[{"id":2858,"date":"2026-11-13T15:15:56","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2858"},"modified":"2026-11-13T15:15:58","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T15:15:58","slug":"winter-hydration-and-water-quality-protecting-livestock-during-south-carolinas-cold-and-wet-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/winter-hydration-and-water-quality-protecting-livestock-during-south-carolinas-cold-and-wet-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Hydration and Water Quality: Protecting Livestock During South Carolina&#8217;s Cold and Wet Months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Molly Jones, Clemson Cooperative Extension Area Water Resources Agent<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Winter is quickly approaching and winter preparations are taking place on livestock operations. Livestock owners are stockpiling winter forages, calculating grain needs, and preparing for spring calving, kidding, and lambing seasons. One of the most vital resources is often overlooked: water. Access to clean, liquid water is essential for livestock health and productivity during the cold, wet months of a South Carolina winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina winters rarely bring deep northern snowpacks, but when our region faces sudden hard freezes, heavy seasonal rains, and damp cold snaps, livestock producers need a plan to ensure reliable water access for their animals. Whether you are managing a cattle herd, raising dairy goats, or tending to other livestock, maintaining a reliable water source through the cold months is the cornerstone of keeping your animals healthy and meeting production goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Relying on surface moisture or forcing animals to drink ice-cold water creates a hidden metabolic drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Consumption Drop:<\/strong> Livestock are often less naturally inclined to consume adequate water during colder weather. If water is ice-cold or unpalatable, consumption rates can drop significantly compared to warmer months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Digestion-Heat Connection:<\/strong> Livestock relies heavily on internal rumination and fermentation to generate natural body heat. For every degree drop in temperature below the thermal neutral zone, their energy requirements increase.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Danger of Low Intake:<\/strong> If animals don\u2019t drink enough, dry matter intake drops sharply. This leads directly to reduced feed efficiency, sudden weight loss, and metabolic issues (such as urinary calculi in small ruminants). To encourage proper drinking, keeping free-choice salt available or properly balanced in the diet is key to naturally stimulating thirst.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Best Practices for Water Quality &amp; Trough Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clean drinking water supports better feed consumption and efficient nutrient absorption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strategic Trough Placement:<\/strong> When planning winter paddocks, place water troughs away from feeding areas whenever possible. Separating water sources from hay rings and feed bunks can reduce mud, feed contamination, and nutrient accumulation around water points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elevated Pads &amp; Mud Prevention:<\/strong> Set troughs on elevated concrete pads or lay down coarse gravel. This prevents heavy hooves from churning up saturated soils, destroying turf, and degrading overall environmental and water quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Limiting Wildlife Contamination:<\/strong> Winter often drives wildlife\u2014such as deer, raccoons, and birds\u2014toward farm water sources. Wildlife can deposit feces and urine or accidentally become trapped in open troughs, introducing dangerous pathogens. Utilizing closed systems or emptying unused tanks helps mitigate this risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regular Cleaning Protocols:<\/strong> Troughs should never be caked with thick algae mats or emit strong odors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Use the following checklist to evaluate water quality:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is the water colored or murky?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there algae mats present covering the surface or container walls?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is there a noticeable odor of sewage, rotten eggs, mold, or animal waste?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dirty water requires thorough cleaning.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is recommended that producers clean out physical debris often (daily\/weekly).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chemically disinfect and scrub the system at least twice a year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cleaning during the late spring and summer months will help keep bacteria levels down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike northern states where winter moisture stays locked safely in snow, South Carolina winters are often characterized by heavy rains and saturated, muddy soils. When overnight temperatures plunge and your troughs freeze over, use these practical, low-cost winterization strategies<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Insulate the Sides:<\/strong> Stack straw bales, waste hay, or wool sacks on the windward side of troughs, or wrap exterior walls with used black tires to trap ground heat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Double-Trough Method:<\/strong> Place a smaller portable trough inside a larger one and insulate the intervening space with straw or wool.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Surface Defenses:<\/strong> Cover half or more of the trough with plywood topped with foam insulation or straw to slow down ice formation during hard freezes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep Water Moving:<\/strong> Floating a partially submerged rubber ball or water-filled plastic jug in the tank keeps the surface water gently moving in the breeze, significantly slowing down the freezing process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Strategic Pasture Management and Labor Logistics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Planning ahead is your best defense against South Carolina&#8217;s erratic winter weather patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rotate Smartly:<\/strong> Move animals into winter pastures featuring water sources that naturally resist freezing but take care <strong>not to overgraze<\/strong> or ruin rotational paddocks simply because they offer easier water access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Evaluate Labor and Transportation Costs:<\/strong> Factor in the real-world cost of your time and labor when balancing the logistics of hauling water to remote temporary sites versus moving livestock to permanent, reliable infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consult Local Resources:<\/strong> For water quality questions during the winter season, contact your local Clemson Cooperative Extension Water Resources Agent or Livestock and Forages Agent. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina&#8217;s unpredictable winter weather requires proactive livestock management. Clean, accessible, and unfrozen drinking water is one of the most important factors influencing animal health, feed intake, and overall performance during the winter months. By routinely monitoring water quality, maintaining watering infrastructure, and planning for freezing temperatures, producers can protect both livestock well-being and farm productivity throughout the season. Winter is also a good time to evaluate water quality through laboratory testing, especially when livestock relies on wells, ponds, springs, or surface water sources that may be affected by seasonal runoff or contamination. For more information on water testing contact your local Clemson Cooperative Extension office. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/co\/\">https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/co\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Cows-1024x864.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2859\" style=\"width:416px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Cows-1024x864.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Cows-300x253.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Cows-768x648.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Cows.jpg 1322w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Molly Jones, Clemson Cooperative Extension Area Water Resources Agent Winter is quickly approaching and winter preparations are taking place on livestock operations. Livestock owners are stockpiling winter forages, calculating grain needs, and preparing for spring calving, kidding, and lambing seasons. One of the most vital resources is often overlooked: water. Access to clean, liquid water [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616,13275],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester","tag-water-resources"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2858"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2860,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2858\/revisions\/2860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2858"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2855,"date":"2026-11-13T14:38:30","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T14:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2855"},"modified":"2026-11-13T14:38:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T14:38:31","slug":"what-is-an-arborist-and-why-do-you-need-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/what-is-an-arborist-and-why-do-you-need-one\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an Arborist, and why do you need one?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mike Windhorn, Area Forestry and Wildlife Agent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Healthy trees serve many purposes in your local community.&nbsp; A healthy tree increases property value, beautifies surroundings, supports wildlife, purifies the air we breathe, and saves energy by providing shade from the summer\u2019s heat and protection from the winter wind.&nbsp; Trees in the city or near houses need regular maintenance to promote health and structural integrity.&nbsp; Regular inspections and the necessary care, including pruning, mulching, and fertilizing, can correct problems before they become damaging or fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An arborist is a tree care professional with knowledge of tree biology, insect and disease diagnosis, tree maintenance, and safety practices for using the necessary equipment.&nbsp; A certified arborist has submitted to a voluntary process to document this knowledge and is committed to continuing education to maintain their certification.&nbsp; By hiring an arborist, you ensure your trees get the professional care they need to flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/ISA.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2856\" style=\"width:250px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/ISA.png 500w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/ISA-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/ISA-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/ISA-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An arborist will provide services such as pruning, tree removal, emergency tree care, and planting.&nbsp; Pruning can be necessary to improve health, improve appearance, or remove safety hazards.&nbsp; If you have a tree that is dying or dead, outgrown in its space, a safety risk, or in the way of new construction, tree removal may be the best decision. Storm-damaged trees are dangerous.&nbsp; It\u2019s best to have a professional handle them.&nbsp; An arborist can help you pick a replacement tree that is right for your area and get it off to a healthy start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trees are an invaluable part of our environment, providing beauty, shade, and environmental benefits.&nbsp; Hiring an arborist ensures that your trees get the care they need to thrive.&nbsp; The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) maintains a website, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.TreesAreGood.org\">www.TreesAreGood.org<\/a>, that can help you find more information and an arborist in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mike Windhorn, Area Forestry and Wildlife Agent Healthy trees serve many purposes in your local community.&nbsp; A healthy tree increases property value, beautifies surroundings, supports wildlife, purifies the air we breathe, and saves energy by providing shade from the summer\u2019s heat and protection from the winter wind.&nbsp; Trees in the city or near houses need [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,68375,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-forestry-wildlife","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2855"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2855\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2857,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2855\/revisions\/2857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2855"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2851,"date":"2026-11-12T20:03:16","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T20:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2851"},"modified":"2026-11-12T20:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T20:03:17","slug":"add-whole-food-to-your-holiday-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/add-whole-food-to-your-holiday-table\/","title":{"rendered":"Add Whole Food to Your Holiday Table"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Roxane Cummings, Rural Health &amp; Nutrition Agent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The holidays are a time for enjoying the dishes we look forward to all year. While casseroles and desserts usually take center stage, holiday meals are a wonderful opportunity to bring more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nourishing foods to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adding whole foods doesn\u2019t mean saying goodbye to your favorite casserole, family recipe, or slice of pie. Think of it as an invitation to add color, flavor, and variety to your celebration\u2014while keeping the traditions you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Whole Foods versus Processed Foods: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Whole foods<\/strong> are foods close to their natural state. They usually contain only one ingredient and have no food label. Examples include fresh apples, sweet potatoes, carrots, eggs, and unsalted nuts. Whole foods provide nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats, depending on the food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Minimally processed foods<\/strong> resemble whole foods but have been changed for convenience, safety, or storage.\u00a0 Examples include washed and cut vegetables, canned or frozen fruit without added sugar, plain yogurt, and dried beans. Minimally processed foods contain little or no added ingredients and can make nourishing meals easier and more affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ultra-processed foods<\/strong> look very different from their original form and often contain added sugars, high sodium, saturated fats, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.\u00a0 Examples include many packaged snack cakes, sugary drinks, and some ready-to-eat meals. These foods have long ingredient lists and include unfamiliar additives. Ultra-processed foods offer little or no nutritional value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Simple Additions for your Holiday Menu<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t have to remake every recipe. Choose one or two ideas that sound appealing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start with a colorful appetizer.<\/strong> Serve sliced vegetables with hummus, fruit with a yogurt dip, or unsalted nuts alongside your usual favorites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add a vegetable side.<\/strong> Roast carrots, beets, Brussels sprouts, or green beans with olive oil and herbs. Frozen vegetables work well, too.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use whole grains.<\/strong> Try a wild rice dish with mushrooms and cranberries or add whole-grain rolls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make fruit part of dessert.<\/strong> Offer baked apples, a fruit salad, or pears alongside the holiday cookies and pies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use convenient staples.<\/strong> Frozen vegetables, canned beans, and unsweetened canned fruit can save time. Look for lower-sodium beans and vegetables, or fruit packed in water or its own juice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Rox-Pic1-1024x681.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2852\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.503692101141195;width:699px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Rox-Pic1-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Rox-Pic1-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Rox-Pic1-767x510.png 767w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Rox-Pic1.png 1189w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A few simple additions, like seasonal fruits, roasted vegetables, and whole grains, can bring extra flavor and nourishment to your celebrations. (\ud83d\udcf7 Image Credit- mplsvegan. com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A holiday meal is about more than nutrition. It can be a way to connect with loved ones, honor traditions, and enjoy foods that bring back memories. Your grandmother\u2019s stuffing or a favorite holiday cookie can have a place at the table alongside a colorful salad or a homegrown vegetable side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This season, focus on what you can <strong>add<\/strong> rather than what you should take away. A few whole or minimally processed foods can bring fresh flavors and nourishing variety to a meal that still feels like a celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/about\/employees\/civil-rights.html\">Civil Rights<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roxane Cummings, Rural Health &amp; Nutrition Agent The holidays are a time for enjoying the dishes we look forward to all year. While casseroles and desserts usually take center stage, holiday meals are a wonderful opportunity to bring more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nourishing foods to the table. Adding whole foods doesn\u2019t mean [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4032,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70314,72391,69305],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114925],"class_list":["post-2851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bamberg","category-orangeburg","category-rural-health"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4032"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2851"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2853,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2851\/revisions\/2853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2851"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2846,"date":"2026-11-10T20:14:51","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:14:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2846"},"modified":"2026-11-10T20:14:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:14:52","slug":"three-ways-to-help-prevent-nuisance-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/three-ways-to-help-prevent-nuisance-flooding\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Ways to Help Prevent Nuisance Flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ellen Sturup Comeau, Beaufort County Water Resources Agent<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"429\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Prevent-Nuisance-Flooding.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Prevent-Nuisance-Flooding.jpg 429w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Prevent-Nuisance-Flooding-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 429px) 100vw, 429px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wet winter weather is upon us in the Lowcountry! With the extra rain, we may start to experience poor drainage and nuisance flooding. Stay dry during the holiday season with the following three tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Keep storm drains and ditches clear.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Storm drains and ditches are designed to reduce flooding by moving water away from roads, homes, and businesses. These conveyance systems can be clogged by yard debris, trash, sediment, and\/or overgrown vegetation. When clogged, storm drains and ditches can back up, overflow, and flood nearby properties. To prevent this, remove any trash and yard debris (e.g., pine straw, grass clippings, leaves, and branches) that can be safely reached and either bag them for disposal or compost them as appropriate.&nbsp; Removing excess vegetation and accumulated sediment from ditches will also help keep them flowing appropriately. If you notice significant issues or maintenance needs in your local storm drains and ditches, contact your public works department for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Plant Native Trees.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Native plants are uniquely adapted to Lowcountry site conditions. That means that, on average, native plants can tolerate the hot summers when a month\u2019s worth of rain could be deposited in just one storm, as well as the wet winters where it seems like it could rain for a month straight. These plants tend to have robust root systems that effectively absorb water from sandy soils, thereby increasing the amount of stormwater the soil can store and reducing local flooding. Native trees are especially good at this, and a medium-sized tree can take up as much as 2,380 gallons of rainfall per year! Planting trees, should you have enough space, can help to reduce standing water on your property. Find out how to do so with the <a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/planting-trees-correctly\/\">Planting Trees Correctly Factsheet<\/a> on Clemson\u2019s HGIC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Consider incorporating Best Management Practices (BMPs) like rain barrels and rain gardens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your property experiences consistent nuisance flooding or poor drainage, you may want to consider installing a BMP. BMPs are designed to slow and infiltrate stormwater runoff before it becomes an issue downstream. BMPs are best placed where they can intercept stormwater runoff before it reaches the area of poor drainage. Rain barrels are containers that collect water from your roof and store it for non-potable uses, helping keep some water from saturating the area around your house. Rain gardens are landscaped depressions that can capture excess runoff and use native plants to absorb water before it reaches poorly drained areas. For more information on these BMPs, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/factsheet\/rainwater-harvesting-systems-guidance-for-schoolyard-applications\/\">Rainwater Harvesting Systems Guidance Factsheet<\/a> on Clemson\u2019s HGIC or the Carolina Rain Garden Initiative at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/raingarden\">www.clemson.edu\/raingarden<\/a>,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fabout%2Flegal.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cgerij%40clemson.edu%7C4817d1c8891c45f4ea7008df3f61aa0d%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639299360985520534%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=69XCa75D93s8X%2BzUKKG9pms2dlRBIaebxehjeAyJnok%3D&amp;reserved=0\"><em>Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ellen Sturup Comeau, Beaufort County Water Resources Agent Wet winter weather is upon us in the Lowcountry! With the extra rain, we may start to experience poor drainage and nuisance flooding. Stay dry during the holiday season with the following three tips: 1. Keep storm drains and ditches clear. Storm drains and ditches are designed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70898],"tags":[13275],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2846","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beaufort","tag-water-resources"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2846","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2846"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2846\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2849,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2846\/revisions\/2849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2846"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2846"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2846"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2846"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2841,"date":"2026-11-10T20:02:41","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2841"},"modified":"2026-11-10T20:02:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:02:43","slug":"tis-the-season-for-holiday-cooking-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/tis-the-season-for-holiday-cooking-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Tis the Season for Holiday Cooking Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"429\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Holiday-Turkey.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2842\" style=\"width:542px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Holiday-Turkey.jpg 429w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Holiday-Turkey-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 429px) 100vw, 429px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Fisher, long lines at the grocery store, package deliveries piling up on doorsteps \u2014 yes, it\u2019s beginning to look a lot like the holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All the hectic preparations may prove distracting when it comes to kitchen safety, leading to accidental burns or scalds. According to the National Fire Protection Association, winter holidays are peak days for home cooking fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the end of the year approaching and the holiday festivities drawing near, it is a good time for families to review their fire safety plan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two most important parts of such a plan are knowing the best route to evacuate your house or dwelling and knowing where your fire extinguisher is located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Holiday Cooking Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re hosting a festive get-together or just bringing along a dish, prevent kitchen fires and cook safely with these tips in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep flammable items away from the stovetop, including oven mitts, potholders, food packaging and dish towels. Avoid wearing loose clothing, which could catch fire on burners.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Do not leave cooking unattended. When using the stovetop, stay in the kitchen to keep an eye on the food. If you have something in the oven, check on it frequently; set a timer as a reminder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep the floor clear of any tripping hazards, such as bags or toys. Pets should be kept in another room where they won\u2019t risk getting underfoot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stay alert while cooking on the stove. If you\u2019re tired or have consumed alcohol, let someone else take over.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exercise caution when handling hot liquids and foods, as steam or splashes can cause serious burns, including to the trays, pans and serving dishes they are in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it is time to set the table, place hot liquids and foods in the center of the table, where they are less likely to be knocked over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Kids in the Kitchen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The kitchen can be a risky place for children, especially amid the chaos of holiday preparations. From hot foods and liquids to knives and dangling electrical cords, there are many dangerous things a child can grab off the counter. Maintain a safe environment by keeping hazardous items toward the back of the counter and out of easy reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To avoid any accidental burns or scalds, children should stay at least 3 feet away from the stove. Keep them entertained \u2014 and out of the kitchen \u2014 by setting up activities such as games, puzzles or books in another room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Treat a Burn<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No matter how careful one may be, accidents still happen. If you experience a painful burn, contact your doctor or go to an urgent care clinic or the emergency room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What to Do if There Is a Cooking Fire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a fire ignites in the kitchen, our first instinct may be to pick up the flaming pot or pan and attempt to move it into the sink or outside. However, this is dangerous and can result in hot oil splashing onto you and your home, spreading the fire further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Should a small fire ignite, follow these safety guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do not pour water on it. Water can cause oil to splash, which can not only hurt you but also spread the fire.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slide a lid over the pan to smother the fire, then turn off the stovetop and leave the pan covered until it has completely cooled; alternatively, baking soda can be used to extinguish small grease fires.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If there is an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For larger fires with extensive smoke and heat that are rapidly spreading, get out. Leave the kitchen and close the door behind you to contain the flames. Once you are safe, call 911 or a local emergency number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take your loved ones with you, but do not re-enter your home to get your cellphone, computer or other personal belongings. You may not have a second chance to get out safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With these in mind, you and your loved ones are better prepared for a happy \u2014 and safe \u2014 holiday season, from the kitchen to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Information retrieved from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fisher, M.D. (2026). https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/wellness-and-prevention\/tis-the-season-for-holiday-cooking-safety<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fabout%2Flegal.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cgerij%40clemson.edu%7Cb3126e5e45b44399ccb308df3e9af5d6%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639298507551898030%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3rSLk0r5wdkTcx5L%2FXwzi9AooOPVEW4GyYuflBxIAUA%3D&amp;reserved=0\"><em>Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County According to Fisher, long lines at the grocery store, package deliveries piling up on doorsteps \u2014 yes, it\u2019s beginning to look a lot like the holidays. All the hectic preparations may prove distracting when it comes to kitchen safety, leading to accidental burns or scalds. According [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,72047],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-jasper"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2841"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2845,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2841\/revisions\/2845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2841"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2805,"date":"2026-11-10T19:55:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T19:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2805"},"modified":"2026-11-10T19:55:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T19:55:44","slug":"4-h-christmas-tree-decorating-contest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/4-h-christmas-tree-decorating-contest\/","title":{"rendered":"4-H Christmas Tree Decorating Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Jasper County 4-H Homeschool Club participated in a 4-H Christmas Tree Decorating Contest at the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson, SC.&nbsp; The 4-Hers were instructed to create and decorate a (4-6 ft) artificial tree.&nbsp; All the ornaments and tree skirt were designed by the 4-H members.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Decorate a tree highlighting a 4-H Project area: Natural Resources, Agriculture &amp; Animals, Healthy Living, Civic Engagement (Leadership\/Personal Development), or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Four trees must be registered for the contest to proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rules:<\/strong><br>1. No photos\/names of club members are visible.<br>2. Submit an 8\u201dx11\u201d (portrait orientation) sign to display with your tree. Include<br>theme, 4-H club name or individual name, and county. (Display signs will be<br>placed on the tree after judging.)<br>3. Submit a list of who participated in designing and decorating the tree and<br>detail their role or items they were responsible for (i.e., ornaments, tree skirts,<br>garlands, tree toppers, etc.)<br>4. All ornaments and tree skirts must be made by 4-H\u2019ers during the current 4-H<br>year (since September 1, 2026).<br>4. Trees must be set up and decorated by 4-H youth members only. Adults are<br>not allowed to help.<br>5. Loose materials such as sand, rocks, clay, straw, beans, etc., must be<br>contained, and trees must be able to be easily relocated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Submission Requirements:<\/strong><br>Artificial Tree (4-6ft.)<br>Decorated Tree Skirt<br>Lights (limited to one plug outlet)<br>6&#8242; extension cord<br>Handmade Tree Decorations<br>Page 18<br>Drop off<br>Saturday, October 24<br>9am-5pm<br>Exchange Hall<br>1st place- $20, 2nd place- $15, 3rd place $10<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"759\" data-id=\"2806\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture1-FC-1024x759.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture1-FC-1024x759.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture1-FC-300x222.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture1-FC-768x569.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture1-FC.jpg 1027w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"619\" height=\"531\" data-id=\"2818\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture3.2-FC-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2818\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture3.2-FC-2.jpg 619w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture3.2-FC-2-300x257.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 619px) 100vw, 619px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"455\" data-id=\"2811\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture5-FC.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture5-FC.jpg 550w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture5-FC-300x248.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"568\" height=\"481\" data-id=\"2819\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture4-FC-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture4-FC-1.jpg 568w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture4-FC-1-300x254.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"561\" height=\"538\" data-id=\"2817\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture2-FC-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2817\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture2-FC-2.jpg 561w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture2-FC-2-300x288.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"513\" height=\"452\" data-id=\"2812\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture6-FC.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture6-FC.jpg 513w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture6-FC-300x264.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 513px) 100vw, 513px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"530\" height=\"676\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture7-FC-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2826\" style=\"width:468px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture7-FC-3.jpg 530w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Picture7-FC-3-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 530px) 100vw, 530px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2837\" style=\"width:306px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Black-Modern-Minimal-Logo_edited.jpg 2001w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fabout%2Flegal.html%3FURI%3D%2Fextension%2Fabout%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cgerij%40clemson.edu%7C440517d36a1243809b2e08df3e9524d3%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639298482416078103%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ibu2JqrqtCOG5PeMqcp8vX6DLdQPida6YrmZIkOwriY%3D&amp;reserved=0\"><em>Civil Rights Statement<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Felicia C. Cunningham, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Jasper County The Jasper County 4-H Homeschool Club participated in a 4-H Christmas Tree Decorating Contest at the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson, SC.&nbsp; The 4-Hers were instructed to create and decorate a (4-6 ft) artificial tree.&nbsp; All the ornaments and tree skirt were designed by the 4-H [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,72047],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-jasper"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2805"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2840,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2805\/revisions\/2840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2805"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2833,"date":"2026-11-09T20:50:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T20:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2833"},"modified":"2026-11-09T20:50:48","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T20:50:48","slug":"growing-community-connections-at-the-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/growing-community-connections-at-the-fair\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGrowing Community Connections at the Fair!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Akendra Garrett, Berkeley and Charleston EFNEP Nutrition Educator and<br>Berkeley County Coordinator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Between the rides, food, and festivities, Clemson Extension brought a little education to the fun at the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson! As Berkeley County Coordinator, I set up an exhibit to introduce fairgoers to our office location and the programs, services, and resources available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">With so much land being cleared and so many newcomers calling Berkeley County home, we felt this was a timely opportunity to connect with our growing community. From agriculture, horticulture, gardening, and soil testing to 4-H Youth Development, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), and rural health, we wanted residents to know that Clemson Extension is here to help.\u00a0 Whether you\u2019re new to the county or have called it home for years, we invite you to discover what your local Extension office can do for you!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"794\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/image-1024x794.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/image-1024x794.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/image-300x233.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/image-767x595.png 767w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/image.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Akendra Garrett, Berkeley and Charleston EFNEP Nutrition Educator andBerkeley County Coordinator Between the rides, food, and festivities, Clemson Extension brought a little education to the fun at the Coastal Carolina Fair in Ladson! As Berkeley County Coordinator, I set up an exhibit to introduce fairgoers to our office location and the programs, services, and resources [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13303,69613,905,69305],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-4-h","category-efnep","category-horticulture","category-rural-health","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2833"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2836,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2833\/revisions\/2836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2833"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2829,"date":"2026-11-09T20:25:52","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T20:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2829"},"modified":"2026-11-09T20:25:53","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T20:25:53","slug":"pet-waste-stinks-help-protect-our-waterways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/pet-waste-stinks-help-protect-our-waterways\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Waste Stinks! Help Protect Our Waterways"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SAMANTHA PORZELT, WATER RESOURCES AGENT FOR BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know that pet waste is more than just an unpleasant mess? It can also contribute to water pollution in our local waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bacteria is the most frequently listed water pollutant in South Carolina, and pet waste is one source of bacterial pollution. When pet waste is left on the ground, rain can wash harmful bacteria into storm drains, creeks, and rivers through stormwater runoff. Unlike wastewater, which is sent to a treatment facility, stormwater runoff is generally not treated before reaching our waterways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just how much pet waste are we talking about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Carolina has an estimated 1,423,000 dogs, and the average dog produces approximately 0.75 pounds of waste each day. That amounts to more than 1 million pounds of dog waste deposited across the state every day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"381\" height=\"805\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/pet-waste-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2831 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/pet-waste-1.png 381w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/pet-waste-1-142x300.png 142w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 381px) 100vw, 381px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What Can You Do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news is that preventing pet waste pollution is easy. Whether you&#8217;re walking your dog around the neighborhood or letting them out in your backyard, a few simple habits can make a difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clean up after your pet every time. This includes both your yard and public spaces, including sidewalks, trails, and parks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always bring a bag! Keep waste bags handy when walking your dog so you&#8217;re prepared to clean up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dispose of pet waste properly. Place bagged pet waste in the trash. Pet waste should never be used as fertilizer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Picking up after your pet is a small action that can have a big impact on protecting local water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick Up a Rack Card!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to share this information with your neighbors, community members, or event attendees? Our <em>Pet Waste Stinks!<\/em> educational rack card is available at the Charleston County Clemson Extension Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you would like copies for an upcoming event or community outreach activity, reach out to Samantha Porzelt (<a href=\"mailto:sporzel@clemson.edu\">sporzel@clemson.edu<\/a>) or Bea Calhoun (<a href=\"mailto:beatris@clemson.edu\">beatris@clemson.edu<\/a>) at the Charleston County Extension Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Together, we can help keep pet waste where it belongs and protect the waterways we all enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about stormwater with Carolina Clear and the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/carolinaclear\/regional-consortiums\/acsec\/index.html\">clemson.edu\/extension\/carolinaclear\/regional-consortiums\/acsec<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SAMANTHA PORZELT, WATER RESOURCES AGENT FOR BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES Did you know that pet waste is more than just an unpleasant mess? It can also contribute to water pollution in our local waterways. Bacteria is the most frequently listed water pollutant in South Carolina, and pet waste is one source of bacterial pollution. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616,13275],"coauthors":[114923],"class_list":["post-2829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester","tag-water-resources"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2829"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2832,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2829\/revisions\/2832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2829"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2801,"date":"2026-11-05T16:44:20","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T16:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2801"},"modified":"2026-11-05T16:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T16:44:22","slug":"chfff-fabulous-fifth-graders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/chfff-fabulous-fifth-graders\/","title":{"rendered":"CHFFF Fabulous Fifth Graders:"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Patti Chapman, Beaufort County EFNEP Nutrition Educator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9d260ee2 wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns wp-container-content-72558541 is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman1-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Patti-Chapman2-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fifth-grade students pictured here are busy working on filling half of their plates with fruits and vegetables &#8211; making sure to get three servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables each day. &nbsp;Also pictured are students looking at the nutrition facts labels of drinks and measuring out how much added sugar is included. These two activities are just a few of the hands-on exercises that are done during the &#8220;Choose Health: Food, Fun, and Fitness Program.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patti Chapman, the Beaufort County EFNEP Nutrition Educator, has worked diligently for the past few years to build relationships with the PE teachers at elementary schools in the county. She provides free nutrition education from the Choose Health: Food, Fun and Fitness curriculum to the students during their PE classes. Students love Patti&#8217;s classes and getting to try new foods and recipes. Patti also facilitates new games and activities that promote moving well and she encourages students to engage their whole families in fitness activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fabout%2Flegal.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cgerij%40clemson.edu%7C0e30df4a32cd4b7b1c1008df3b52df17%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639294899334699738%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=uJfgOzonw%2FWtp3z2ydVeaF%2B7uPE%2B1E%2BcbuE7I8ZDB5Q%3D&amp;reserved=0\">Civil Rights Statement<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Patti Chapman, Beaufort County EFNEP Nutrition Educator The fifth-grade students pictured here are busy working on filling half of their plates with fruits and vegetables &#8211; making sure to get three servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables each day. &nbsp;Also pictured are students looking at the nutrition facts labels of drinks and measuring [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70898,69613],"tags":[],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beaufort","category-efnep"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2801"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2804,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2801\/revisions\/2804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2801"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":2796,"date":"2026-11-04T18:56:41","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T18:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/?p=2796"},"modified":"2026-11-04T18:56:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T18:56:43","slug":"winter-chores-for-the-home-gardener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/winter-chores-for-the-home-gardener\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Chores for the Home Gardener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marion Barnes &#8211; Senior County Extension Agent &#8211; Clemson University<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Raking-Leaves-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2798\" style=\"width:493px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Raking-Leaves-1.jpg 360w, https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/files\/2026\/11\/Raking-Leaves-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many gardeners have mixed feelings about fall, some may be a bit sad to see all the fresh warm season vegetable production come to an end but at the same time, glad to get a much-needed break from watering, weeding and the numerous chores it takes to keep a garden. If you did not plant a fall garden, it\u2019s a great time to inspect, clean and repair your tools before you put them away for the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a gardener, there are few things more frustrating than to pull out the gardening tools in the spring and find hoes and other hand tools broken or rusty, a tiller that won\u2019t start or hoses that are cracked and leaking. Gardening tools are expensive, but with a little maintenance, care and forethought, you can make your tools last from season to season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following is a short checklist for storing gardening tools for the winter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hoes, shovels and other hand tools:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clean dirt and other built-up residues from all hand tools. Dirt harbors moisture that will cause metal to rust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sharpen blades with a whetstone or file and apply a thin coat of light, three-in-one, or household oil to prevent rust while in storage. Wear safety glasses and leather gloves when cleaning and sharpening hand tools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lubricate pivot points on clippers, pruning shears and loppers and sharpen edges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace broken or cracked handles and make sure handles are splinter free. Smooth \u00a0handles with medium-grit sandpaper in necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Properly store long handle tools such as hoes, rakes, shovels in a dry location. For smaller tools such a garden trowels, consider storing in a bucket so they are easier to locate in the spring. A plastic five gallon bucket works well. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Water hoses and sprinklers systems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drain irrigation and water hoses and clean and inspect for cracks. Store water hoses out the sun in a shed, outbuilding or other appropriate location.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace missing or worn washers and connect hose ends to prevent insects and other small critters from hibernating in the hoses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a0Drain and clean out water timers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inspect and lubricate sprinkler heads. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Tomato cages<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clean off tomato cages and stack &amp; store out of the way.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Repair damaged cages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sprayers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pesticide sprayers should be triple rinsed, dried and stored out of the elements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check hoses, fittings or clamps, strainers and nozzles. Replace worn hoses or nozzles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Garden tillers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clean your garden tiller of any dirt or excessive oil buildup.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for oil leaks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stale fuel is often a major cause of engine problems in the spring. Consult the operators manual or a small engine expert concerning fuel stabilizers and other acceptable alternatives for winter storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check spark plug, clean or replace air filter, change oil and filter and lubricate grease fittings prior to storage for the off season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check oil levels in gear box and \/ or transmission.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check for loose nuts and bolts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean dirt from digging tines and replace worn blades as necessary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure tires are properly inflated and inspect drive belts if so equipped.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace any damaged or missing safety shields or guards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Store tiller in a dry location out of winter weather. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other off-season or winter activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take and submit a soil sample. Winter is a great time to amend the soil with lime if the pH is low.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Browse seed catalogs or online sources for spring seed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make a plan for next seasons garden plantings. Keep in mind crop rotation to reduce\u00a0 weed, insect and disease pressure. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try at least one new vegetable variety. Plant breeders are continually developing new and improved varieties that offer enhanced disease and pest resistance as well as improved yields.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeping records or a garden journal is a handy way to record information about plants or varieties that preformed best, weather events, soil conditions or simply as a reminder to keep from repeating gardening mistakes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make a list of garden tools and supplies needed for the spring, they make great Christmas gifts for the home gardener. \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t forget about your \u201cfeathered friends\u201d. A bluebird house or bird feeder is a great addition to home gardens or yards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a>For more information on home gardening, contact your local Clemson Extension Office.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fabout%2Flegal.html&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cgerij%40clemson.edu%7C31429f821942430b21cc08df3aa345c8%7C0c9bf8f6ccad4b87818d49026938aa97%7C0%7C0%7C639294145063294675%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=VpAjaqvBe7ubUPRXBys4eelxusMHfsmHJrI8ZJMs548%3D&amp;reserved=0\"><em>Civil Rights<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marion Barnes &#8211; Senior County Extension Agent &#8211; Clemson University Many gardeners have mixed feelings about fall, some may be a bit sad to see all the fresh warm season vegetable production come to an end but at the same time, glad to get a much-needed break from watering, weeding and the numerous chores it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3978,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4930,70041,70314,70572,70898,71463,71749,72047],"tags":[72614,15606,72616],"coauthors":[114926],"class_list":["post-2796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agribusiness","category-allendale","category-bamberg","category-barnwell","category-beaufort","category-colleton","category-hampton","category-jasper","tag-berkeley","tag-charleston","tag-dorchester"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2796"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2796\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2799,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2796\/revisions\/2799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2796"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/savannahvalley\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]