Month: February 2025

The project is a collaborative effort by Clemson Cooperative Extension, the SC Sea Grant Consortium, the SC Water Resources Center, and Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenville.

Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenville, 201 Smythe Street, Greenville, SC 29611. The exhibition is available through March 22, 2025, Saturdays (11am-5pm), free admission. https://www.scseagrant.org/beyondthesurface/

Upcoming events: Please visit the Clemson Extension Events Calendar for information on various events.

Photograph: Beyond the Surface team members included (L-R) representatives from Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenville (Brooks Stevens, John Cummings), Clemson Cooperative Extension (Masha Bokar, Heather Nix), S.C. Sea Grant Consortium (Brooke Saari, Lola Renauer, Nora Walker), and the SC Water Resources Center (Jeff Allen, PhD).
 Image Credit: Noah Stillman, S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

Camilla Herndon is the new Rural Health and Nutrition Agent in Greenville County. Camilla brings her skills and experience in health education, grants management, and community partnerships to her new role.

Camilla recently trained to deliver Know Diabetes by Heart, a joint initiative between the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association, to improve individuals’ understanding of the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. During the program, participants learn six practical strategies to reduce their risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Camilla will begin delivering the Know Diabetes by Heart program to community partners in Greenville and Laurens counties. Any organization interested in hosting a Know Diabetes by Heart program can email Camilla (herndo3@clemson.edu) to schedule. To sign up for a virtual Know Diabetes by Heart session, visit the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service’s EventBrite. There is no cost to attend.

South Carolina’s green industry includes landscape service providers, nursery growers, greenhouse growers, and floral producers. Researchers have not been able to capture the economic contributions of these businesses to SC’s economy. Horticulture agent Drew Jeffers is surveying green industry professionals to capture this data to understand better and assist the specific needs of SC’s green industry.

            Data are being collected on products produced, services rendered, total sales, employee retention efforts, and what gaps they need in outreach from Clemson Extension. Information collected will be shared with the U.S. Farmgate survey partners and presented to extension professionals to determine what better services and educational outreach can be provided to these stakeholders. The survey is open through the end of February and results will likely be published by the end of the year.

South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional (SCCLP) Training Set to Expand

            Since its inception in 2020, the South Carolina Certified Landscape Professional (SCCLP) has had over 500 participants complete the program and obtain this certification. The training is online and on-demand, allowing professionals to adapt the training to their schedules and still work their regular schedules. The training covers soils, plant physiology, plant material identification, plant care, turf care, pest management, and low-impact development. In 2024, an advanced training on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was launched as a follow-up course.

            The program has gained much success and has been expanded into community college horticulture programs, as well as a partnership with the SC Department of Corrections to offer the training to soon-to-be-released inmates. Recently, horticulture agent Drew Jeffers has begun working with Clemson Extension Agricultural education agents and SC K12 educators to bring the SCCLP to high school agriculture programs. This partnership would significantly add skilled labor to South Carolina’s labor pool, which the state’s landscape professionals find lacking.

I’d like to discuss a few things to be mindful of when dealing with trees after a storm, be it a hurricane, tornado, torrential rain, or snowstorm.

First, power lines. I recently spoke with a representative from Blue Ridge Electric (BRE) and asked, “What should someone do if they see a tree on a powerline?” They quickly responded to call the power company and report it. Do not ever assume that the line is dead and do not attempt to go near it. Do not attempt to cut a tree that is leaning on it. BRE has mandatory step-by-step protocols that their employees must follow when dealing with powerlines, and they always assume it is energized until proven otherwise. They stated that even if a line appears dead, it may become energized at any given moment. They appreciate people willing to help out by trying to cut trees off themselves, but that is an extremely high-risk, life-threatening decision. Just report the issue and leave it to them to take care of it. Likewise for a wire crossing the road. Never attempt to move it. Report it immediately. These issues are usually dealt with immediately so call it in and be patient.

If you see crews actively working on a scene, they ask that you not approach the scene or crew. There may be energized wires or surfaces. You’ll notice they are wearing proper protective gear and are protected; you may not be. It may also cause a distraction to the workers which could put you or them at risk of danger. Once again, just call in and report the issue.

Next on the list, broken limbs. Many times, storms break off tree limbs, and they get hung up in the crown of the tree. It could take just the smallest of breezes to dislodge the limb and cause serious injury. Don’t ever underestimate the weight of those limbs! Be mindful not to stand directly under trees just after a storm or on windy days.

And what about a tree that has snapped or blown over? Is it completely on the ground, or is it lodged in another tree, bank, or even a structure? Using a chainsaw on trees left in precarious conditions is extremely dangerous! There are certain cutting methods to be followed when removing downed trees that are hung up or lodged against something. If you are not trained, let a professional handle it.

And finally, please be patient, with yourself and others. Going through a damaging storm is very stressful, and you never know what someone may have endured. Once it is safe to get back out on the road, drive carefully as you could come upon a downed tree across the road in a split second.

Written by Carolyn Dawson, Clemson Extension Forestry agent for the Upstate

Cohort Two of the Clemson Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver program graduated at the Philips Market Center in Columbia, SC on January 29, 2025. Participants completed a two-part training program consisting of an eight-week self-paced online training course and a two-day in-person intensive course. Participants then completed 30 hours of volunteer service alongside Clemson Cooperative Extension Food Systems and Safety Agents. Activities conducted by the participants included home food preservation workshops and demonstrations, community outreach informational booths, pressure canner gauge testing, public school food preservation classes, and the dissemination of research-based information about safe home food preservation methods across South Carolina.

Five graduates from Cohort Two are in Upstate South Carolina and represent Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Oconee counties. These graduates add to the nine Master Food Preservers from Cohort One in the Upstate which represent Greenville, Pickens, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Oconee counties. Additionally, five new Upstate participants from Cohort Three are beginning the volunteer service hour portion of their Master Food Preserver training.

Look to find Master Food Preservers at your local farmers markets, community centers, county fairs and other locations across the Upstate to learn about safe home food preservation.

If you are interested in home food preservation information or want to become a Clemson Cooperative Extension Master Food Preserver contact Food Systems and Safety Agent Alex Thompson by email (art6@clemson.edu) or by phone (864-986-1286).

Spring Registration Now Open!

Are you ready to savor the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round? Join us this spring at the Midlands Food Preservation Workshops, where you can learn the art of canning from farm-to-table. Our unique, hands-on workshops offer the perfect opportunity to dive into the world of home food preservation, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner.

What to Expect

Participants will engage in hand-on activities using the latest recommended techniques for preserving foods at home. You’ll leave with the items you’ve prepared, a comprehensive resource book, printed materials, and the confidence to safely preserve food at home.

• Cost: $35 per workshop
• Class Size: Limited to 10 participants (minimum of 5)
• What to Bring: Your own snack/lunch and closed-toe shoes

Workshop Schedule

March: York County – Pressure Canning

• Dates:
  • Friday, March 7th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, March 8th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: York Extension Office, 120 North Congress St., York, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, February 28th at 12 PM

March: Kershaw County – Pickling

• Dates:
  • Friday, March 28th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, March 29th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: FCL Homemaker’s Building, 634 W Dekalb St., Camden, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, March 21st at 12 PM

June: Kershaw County – Jams, Jellies & Soft Spreads

• Dates:
  • Friday, June 27th, 10 AM – 2 PM
  • Saturday, June 28th, 10 AM – 2 PM
• Location: FCL Homemaker’s Building, 634 W Dekalb St., Camden, SC
• Registration Close Date: Friday, June 20th at 12 PM

Don’t miss the chance to learn valuable skills that will benefit you and your family. 
Reserve your spot today and embark on a delicious journey into the world of food preservation!

Hello! My name is Mallory Fulmer, and I am the new Newberry County 4-H Youth Development Agent.  I am from Prosperity, South Carolina. I grew up in Newberry County and attended Newberry College where I received my degree in early childhood education. After graduating, I completed my master’s degree in reading with a focus in early childhood literacy. I am so excited for this new opportunity and look forward to serving Newberry County as the new 4-H Youth Development Agent! I look forward to providing Newberry 4-H members with lots of exciting project, club, and workshop opportunities! Make sure to follow us on Facebook to see all the fun events we will have this year!

What’s Happening in Newberry County 4-H?

2025 is off to a great start so far for Newberry County 4-H. We brought in the new year with a new agent by hosting a NYE baking workshop for youth in our county. 4-H’ers got the opportunity to mix, measure, and decorate holiday themed treats to take home and share with their families. Newberry County 4-H also has two clubs that have started up this year. The Cooking Club and STEM Club, both being offered to clovers and juniors. This year in the Cooking Club we are cooking by colors. Each meeting we make a new recipe that is the color we have selected. So far this year we have made blue cloud bread and pizza roses! Aside from having fun with color recipes, club members are learning fundamental kitchen skills and cooking techniques. STEM club is also off to a great start. We have learned about the importance of strong foundations in buildings during earthquakes by designing and building our own towers and simulating earthquakes. At STEM club we love bringing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to life by providing club members with fun hands-on learning opportunities. This spring we will be starting Embryology in partnership with teachers from Newberry County School District. We have had a blast incubating our own chicks in preparation for the project! As summer approaches we will have more workshop and camp opportunities. Be on the lookout for updates!