Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2019

LC 37 www.LCCmag.com | www.LCcuisineMag.com | www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com lowcountry cuisine F arming is one of our most important professions. It’s also one of the hardest, with long hours, endless labor, droughts, floods, crop diseases, livestock predators. It’s no surprise that less than 2% of our population puts food on their tables by growing things to go on ours. Scott and Tina Johnson wouldn’t dream of another life. Longtime Indiana livestock farmers, the Johnsons moved here in 2018 after falling in love with the Lowcountry during trips with their children, Jackson and Lucy. They are leasing a 94-acre farm along U.S. 17 near McClellanville. Since 2014, the East Cooper Land Trust has owned the farm to protect it from development and to promote sustainable farming. The Johnsons were a perfect fit. “The Land Trust is thrilled to have Scott and his family,” said Tyler Grespin, interim executive director. “The farm has improved dramatically under their stewardship.” In less than two years, the Johnsons have developed a following at stores and farmers markets and turned the farm, which they’ve appropriately renamed Johnson Family Farms, into a destination for people seeking meats, eggs and vegetables. They use a processor in Kingstree to BY ANDREW R. DE HOLL Harvesting Hope Community Rallies Around Farming Family Scott Johnson (middle) and his family run Johnson Family Farms near McClellanville. Volunteers work to harvest crops at the farm after Scott’s cancer diagnosis. Photos courtesy of Tina Johnson.