Jah Roots Joins Columbia's Own Idea Factory

Jah Roots Brings Agri-Tourism to Columbia

Heathwood Graduate Builds Future on Senior Exhibition

Jah Roots, the brain-child of Scott Harriford, class of 2011, has been accepted as the first business into the newly created University of South Carolina College of Hospitality, Retail & Sports Management Business Incubator. The newly formed incubator is being supported through funds provided by the South Carolina Center for Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development and will be housed at the USC Columbia Business Incubator. Harriford, now a USC student, is building his future upon the work of his Heathwood Hall Senior Exhibition. The Senior Exhibition is a final project that reflects the culmination of a student’s experience at Heathwood. This year-long research project, beginning with an original thesis and Involving extensive work with a committee, especially with an expert in the field of study, is a requirement of all Heathwood Hall seniors for graduation. Harriford researched and experimented with how to build and maintain the easiest and most cost efficient hydroponic system for a small home grower. Hydroponic gardening is the art of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrients and an alternative growing method. This allows the growth of many edible plants year round. Harriford’s experiment concluded that using a water culture system and florescent light panels is most efficient and inexpensive. Harriford took the knowledge gained from this project to create and become CEO of Jah Roots, South Carolina’s newest Urban Hydroponic Garden. Established in 2012, its goal is to supply the greater Columbia area with fresh produce. Jah Roots provides restaurants such as Ristorante Divino and Il Giorgione locally grown and chemically-free produce. Jah Roots is moving beyond just growing crops to community awareness by creating an interactive and educational experience for others. Jah Roots’ soon-to-be Urban Interactive Hydroponic Botanical Garden & Farm will allow visitors the chance to see, smell, taste and touch completely organic, hydroponically and aquaponically grown harvest year round. Its goal is to reach out to today’s youth and educate them about sustainability and farming practices. For more information on Jah Roots contact W.L. Harriford, IV-CEO at scottharriford@gmail.com