3 minute read
RIVERSTEAD
Next Article
A RESILIENT LIVING COMMUNITY
Words by Michelle McCollum
Arecent project led me on a quest around the South Carolina Upstate to find a location for a meeting with community leaders on the topic of conservation and resilient living. I was not interested in the average meeting space; I wanted to be outdoors for this conversation so the setting would complement the subject and stimulate discussion. My search led me to a very unique community tucked away in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains – Riverstead.
Riverstead is a gated community encompassing over 400 acres of land, with 250 acres dedicated to nature conservation. Within the 250 acres – dubbed “Riverstead Park” – are over six miles of hiking and bike trails, and 2.5 miles of river access for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. As you pull through the gate and drive over the first hill, the majestic Blue Ridge Mountain Range is there to greet you. It’s a beautiful, panoramic view making you stop and simply say, “wow”. thesouthernedgemagazine.com 11
It was not only the location and beauty of this community that caught my attention, but also the philosophy behind its development, which is resilient living. Resilience is defined as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; some would even call this trait, “toughness”. “Resilient living”, however, is about so much more than the ability to recover from adversity; it’s a way of living that puts you in greater control of your life journey. It’s about living with intention.
“We belong in nature, and benefit by being immersed in it,” explained Lucas Anthony, one of community developers. “Riverstead sprouted from the hearts of individuals dedicated to their families, wanting to give future generations the same access to natural beauty that they had growing up. A place where families can reconnect with nature, and each other.”
Families can bike ride, hike, kayak, fish, and enjoy the community pool. And, there’s more. An organic farm is part of Riverstead providing fresh fruits, vegetables, honey and eggs; and, members of the community are provided opportunities to be involved with and learn from the farm. Finally, at the heart of Riverstead, is the community gathering place – the Pavilion – where community events take place on a regular basis.
We held our meeting at the Pavilion, and it was the perfect spot for our talk on conservation. The scenes were breath-taking, and the conversation was stimulating. I am very sure that many of our participants will be back soon, maybe permanently.
The South Carolina 7 held our Fireside Chat on Resilient Living with the Lt. Governor, Pamela Evette, and other community leaders.
