This May, five UGA students spent two weeks on Sapelo Island as part of Nik Heynen’s Geography of the Georgia Coast domestic field-study course associated with the Cornelia Walker Bailey Program.  The students assisted with the general upkeep of agricultural plots in Hogg Hummock, spending time weeding, planting sugarcane and red peas, and helping construct a fence. The students also planted the first of the indigo seeds being reintroduced to Sapelo, which required leveling out the area and using a tiller to turn over the soil.  In addition to their physical contributions, the students gained a broader understanding of on-island culture and politics on Sapelo and the ramifications of encroaching development, increases to property taxes and the threat of climate change to the Hog Hammock community, the largest most-intact remaining Geechee community. Working alongside Cornelia Walker Bailey Program co-directors Maurice Bailey and Nik Heynen, the students weighed in on possible endeavors aimed at promoting sustainable economic opportunities on-island in hopes of attracting current and past residents of Hogg Hummock to join together in strengthening their community.

Pictured: UGA students Maddie Yelle and Raegan Burns weeding in the sugarcane field beside SICARS.

Tags: Cornelia Walker Bailey, Hogg Hummock, UGA, UGAMI