Savannah Valley District

Beginner-Friendly Native Plants

SAMANTHA PORZELT, WATER RESOURCES AGENT FOR BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES If you’ve been curious about adding native plants to your yard but aren’t sure where to start, Clemson Extension’s new Home and Garden Information Center factsheet, Beginner-Friendly Native Plants for South Carolina’s Coastal Plain, is a great first step. Native plants are species that […]

A Letter from your Beaufort 4-H Agent

Meghan Barkley-Waller, 4-H Youth Development Agent Dear 4-H Families and Volunteers, It has been a true privilege to serve as the Beaufort County 4-H Agent over the past several years. I am incredibly grateful for the experiences, friendships, and memories we have shared through our many 4-H adventures. As I prepare to begin a new […]

When In Drought, Think it Out!

Beatriss Calhoun, Water Resources Extension Agent  When In Drought, Think it Out! Have you ever thought about the phrase “April showers bring May flowers”? It’s a popular saying that describes April as a traditionally rainy season leading into a vibrant, blooming May. Some people take it literally, while others see it as a metaphor for […]

Livestock Water Safe

Livestock Water System Maintenance & Clean Water Safety Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent & Nicole Correa, Regional Livestock and Forages Agent What is the primary limiting nutrient for performance in all livestock species? WATER. Inadequate water intake affects dry matter intake, milk production, growth rate, reproductive performance, and forage utilization. Water is the driver […]

“Nuts About Production” Pecan Meeting Report

Anna Sara Hill, Extension Horticulture Agent Anna Sara Hill and Brianna Naumuk hosted a statewide pecan production meeting entitled “Nuts About Production” in Columbia, SC on February 25, 2026. The invited speakers were the UGA Pecan team, led by Lenny Wells (PhD), the leading pecan research specialist in the southeast. The team included Apurba Barman […]

Lend a Helping Hand to Bluebirds

Marion Barnes, Senior County Extension Agent Clemson University With all the winter weather conditions of late, it is not too early to be thinking of spring! The Eastern Bluebird is one of South Carolina’s most colorful year-round feathered residents and is often referred to as a harbinger of spring. Early settlers called them the “blue […]

Leaking Ponds: Causes and Troubleshooting

Molly Jones, Regional Water Resources Agent Ponds are not typically a natural occurrence in the state of South Carolina. Our state’s specific geological and hydrological characteristics are not conducive to the natural occurrence of lakes or ponds due to a few factors: flat topography; the majority of South Carolina is a coastal plain, which does […]

Planning to Prevent Summer Algae Blooms

Ellen Sturup Comeau, Water Resources Agent Algae are naturally occurring microorganisms in ponds and form the base of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. These organisms support fish and other aquatic life by providing the base of the pond’s food chain as well as oxygen in the water. However, when excess nutrients in the water combine with […]

Ready, Set, Grow

Glen Payne, Urban Horticulture Agent, Beaufort County Getting started with well-aerated, pathogen- and weed-free soil will help seeds germinate and grow into healthy plants. https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/starting-seeds-indoors/ Avoid starting seedlings in garden soil as it may not be sterile or drain well, causing seeds to dampen off due to excess moisture and leading to disease. Recycled egg […]

Beaufort County 4-H Receives Grant from Coastal Community Foundation

Beaufort County 4-H is excited to announce the receipt of a generous grant from the Coastal Community Foundation. This funding will play a vital role in expanding and strengthening 4-H programming throughout Beaufort County, creating more opportunities for youth to learn, lead, and thrive. The grant will directly support the growth of Beaufort Junior Leadership, […]