Author: jrddl

Craft beer is coming to Clemson!

Upstate Food Systems and Safety Agent Alex Thompson, Clemson Extension Associate Chad Carter, Horticulture Agent Zack Snipes, and Dr. Julie Northcutt are working to develop and implement a brewing program to serve the South Carolina brewing industry and the public through Clemson Cooperative Extension.

According to the South Carolina Brewers Guild, 95 craft breweries in South Carolina produce 105,620 brewery barrels (3,274,220 gallons) of beer annually, with a yearly economic impact of $905 million on the South Carolina economy. The South Carolina brewing industry is a major driving force of economic development across the state. Clemson Cooperative Extension is looking to improve the lives and livelihood of South Carolinians by offering research-based solutions, workforce development programs, and product testing related to brewing science.

Clemson Cooperative Extension funds the development of the Clemson Cooperative Extension Brewing Program through the 2022 Innovation Awards. This award funds the purchase of brewing equipment, lab devices, and the creation of course materials to develop brewing science training for South Carolinians. This program will provide services for stakeholders who own and operate breweries, who currently work at breweries, hope to work in the brewing industry, or are just curious about brewing and want to learn more.

Over the coming months, progress will be made towards the first offering in the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service Brewing Program for South Carolina, a “Learn to Brew” workshop that will be open to the public. This workshop will be offered both in-person and online and will teach participants the entirety of the brewing process from grain to glass. Furthermore, an optional program day will be hosted on the Clemson University campus, where participants will get a brewing experience. This workshop portion will allow students to interact with brewing equipment and learn about the brewing process in real time as they produce beer from raw materials.

Craft beer is a major part of the South Carolina economy, and Clemson Cooperative Extension is poised to assist South Carolina brewers and consumers as the industry continues to grow.

Alex Thompson, Food Systems and Safety Agent

An On-Farm planting located at a cooperating farm has established new experimental grape varieties and new muscadine cultivars. Fruit harvest began two weeks ago with ‘Rhazzmatazz,’ a novel seedless hybrid muscadine-vinifera hybrid grape developed by Gardens Alive plant breeder Jeff Bloodworth.

The next grape I just started harvesting is ‘Oh My,’ another seedless cultivar from the same company. Muscadine plants we are evaluating but have not started picking are ‘Paulk’ and ‘Ruby Crisp.’ These are University of Georgia cultivars donated by Dr. Patrick Conner. Other experimental varieties will not begin fruiting till next year as plants were planted one year after initial planting. Yield and quality data on these varieties are being collected for direct farm application. Information from this planting and the demonstration grape farm at Clemson’s Musser Farm assists several new muscadine farmers in the upstate.

Five farmers from several counties toured the Musser Farm to observe small fruit production. Three farmers recently accompanied me to Gardens Alive Farm in Kings Mountain to consider newer varieties.

Grapes fit well into fall production programs, especially for anyone growing pumpkins and doing Fall field days. We know what works now, but many new varieties are being cultivated. We will be ready for what is coming next with the information we gather from these trials.

Andy Rollins, Upstate Fruit & Vegetable Agent

Greenville Wet & Wild Camp is made possible through the enduring partnership between 4-H and Greenville County Soil and Water Conservation District. This week-long science education camp focuses on the natural world around us! From wetlands to wildlife, 45 campers experienced the beauty and complexity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems while gaining an understanding and appreciation for all things wet and wild. Due to increasing popularity, we offered 2 weeks of camp this year. In its 7^th year, Wet and Wild Camp 2022 was held from June 27 – 30 (ages 6-8) and July 11-14 (ages 9-12) at Conestee Park in Mauldin, SC. Wet & Wild Camp activities begin in the clouds with the water cycle, dive into different water-based habitats, explore creatures above and below the surface, and teach how to keep our waterways clean, healthy, and happy!

Junior Master Gardener Camp was hosted by Roper Mountain Science Center July 18-29, 2022, and is made possible through a partnership with 4-H and the Greater Greenville Master Gardeners Association.  The Junior Master Gardener program is an international youth gardening program of the university cooperative Extension network. JMG engaged 14 children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that provide a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment and cultivate the mind. JMG also inspires youths to be of service to others through service learning and leadership development projects and rewards them with certification and recognition. Children can get involved in exploring their world through meaningful activities that encourage leadership development, personal pride and responsibility, and community involvement. Youth involved in the program develop critical thinking skills, and the ability to identify community concerns and take action to address them through individual group projects.

Patricia Whitener, 4-H Youth Development Agent

Do you have 1 to 10 acres of woods in your backyard? Would you like to reduce your lawn, plant trees, and invite wildlife to your suburban lot, all while becoming a better steward of your small parcel of land?

The Woods In Your Backyard workshop is designed with the small landowner in mind. It will help you to effectively care for forests and wildlife and increase your enjoyment of the land. You will learn to recognize and manage invasive plants & pests. It will identify potential income sources and help you understand how your land relates to the land around you.

Owners of even just a few acres can make a positive difference in their environment through planning and implementing the simple stewardship practices you will learn at The Woods In Your Backyard Workshop. Participants who own forested land, have natural areas, or are interested in turning mowed lawns into natural areas, are invited to attend! This workshop is designed specifically (but not exclusively) for smaller landowners, those with 1-10 acres.

Please contact Carolyn Dawson, Clemson Extension Forestry agent, at Dawson4@clemson.edu for more information. Date: October 15^th, Hayden Conference Center, Clemson, SC

To register for the workshop click here.

This past spring and summer have been extremely busy but incredibly fun keeping up with the enthusiasm for gardening that is alive and well in Greenville County! The Horticulture program team has offered many programs and opportunities for education that keep beginner and advanced gardeners both in mind.

Foodscaping was an online webinar series we launched in May that spanned over five days featuring a different speaker each day. Topics ranged from soil health to preserving and canning vegetables to choosing fruit trees and shrubs for your landscape.

Growing Health has been a successful program aimed at educating and equipping new gardeners with plants and information to get them growing and eating healthier! This has been a successful program collaboration with the horticulture and the health team (Melissa Bales, Greenville County Health Agent). So far, we have had two programs and are planning our next one for October 6.

Photography In the Garden was a very successful 2-day webinar series aimed at improving master gardeners’ photography skills taught by Dr. Madeline Dowling of Clemson University. The 2^nd day was about botany basics and using taxonomic language and terminology to help aid in plant identification.

Upcoming events include Resisting Resistance, where participants will learn the importance of rotating pesticides with different modes of action. Wreath Making Workshop at Greenville State Farmers Market, Autumnfest, and a Dealing with Invasives workshop.

The Greenville County 2022 Master Gardner Volunteer Training Class wrapped up in May, where 16 of 17 students passed the class and are working towards their 40 hours of educational service; some of them have already finished their hours! The next course will be offered in the spring of 2023.

The Class of 2022 sponsored an arboretum revitalization project at Roper Mountain Science Center. The class has been working hard on removing invasive species, pruning shrubs and trees, and clearing pathways.

Master Gardeners have been an incredible educational resource this summer and will continue into the fall.

Answering the public gardening questions and sharing research-based information at Ask-A-Master-Gardener booths:

Simpsonville Farmers Market

Travelers Rest Farmers Market

Greenville State Farmers Market on Rutherford Road

Rent-A-Master Gardener:

From spring to fall, master gardeners have been visiting Greenville County residents’ homes, forming relationships with clients, walking around their landscapes, and making notes while listening to their needs/problems. Then the team compiles their messages into a detailed report for the homeowner to use as a reference guide/educational resource for the clients. Proceeds from Rent-A-Master-Gardener go into scholarship funds and community garden grants available to the public.

Mary Vargo, Horticulture Agent 

Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Rural Health and Nutrition Team offers a fantastic resource for those living with diabetes in Greenville County through the Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) program. The Health Extension for Diabetes program is an American Diabetes Association recognized practice-tested diabetes support program for people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the program is to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need, along with the necessary support, to prevent complications associated with diabetes. The program is delivered through a series of 16 online group education and support sessions over 4 months.

Each session lasts an hour and incorporates education as well as support group components. The goal of the program is to help provide participants with the education, resources, and support they need to better manage diabetes. Session topics include healthy eating, physical activity, managing stress, medications and monitoring, and more. You must be 18 years old to participate and have a diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Please contact Ellie Lane at jelane@clemson.edu or 864-986-1138 for more information or any questions. Follow this link for additional information and to register for an upcoming class: https://clemson.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07gV9gl3ZHOAohU.

Ellie Lane, Statewide Rural Health and Nutrition Extension Agent

Questions about pond weeds are common throughout the summer. As water temperatures warm, cyanobacteria blooms can occur more frequently. While there are many cyanobacteria species that can look different in a pond – all are capable of producing toxins, so care should be taken to avoid or limit contact with these blooms as much as possible. The Land Grant Press (LGP) article Introduction to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in South Carolina Freshwater Systems provides more detailed information.

The CU Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic can evaluate samples to confirm if a bloom is cyanobacteria and will provide specific control recommendations. See Submitting an Algae Sample for Identification for more information. In the meantime, there are a couple do it yourself tests that help indicate if a bloom is cyanobacteria; instructions are provided in the recently published HGIC Fact Sheet Do It Yourself: Visual Indicators, Stick Test, and Jar Test for Cyanobacteria.

Water planning efforts continue throughout the state to ensure plentiful, clean water for future generations. The recently published LGP article Water Withdrawal Regulations in South Carolina provides an overview to increase understanding of the current rules. The SC Department of Natural Resources is leading creation of River Basin Councils in each of SC’s eight major river basins; these Councils will work over a two-year period to draft a River Basin Plan. The Edisto RBC is nearing completion of the first draft of the Edisto River Basin Plan. The Broad River Basin Council started meeting earlier this year and is currently accepting applications for representatives from Local Government, Industry, or Economic Development.

Upcoming events include the SC Water Chats webinars focusing on Source Water Protection (Free! 9/20 and 9/22, @1:00pm) and several free Adopt-A-Stream volunteer water quality monitoring trainings are offered in Spartanburg this fall. See the Clemson Extension Events Calendar for the latest water-related event information.

Heather Nix, Water Resource Agent

Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Rural Health Team offers virtual yoga classes every Wednesday from 12-12:30 PM. Yoga for Every Body is an all-levels, gentle yoga class designed to help you get more movement during your week. Modifications are offered to complement all abilities, with the option to participate from a comfortable seat or standing. By participating in these weekly classes, you will learn to listen to your body’s cues to find what feels good, reduce stress, increase flexibility and physical activity, and cultivate a practice of gratitude to help shift your perspective.

If interested, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-little-goes-a-long-way-weekly-yoga-for-every-body-tickets-138693376623.

By attending just one class, you gain access to our library of all prior recorded classes, too! Join 10 Yoga for Every Body classes + 1 additional Rural Health Team program this year to participate in our 2022 Challenge! After completing the challenge, you will receive a yoga goodie box with a yoga strap, blocks, and therapy balls to help customize your unique yoga experience.

Ellie Lane, Health Extension Agent

Looking to be more active in 2022? Join Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Rural Health Team Program, WalkSC, to reach your physical activity goals this year. WalkSC is a 12-week walking program based around personal step counting.

WalkSC includes weekly interactions with a Clemson Extension Rural Health Agent via email. These emails provide “weekly walking challenges” corresponding to a section of the South Carolina Palmetto Trail. Meet your step goals every week and you will have virtually walked the 500-mile Palmetto Trail spanning from upstate South Carolina to the coast, all while learning about yourself and the state!

WalkSC is self-paced: get your exercise in when it is most convenient for you! The only requirements from us are completion of a pre and post program survey.

Steps can be counted with smartphone apps or wearable devices such as a Fitbit, smart watch, or pedometer. Once enrolled, the Rural Health Agent can assist you in tracking your steps if you do not have access to any of these options.

 We offer multiple dates throughout the year to join! If interested, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walksc-tickets-241972836267

Ellie Lane, Health Extension Agent

Health Extension in Greenville County has been very busy this winter! Since November 2021, we have received 471 interests for our Health Extension for Diabetes program. We are on track to have 3 full classes filled in February! Health Extension for Diabetes is also expanding into Spanish classes. Beginning this spring, we will be able to offer this program 100 percent in Spanish to reach a broader audience in the county. In addition, our Diabetes Prevention Program will be starting new groups this spring as well. For more information on the Diabetes Prevention Program or Health Extension for Diabetes, you can call or email Health Extension Agent Melissa Bales at 864-365-0635 or mbales@clemson.edu. If you missed the Know Diabetes by Heart program on the link between heart disease and diabetes in 2021, you still have time to sign up at https://knowdiabetesbyheart.eventbrite.com/! Classes for Know Diabetes by Heart will continue through 2022.

Melissa Bales, Health Extension Agent