The Southern Edge - Spring 2024 Issue

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The 7 “must see” places in South Carolina

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SC7 2024: Building Healthy People & Healthy Pla ces

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SC7 EXP EDI T ION: w or ds fr om SC7 Expedition Team Lea de r Tom Mullikin

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Philosophy We believe the idea of tradition is ingrained in the souls of Southerners. We have a relentless respect for our deep heritage and an unwavering dedication to living out the traditions of the past.

We believe tradition can be honored while simultaneously welcoming contemporary thought and style and that there is a movement to merge these two lifestyles through intentional, healthy and meaningful living.

We believe happiness is rooted in simplicity. If our minds and places are free of clutter, there is more room for things that matter.

We believe local is better. It’s about being a part of a larger community. It’s about connecting with

those who grow, catch, brew and create our food and that closer means fresher, tastier and healthier.

It’s choosing fruits and vegetables in season, drinking wines from vineyards in the region, seeking out the work of local artisans and supporting independent, locally owned stores.

We believe in leaving a positive fingerprint. The measure of our success will be the condition on which we leave the world for the next generation.

We believe these thoughts embody the emergence of the “New South” and we’re honored to be presenting this movement in our pages.

Thank you for joining us on this journey.

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HEART

60-61: NOW is the TIME

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LIFE

FLAVOR

64-67: FLIGHTS WITH FRIENDS at ELEVATION 966 WINERY

8-13: SOUTH CAROLINA 7: Building Healthy People & Healthy Places

68-73: RAISING a TOAST to SOBRIETY The Growing Popularity of Mocktails

14-23: WHAT ARE the 7 WONDERS? 30-35: 50 YEARS on the CHATTOOGA RIVER 36-43: SUSTAINING the SOUL of the LOWCOUNTRY 44-47: RESCUING the ICONIC AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE 48-53: TONIC for the SOUL 54-55: SOUTH CAROLINA TRAIL TOWNS PROJECT Putting Palmetto State Municipalities on the Map

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WELLNESS

76-79: SPRING CLEANING: Liver Edition

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers,

I hope this letter finds you well and ready to embrace the beauty of spring. Our organization, the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, not only publishes this magazine, but we’re also a partner in the state’s annual South Carolina 7 Expedition (SC7). So, needless to say, we are thrilled that in this year’s Spring conservation-themed issue we are prominently featuring the people, partners and events of the 2024 expedition.

The significance of the SC7 goes beyond raising awareness of the health benefits of protecting and enjoying our amazing natural wonders; it is a testament to “walking the walk” in terms of engaging the public to be more proactive in the resiliency of the state’s people and places. During the 30day expedition, the team hikes, bikes, rafts, and kayaks from the mountains to the sea, highlighting 7 natural wonders unique to South Carolina.

Simultaneously, the team conducts environmental forums at universities, holds high school lectures, actively cleans rivers, picks up litter, plants trees, and installs a smart reef system off the coast.

As we delve into the South Carolina 7 Expedition, we invite you to join us in celebrating the wonderful state of South Carolina and all the partners, government agencies, and corporations that come together to engage in the interconnectedness of healthy people and healthy places through this annual event.

We hope to see you on the trail!

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Michelle McCollum CEO & Editor in Chief Anna Joyner Artistic Director & Production Manager Yuka Greer Managing Editor & Operations Director Abbey Crocker Editorial Assistant Lauren Alcorn Editorial/Circulation Assistant Rachel Simpkins Marketing & Communications Manager SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Alexander Bob Alexander

Donna Livingston Neal Workman Ken Durham Rhoda Green

Dr. Susan Johnson Hope Blackley

SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

Publisher Profits from The Southern Edge will go back into the preservation, conservation, and environmental educational programs of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.

National Heritage Areas are designated by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to tell nationally significant stories.

GET THE SOUTHERN EDGE MAGAZINE DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR! thesouthernedgemagazine.com

Disclaimer: The content of this column is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any question you may have regarding a medical condition. The Southern Edge Magazine (TSE) does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physician, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the magazine. Reliance on any information provided by TSE, TSE employees, other contributors appearing on print issues, website, social network, and other digital platforms is solely at your own risk.

PHIL GAINES WRITER

Phil Gaines is a Professor of Practice in the Parks Recreation and Tourism Management Department at Clemson University. Phil completed a 37year career in State Parks in 2018.

He began his career in parks as an entry level Park Ranger at Kings Mountain State Park and served as Park Superintendent at three different state parks. Phil served as Director of South Carolina State Parks for 13 years. Phil also served on the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Park Directors, and the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers.

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NILUFER ECE BOZKAN - WRITER

Nilufer is a holistic health coach and yogi living in Greenville, SC with her partner and kitten. She enjoys going on hikes, swimming in lakes, and practicing yoga. You can normally find her teaching a vinyasa class, playing with her kitty, or researching about nutrition and food. wellnesswithnilufer.com

VICTORIA BOCK WRITER

Victoria Bock is a writer, marketer, and public relations specialist passionate about the intersection of community and conservation. A graduate of The Ohio State University (MPA) and College of Charleston (BA), she currently serves as the Communications Director at Lowcountry Land Trust.

Victoria has worked with various organizations in the nonprofit sector, helping them spread awareness, advocate for their causes, and build relationships with stakeholders. She finds joy in gardening, exploring state and national parks, and serving as a mentor to collegians.

JANE JENKINS HERLONG - WRITER

Jane Jenkins Herlong is a Sirius XM Humorist, bestselling/award-winning author, professional singer, recording artist and professional Southern humorist. A recent inductee into the prestigious Speakers Hall of Fame, Jane is the best-selling author of four books. A former Miss America contestant, Jane’s award-winning singing and comedy is featured on Sirius XM Radio, Spotify and Pandora Internet Radio. For speaking engagements visitjaneherlong.com

TOM MULLIKIN GUEST EDITOR/ WRITER

Maj. Gen. Tom Mullikin is a former U.S. Army officer and a retired commanding general of the S.C. State Guard. An attorney, university professor, and global expedition leader, Tom has led expeditions around the world, climbing mountain ranges on every continent, achieving the summits of four of the world’s seven great summits, and logging SCUBA dives in all the world’s oceans. Tom is the founding chairman of the gubernatorially established S.C. Floodwater Commission, and he is a 2019 inductee into the S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame. Among his awards, honors, and military decorations, he is a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto.

DARLENE GREENE WRITER

W. THOMAS SMITH, JR. WRITER

A graduate of both Anderson W. Thomas Smith Jr. is a formerly and Clemson Universities, deployed U.S. Marine Infantry Darlene has degrees in Journalism leader, counterterrorism instructor, and English. She has written and retired colonel in the S.C. professionally for both corporate Military Department. A New and news publications for over York Times bestselling editor 35 years. At the same time, she and an internationally acclaimed has sought knowledge, training writer whose work has appeared and tools to live a healthier, in countless newspapers and more spiritually connected life. magazines worldwide, Tom has Certified in numerous energy traveled to Iraq, the Balkans, healing modalities including Reiki, Ama Deus, Access Bars elsewhere and other wars. He and Intuitive Counseling, Darlene is also a senior officer with the loves helping others find their National Security Task Force, S.C. truth and their life’s passions. She Floodwater Commission. Among is married, has one grown son, Tom’s many awards, honors, two rescued dogs, Finn (pictured) and military decorations, he is and Ginger, and two rescued cats, a recipient of the Order of the Smokey and Bandit.

Palmetto. healingwithsoundsoflove.com uswriter.com

JAMES SAXON WRITER

James "Jamie" Saxon is a Red Hills and Cotton native of the South Carolina Upcountry, to which he returned after a couple of decades in other places. A graduate of Furman University, the University of South Carolina, and the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, he has been a college administrator, worked in private practice and public service, and former associate probate judge for Anderson County. He loves books, jazz, food, friends, labs, and his crazy Southern family.

We are always willing to consider freelance photographers & contributors.

Please send queries to info@thesouthernedgemagazine.com

LIFE

Building Healthy People and Healthy Places Words by Michelle McCollum

SOUTH CAROLINA 7 is a partnership

between two South Carolina based nonprofit organizations, Global Eco Adventures and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. The mission of South Carolina 7 is to get people in the outdoors so they gain an appreciation for the outdoors, and, therefore begin to actively do their part to protect the outdoors. We strive to be the change we wish to see in our world and have committed to not only talking the talk, but walking the walk; literally, across South Carolina.

Both Global Eco Adventures and the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor are leaders in environmental resiliency, environmental education, and eco-tourism.

Each organization manages projects and programs separate from SC7, but they come together on the signature 30-day expedition each year. Following the Palmetto Trail as the guiding pathway from the mountains to the sea, the annual expedition highlights the South Carolina ‘7 Wonders’ – so-named for the seven geographic wonders unique to the Palmetto State (more on the 7 Wonders later). Along the journey, the team hikes, bikes, rafts, kayaks, and scuba-dives from the mountains to the sea.

As the expedition team makes our way across the state and to each of the 7 Wonders, we explore other amazing areas of the state and meet with community leaders, organizations, and elected officials to discuss environmental needs and eco-tourism opportunities. When the expedition comes through a community, it provides leaders with the opportunity to partner with SC7 to highlight wonderful outdoor recreation projects or unique natural resources, bring attention to environmental challenges, and engage local citizens.

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There are three pillars to SC7; Conservation, Health & Wellness, and Corporate & Government Sustainability. There is no other program like this in the state or the nation. SC7 has been recognized by the US Department of the Interior for our success in building partnerships and last year our international media coverage reached over 16 million households. South Carolina stands as a beacon, setting the standard for non-partisan, collaborative alliances that intertwine the health of both people and places.

WHETSTONE PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT’S NEW? There are a few significant changes to this year’s expedition. First, the expedition will no longer take place in July. Instead, we are kicking off the 30-day trek with a huge Earth Day event on April 22, 2024. On this day, schools from across the state will represent their counties and compete to be the “SC7 Earth Day County Champion” by being the county that picks up the most litter.

Second, although we invite the public to join us on any day of the expedition, each Saturday will be promoted as Public Participation Days. These include hiking the Pickens Doodle Trail in Pickens County (April 27th), hiking the Enoree Passage in Laurens County (May 4th), joining the Lt. Governor, Pamela Evette, in a litter clean-up in Horry County (May 11th), and hiking with the mayors of Mt. Pleasant and Charleston across the Cooper River Bridge (May 18th).

water temperature, wave intensity, and ocean floor movement. And this data will help inform discussions about hurricanes and tropical storm impacts such as flooding and storm surge and, ultimately, how to mitigate threats to our coastal environmental and economies.

The complexities of SC7 and the expedition are best explored through our Digital Field Guide on the website and by following our social media outlets. Join us in shaping the future of SC7 in 2024, as we strive to create a healthier, more sustainable South Carolina for generations to come.

Third, this year’s expedition will conclude with the SC Resiliency Conference. This conference will break down barriers and unite diverse sectors of health and wellness, conservation, and corporate sustainability within a singular setting. Unlike conventional conferences, this event is a first-of-its-kind, offering a rare opportunity for industry titans across these sectors to converge by fostering an environment where networking, learning, and collaborative ventures can emerge. Registration for this conference can be found on the SC7 website (southcarolina7.com).

The Smart Reef system facilitates real-time data feeds into Coastal Carolina University’s ocean-atmosphere-wave-hydrologic modeling system to improve advanced model applications. More simply, the data will provide valuable information such as

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Fourth, we will continue to build on the Smart Reef System being installed along the SC coastline. The dive will be led by Tom Mullikin with the assistance of Coastal Carolina University, the SC Department of Natural Resources, Force Blue, and retired Green Berets, Marines, and SEALs.

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THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

So... what are the 7 WONDERS? The “South Carolina 7” is a concept created by world-renowned explorer and SC7 Expedition Team Leader, Tom Mullikin. As Tom and his son, Thomas, were sitting at base camp of Mount Everest several years ago discussing their goal of hiking “the Seven Summits” (a mountaineers challenge of hiking the tallest summits on each of the world’s seven continents), Tom wanted to identify seven locations in South Carolina that every South Carolinian should strive to experience. Working in partnership with the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor, the seven locations were identified that are unique to the natural environment and ecosystems of the state.

WE ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO ADD THE “SOUTH CAROLINA 7” TO YOUR BUCKET LIST. THEY CAN BE VISITED ON YOUR OWN OR WITH AN EXPERIENCED OUTFITTER OR GUIDE. AND, EACH SEASON OF THE YEAR PROVIDES A DIFFERENCE EXPERIENCE, SO MAKE SURE TO VISIT MORE THAN ONCE TO TRULY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THESE AMAZINGLY DIVERSE AND BEAUTIFUL PLACES.

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Famed as the location of the movie Deliverance, the Chattooga River is the crown jewel of southeastern rafting in a truly natural undeveloped setting offering the best and most challenging whitewater in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain region. The Chattooga was named a National Wild and Scenic River on May 10, 1974 - just six years after the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was established on October 2, 1968. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is celebrating its 56th anniversary this year.

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Sassafras Mountain, the Roof of the Palmetto State, is the highpoint of South Carolina at 3,533 feet above sea level. The geology of Sassafras Mountain reflects millions of years of plate tectonics. It lies within the inner Piedmont belt and is thought to be part of a continental fragment that attached or even reattached North America during the Middle Ordovician at a time of continental collision and mountain building called the Taconic Orogeny (mountain-building episode). These geologic processes caused active stream down-cutting and the resultant modern scenic gorges and waterfalls that surround Sassafras Mountain.

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Named by National Geographic as one of the “50 of the Last Great Places.” In the uppermost reaches of South Carolina, the clear waters of Lake Jocassee splash against the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment that represent the sharp transition between the South Carolina Mountains and the Piedmont. Here forested slopes drop in elevation by 2,000 vertical feet in a matter of one to two miles. The name “Jocassee,” according to Native American legend, means “Place of the Lost One.” The region is characterized by a high diversity of flora and fauna as a result of its location at the interface between the mountains and piedmont.

Both mountain and piedmont plant communities are represented in the area creating a transitional zone from lower rolling hills to higher elevation mountains. The region has drawn the attention of scientists for centuries. It is where, in the mid-1700s, William Bartram discovered the famed azalea along with other species new to science and enjoyed “a view inexpressibly magnificent and comprehensive.”

Congaree National

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Congaree National Park contains the largest remaining area of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in North America. The Congaree boasts the tallest known specimens of 15 species! Emerging above the canopy layer is a loblolly pine that looks down on everything from 167 feet, just 18 feet shy of the Boogerman white pine in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the tallest known tree in the East. Among the other first-place record holders for loftiness in the canopy are a sweetgum (157-feet), a cherrybark oak (154 feet), an American elm (135 feet), a swamp chestnut oak (133 feet), an overcup oak (131 feet), a common persimmon (127 feet), and a laurel oak (125 feet). The Congaree is known as the “Redwoods of the East.”

The Congaree is currently home to six national- and 23 state-champion trees. For every three-square miles, there are two champion trees.

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The Edisto River’s name originated from the word edisto, a Native American term that means “black” and refers to the dark color of the river created from decaying leaves and other plant material. The Edisto is considered the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the United States and one of the longest worldwide. The Edisto supports several rare, nationally threatened, and endangered species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, southern bald eagle, wood stork, loggerhead turtle, and short-nosed sturgeon.

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The Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Basin (abbreviated as ACE Basin, and pronounced “ace basin”) is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.

Located primarily in Colleton, Charleston, and Beaufort counties in South Carolina, the Ashepoo, Combahee and South Edisto rivers combine into the larger St. Helena Sound and drain a significant portion of the Lowcountry region. The 350,000 acres known for its natural environment and the preservation of its marshes, wetlands, hardwood forests, riverine systems and the fauna that occupy the area. National Geographic called this area “one of the last great places” on earth.

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Bull Island is arguably one of South Carolina’s most beautiful and remote places. The largest of four barrier islands found within the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, Bull Island is a 5,000-acre maritime forest with fresh and brackish water impoundments and a beach area.

The six-and-a-half-mile uninhabited island remains virtually untouched and is home to countless wildlife and endangered species and has a world-renowned reputation for its bird life. More than 275 species of birds are found on or near the island. The place is a nature and bird-lover paradise.

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MEGHAN MARCHETTI / OST HAUS

MEGHAN MARCHETTI / OST HAUS

MEGHAN MARCHETTI / OST HAUS

A WORLD CLASS ADVENTURE LEADING CONSERVATION EXCELLENCE AND AN ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE Words by Tom Mullikin In just a few short years, SOUTH CAROLINA SEVEN (SC7) has become one of the nation’s great annual expeditions with scores of participants and more than 16-million followers in both traditional media and social media worldwide in 2023. While traversing more than 350 miles across the five ecosystems in South Carolina exploring the state’s seven designated wonders, participants raft the famed Chattooga River, kayak the longest black river in North America and build a smart (artificial) offshore reef from North Carolina to Georgia.

SC7 leaders have distinguished themselves not only by supporting greater ecotourism, but by educating South Carolinians along the trail how to conserve the beautiful Palmetto State while also encouraging even greater economic development. In short, SC7 is reconnecting South Carolina families to their cultural and spiritual roots and in so doing helping lead the state as a global leader in economic innovation and ecological conservation.

Protection of our beautiful state is deeply embedded in South Carolina’s Judeo-Christian DNA. Scripture provides that the “Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Gen. 2:15). The original Hebrew translation for “take care” is “shamar” which instructs that we protect the Lord’s garden like a shepherd watching his sheep.

Throughout the Bible, Christians are instructed to keep, preserve, and protect the environment. South Carolina’s leadership on conservation is neither fully anthropocentric nor biocentric but rather deeply theocentric – a love of God – that drives commitment to protection of the Lord’s garden.

The great Reformation leader and theologian John Calvin said: “It is impossible to contemplate the vast and beautiful fabric as it extends around, without being overwhelmed by the immense weight of glory.”

He asserted that “The elegant structure of the world serving us as a kind of mirror, in which we may behold God.” And it is this elegant structure within the Palmetto State that SC7 seeks to protect.

CASEY SHOUB JASON PARKS / OST HAUS

Another sector of significant and continued growth, is in the area of ecotourism. In South Carolina, the economic impact of tourism for 2022 was $29-billion with ecotourism being an estimated 25 percent and the fastest growing. This economic sector contributes to the continued smart development of some of our most fragile ecosystems and enhanced vigor for conservation. These protected areas, and nature conservation provide many benefits to South Carolina including flood mitigation, preservation of biodiversity and maintenance of critical watersheds.

As we expand ecotourism we create strong

economic drivers in these areas through funding for lodging, food, other related equipment and services that provide employment for residents.

SC7 partners with the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism along with other environmental groups to raise greater awareness of the opportunities and beauty of our state.

SC7 has also seen significant health benefits to the participants - in some cases transformational.

Health professionals have found that sedentary lifestyles create a plethora of negative health outcomes, among them an increased risk for mortality. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the World Health Organization, and the American College of Sports Medicine all promote activities that are key components of SC7 like hiking, climbing, kayaking and SCUBA diving to improve overall wellness. The time spent on SC7 can improve mental, emotional and physical wellbeing through decreased blood pressure, decreased stress levels, enhanced immune system functioning, and over time, weight loss.

Thus, while SC7 is an incredible statewide journey of hiking, climbing, rafting, kayaking and diving across one of the most beautiful places on Earth, it is purposeful to help educate and activate a broad and diverse state to engage in the protection of the Lord’s Garden and embrace the transformational change associated with advanced energy generation, storage and manufacturing. South Carolina is a state of roughly 20.5-million acres with more than 3.5-million acres already protected under conservation. SC7 will continue to lead the conversation toward smart growth and protection of 10-million acres to ensure that our state and heritage is passed on to future generations.

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Conservation of our environment and protection of the Lord’s garden through a biblically driven understanding creates a heightened sense of ecological protection in South Carolina that can be coupled with increased economic opportunity.

While the world addresses manifest environmental challenges, South Carolina has taken a position of global leadership to dispel the common narrative that one has to chose between economic sustainability and environmental sustainability.

In fact, while South Carolina has recently been acknowledged as one of the fastest growing states in the nation with a booming economy, we have also moved equally fast in conservation of our land. SC7 will continue to build upon the concurrent goals through education, collaboration and coordination. It is no accident that South Carolina boasts new nation leading clean manufacturing. We have established a global reputation for ecological protection, reduction of our environmental footprint and a robust economy.

It is also no accident that South Carolina has become a leader in the development of clean manufacturing and electronic vehicles – boasting four major EV manufacturing facilities along with the supply-chain manufacturers that support these industries.

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CASEY SHOUB SANTIAGO PALADINES

Keeping your energy reliable and affordable.

Supporting South Carolina’s Growth.

Our state is growing, and so is the need for electricity. We’re meeting the challenge with targeted grid upgrades and a balanced mix of energy sources that help keep your electricity reliable and affordable.

DUKE-ENERGY.COM/TOMORROW

feeling.

CATCH THE

Located in the heart of Upstate South Carolina, is Lake Hartwell, a vast reservoir spanning over 56,000 acres, surrounded by the foothills of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. With an abundance of wildlife and scenic beauty, it’s no secret why this lake is a popular destination for anglers of all skill levels.

Lake Hartwell boasts a diverse range of fish species, including largemouth and striped bass, crappie, catfish, and bream. The quality and size of the fish attract many seasoned anglers for tournaments like the Bassmaster Classic, which was held on Lake Hartwell in 2022. These events contribute to the area's reputation as a popular fishing destination and provide opportunities for anglers to test their skills against others.

Due to the mild climate of the Upstate, fishing is welcome year-round, with each season offering a unique experience for anglers.

The lake has several public access points, marinas, and boat ramps, making it convenient for anglers to launch their boats and reach their favorite fishing spots easily. For those unfamiliar with Lake Hartwell and its surrounding area, there are many experienced fishing guides and professional services available to elevate your fishing experience.

Lake Hartwell Country’s Freshwater Species RAINBOW TROUT BROOK TROUT BROWN TROUT STRIPED BASS HYBRID BASS

LARGEMOUTH BASS REDEYE BASS BLACK CRAPPIE REDBREAST SUNFISH CHANNEL CATFISH

If you are looking to get off the boat and into some waders, journey a few miles north of Lake Hartwell into the Chattooga and Chauga Rivers.

Located in Mountain Rest is Chattooga River Fly Shop, a full-service fly shop with a variety of gear and knowledgeable guides. Travelers can book a full or half-day guided wade trip on either river and experience the best fly fishing nature can provide in the heart of the mountains.

For more information please visit www.LakeHartwellCountry.com.

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YEARS on the CHATTOOGA RIVER Words by Greg Cunningham

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he Chattooga River has acquired a number of distinctions and nicknames over the years, including the honor of being considered by many as “The Crown Jewel of the Southeast.” Here in South Carolina, the Chattooga is considered one of the state’s “Seven Natural Wonders” and is featured prominently during the annual SC7 Expedition. To say the Chattooga River is a popular destination would be quite the understatement. On any given day, the Chattooga is abuzz with activity as people seek to enjoy the river through whitewater rafting and kayaking, flyfishing, and swimming, as well as hiking and camping in the forests that surround the river. You can sense the energy in the atmosphere when you are standing along the Chattooga, whether it is the palpable excitement exuding from thrill seekers as they prepare to launch their boats into the turbulent waters; the serene silence as a solitary angler casts a line into the river; the carefree feeling as a family splashes around along the river’s edge; or the contemplative wonder as folks take in the beauty of one of the many waterfalls along the river corridor. With all this activity, it can be difficult to imagine how not so long ago the Chattooga was practically unknown to the outside world. thesouthernedgemagazine.com 31

Centuries before European settlement of the area, the Cherokee and other tribes living along the Chattooga served as stewards of the river and its vital natural resources.

The canebrakes along the river, the supply of fish and other aquatic resources, and the abundant forest resources played important roles in the cultural life of those who called this area home. A small Cherokee settlement called Chattooga Town was located along a well-used trading path and adjacent to an important river crossing that connected Cherokee communities on both sides of the Chattooga River. Even after European settlement, the rugged landscape of the area helped keep local communities small and isolated even well into the 20th century and the local knowledge of the river was not as readily available to those who lived outside the region. That all began to change as word of the Chattooga River started to spread beyond these local communities.

of development along the river at the time of designation (the Chattooga WSR has sections of the river representing all three classifications). Additionally, the Chattooga WSR is managed to preserve the following “Outstanding Remarkable Values:” ecology, geology, history, recreation, and scenery (for more details visit: www.rivers.gov/ rivers/river/chattooga). Commenting on the importance of WSR designation for the Chattooga, CEO of the outfitter Wildwater Jack Wise states that “The Chattooga River would be a very different place today without the direct actions of a few pioneers. Today’s beauty and other special qualities of the Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River are due to the foresight of a coalition of river runners, state, and national legislators with the help of the US Forest Service.”

So what is Wild and Scenic River designation and why does it matter?

The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. When a river is added to the National System, it is given a classification—wild, scenic, or recreational, which are measures of the level 32

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WILDWATER

Although the Chattooga caught the attention of theater goers who watched the movie Deliverance in 1972, which prominently featured the river, by that point the Chattooga was already starting to see a rise in awareness within certain circles, especially among environmentalists and outdoor recreationalists. In fact, when Congress passed the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, the Chattooga was specifically identified as one of 27 rivers across the country to be studied for possible future inclusion in the new National Wild and Scenic River System. Following the study, it was concluded that the Chattooga was indeed eligible and on May 10, 1974, the Chattooga River became the first river in the Southeast designated as a Wild and Scenic River (WSR).

Some of the influential individuals and organizations during this early effort included Jimmy Carter, who was then the Governor of Georgia, and the organization American Rivers, which had been recently established just prior to the Chattooga’s WSR designation. Today, the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor is comanaged by the three national forests that straddle the tristate border: Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia; Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina; and Sumter National Forest in South Carolina, which serves as the lead forest for the Chattooga WSR. As with anything of this scale and complexity, managing the Chattooga WSR involves near constant collaboration and engagement with local communities, stakeholders, and leaders in all three states.

Speaking of collaboration and engagement, throughout 2024, the Forest Service and our community partners will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Chattooga’s Wild and Scenic River designation, with a specific emphasis on river stewardship.

We want to take the time in 2024 to reflect on the successes and the challenges of the past 50 years since the Chattooga’s WSR designation. Secondly, throughout the year we want to also reengage with our local communities in river stewardship through hands-on service events and projects, such as river cleanups. As we do this, we want to be intentional in connecting with underserved communities to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be stewards of the Chattooga River. Finally, although 2024 is a time to celebrate an important milestone, the three forests plan to also focus on developing future stewards of the Chattooga.

District Ranger Robbie Sitzlar from the Andrew Pickens Ranger District (Sumter National Forest) shares, “As much as we want to take the time to celebrate where we’ve been and where we are today, we know that it is critical that we continue to develop the next generation of river stewards through engaging children and families.

Because, at the end of the day, each one of 34

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us has a role to play in the health of the Chattooga and with ensuring that future generations can enjoy the unique beauty and recreational experiences that the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Corridor offers.”

Throughout 2024, YOU are invited to join us in celebrating the Chattooga River and what it means to South Carolina and the nation. We invite you to enjoy all that the Chattooga WSR has to offer, while remembering that it is up to each one of us to do our part in ensuring this important resource can be enjoyed for generations to come.

To learn more about the many recreational opportunities that the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River offers and how you can get engaged in stewarding this important river, check out the Forest Service Interactive Visitor Map fs.usda.gov/ivm/ and visit the national forests' websites: SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST, SOUTH CAROLINA fs.usda.gov/scnfs CHATTAHOOCHEE NATIONAL FOREST, GEORGIA fs.usda.gov/conf NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA fs.usda.gov/nfsnc To learn more about the National Wild & Scenic River System, visit rivers.gov Greg Cunningham is the Recreation Program Manager for the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. gregory.cunningham2@usda.gov

SUSTAINING the SOUL of the LOWCOUNTRY Words by Victoria Bock

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n the heart of coastal South Carolina, where the land meets the sea and history intertwines with nature, biodiverse habitats and residential communities that call this region home delicately coexist.

The Lowcountry, with its rich ecosystems and unique way of life, is a treasure that requires dedicated guardianship. At the forefront of this mission is Lowcountry Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has been working tirelessly since 1986 to permanently protect the land that is not only vital to the area’s ecosystem but also integral to the quality of life for its residents. To date, Lowcountry Land Trust has achieved a remarkable feat, safeguarding over 162,000 acres of land across 17 coastal counties, earning its place as one of the leading local land trusts in the United States.

PROTECTING LAND and WATER FOREVER The organization’s commitment goes beyond the mere act of conservation; it is deeply rooted in its mission to protect land and water forever, nurture relationships between people and place, and connect the community to conservation. A key instrument in fulfilling this mission is the strategic use of conservation easements.

These legal agreements, voluntarily entered into by landowners and the Land Trust, serve as a tool to permanently restrict certain uses of the land, such as subdivision. Notably, the landowner retains ownership, and the easement becomes an inseparable part of the land, transcending changes in ownership through sale or inheritance. Lowcountry Land Trust’s conservation easement program strategically ensures that the balance between growth and conservation in the region is maintained for generations to come.

NURTURING the RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE the PLACE While the organization’s impact is vast, its influence extends beyond the acres it directly protects. In addition to conservation easements held on privately owned lands, the organization owns and protects publicly accessible properties that align harmoniously with the culture and values of the Lowcountry.

These ambassador sites serve as living examples of the importance of accessible regional lands and elevate the relevance of conservation within the community.

They are windows into the soul of the Lowcountry, reflecting its unique character and inspiring a shared responsibility to safeguard it for future generations.

CONNECTING the COMMUNITY to CONSERVATION One of the standout initiatives in fostering the community’s connection to conservation is the organization’s Soul of the Lowcountry outreach program. This initiative connects area residents of all ages to the region’s protected landscapes and waterways. Through educational and recreational events, this program strives to achieve various goals, including celebrating the culture of traditional land stewardship, fostering public conservation awareness, and building a passionate community dedicated to preserving the Lowcountry way of life.

The program unfolds through a series of engaging events: “FEED YOUR SOUL” events bring the farm to guests’ tables, offering a unique blend of meals and educational experiences.

Attendees leave with not only a full belly but also plenty of food for thought.

“FIND YOUR SOUL” events get Lowcountry locals on protected lands. Guests of “Find Your Soul” events leave with a keen knowledge of the landscapes that will inspire them to plan their own adventures.

“FUEL YOUR SOUL” events blend conservation with the head and heart.

Bringing together art, science, music, health, and wellness, “Fuel Your Soul” events connect nature to guests’ well-being.

All regional residents, whether they just moved here or grew up here, appreciate the longstanding activities, landscapes, and waterways that help preserve the soul of the Lowcountry, and this program amplifies the shared responsibility to protect it for future generations. ~ Ashley Demosthenes, President and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust

STRATEGIC GOALS for COMMUNITY-CENTERED CONSERVATION As a pillar of Lowcountry Land Trust’s mission, community-centered conservation now weaves its way through the organization’s strategic plan. By 2025, Lowcountry Land Trust will elevate the relevancy of conservation to the broader public by developing a comprehensive program that emphasizes the use and accessibility of protected lands. The related strategies include implementing the Angel Oak Preserve comprehensive plan to enhance visitors’ sense of place, the experience of awe, and the depth of community; creating a firm foundation for honoring the past and future of the region’s communities and resources through the construction of the Lowcountry Center for Conservation at Ashem Farm; restoring Thornhill Farm in McClellanville to serve as an ambassador site for regenerative agriculture and community conservation; and supporting Lowcountry communities’ nature-based needs by making fundamental properties accessible to the public while working alongside nonprofit and public partners to provide more of the same.

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A COLLABORATIVE CELEBRATION of

CONSERVATION Back by popular demand for the second year, Lowcountry Land Trust will partner with over 50 local, conservation-minded organizations to continue its Lowcountry Earth Week initiative in 2024. This weeklong celebration of the Lowcountry’s natural environment (April 22-28) is set to feature a diverse array of volunteer opportunities, nature activities, seminars, workshops, and festivals. The initiative aims to engage the community and raise awareness about the importance of the many methods of conservation in the Lowcountry. The grand culmination will be a family-friendly Earth Week celebration and exhibition at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston, SC on Sunday, April 28, 2024, from 11 am to 3 pm.

Lowcountry Earth Week, scheduled from April 22-28, 2024, is poised to be a momentous occasion, bringing together individuals, organizations, and communities in a collective effort to celebrate and protect the region’s natural wonders. A complete listing of events that provide an opportunity for everyone to find their own way to connect with and contribute to the Soul of the Lowcountry can be found at lowcountryearthweek.org.

Ultimately, sustaining the soul of the Lowcountry is not merely the responsibility of a single organization or a select few individuals; it is a shared duty woven into the fabric of the region’s many communities. Through the dedicated efforts of Lowcountry Land Trust, the partnership of nonprofit and public organizations, and the active participation of area residents, the coexistence between nature and community continues, ensuring that the unique essence of the Lowcountry endures for generations to come.

Rescuing the Iconic

AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREE a

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Photos Courtesy of The American Chestnut Foundation

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magine walking through the forest and seeing one in four trees soar almost a hundred feet towards the sky, often even above the tree canopy, with girths sometimes as wide as eighteen feet. The American Chestnut has been called “the redwood of the East” given its huge size. It has been said that the great American Chestnut built early America. Log cabins, fences, churches, even our transportation and communication systems owe something to this master of the forest as our railroad ties and telephone poles were made from its rot resistant wood.

It is an important part of the American Story. When our country was founded, there were almost four billion of these grand and awesome trees. They dominated the eastern United States woodland. So, what happened to this majestic tree?

Chestnut Giants, Great Smoky Mountains, Western North Carolina, circa 1910. (photo: Courtesy of the Forest History Society)

In 1904, in New York City at the Bronx Zoo, a forester discovered some unusual orangish dots on the bark of the chestnut trees and cankers around the trunk of their trees. In very short order, the Bronx Zoo trees succumbed to what would become known as the Chestnut Blight. By 1908, the blight had spread as far south as Virginia.

Soon, thousands of chestnut trees across the country were killed by what the New York times called the “most rapid and destructive” fungus known to the world. Where did this fungus originate? It arrived with shipments of imported Japanese Chestnut Trees that were blight resistant. For all its majesty, the American Chestnut was doomed. By 1950, it is estimated that 4 billion American Chestnuts have been killed by the Chestnut Blight.

Are there any American Chestnut Trees left? Is there hope? The answer is Yes! Thanks almost entirely to the tireless work and passion of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF). Founded in 1983 by both plant scientists and volunteers who understood the importance of the chestnut tree in the ecology of the forests in the Eastern United Sates.

By 1989, they were able to start a breeding farm called the Wagner Research Farm in Meadowview, VA. Here the TCAF cross breed Chinese chestnut trees, which are naturally resistant to the blight, with American Chestnut trees. These 50% American Chestnut/50% Chinese chestnut are bred with American Chestnuts making them 75% American. This continues until the process produces an American Chestnut tree that retains on the blight resistant character from the Chinese chestnut. It may sound simple, but the breeding is rarely successful and the process takes generations to achieve. Currently, there are four Meadowview chestnut breeding farms in the Eastern United States, all working to bring back the iconic and important American Chestnut.

While the work of the TACF is so important, those of us who love to wander the trails in the forest can help as well. One way is to report sightings of the American Chestnut through a citizen science app called iNaturalist. Becoming a member of the TACF, volunteering with a local chapter of the TACF, planting chestnut seedlings through their seedling sale program every March at their headquarters in Asheville, NC. For more opportunities, reach out to the American Chestnut Foundation. The American Chestnut represents hope for what once was and what could be again.

tacf.org

FOR THE

Words & Editorial photos by Phil Gaines

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Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. ~ Rachel Carson

I have always found solace in a walk in the woods, the opportunity to get away from the grind to break away from the routine and the pressures of life. The pressures of life have certainly changed in the last year, routine is anything but, and the need to escape an unfamiliar world with something familiar is not just a yearning but a necessity. I made some time for a walk. Join me.

A walk alongside the Middle Saluda River at Jones Gap has always been an activity that is not only enjoyable, but therapeutic. As you leave the parking lot you take a trail that leads you to the river where a bridge carries you from a world filled with uncertainty and troubles to a place of wonder. As you cross the bridge the enchantment of the river, the unmistakable fragrance of the forest, and the shadows of the Eastern Continental Divide consume you in the most delightful way.

The sight of the river, as it maneuvers across the rocks of time, edged by the forest of my youth, unbound by clocks and deadlines, reverberates my soul. The sounds, boisterous yet relaxing and peaceful, delivers me to another place; a place of serenity, inspiration, and rejuvenation. The highs and lows of life seem to be reflective in the river as it turns from white to the translucent, slowly making its way to the mighty Atlantic. The sense of wonder the river provides produces a feeling of peace and calm. The world’s problems and uncertainties are left on the other side of the bridge. In just a few short minutes the forest has provided just the therapy I needed.

Nature therapy, or ecotherapy, is not a new concept, In fact, one could argue that it has been around since the beginning of time. Cyrus the Great of ancient Persia planted a garden in the middle of the city to improve the people’s health. From the gardens of early European cities to the parks and protected areas of America, nature has always played a part in our physical, mental, and spiritual health. In the 1980’s the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries coined the term shinrinyoku which in Japanese literally means “forest bath.” It has become a cornerstone of preventative health care and healing in Japan.

A walk in nature may be just what the doctor ordered for these times. No special level of fitness is required, rather a desire to find that place that inspires calm, relaxation and rejuvenation. Just 17 miles north of Beaufort on a forested road that bears its name is Old Sheldon Church, the ruins of a 18th century structure built in the English Georgian style using Roman Tuscan columns that give it a look of grandeur.

A short walk under the majestic live oaks draped with Spanish moss seem to shield the site from the outside world. Find a spot and stand beneath live oaks so massive you feel small in more ways than one.

Take your time. Use all your senses; sight is the easiest, but you can also smell and taste the unmistakable air of the low country filled with aromas of the nearby marshes and tidal basins. Touch the columns that once sheltered a place of worship centuries ago and feel the history of this special place. Saunter through the church and look upwards to the blues and whites of a sky looking through the centuries old live oaks that provide a canopy of hope to a structure that continues to give. Nature does that, it reminds us that after every winter there is a spring, filled with flowers, new growth, and renewed spirit.

Two hundred and thirty miles north of the ruins of Old Shelden Church lies another structure nestled in the forest, the Poinsett Bridge. The oldest bridge in South Carolina built in 1820 and named after Ambassador Joel Poinsett, the stone bridge which is highlighted by a 14-foot Gothic arch allowing Little Gap Creek to pass through.

As you walk across the bridge’s dirt and rocky base you are inspired by the forest that is filled with hardwoods that define the South Carolina mountains. A walk down the trail steps and you see the arch, your mind is quickly taken back to a time when bridges where works of art. The arch and the creek quickly take you to another place. Listen to the water as it flows through the arch, down the rocks and through the forest. Use your senses and feel the forest. As you make your way back to the parking lot you give the bridge in the middle of a forest one more look and realize that sometimes looking at a bridge is as important as crossing it.

Nature therapy, ecotherapy, shinrin-yoku, or a walk-in-nature – whatever term you use - the timing could not be better. I will end where the day begins in South Carolina, on the edge of the North American continent, sunrise on the coast of Carolina. The dawn inspires calm, with only the sounds of the waves reaching the thousands of grands of sand that comprise “the beach.” Focus on the horizon, as the sun makes its way above the reaches of the Atlantic to usher in a new day.

You once again feel small, left amazed by the colors, the sounds, and limitlessness of the panorama that immerses you in possibilities of a new day. The start of a new day; literally and symbolically, make it count. Spring is here! Don’t miss this one. Spend some time in nature, catch a sunrise or a sunset, notice the tenderness of the leaves as they emerge from the winter’s bareness. The spring wildflowers that search for the sunlight and appear to announce that spring is here.

Suddenly the winter winds become summer breezes, and the sounds of birds fill the trees.

Your tonic awaits, find your spot, be sure to use all your senses, take your time, remember it’s the journey, not the destination.

See you outside!

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Wendy Olsen Photography/istock

KEITH BIRLEY Photography/istock

City of

South Carolina

TRAIL TOWNS PROJECT PUTTING PALMETTO STATE MUNICIPALITIES ON THE MAP Words by W. Thomas Smith, Jr.

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ast summer, S.C. Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, officials with the S.C. National Heritage Corridor, and those of the statewide SC7 Expedition christened the City of Conway near Myrtle Beach, S.C. as the first of other soon-to-benamed South Carolina Trail Towns.

What is required of a Trail Town? “Infrastructure already in place,” says Abbey Crocker, vice president, S.C. National Heritage Corridor. “Clean, safe [hiking] trails that are easily accessible and well lit, and with proper signage are important.

Also good area restaurants, hotel accommodations,” for visitors and outdoor recreational enthusiasts. There also needs to be community involvement or “buy in” says Crocker. They have to want to be known as a trail town destination.

There is an application process to become a South Carolina Trail Town. Standards are not impossible, but they are exacting.

“We want our designated Trail Towns to exemplify and represent the best of our already beautiful Palmetto State,” says Michelle McCollum, president of the S.C. National Heritage Corridor. “Tourism is South Carolina’s largest and ever-expanding industry, and so our beautiful towns and communities are key features of that specific industry and the appeal and attraction of our state.”

According to an article published in the Charleston Post & Courier, “The [Trail Towns] program provides assistance to communities looking to expand recreational opportunities and recognizes those that already are.”

The S.C. National Heritage Corridor represents 17 counties within the Palmetto State: Oconee, Pickens, Anderson, Saluda, McCormick, Edgefield, Greenwood, Abbeville, Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Berkeley, Colleton, Charleston, Dorchester and Georgetown.

S.C.’s Trail Towns will however not be solely confined to those 17 counties within the corridor. A Trail Town may be designated anywhere within the state.

View the digital Trail Town Guide for the City of Conway by visiting scnhc.org

S O U T H

C A R O L I N A

For communities looking to expand their recreation opportunities, The South Carolina National Heritage Corridor offers assistance and marketing ideas to gain the Trail Town certification.

For more information, contact Abbey Crocker at abbey@scnhc.com

THE UNSTOPPABLE FIELDS: A Tale of Grit, Greens, and Good Times on Johns Island

In the heart of Johns Island, where the earth laughs in crops, the Fields family's farm was not just a patch of land; it was a connection of conservation led by the one and only Robert 'Robbie' Fields.

Right across from the legendary Moving Star Hall, this farm was more than rows of vegetables; it was a stage for sustainable agriculture and a powerhouse of green dreams. In fact, on Johns Island Robert Fields himself was a moving star.

At the crack of dawn, when the roosters were still snoozing, Momma said practically every morning, she awoke to the sounds of hoes cutting the dirt in the field next to her window. Robbie’s children had to manicure the rows before school and then again after school.

Robbie and his wife, Nancy, reared a family of nine.

Here are the first eight: Anna, Fredrick, Robert Junior (Tunk), Joseph, Juanita, Philip (Cherry Man), Dot, and Dan. Dot was a boy and Dan was a girl.

On Johns Island, we like to mix things up with both cradle names and gender names that really do not matter. Number nine is Abraham, or Tootie. Due to a medical error treating a severe ear infection, Tootie lost his hearing but that did not prevent him from getting a driver’s license. For years, his license plate read: HEAR ME. No doubt about it, the Fields family is still being heard today. Their hard work has reaped success: they are nationally recognized organic farmers who run lucrative operations.

Robbie knew hard work paid and paid well if you kept at it.

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The day Robbie passed away Tootsie (not to be confused with Tootie) asked me to go with her to the church to view the body. Robbie and Tootsie were related, and she always put her family first.

Knowing how superstitious Tootsie was, I thought someone should take her there. We walked into the empty church, which was filled with flowers and blue ribbons, Robbie’s favorite color. About the time Tootsie and I leaned over the casket, the smoke-alarm battery burped, indicating a low battery. Tootsie screamed, jumped, and grabbed my waist since she was not much taller than my chest.

She scared me so badly I grabbed her head. In the middle of all this, we both hit the casket, and in horror I watched Robbie’s lifeless body rock back and forth. Tootsie exclaimed in her Gullah brogue, “Do Lawd, Robbie! Don’ you git up out dat casket!

Jedus done call you home!”

Eventually Robbie settled back in his box, as we all will one day. It took Tootsie and me a lot longer to settle. I guess you can say that Robbie Fields was the type to keep going, even after death.

Today, the Fields farm stands as a monument to joy and ongoing conservation practices, keeping Robbie's spirited legacy alive. Bursting from its rows of cheerful crops, the farm now hosts an innovative store, a treasure trove of fresh, scrumptious veggies and mouth-watering delights. And just a hop across River Road, the Fields have cooked up a new adventure – a restaurant famous for dishing out the tastiest, heart-warming Lowcountry “Soul-food” on Johns Island, turning every meal into a celebration.

Robbie Fields' story radiates today, casting a brilliant light on the resilience of agriculture, the power of humor and service to others.. His legacy, a harmonious blend of organic farming and conservation, broke new ground as a visionary force, sixty years ahead of its era. With a smile, he embraced modernism and set a benchmark in sustainable living. America could use more men like Robbie Fields.

Now Available for purchase.

Jane is the best-selling author of four books and a professional Southern humorist. For speaking engagements visit - janeherlong.com

BE A FORCE OF NATURE

You will have noticed this issue’s theme is conservation, and you’ve read my thoughts on the subject before this essay. To some, the thought of conservation stirs controversy, and I do not understand why there is anything controversial about the matter. The earth and all that is in it is not a place we visit, it’s where we live and love and make our living, where we have fun, where we seek solace, where we worship, where we eat and sleep and dream, where we learn, where we educate and care for our children; where we do everything. Yes, we may visit a national park, a memorial, a cemetery. We may hike and take walks in the woods; we may fish and hunt; we may plant gardens filled with vegetables and flowers; we may swim in rivers and lakes and oceans. But we are in and of this world wherever we are and whatever we’re doing. Not to take great care of where and what we live and breathe, to me, is the height of folly, even foolishness. Many in our beloved South believe our region to be at least the buckle of the Bible belt, so perhaps each of us should remember scripture tells us we are stewards of this earth. We did not create it, we do not own it, and Lord knows we experience it only for a short time relative to the beginning of time and the end of the ages. We have at once a practical and a divine responsibility to care for Mother Earth and all she contains, and to do otherwise is to sin and sin big. It also is to cheat those who come after us of their rightful inheritance. We do not have the right or privilege to consume the bounty of nature and nature’s creatures, including each other, thoughtlessly or wastefully, and doing so is greedy, mean, selfish, narcissistic, and against our own best interests. In general, I think, Southerners are born conservationists. We love outdoor activities, and, more importantly, we see the land as something from which we spring forth and which we revere. Maybe we should keep that in the forefront of our minds and in our hearts.

One of my favorite books, which should be required reading for any Southerner and not just Upcountry South Carolinians, is Ben Robertson’s Red Hills and Cotton: An Upcountry Memory. Mr. Robertson was born near Clemson, South Carolina, and was a well-known and highly regarded writer and journalist until his young and untimely death during World War II (his plane crashed while taking off from Lisbon, if I remember correctly). You may be interested to know that among his best friends was the famous journalist and broadcaster Edward R. Murrow. It’s also good to know that his book

remains in print today, more than eighty years after its first publication. Mr. Robertson’s “memory” has much to do with the land he, and we, love. It is a great comfort, he wrote, to a rambling people to know that somewhere there is a permanent home—perhaps it is the most final of the comforts they ever really know.

The South we belong to is a good country, a valiant country; it always has valor, and it has had industry and thrift. Our house is painted, our grass is green. For those of us who bend our backs and put our shoulders to the wheel, the South is still Canaan land; it is milk and honey. In my, sometimes, humble opinion, Mr. Robertson is remembering that we Southerners take pride in our land, our region, and that thriftiness is a strong component of good character. We work hard to maintain the land and what we have created, in addition to what was Created for our temporary use. What we have, if only for a time, we care for.

Everyone knows we Southerners like to pass down things, whether they be family heirlooms or more important blessings like honor, integrity, pride, hard work—and it matters not whether our lives have been easy or hard-scrabble. And whose life has been all easy anyway? He continues that [w]e also planted trees—it became a hobby, for we had discovered what a satisfaction it can be to watch a tree grow and develop.

Sometimes a tree will turn out better than any of a man’s children, and a tree will endure—its life will outlast our life.

written here is naïve, but to tend to our beliefs and spiritual selves, to honor whom we worship, we must remember that anything we’ve made comes from what already was a part of this earth, and we owe everything we have, we are, we will be, to a nature, an earthly home, we may not work hard enough to deserve. We often proclaim the importance of protecting our heritage here in the South, even some parts which may not be worthy of protection, so let’s do more to defend and fix and improve the borrowed heritage of our land, our environment, in our states, our country, our world. Here endeth the lesson.

For more on protecting and guarding our environment, there are groups and organizations all over our region which sorely need our help, among which is the Southern Environmental Law Center, the senior attorney for which is native South Carolinian Frank Holleman. Other organizations include the Southern Conservation Trust, Southern Environmental Group; working within our region are groups such as the Environmental Defense Fund.

Let me emphasize I have no connection with these groups other than admiration, and they are but a very few which may be worthy of your time and interest.

When reading the following, one could be tempted to believe Teddy Roosevelt was a born-and-bred Southerner: Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.

We haven’t always heeded our duty to our natural wonders and resources, have we? We’ve polluted our rivers and lakes such that we cannot eat the fish that dwell in them. We’ve overused parts of the earth that we did cannot create and cannot recreate. We too often give in to the reflex of the here and now without regard for the long view about what we’ve been provided. And, Lord help us, we’ve been oh so greedy in the often false belief that protecting the environment comes at the cost of jobs or survival when the very opposite is the truth. I try diligently, though with varying degrees of success, to be a spiritual and devout man, and perhaps the same may be said of you. Some will argue that what I’ve thesouthernedgemagazine.com 57

Grateville Acres | Paxville, SC

Celebrating years

10

as the agritourism association in SC!

PL A N YO U R N E X T

farm adventure

AT S C F A R M F U N . O R G

South Carolina

AG RITOU RISM PA SSP O RT Pick up your passport to SC Farm Fun! View the list of participating farms at scagritourism.org.

HEART

Photographed here are the plaintiffs and co-signatories for the Briggs v. Elliott case. Harry Briggs can be seen right-ofcenter in a gray suit. His son, Harry Briggs, Jr., for whom the case is named, is positioned directly in the middle of the third row farthest from the camera. Courtesy of the University of South Carolina, Special Collections.

Words by Dr. Tom Mullikin

South Carolina has a rich, beautiful, and sometimes complex, history. It is a history full of valiant acts of heroism often overlooked by other parts of the country where humility is not nearly as embedded in the culture as here in the south where we prefer our actions, not our mouths do the work. For example, in the Revolutionary War more battles and skirmishes were fought in South Carolina than all other parts of the country combined. During each conflict, South Carolinians gave life and treasure in great measure. To be sure, we are a state that has stood proudly behind our principles.

Attorney Thurgood Marshall arriving in Charleston to prepare for arguments in the Briggs v. Elliott case.

Credit: Cecil Williams

Equally heroic acts of courage were demonstrated by South Carolinians during the darkest days of segregation. Recognition of valiant, national leading efforts in the Palmetto State were stolen by apparent clerical errors in the United States Supreme Court in the case that would become Brown v. Board of Education. Court records reflect several facts with the apparent bureaucratic misnumbering of the South Carolina Briggs v. Elliott appeal that kept the original heroes of this struggle from their rightful place in history. Rather than reviving the initial appeal, this clerical misstep stole the true account of the courageous families petitioning the court from South Carolina.

Briggs v. Elliott was the first case filed in federal district court; Briggs was the first case appealed to United States Supreme Court; Briggs was argued by the Honorable Thurgood Marshall; and the dissenting opinion written by Judge Waites Waring of Charleston, South Carolina became the basis of the ultimate decision of the court. In

spite of these undeniable facts, the case was given the popular name of Brown v. Board of Education seemingly recognizing that the Kansas case as first.

The initial case simply sought equal transportation for students who walked as much as nine miles both ways to attend school. Families in the area had gathered enough funds to pay for an old school bus, but could not afford the maintenance. The county provided 30 school buses to white children but none for black children. The South Carolina petitioners who ultimately signed the Briggs petition to address this inequity faced unimaginable physical and financial terror as a result of their participation in the case. Petitioners and supporters faced horrible consequences.

Many faced economic terror while others confronted unimaginable emotional and physical threats.

In the sweltering heat of segregation in the south, families assembled to sign a petition challenging the egregiously unfair education system. For some, signing was tantamount to a death sentence. In the suffocating adversity and legitimate discontent for their children’s education, the Briggs petitioners stood for righteous relief in the presence of bitter hatred that cost many of them their lives and small economic fortunes. The courageous act of these South Carolinians would strike a match that would lead the civil rights movement across the country.

History is calling upon the nation to recognize the tremendous sacrifice these families made in the face of great danger.

They stood bravely for a fundamental principle and insisted upon the change in the right and proper forum. To fail to recognize these courageous acts is not just to steal away their rightful place in history but to also fails to raise awareness that our government was established and provides

the means to address meaningful issues in proper forums through rightful processes.

To subordinate the acts of these courageous Americans is to deny the very significance of our jurisprudence as the fair and blind system that provides a path for meaningful redress of inequities rather than through less legitimate means.

Being first sometimes matters. In this case, it mattered in the face of life and death.

Now more than ever we need a clear signal that those who attempt to redress inequities through the judicial process can expect to receive thoughtful consideration.

Our great state of South Carolina is now enjoying the renaissance of profound economic development and sound conservation. We are the fastest growing state in the United States of American due to our favorable business climate, beautiful environment, and the love of our great people. We boast the number one tourist

destination in the country with the best food and entertainment. We now acknowledge the acts of some of the darkest days in our history and together are working to ensure better lives for all South Carolinians. It is time that the United States Supreme Court acknowledge the bureaucratic error that stripped the families in the Briggs case and restore their rightful place in history.

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COME and EXPLORE THE BIRTHPLACE of SWEET TEA.

Explore the shops, sites, sips and bites that make Summerville, SC so sweet with a free Sweet Tea Trail Guide.

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F L AVO R

FLIGHTS with FRIENDS at

Words by Darlene Greene

WINE AND FRIENDS ARE A GREAT BLEND.

Ernest Hemingway

“Cozy” “comfortable” and “friendly” describe the ambiance of Elevation 966, located in the Junction at Downtown Airport in Greenville, SC. The proprietor and winemaker, Penny Raulston, is a retired RN. When she decided to start her own winery, she envisioned a place where people would gather to experience great wine but also a sense of community. “Spending time talking and visiting with friends and family is great for a person’s mental health and well-being.

My goal is for people coming into my winery to immediately feel welcomed, like they are automatically among friends,” said Penny. “Wine is a just a vehicle that leads to sharing time with friends, celebration and experiencing a sense of community.”

Growing up with a father in the Air Force, Penny lived all over the world. “Though I was born in Greenville, NC, by the time I was 3, we had moved to Alaska. We moved back to Goldsboro, NC for a short time and then moved again. We spent several years in England, Greece, and Germany before I returned to the US and settled in the Upstate of South Carolina. While living in Germany, I was introduced to wine. I fell in love with it!” said Penny.

“Even during my nursing career, I embraced my love of wine by visiting wineries all over the U.S. I would spend weekends going to a new winery and talking with the vintners. I liked learning about individual grapes, how they tasted and how they could be blended to create various types of wine,” said Penny.

Penny and her husband, Donny, eventually decided they wanted to try their hand at winemaking. They got some juice, known in the industry as “must” and added yeast, right off the shelf from the grocery store. “It was horrible,” laughed Penny, “because we used basic bread yeast, that is exactly what it tasted like—bread.” After that failed experiment, they decided to investigate the many varieties of yeast and figure out how the yeast would create the various flavors and notes in a particular wine. Working closely with winemakers in NC, they learned some yeasts would bring out the floral notes in a particular must (juice) while others would bring out more herbal notes.

Trying and testing while keeping meticulously detailed notes, Penny has developed a wide range of quality, award winning wines. “We are a small batch winery, but everything is made right here on site,” said Penny. “I learned quality wine can be made anywhere with the correct ingredients. I purchase premium ingredients from distributors and vendors for winemaking. All the blending, fermentation and bottling happens right here at Elevation 966,” said Penny. “Wine is complex because of the wide range of variables that go into each blend, but the process itself is actually fairly simple.”

Elevation 966 was so named because Greenville is, on average, 966 feet above sea level. “Because we are near the downtown airport, it seemed like a fun talking point,” said Penny, “and it has been. People from all over the world have visited us since we opened 4 years ago. Always focused on creating a welcoming atmosphere, Elevation 966 features a large chalk board that asks guests “Where are you from?” Penny has to erase it about every couple of weeks because it fills up quickly, but she is proud of the fact that she has had visitors from all over the world and from all walks of life.

Again, due to the proximity to the downtown airport, several of the wines reflect that in their names. There is Runway White, a semi-sweet white with peach notes. Runway Lights is a Traminer and dry Riesling blend. Runway Nights is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah blend which features dark cherry, raspberry, and dark chocolate notes.

Penny is particularly proud of her awardwinning wine named Triumphant, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which offers a smokey spice flavor with black cherry and vanilla notes.

Whether you are a connoisseur or not, you will find both quality and variety in the wines offered at Elevation. From sweet to dry, from mild to bold, there is something to appeal to any wine lover.

For those that enjoy an alternative to wine, Elevation also makes hard ciders. They have a classic apple, a pineapple, an elderflower and lime (think funky lemon-lime soda), and

a cran-apple. Elevation also offers a selfserve selection of meats, cheese, and crackers for patrons to create their own charcuterie, but they also allow food from outside. The White Duck Taco shop nearby is a patron favorite.

As Penny writes on her website, Elevation 966 offers “quality you can taste. Whether you are a seasoned wine enthusiast or curious newcomer,” Penny invites you to visit and experience great wine in a comfortable, easy-going atmosphere.

elevation966winery.com 301 Airport Rd, Suite H Greenville, SC

RAISING A TOAST TO

The Growing Popularity of Mocktails

In recent years, a remarkable trend has

emerged in the world of beverages, challenging the conventional notion that a good time must be accompanied by alcohol. The rise of mocktails, or nonalcoholic cocktails, has been nothing short of a revolution, captivating the taste buds of individuals seeking a refreshing alternative to traditional alcoholic drinks.

Mocktails, often adorned with vibrant colors and creative garnishes, have become the drink of choice for many, transcending the boundaries of designated drivers and individuals practicing sobriety. What was once a niche market has now evolved into a mainstream phenomenon, with restaurants, bars, and even specialty mocktail lounges embracing this alcohol-free movement.

One of the driving forces behind the surge in mocktail popularity is the growing health and wellness movement. As people become more conscious of their lifestyle 68

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choices, the demand for alcohol-free options has skyrocketed. Mocktails offer a guilt-free indulgence, allowing individuals to socialize and enjoy flavorful concoctions without compromising their commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

The next time you’re dining out, ask your bartender for their mocktail menu – you might be surprised. And take the opportunity to experiment at home with innovative ingredients such as exotic fruit infusions, herbal syrups, and artisanal bitters. After all, Spring is the perfect time for front porch sittin’ and sippin’ with a refreshing beverage. Here is a simple guide to kick-start your mocktail-making adventure, along with a few simple recipes waiting to be concocted and enjoyed.

Cheers to the art of mocktail magic!

Mocktail Crafting 101: GATHER YOUR INGREDIENTS: Choose a variety of fresh fruits, herbs, and non-alcoholic mixers to create a diverse flavor profile.

Consider ingredients like citrus fruits, berries, mint, ginger, and flavored syrups.

EQUIP YOUR BAR STATION: Invest in basic bar tools such as a shaker, muddler, strainer, and a jigger for precise measurements.

Ensure you have plenty of ice cubes and attractive glassware for serving.

EXPERIMENT WITH FLAVORS: Play with different combinations of fruits and herbs to discover unique and tasty mocktails.

Don't be afraid to incorporate unexpected elements like infused waters or herbal teas.

MASTER THE ART OF PRESENTATION: Garnish your mocktails with flair – think citrus twists, fruit slices, or herb sprigs.

Consider using colorful straws or decorative glassware to enhance the visual appeal.

SHARE YOUR CREATIONS: Document your mocktail-making journey on social media using popular hashtags like #MocktailChallenge or #HomeMixology.

Challenge friends and family to join in and share their own creations.

Instructions:

Paradise Punch

In a shaker, combine pineapple juice, coconut water, and orange juice.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup pineapple juice 1/4 cup coconut water 1/4 cup orange juice 1 tablespoon grenadine syrup Pineapple slices and orange wedges for garnish Ice cubes

Shake well to mix the flavors.

Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the tropical juice mixture over the ice.

Slowly pour grenadine syrup over the back of a spoon into the glass to create a layered effect.

Garnish with pineapple slices and orange wedges.

Stir gently before sipping on this vibrant and fruity Tropical Paradise Punch.

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Bliss Cooler Instructions:

Ingredients:

Strain the mixture to remove seeds and pulp.

1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup

Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the berry mixture over the ice.

1 cup sparkling water

Top it off with sparkling water and gently stir.

Mint leaves for garnish

Garnish with mint leaves.

Ice cubes thesouthernedgemagazine.com

Blend until smooth.

1 cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

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In a blender, combine the mixed berries, honey or agave syrup, and fresh lime juice.

Enjoy this refreshing Berry Bliss Cooler!

Mint Sparkler Instructions: Ingredients: 1/2 cucumber, sliced 8-10 fresh mint leaves 1 tablespoon simple syrup (1:1 ration of water and sugar) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 cup tonic water Cucumber slices and mint sprigs for garnish Ice cubes

Muddle the cucumber slices and mint leaves in a shaker.

Add simple syrup and fresh lemon juice to the shaker and shake well.

Strain the mixture into a glass filled with ice cubes.

Top it off with tonic water.

Stir gently.

Garnish with cucumber slices and mint sprigs.

Sip and savor the crisp and invigorating Cucumber Mint Sparkler!

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WELLNESS

Cleaning:

LIVER EDITION ..

Words by Nilufer Ece Bozkan

We are now full in the middle of spring, the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining a little brighter, you feel a little lighter and maybe you feel like starting fresh. Perhaps you’ve started spring cleaning and removing anything that you don’t feel aligns with your style or feelings anymore. In this time of year we feel like we need to renew but we can also look at this as spring cleaning our bodies to feel lighter mentally and physically. There is a reason we create lighter, fresher and crisper foods when warm weather arrives.

We are coming out of the season that allows us to coop up, eat heavier foods, perhaps move a little less, and with all that comes the impact on our liver. Our liver cleans our blood and helps rid the body of toxins while also aiding digestion, improving skin clarity, increasing mood, appetite, and nutrient absorption. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is a time to cleanse our livers and start fresh. This is the time to care for our natural detoxification through intentional good food, gentle movement and yoga, breath work and some gentle cleansing.

How to naturally support your liver: Bring some gentle movement into your day and build up a sweat.

Running, walking, yoga and bicycling will help get your blood and heart going and your lymphatic system moving as well. Yoga is especially great at removing toxins as it allows the body to detox through intensive breathing as well as poses such as twists. Sweating is a very effective way to release toxins from the body, which lowers the amount of fat in the liver and improves liver health. Finish off with a cool shower in order to blast your senses awake and leave you feeling refreshed. Salt baths are also a great way to build up a sweat as the magnesium from the salt is a great way to flush toxins out of the body.

Eat liver supporting foods.

Eat good food always, but for optimal liver cleansing, go for foods that are particularly known to support liver health. Eating processed foods and refined sugars leads to the accumulation of fat in the liver which results in the liver’s inability to properly filter the toxins out of the blood. By eating liver loving foods, it allows the liver to have a break from all of the hardworking, especially if you tend not to eat a varied healthy diet generally.

Some examples of liver loving food (this is just a short list): BITTER GREENS

FERMENTED FOODS BEETS

FENNEL

BONE BROTH SEAWEED

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR LEMON

GREEN TEA TURMERIC

Don't forget to hydrate.

Equally as important as any other tip: hydration. Without water, the body simply cannot function. Everybody needs different amounts of water for proper bodily function, but about 8-10 glasses a day is a good starting point and more if you sweat a lot or lead an active lifestyle.

Go outdoors.

Get some sunshine and some fresh air.

Nature is like medicine on the body and even just 10-15 minutes of pure sunshine everyday can help convert the Vitamin D your liver cells need.

Reduce or eliminate toxins if you can.

The liver uses precious resources to remove toxins, so it is best to try to remove the toxins completely, or at least reduce them, to have an improved mood, increased energy and brain function, and to feel more physically fit.

Try reducing sugar, GMO’s, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine.

Adequate sleep and rest.

Your body won’t know what to do if it is constantly sleep deprived. Most of the “cleaning” functions of the body are done when you are fast asleep, so be sure to get at least 7-9 hours every day.

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