent with those farmers, the more I realized how much knowledge we stand to lose if we do not make an effort to preserve it. Making sure those stories and traditions continue, and making sure those experiences are accessible to little brown kids in the Lowcountry and socially disadvantaged communities, is a big part of why I do this work.
The name Sankofa comes from an Akan principle often interpreted as "go back and get it" or to learn from the past to move orward.
To me, Sankofa Soil represents the connection between culture, land, and memory. Agriculture played a major role in why Africans were brought to this country, and many of the farming traditions, crops, and skills that helped shape the Lowcountry can still be seen today. Agriculture is not all we are, but it is a part of who we are and a part of our story that deserves to be remembered.
Through educational gardens, heritage crops, community projects, planting workshops, native plant hikes, and historical interpretation, Sankofa Soil works to preserve and share that story with future generations.
Honoring the past. Cultivating the future.
While Sankofa Soil was founded by Charity Coleman, none of this work would be possible without G and O'mega.
They have been part of this journey since my time with the Gullah Farmers Cooperative, where they helped build my second high tunnel, create outdoor gardens, receive and quality-check produce, and prepare deliveries for customers throughout the Low Country.
They have been with me from the beginning, and many of the gardens and projects Sankofa Soil is known for today would not have been possible without their hard work and support. They may not be the most talkative members of the team, but when I have an idea, they know how to make it happen.
I am grateful to have them as part of the Sankofa Soil family and proud that we continue to grow together while serving communities throughout the Gullah Geechee Corridor.
Certified Interpretive Guide
Certified Master Naturalist
Former Receiving and Outreach Coordinator for the Gullah Farmer Cooperative
Founder of Sankofa Soil LLC
Sankofa Soil honors the legacy of African and Gullah Geechee farming traditions by preserving the agricultural wisdom of the African diaspora. Through growing heritage crops, teaching traditional practices, and transforming gardens into spaces of learning, remembrance, and community nourishment, Sankofa Soil empowers future generations to reclaim their relationship with land, food, and cultural identity.
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