Savannah Valley District

Summer Thirst

Patti Chapman, EFNEP Nutrition Educator, Beaufort County Would you quench your thirst in this summer heat by drinking a big, tall glass of SUGAR?!?!  At a recent “Child Abuse Prevention Festival,” Nutrition Educator, Patti Chapman, encouraged attendees to guess and measure out how much sugar is in a 20-oz. bottle of Coca-Cola.  The answer is […]

Sprouting Knowledge: Students Explore Agriculture After School

Hillary P. Carnley, Area Livestock & Forages Agent Throughout the 2024–2025 school year, the Allendale County Office partnered with Save the Children to offer a unique agriculture enrichment at Allendale-Fairfax Elementary School. Approximately 70 students participated in this program, held on Wednesdays, where they explored the world of agriculture and learned about the many products […]

Around the Countryside Red Bugs: The Itching Begins

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent, Clemson University It’s official: summer has arrived with the heat, humidity, and red bugs. Many Lowcountry residents are just “itching” for some relief from these pests so common to our area of the state. Red bugs, also called chiggers, among other names that may not be appropriate to repeat, […]

Summertime Considerations for Rain Gardens

Samantha Porzelt, Water Resources Agent for Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties Rain gardens are landscaped depressions strategically placed to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces like rooftops, driveways, and compacted lawns. Designed to mimic natural water infiltration, they filter and absorb runoff, reducing erosion, flooding, and pollution while replenishing groundwater. Rain gardens help remove contaminants […]

Color Your Plate with Summer’s Bounty

Roxane Cummings, Rural Health & Nutrition Agent June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, but fresh fruits and vegetables are available all summer. Sweet corn, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, watermelon and cantaloupe are just a few examples of the produce that grow in abundance, making the summer months the perfect time to add more […]

What’s Coming Up for SC Livestock & Forage Producers: Events, and Fertility Advice

Nicole Correa, Area Livestock and Forages Agent Summer’s here, and so are a ton of opportunities for producers across South Carolina to connect, learn, and grow. Whether you’re managing hayfields, looking to boost your pasture game, or just want to stay up to date with sustainable practices, we’ve got a full lineup of events and […]

Welcome, Jessica Hardiman

Food System and Safety Agent Please join me in welcoming Jessica Hardiman as the new Food Systems and Safety Agent for Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties. Jessica has obtained both a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology and a master’s degree in Packaging Science from Clemson University. Jessica’s passion for food safety stems from […]

Residential Drinking Well Testing and Water Quality

Molly Jones, Clemson Extension Area Water Resources Agent Residential wells are prevalent in the rural areas of South Carolina. Proper maintenance of well systems is crucial to ensuring safe drinking water. Being aware of recommendations for maintaining a residential well will assist well owners in avoiding possible illness from drinking contaminated water. Maintaining a clean […]

Welcome, Mike Windhorn

Area Forest and Natural Resources Agent Mr. Windhorn comes to us with a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management from Clemson University.  Originally from Blythewood, SC, he has many years of experience in land management, wood procurement, forest certification, forest product sales, and environmental education. Mike is excited to join the Clemson Extension team and is […]

Are You Ready for Summer?

Janet Steele, Area Forestry & Natural Resources Agent The extra daylight hours during the summer are great for doing yard projects, such as mowing the grass and working in the garden. One landscape component that is often not considered until there is a problem is our yard trees. Trees can provide multiple benefits around our […]