1 00:00:01,066 --> 00:00:03,400 Making it Grow is brought to you in part by the 2 00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:06,000 South Carolina Department of Agriculture. 3 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:09,533 Certified South Carolina grown helps consumers identify 4 00:00:09,633 --> 00:00:13,466 find and buy South Carolina products. 5 00:00:13,566 --> 00:00:15,933 McLeod Farms in McBee South Carolina. 6 00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:18,733 This family farm offers seasonal produce, 7 00:00:18,833 --> 00:00:22,500 including over 22 varieties of peaches. 8 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,200 Additional funding provided by International 9 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:27,700 Paper and the South Carolina Farm Bureau 10 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:29,600 Federation and Farm Bureau Insurance. 11 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:54,833 ♪ 12 00:00:55,533 --> 00:00:58,133 Well, Hello and good evening. We're so glad you could 13 00:00:58,233 --> 00:01:00,833 join us tonight for Making It Grow. I'm Amanda Mculty. 14 00:01:00,933 --> 00:01:03,333 And we're getting ready to have a hodge podge 15 00:01:03,433 --> 00:01:04,733 of visits to some 16 00:01:04,833 --> 00:01:06,600 of our favorite places in the past. 17 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,266 We're going to start off in Camden at a farm 18 00:01:09,366 --> 00:01:11,100 where they're growing wonderful vegetables and flowers. 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:12,266 But I assure you, 20 00:01:12,366 --> 00:01:15,166 There's not much else that's very normal about it. 21 00:01:16,166 --> 00:02:05,500 ♪ (upbeat music) 22 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,800 I'm visiting with Stephanie Tetterton and her garden in 23 00:02:08,900 --> 00:02:11,466 downtown Camden. Stephanie thanks for letting us come. 24 00:02:11,566 --> 00:02:14,066 Absolutely. Thank you. I appreciate it so much, 25 00:02:14,166 --> 00:02:17,933 y'all coming by. You grew up I think with your mother and 26 00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:19,766 father helping them garden. 27 00:02:19,866 --> 00:02:23,166 Was it a lot of fun back then? No, not so much. 28 00:02:23,266 --> 00:02:24,766 Where was that? And tell me 29 00:02:24,866 --> 00:02:26,666 what they did with all their produce? 30 00:02:26,766 --> 00:02:29,066 It was in Finklea, South Carolina in Horry County. 31 00:02:29,166 --> 00:02:31,333 And pretty much what we did, was we 32 00:02:31,433 --> 00:02:33,733 just gave most of it away. And what we 33 00:02:33,833 --> 00:02:36,800 didn't give away, my mom canned or put up for produce. 34 00:02:36,900 --> 00:02:39,100 Busy summers. And then there was 35 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,466 one thing ya'll grew that 36 00:02:40,566 --> 00:02:43,200 was kind of an heirloom in your family your mother 37 00:02:43,300 --> 00:02:45,466 brought into the marriage. Tell us about that. 38 00:02:45,566 --> 00:02:48,000 It's now called the Shirley Hammond Multiplier Onion. 39 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:50,266 But, it's a little small onion. 40 00:02:50,366 --> 00:02:53,200 Its no bigger than about the size of a dime, when 41 00:02:53,300 --> 00:02:57,600 it's dry. And basically when you plant it will multiply from 42 00:02:57,700 --> 00:03:00,733 one to anywhere from seven to fifteen. My word and do they 43 00:03:00,833 --> 00:03:03,233 kind of stay in a big bunch. Tight bunch. 44 00:03:03,333 --> 00:03:04,966 And your mother said that they 45 00:03:05,066 --> 00:03:07,366 had a wonderful flavor. She liked to use it 46 00:03:07,466 --> 00:03:10,366 in what dishes? Roasts! She likes to use them in roasts. 47 00:03:10,466 --> 00:03:12,766 It doesn't take but a little bit of 48 00:03:12,866 --> 00:03:14,866 one to really make a nice roast. 49 00:03:14,966 --> 00:03:18,566 That's fabulous! And when you got here to Camden and 50 00:03:18,666 --> 00:03:22,666 married you wanted to kind of continue that. I did. So, in 51 00:03:22,766 --> 00:03:25,800 2003 when we got married, I didn't necessarily 52 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:28,633 have a garden right away, but my father passed away. 53 00:03:28,733 --> 00:03:33,933 When he did, she mailed those onions to me, later came to 54 00:03:34,033 --> 00:03:37,133 help me plant those onions. To kinda get the tradition back 55 00:03:37,233 --> 00:03:40,100 started at my own home. Tell me how you ended up 56 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,800 expanding into this beautiful garden you have today? 57 00:03:43,900 --> 00:03:46,566 as time went on, we just need a bigger place 58 00:03:46,666 --> 00:03:50,600 to expand. And so when this property come up we were 59 00:03:50,700 --> 00:03:53,266 able to acquire it. It's just right down the road 60 00:03:53,366 --> 00:03:55,400 from our home. So, my husband 61 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:57,600 helped me to keep expanding really each 62 00:03:57,700 --> 00:04:00,600 and every year from it. And you enjoy finding things like 63 00:04:00,700 --> 00:04:02,733 this onion are a little bit different. 64 00:04:02,833 --> 00:04:07,100 Absolutely! Well, I love cauliflower. 65 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,300 Cauliflower's so cool in the early 66 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,233 Spring and then later I like to 67 00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:16,766 transition to odd tomatoes or you know heirloom tomatoes. And 68 00:04:16,866 --> 00:04:19,833 really my next favorite thing would probably be, I 69 00:04:19,933 --> 00:04:22,233 don't know, growing squash. I like growing winter squash 70 00:04:22,333 --> 00:04:24,900 different ones. Well let's talk a little about these cauliflower 71 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,200 because - you are kind of an artist, Yes! And you 72 00:04:28,300 --> 00:04:30,733 like color and that is reflected in some of these. 73 00:04:30,833 --> 00:04:35,300 Absolutely! I like the cauliflower I make are purple. 74 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,700 They're green. They're orange. And so, it just adds a lot of 75 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,333 fun to the garden. And then you had some 76 00:04:42,433 --> 00:04:44,900 beets that were a little bit different. Absolutely! 77 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,466 I have golden beets. I have your 78 00:04:48,566 --> 00:04:51,200 standard red beets. And then of course you've got your 79 00:04:51,300 --> 00:04:53,866 beets that are red and white, candy striped. 80 00:04:53,966 --> 00:04:56,266 So, it's just a bunch of different varieties there. 81 00:04:56,366 --> 00:04:58,166 How bout these turnips? The turnips are 82 00:04:58,266 --> 00:05:02,500 Japanese Salad Turnips. I have both the Scarlet Queen Red 83 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,166 type and then a little white Japanese type. And they're just 84 00:05:06,266 --> 00:05:09,366 kind of a sweet instead of being like a tangy radish it's 85 00:05:09,466 --> 00:05:12,866 more of a sweet taste to it. So it's more palatable for folks. 86 00:05:12,966 --> 00:05:16,733 And then of course given your personality I think flowers are 87 00:05:16,833 --> 00:05:19,033 a big part of this. I love zinnias. 88 00:05:19,133 --> 00:05:23,133 That's my husband's, one of his favorite flowers. At the ends of 89 00:05:23,233 --> 00:05:27,600 each garden we do plant tons of zinnia, just so that we can, you 90 00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:30,266 know, make those into flower arrangements later and then 91 00:05:30,366 --> 00:05:33,900 give them to folks if they get sick or need a pick me up. 92 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,466 You're out here fighting with bugs because they like 93 00:05:36,566 --> 00:05:38,933 this as much as we do. Yes. The main 94 00:05:39,033 --> 00:05:40,266 thing you use is what? 95 00:05:40,366 --> 00:05:43,766 I use diatomaceous earth as much as I can. 96 00:05:43,866 --> 00:05:45,200 I try to remain organic but 97 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:49,333 with squash bugs or even cut worms at times, I do have to use 98 00:05:49,433 --> 00:05:51,966 pyrethrins products. Tell me how your husband helped you solve 99 00:05:52,066 --> 00:05:55,466 the nut grass problem. Well instead of doing overhead 100 00:05:55,566 --> 00:05:58,666 watering which is what we did initially, 101 00:05:58,766 --> 00:06:01,066 he researched it and found that maybe we 102 00:06:01,166 --> 00:06:03,033 should do drip irrigation. So now 103 00:06:03,133 --> 00:06:07,133 we basically just drip each line so that we provide less 104 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:10,200 water to the area. And it's more conservative to water, 105 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:13,866 as well. So, it's better. And here you are in a lovely little 106 00:06:13,966 --> 00:06:16,900 dress and bare feet which - 107 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:18,400 (giggling) 108 00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:21,733 You said, That's my thing! That's my normal way. 109 00:06:21,833 --> 00:06:24,400 But, you are not somebody who 110 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:26,166 just directs people in the garden. 111 00:06:26,266 --> 00:06:29,900 This is your garden. And you do all the work? I do all the work. 112 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,133 I have no help other than my 113 00:06:32,233 --> 00:06:36,000 husband who does a lot of work. He helps me of course with the 114 00:06:36,100 --> 00:06:38,466 irrigation. He keeps all the tractors running. For the 115 00:06:38,566 --> 00:06:41,800 most part I'm out here weeding myself, 116 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:45,933 putting up for the tomatoes. I do all the tractor 117 00:06:46,033 --> 00:06:48,433 driving myself, other than the tilling, which he does 118 00:06:48,533 --> 00:06:49,533 with his M. 119 00:06:49,633 --> 00:06:50,600 ♪ 120 00:06:50,700 --> 00:07:52,166 ♪ (tractor engine starting upbeat music) ♪ 121 00:07:52,266 --> 00:07:53,433 Let's talk about this 122 00:07:53,533 --> 00:07:56,800 crazy collection of tractors. Yeah! Explain to me why 123 00:07:56,900 --> 00:07:59,500 there are so many? Yeah! Well, it's like anything. 124 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,233 It starts with one. So, it started with my husband's M. 125 00:08:03,333 --> 00:08:08,533 He obtained that upon his grandfather's death and from 126 00:08:08,633 --> 00:08:11,300 there, I loved it. So, he's like, 'I'll get you one.' 127 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:15,800 It started off with my little baby cub and each year, as 128 00:08:15,900 --> 00:08:19,300 folks saw that we liked them, they would offer one to us. 129 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,400 And you know, one was from a neighbor, 130 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:23,400 Mister Jack Moak. And when he 131 00:08:23,500 --> 00:08:27,300 passed away he and his family wanted us to have that. So we 132 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,266 acquired that from him. And just different ones. People just 133 00:08:30,366 --> 00:08:32,566 say, 'Hey! I know you liked them. 134 00:08:32,666 --> 00:08:34,500 Would you like to get this? Like your parents, 135 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:36,933 you don't spend all summer 136 00:08:37,033 --> 00:08:39,233 putting things up, because you helped your husband 137 00:08:39,333 --> 00:08:42,266 every day almost, That's right! He owns the Mill Village 138 00:08:42,366 --> 00:08:46,466 Veterinarian. So,he's a single solo vet. 139 00:08:46,566 --> 00:08:50,966 And I'm pretty much the office manager. So we 140 00:08:51,066 --> 00:08:55,266 work together regularly every day, trying to help animals. 141 00:08:55,366 --> 00:08:58,933 So, with the produce that you collect though, I think you 142 00:08:59,033 --> 00:09:01,233 carry on the family tradition. That's exactly right. 143 00:09:01,333 --> 00:09:03,900 You know I live in a mill village community. 144 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,633 So, what I try to do 145 00:09:05,733 --> 00:09:10,433 is to keep that mantra of just giving back. And so, whatever I 146 00:09:10,533 --> 00:09:14,666 produce, large in part, I give away to my neighbors. Stephanie 147 00:09:14,766 --> 00:09:17,533 Tetterton, it's been a delight to be with you today. 148 00:09:17,633 --> 00:09:19,500 Thank you. Absolutely! I Appreciate it 149 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:29,600 ♪ 150 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,600 Stephanie Tetterton is really a remarkable woman. 151 00:09:35,700 --> 00:09:38,600 We had fun visiting her. And now we're going down 152 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:40,466 to Clarendon County where Dr. John Nelson 153 00:09:40,566 --> 00:09:42,700 and I are going to explore a seep. 154 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:55,100 ♪ 155 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,866 We're in Clarendon County near the lovely town of Pinewood. 156 00:09:58,966 --> 00:10:02,966 Today we are visiting the farm that belongs to Chase Smoak's 157 00:10:03,066 --> 00:10:05,700 family. Chase is the new extension agent with 158 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,166 Sumter County and I'm with Doctor John Nelson 159 00:10:08,266 --> 00:10:09,700 of the A.C. Herbarium at 160 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,533 the University of South Carolina who loves to go botonizing. 161 00:10:12,633 --> 00:10:16,100 And I think you just about died and gone to heaven down here. 162 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,333 I think this is going to end up being one of my 163 00:10:19,433 --> 00:10:23,200 famous botany places from now on. And John looking 164 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:26,666 around people would say, 'Gosh, it looks a little bleak.' 165 00:10:26,766 --> 00:10:30,866 And that's because this property, this section was 166 00:10:30,966 --> 00:10:32,866 logged, which is wonderful. You can send 167 00:10:32,966 --> 00:10:36,566 your children to college and plants like it when you remove 168 00:10:36,666 --> 00:10:40,933 the timber. There's been a considerable amount of 169 00:10:41,033 --> 00:10:45,166 disturbance here in this formerly wooded area. 170 00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:50,033 They cut down most of the trees as you see around here. 171 00:10:50,133 --> 00:10:52,433 Others have been re-planted. So they're growing another forest. 172 00:10:52,533 --> 00:10:54,533 Meanwhile, all the plants that had 173 00:10:54,633 --> 00:10:58,333 been here, suddenly have been released because there's a lot 174 00:10:58,433 --> 00:11:00,800 more sunlight coming down. The ones that were just... 175 00:11:00,900 --> 00:11:03,833 whoo, here's a little bit of sun every, just struggling along, 176 00:11:03,933 --> 00:11:07,233 suddenly you know it's wonderful for them. 177 00:11:07,333 --> 00:11:11,633 So they'll be able to attain greater size and reproductive 178 00:11:11,733 --> 00:11:14,533 vigor we like to see. And there's even something more 179 00:11:14,633 --> 00:11:17,233 special happening here. That's because this is what is called 180 00:11:17,333 --> 00:11:19,233 a seep, which sounds kinda like 181 00:11:19,333 --> 00:11:22,266 something's leaking. Is water kind of leaking? It is sort of 182 00:11:22,366 --> 00:11:28,033 leaking. And it's kind of hard to pin down what exactly a 183 00:11:28,133 --> 00:11:31,400 seep is or seepage sometimes we call it. 184 00:11:31,500 --> 00:11:32,733 But they're generally 185 00:11:32,833 --> 00:11:39,033 wet places on otherwise dry hillside or slope of some sort. 186 00:11:39,133 --> 00:11:44,733 And the presence of water generally, the constant presence 187 00:11:44,833 --> 00:11:47,533 of water, really has a great effect on the plant 188 00:11:47,633 --> 00:11:51,200 life that's going to develop at such a place. While we were 189 00:11:51,300 --> 00:11:53,533 tropping around. I have on high boots, you 190 00:11:53,633 --> 00:11:58,300 just got your feet wet, we saw a fascinating display of plants, 191 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,966 some of which have to have this kind of situation. Let's talk 192 00:12:02,066 --> 00:12:05,500 about some of the ones that you spotted here today that are 193 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:10,333 specific to places that have more moisture than normal. 194 00:12:10,433 --> 00:12:14,233 And most of those are wetland plants, that is plants that are 195 00:12:14,333 --> 00:12:18,933 typically found in association with water or actually in water. 196 00:12:19,033 --> 00:12:21,700 I guess those are the aquatic plants. A lot of 197 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,933 the plants that we have around here are indeed wetland species. 198 00:12:25,033 --> 00:12:27,333 We saw a lot of sedges to start with. 199 00:12:27,433 --> 00:12:31,333 Sedges are great stand. We're standing 200 00:12:31,433 --> 00:12:36,033 right in it now, a big patch of Rhynchospora or Beak Rush. 201 00:12:36,133 --> 00:12:40,066 They're actually several species of Beak rush that are out here 202 00:12:40,166 --> 00:12:44,900 and they're a very interesting group of species. 203 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,800 And beyond the Beak Rush, there are other sedges - 204 00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:50,800 I don't even know it has a 205 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:55,500 common name but Fuirena is a genus and 206 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,100 beyond those there are quite a number of different grasses 207 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,466 that are present. And we think of grasses as being in more 208 00:13:02,566 --> 00:13:05,733 dry places. But there are some that want this. Which are some 209 00:13:05,833 --> 00:13:10,566 of the grasses that we saw. One of the very common grasses it's 210 00:13:10,666 --> 00:13:14,766 almost in every wetland estate is a panic grass, which we 211 00:13:14,866 --> 00:13:18,633 found. And it's very easy to identify as long as you have 212 00:13:18,733 --> 00:13:22,633 a hand lens because it's got little bumps on it's spikelets. 213 00:13:22,733 --> 00:13:26,566 You let me look at that a little bit. And then we saw some 214 00:13:26,666 --> 00:13:28,466 flowering plants. And everything flowers. 215 00:13:28,566 --> 00:13:30,266 We saw some things that people 216 00:13:30,366 --> 00:13:33,700 who like color and more what seems like a plant. Conspicuous 217 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,900 flowers are what most people see when they go on a botany 218 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,600 trip. One was orange and it was just bright and shiny. I mean. 219 00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:43,866 And it's gorgeous that was probably the Orange 220 00:13:43,966 --> 00:13:48,100 Milkwort, which actually Chase found, and we made such a fuss 221 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:52,700 about Polygala lutea which is a beautiful thing. But we 222 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:57,466 also saw species of Rhexia, the Meadow Beauty and then we 223 00:13:57,566 --> 00:14:03,033 also saw Seed Box. the reddish seed box. There's a 224 00:14:03,133 --> 00:14:07,933 species called Ludwigia leptocarpa which grows runners 225 00:14:08,033 --> 00:14:12,066 tiny little yellow petals. Beautiful stuff and a lot of 226 00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:15,500 these things would actually be suitable I think for a bog 227 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,700 garden. Lobelia. Lobelia I think that's kind of my fave 228 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,500 out here. It's got a sort of a sky blue corolla of 229 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:27,600 flowers. Beautiful and they really do love these wet places 230 00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:32,266 that are full of sunlight. We saw a clamoring vine that you 231 00:14:32,366 --> 00:14:36,833 said is nice because it's late. And when pollinators... It's 232 00:14:36,933 --> 00:14:42,300 one of the few viney species 233 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,466 that we've got in the sunflower family. And it's got a funny 234 00:14:46,566 --> 00:14:50,966 name, Climbing Hemp. And that's Mikania scandens, 235 00:14:51,066 --> 00:14:54,500 which is actually probably in every county of South Carolina. 236 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:56,966 I think it's lovely. I do too. 237 00:14:57,066 --> 00:15:01,166 I wish I had some behind my house at the deck. 238 00:15:01,266 --> 00:15:03,333 Well, you have a lot of things there. 239 00:15:03,433 --> 00:15:05,766 But, I'm sure Chase would happily let you do 240 00:15:05,866 --> 00:15:09,100 some collecting. And then John interestingly, we do also see 241 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:14,033 things that we associate with regular soil situations, 242 00:15:14,133 --> 00:15:17,933 that sometimes or even for dry places we see Bracken fern. 243 00:15:18,033 --> 00:15:20,966 Bracken fern of course that's one of them that's kinda an 244 00:15:21,066 --> 00:15:25,133 odd ball sort of a fern. It can be on the very driest slopes. 245 00:15:25,233 --> 00:15:28,233 All you gotta do is go to someplace like Peachtree Rock. 246 00:15:28,333 --> 00:15:31,866 to see it. You can also find that in fairly wet ditches of 247 00:15:31,966 --> 00:15:35,466 the coastal plain. Here it's sort of betwixt in between 248 00:15:35,566 --> 00:15:39,200 because it will get down into this seepage area although we 249 00:15:39,300 --> 00:15:43,133 would think that it's more at home on the drier part of the 250 00:15:43,233 --> 00:15:46,466 hillside. And then I've got on a black shirt and I had 251 00:15:46,566 --> 00:15:50,566 to kind of fluff it off. I had a lot of seeds on me. 252 00:15:50,666 --> 00:15:53,566 And those were from I think just our common Broom sedge. 253 00:15:53,666 --> 00:15:56,833 Broom sedge is very abundant out here and it's like going 254 00:15:56,933 --> 00:16:00,000 crazy now, fruiting. It's making it's 255 00:16:00,100 --> 00:16:04,833 little spikelets, one seeded fruits, grains. And it can be in 256 00:16:04,933 --> 00:16:09,600 dry fields or very adaptable and can be found in other 257 00:16:09,700 --> 00:16:12,666 places. Now there are a number of species of Broom sedges 258 00:16:12,766 --> 00:16:15,233 of Andropogon. They're not always 259 00:16:15,333 --> 00:16:18,800 easy to identify. I'll leave that to you. Grasses are 260 00:16:18,900 --> 00:16:22,666 difficult. John I was talking with my friend Mike Stallworth 261 00:16:22,766 --> 00:16:26,866 who had been with DNR and he said the seepages also are 262 00:16:26,966 --> 00:16:31,100 important for wildlife, particularly amphibians which we 263 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:33,666 don't often think about. But they're kind of having 264 00:16:33,766 --> 00:16:37,166 trouble sometimes because the ground stays wet enough for them 265 00:16:37,266 --> 00:16:40,833 to be able to have their reproductive - To breed and 266 00:16:40,933 --> 00:16:44,900 of course since it is a seepage and not a pond or some kind 267 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,600 of a little lake, there aren't gonna be any fish to bother. 268 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:49,900 (laughter) 269 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:52,533 Some little tadpole's aren't going to end up in the bream. 270 00:16:52,633 --> 00:16:56,066 That's important for the herpetologist to be 271 00:16:56,166 --> 00:17:00,766 aware of places like this that are at least potential habitat 272 00:17:00,866 --> 00:17:04,500 for different kinds of amphibians and reptiles. As we 273 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:08,933 see our state changing and we lose some of these micro 274 00:17:09,033 --> 00:17:12,800 climates. It's important that they are recognized and I think 275 00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:16,366 Chase and his family are saying that this one, they believe that 276 00:17:16,466 --> 00:17:19,099 they'll even though we've got some pines on it, they're 277 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:21,966 gonna burn it periodically. And that will allow the sunlight 278 00:17:22,066 --> 00:17:25,200 to continue so that these plants you described can have a 279 00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:28,200 vigorous growth. That would not keep knocking back the woody 280 00:17:28,300 --> 00:17:32,433 vegetation, which ultimately would be invading here. And that 281 00:17:32,533 --> 00:17:36,166 would be nice if people do have, you know, the listeners, 282 00:17:36,266 --> 00:17:39,733 if they have anything like this on their 283 00:17:39,833 --> 00:17:43,100 property, maybe they could take care of it any way they can. 284 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,966 Now that doesn't always mean that it's possible to burn 285 00:17:46,066 --> 00:17:50,300 your landscape, but to take care of it in whatever way you can 286 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,500 just to keep it going. Well, I think it's nice that we 287 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:56,166 got families like the Smoak, who are committed to the 288 00:17:56,266 --> 00:17:59,933 environment and the natural community and that they even let 289 00:18:00,033 --> 00:18:02,333 people like us come in and have such 290 00:18:02,433 --> 00:18:04,200 glorious days exploring. They're really nice people. 291 00:18:04,300 --> 00:18:06,400 Thank you, John. Thank you, Amanda. 292 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:17,866 ♪ 293 00:18:20,033 --> 00:18:22,333 Thanks to Chase Smoak for taking us down to 294 00:18:22,433 --> 00:18:23,633 his family's farm. 295 00:18:23,733 --> 00:18:26,333 And now, we're going down to Bowman, where Blanche Weathers 296 00:18:26,433 --> 00:18:28,733 is going to show us a pretty different way 297 00:18:28,833 --> 00:18:30,766 of cooking South Carolina peanuts. 298 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:35,766 ♪ 299 00:18:35,866 --> 00:18:38,133 We're in Bowman, South Carolina visiting Blanche Weathers, 300 00:18:38,233 --> 00:18:40,800 the wife of our Commissioner of Agriculture, Hugh Weathers. 301 00:18:40,900 --> 00:18:42,800 And we're gonna do something agriculture related. 302 00:18:42,900 --> 00:18:46,333 And it's a lot of fun. It is and tasty too. We're going 303 00:18:46,433 --> 00:18:49,333 to be frying peanuts today. I never had a fried peanut. 304 00:18:49,433 --> 00:18:50,633 I've had boiled peanuts. 305 00:18:50,733 --> 00:18:53,466 It's just the best. You're gonna love em. 306 00:18:53,566 --> 00:18:57,333 And it's sort of new for me too but we'll show you 307 00:18:57,433 --> 00:19:00,600 what we're gonna do here. You got a really nice fryer here. 308 00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:03,366 Yes. And I guess we're gonna use peanut oil. 309 00:19:03,466 --> 00:19:06,400 It's essential that you use peanut oil. 310 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:09,233 And yes we have this wonderful fryer. 311 00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:12,300 And it's an electric fryer. Yes and 312 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:16,500 we're just going to pour a little bit more oil in here. 313 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:19,200 And we got the thermostat set at 314 00:19:19,300 --> 00:19:20,666 350 degrees. Okay. 315 00:19:20,766 --> 00:19:23,066 So we gonna let it come up to that temperature. 316 00:19:23,166 --> 00:19:24,566 I think we're good there. 317 00:19:24,666 --> 00:19:26,566 And now can you re-use the oil? 318 00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:31,533 Yes, she really can. I would say probably four, five times 319 00:19:31,633 --> 00:19:35,933 you can. You know it is 320 00:19:36,033 --> 00:19:38,766 expensive, the peanut oil. But we have 321 00:19:38,866 --> 00:19:41,966 really exciting peanuts. Tell me what kind of peanuts you use. 322 00:19:42,066 --> 00:19:45,433 Okay, these are raw shelled peanuts 323 00:19:45,533 --> 00:19:49,166 and they're grown right here in South Carolina, of course. 324 00:19:49,266 --> 00:19:52,766 People are always asking 'Well where do I get those raw' 325 00:19:52,866 --> 00:19:54,933 'shelled peanuts?' And you can get them actually 326 00:19:55,033 --> 00:19:59,500 in the grocery store. But you might need to ask your 327 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,966 produce manager in your store 328 00:20:02,066 --> 00:20:05,200 to get them for you. They can do that. 329 00:20:05,300 --> 00:20:06,966 And we are filming in 330 00:20:07,066 --> 00:20:11,033 late September which is when the peanuts are being dug. 331 00:20:11,133 --> 00:20:14,466 This is the time you want to do this. It's our Fall activity. 332 00:20:14,566 --> 00:20:17,000 I live in St Matthews and drive back and forth 333 00:20:17,100 --> 00:20:19,766 and see the crops. And all of a sudden we started 334 00:20:19,866 --> 00:20:22,066 noticing a new crop, a number of years ago. 335 00:20:22,166 --> 00:20:23,233 What brought peanuts into 336 00:20:23,333 --> 00:20:25,000 the South Carolina agricultural system? 337 00:20:25,100 --> 00:20:28,600 I think for the most part, it was when the tobacco industry 338 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:33,200 had the buyout. And a lot of farmers over in the Pee Dee area 339 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:37,066 were in need of a new crop. And so the soil is perfect. 340 00:20:37,166 --> 00:20:40,700 The climate is good and we grow some really 341 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,333 great peanuts here in South Carolina. How many acres do we 342 00:20:43,433 --> 00:20:46,100 have? 65 thousand acres are grown here in South 343 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:48,166 Carolina right now. That's a lot for our farms. 344 00:20:48,266 --> 00:20:50,900 I was talking with one of our Ag agents and they were 345 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,666 telling me that this has been a really helpful crop. 346 00:20:53,766 --> 00:20:55,266 You know farmers like to rotate. 347 00:20:55,366 --> 00:20:58,333 Right. And legumes and of course peanuts are a legume. 348 00:20:58,433 --> 00:21:00,933 They add nitrogen to the soil. 349 00:21:01,033 --> 00:21:05,100 Yes. And then I think we were talking about the fact that 350 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:09,466 then when you plant the next crop say maybe cotton you don't 351 00:21:09,566 --> 00:21:12,666 have quite as much nitrogen to have to put into the soil 352 00:21:12,766 --> 00:21:14,700 because the legumes help with that. 353 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:19,033 And then also cotton which is pretty important. Yes it is 354 00:21:19,133 --> 00:21:22,466 very subject to distress 355 00:21:22,566 --> 00:21:26,166 from the root knot nematode. Okay and I've been told that 356 00:21:26,266 --> 00:21:28,866 that doesn't, the peanut crop 357 00:21:28,966 --> 00:21:31,666 doesn't support that nematode, they have the old nematode 358 00:21:31,766 --> 00:21:34,433 but that means that population diminishes. 359 00:21:34,533 --> 00:21:36,233 If you plant cotton the next year, 360 00:21:36,333 --> 00:21:39,266 you've got a few of those root knot nematodes. So, it's a 361 00:21:39,366 --> 00:21:41,666 great rotation for us. Yes. 362 00:21:41,766 --> 00:21:44,166 Well, I guess we're going to wait a few minutes till 363 00:21:44,266 --> 00:21:46,800 this gets hot. Then we'll be taking the next step. 364 00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:52,733 ♪ 365 00:21:52,833 --> 00:21:56,033 Blanche, this cool fryer has a green light when it's 366 00:21:56,133 --> 00:21:57,900 pre-heated. That means we're at 350 degrees 367 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,200 Yes. So we can put the peanuts in. 368 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:02,466 Yes. We're ready to go. Ready to go. 369 00:22:02,566 --> 00:22:05,033 Safety's a factor so we're going to be careful. 370 00:22:05,133 --> 00:22:08,466 It really is. Even though you have this wonderful fryer, 371 00:22:08,566 --> 00:22:10,800 You just got to be careful. 372 00:22:10,900 --> 00:22:13,433 This is very hot oil and you just really need 373 00:22:13,533 --> 00:22:14,933 to pay attention. Okay. 374 00:22:15,033 --> 00:22:19,500 So what we're gonna do is this thing, sits up high 375 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:20,766 and we're just going 376 00:22:20,866 --> 00:22:24,500 to put in a cup, two cups. Two cups, about two cups and we 377 00:22:24,600 --> 00:22:27,366 put em in the fryer. Because we don't want to overload it. 378 00:22:27,466 --> 00:22:31,166 We don't want too many in there. But we want them to all kind 379 00:22:31,266 --> 00:22:33,166 of have their own space, you know. 380 00:22:33,266 --> 00:22:36,300 Then, we're just going to drop them in to the fryer. 381 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:37,733 And they will actually 382 00:22:37,833 --> 00:22:42,700 need to fry for about six minutes. And we're gonna watch 383 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,933 em because they'll turn begin to turn a golden brown. 384 00:22:47,033 --> 00:22:50,466 And then some of them, some of them are already split and 385 00:22:50,566 --> 00:22:53,966 they're halves. The ones that are whole. it's kind of nice to 386 00:22:54,066 --> 00:22:57,400 be able to watch them. They'll start to pop a little bit. 387 00:22:57,500 --> 00:23:01,166 Oh! That's kind of (Pop) your trigger. Whoa! Talk about 388 00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:05,266 popping. So, that's sort of one of the things you look for, 389 00:23:05,366 --> 00:23:10,333 the color and that little split in them, all about six 390 00:23:10,433 --> 00:23:12,466 minutes. And then, then we're good to go. 391 00:23:12,566 --> 00:23:14,333 We've got our eye on the clock. 392 00:23:14,433 --> 00:23:17,100 We'll keep our eye on the peanuts too. That's right. 393 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:26,600 ♪ 394 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:29,766 Blanche, I think our timer says that we're ready and the smell 395 00:23:29,866 --> 00:23:33,366 and color just looks perfect. They are, they look just right. 396 00:23:33,466 --> 00:23:37,000 So, we're gonna lift them out here. They look beautiful. 397 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:39,166 Aren't they beautiful? They're pretty. 398 00:23:39,266 --> 00:23:42,433 I think the color is just the thing you want to look at. 399 00:23:42,533 --> 00:23:46,333 We're gonna let em drain just a second, 400 00:23:46,433 --> 00:23:49,933 but remember that they do continue to cook just a little 401 00:23:50,033 --> 00:23:51,666 bit after we take them out. 402 00:23:51,766 --> 00:23:54,300 And then I'm just gonna move them right over here 403 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:56,366 and shake them out on this newsprint. 404 00:23:56,466 --> 00:24:03,300 So, then today I have some Bull's Bay Sea Salt. 405 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,400 Certified South Carolina. Certified South Carolina. 406 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:09,100 And this is our Carolina Flake. 407 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,833 You can use any sea salt of course. 408 00:24:11,933 --> 00:24:15,966 And you just want to, while they're hot and the salt 409 00:24:16,066 --> 00:24:17,533 can kind of - 410 00:24:17,633 --> 00:24:21,166 dissolve a little bit. Dissolve in the heat of the peanuts 411 00:24:21,266 --> 00:24:24,500 so it causes it to dissolve and it 412 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,700 sticks as they dry and don't want to - 413 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,833 The trick is - 414 00:24:31,033 --> 00:24:32,400 you can always add more. 415 00:24:32,500 --> 00:24:35,000 Okay, so we'll start with a little bit like 416 00:24:35,100 --> 00:24:38,700 that and see how those taste when they cool off just 417 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:39,833 a little bit. 418 00:24:39,933 --> 00:24:43,300 If you were going to do these in advance of 419 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,700 a party or event, How do you store them? 420 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,600 A lot of times I store them in Mason jars and just 421 00:24:50,700 --> 00:24:54,466 just tighten the lid down. And I think they'll probably keep 422 00:24:54,566 --> 00:24:58,700 about six weeks. In the kitchen? In the kitchen and 423 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,733 they make a great Christmas present. Tie a red ribbon around 424 00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:05,100 that little Mason jar and, they're really fun to 425 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:06,100 give away. 426 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:08,333 I think these days one of the fun things 427 00:25:08,433 --> 00:25:10,600 about certified South Carolina and all those things, is 428 00:25:10,700 --> 00:25:11,933 when you go on trips 429 00:25:12,033 --> 00:25:15,333 most people - if you're like me, I need to be getting rid of 430 00:25:15,433 --> 00:25:17,700 things instead of adding more things to my house. 431 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:19,100 That's right. That's right 432 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:21,466 Everybody loves something from South Carolina. 433 00:25:21,566 --> 00:25:24,800 Yes they do. Something from home. We have so many new things 434 00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:26,966 here and this is one of the favorites. 435 00:25:27,066 --> 00:25:35,200 ♪ 436 00:25:39,033 --> 00:25:41,866 Until you taste them, you won't believe how delicious they are. 437 00:25:41,966 --> 00:25:44,700 And now we're going up to Chester, where Joanna Angle 438 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:48,500 has 68 acres dedicated to environmental sustainability. 439 00:25:50,566 --> 00:26:12,600 ♪ 440 00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:15,933 We're visiting with JoAnna Angle and Bill Altman 441 00:26:16,033 --> 00:26:19,033 at their home, Cedar Leaf Farm near Chester. 442 00:26:19,133 --> 00:26:21,500 JoAnna, There has been a lot of change 443 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,366 on this property since you came here. 444 00:26:23,466 --> 00:26:26,033 Tell me what some of the things that you've done 445 00:26:26,133 --> 00:26:29,433 have encompassed. Well, the thing that we're talk about 446 00:26:29,533 --> 00:26:33,100 especially today is this three and a half acre field 447 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,866 which, when I got here, it was in millet and milo. 448 00:26:36,966 --> 00:26:39,600 And when we were raising thoroughbreds on a small scale 449 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:42,400 but it went into Coastal Bermuda pasture. 450 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:46,433 So I decided I wanted to do something more for nature and we 451 00:26:46,533 --> 00:26:48,333 eradicated that Coastal Bermuda,which was a challenge. 452 00:26:48,433 --> 00:26:53,333 And we put it into nine or ten different plants that 453 00:26:53,433 --> 00:26:57,666 are good for bees and wasps, all kinds of native creatures. 454 00:26:57,766 --> 00:26:59,433 Hummingbirds and the goldfinches, 455 00:26:59,533 --> 00:27:00,966 especially love to come here. 456 00:27:01,066 --> 00:27:02,966 Let's talk about what individual species 457 00:27:03,066 --> 00:27:05,533 you have here in the pollinator plot. 458 00:27:05,633 --> 00:27:09,033 The goal, Amanda, was to get three early seasons, 459 00:27:09,133 --> 00:27:12,266 three mid and three late. 460 00:27:12,366 --> 00:27:15,266 So, we planted nine different species to try to get that 461 00:27:15,366 --> 00:27:17,933 and I also threw in some Bachelor Buttons. 462 00:27:18,033 --> 00:27:20,333 Which told us that first year with none of the 463 00:27:20,433 --> 00:27:22,533 other perennials were coming up that there 464 00:27:22,633 --> 00:27:24,866 was a sea of blue and it was just beautiful. 465 00:27:24,966 --> 00:27:27,900 And it told us that we seeded evenly. So that was good. 466 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,166 Then, as things emerged, they grew up where they were happy. 467 00:27:31,266 --> 00:27:34,966 For example, it took five years, I believe, for the milkweed 468 00:27:35,066 --> 00:27:36,966 to present itself and now 469 00:27:37,066 --> 00:27:38,900 it's colonizing in different parts of the farm. 470 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,566 Not everywhere, but where it gets what it wants. 471 00:27:41,666 --> 00:27:46,700 This spotted bee balm, it's coming this way. 472 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:51,533 We have tickseed. We have a showy goldenrod, 473 00:27:51,633 --> 00:27:55,200 We have Maximillian Sunflower. Eupatoriums? 474 00:27:55,300 --> 00:27:56,166 That's right. 475 00:27:56,266 --> 00:27:58,533 And then earlier in the Summer, we had 476 00:27:58,633 --> 00:28:00,966 my favorite flower of all, Black-eyed Susan's. 477 00:28:01,066 --> 00:28:03,366 [laughter] 478 00:28:03,466 --> 00:28:05,000 and purple coneflowers. 479 00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:08,266 So we've have had success with everything except we planted an 480 00:28:08,366 --> 00:28:10,433 Illinois Bundleflower and it hasn't shown up yet. 481 00:28:10,533 --> 00:28:12,600 But, it might. It is in South Carolina. 482 00:28:12,700 --> 00:28:15,333 And what do you do to maintain this plot? 483 00:28:15,433 --> 00:28:18,266 We get the tractor out and mow it in late Winter. 484 00:28:18,366 --> 00:28:21,733 We try to control what weeds and invasives that we have. 485 00:28:21,833 --> 00:28:25,600 And then you've got a smaller area closer to the 486 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:28,300 house that I think was primarily for butterflies. It was. 487 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:30,000 We call it the Little House Garden 488 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:32,266 That was my first effort at butterfly gardening. 489 00:28:32,366 --> 00:28:34,800 And it is true, if you plant it, they will come. 490 00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:38,133 Maybe it takes a year or two but they come and they come back. 491 00:28:38,233 --> 00:28:40,133 How many species of butterflies have been identified? 492 00:28:40,233 --> 00:28:42,300 I believe 26. Isn't that wonderful? 493 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,033 And in the area too, you have water opportunities 494 00:28:45,133 --> 00:28:48,866 because we know that it's important for our insects. 495 00:28:48,966 --> 00:28:51,466 We have numerous birdbaths. 496 00:28:51,566 --> 00:28:54,066 And then for butterflies, they like to do what's called 497 00:28:54,166 --> 00:28:55,466 puddling, they like to puddle. 498 00:28:55,566 --> 00:28:57,600 And so they have their own little drinking area, 499 00:28:57,700 --> 00:28:59,900 I call it a butterfly bar because we have 500 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:02,866 beer in it. They seem to like that. 501 00:29:02,966 --> 00:29:05,600 And then, of course you have a wonderful house here. 502 00:29:05,700 --> 00:29:07,600 It dates from the 1850s. 1856. 503 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:10,433 I think you had a happy thing happen to it recently. 504 00:29:10,533 --> 00:29:12,266 Oh, the happiest day of my life. 505 00:29:12,366 --> 00:29:15,166 We had recently a gathering to celebrate the house being 506 00:29:15,266 --> 00:29:18,433 listed on the national register of historic places. 507 00:29:18,533 --> 00:29:21,033 We had three of the previous four families, 508 00:29:21,133 --> 00:29:23,566 had members of those families here including a 509 00:29:23,666 --> 00:29:25,800 lady that was born here on Easter Sunday morning in 1930. 510 00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:28,300 But of course in olden days people raise the windows 511 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:29,833 and used wood to heat and 512 00:29:29,933 --> 00:29:31,933 y'all wanted to be more sustainable with electricity. 513 00:29:32,033 --> 00:29:37,333 Yes, because old houses aren't known for being tight. 514 00:29:37,433 --> 00:29:39,933 We have insulated a lot but still, it gets 515 00:29:40,033 --> 00:29:43,400 drafty in the Fall and Winter. 516 00:29:43,500 --> 00:29:47,000 I'm not going to steal anybody's thunder but we have a different 517 00:29:47,100 --> 00:29:49,033 way to heat and cool our house now. 518 00:29:49,133 --> 00:29:52,433 And you also had another Coastal Bermuda pasture and although 519 00:29:52,533 --> 00:29:56,033 that provided cover and it was a wonderful place for 520 00:29:56,133 --> 00:29:57,733 rainwater infiltration you wanted to put 521 00:29:57,833 --> 00:30:00,400 that into an entirely different native type of species. 522 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:01,933 What did do you do there? 523 00:30:02,033 --> 00:30:04,600 Native warm season grasses, well, that was a 524 00:30:04,700 --> 00:30:05,966 very meticulous preparation. 525 00:30:06,066 --> 00:30:10,433 Seven steps to get rid of what was there and when you 526 00:30:10,533 --> 00:30:12,100 sow the warm season grasses you 527 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:13,900 have to have a very smooth surface. 528 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,566 Tiny seeds. Tiny, tiny. 529 00:30:17,666 --> 00:30:23,000 We did a number - we worked with- both of these projects 530 00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:24,600 in cooperation with the USDA NRCS. 531 00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:26,900 And they helped and guided us through all of that. 532 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:28,733 They've been good partners for you? 533 00:30:28,833 --> 00:30:31,533 Oh, and partnerships - if you're going to have 534 00:30:31,633 --> 00:30:33,433 anything like this, partnerships are so 535 00:30:33,533 --> 00:30:35,766 important because no one person can know it all. 536 00:30:35,866 --> 00:30:38,900 You also have mixed hardwoods with some pines in them 537 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,800 and you've even have gone in and done some 538 00:30:40,900 --> 00:30:43,233 things to try and enhance the wildlife support that they 539 00:30:43,333 --> 00:30:45,000 give. I think the most important 540 00:30:45,100 --> 00:30:48,266 thing we did in our woods was create corridors 541 00:30:48,366 --> 00:30:49,900 so wildlife can move and travel. 542 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:51,566 That was the biggie. 543 00:30:51,666 --> 00:30:55,566 It also gave us the opportunity to go in and selectively thin 544 00:30:55,666 --> 00:30:57,433 trees that needed to come out 545 00:30:57,533 --> 00:31:01,033 so we have harvested a couple of times but that's not our goal. 546 00:31:01,133 --> 00:31:05,266 Our goal is wildlife habitat, aesthetics and educational 547 00:31:05,366 --> 00:31:06,900 opportunities and we try to create 548 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:08,066 a teaching forest. 549 00:31:08,166 --> 00:31:11,266 You you said that your father influenced you this way. 550 00:31:11,366 --> 00:31:13,666 Let's talk a little bit about that. He did. 551 00:31:13,766 --> 00:31:15,833 The drive that is behind all of this. 552 00:31:15,933 --> 00:31:20,833 My daddy operated under the motto 553 00:31:20,933 --> 00:31:22,666 that you do what you can with 554 00:31:22,766 --> 00:31:26,400 what you have, where you are, for as long as you can. 555 00:31:26,500 --> 00:31:30,466 So, it doesn't matter if you have three acres or 300 acres 556 00:31:30,566 --> 00:31:32,766 or if you've got a lot in town. 557 00:31:32,866 --> 00:31:35,800 Everybody has an opportunity to show stewardship, 558 00:31:35,900 --> 00:31:38,466 and plant things that are beneficial to wildlife. 559 00:31:38,566 --> 00:31:42,233 If people who are listening to you are inspired, 560 00:31:42,333 --> 00:31:44,100 as I hope they will be and 561 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:47,333 think, "Well, gosh, I may not have 65 acres but I do have 562 00:31:47,433 --> 00:31:49,600 a zeal to enhance wildlife 563 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:52,566 opportunities in my little plot of the world." 564 00:31:52,666 --> 00:31:55,000 How could they get in touch with you? 565 00:31:55,100 --> 00:31:57,966 They could email me at jangle@truvista.net 566 00:31:58,066 --> 00:32:04,366 And I can tell you, the other wonderful resource 567 00:32:04,466 --> 00:32:06,333 right here is our land grant university. 568 00:32:06,433 --> 00:32:08,333 I have become a huge Clemson fan. 569 00:32:08,433 --> 00:32:13,300 I grew up adjacent to the campus of Virginia Tech but I have come 570 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:14,966 to embrace Clemson and they have been 571 00:32:15,066 --> 00:32:16,600 very supportive. They have wonderful publications. 572 00:32:16,700 --> 00:32:19,100 I think it takes a team and you are certainly 573 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:20,533 part of the educational team 574 00:32:20,633 --> 00:32:22,400 that's working to make South Carolina 575 00:32:22,500 --> 00:32:24,233 a more sustainable and habitat friendly place. 576 00:32:24,333 --> 00:32:26,900 Thank you for letting us visit. Thank you for coming. 577 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:40,233 ♪ 578 00:32:44,700 --> 00:32:47,633 JoAnna's husband, Bill Altman keeps us updated on the work 579 00:32:47,733 --> 00:32:49,900 that they're doing there. It's still going strong. 580 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,100 Now, wait to learn about the South Carolina heifer project. 581 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,166 where two twins show us how to get cows to move 582 00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:57,666 the way they're supposed to. 583 00:32:59,333 --> 00:33:04,933 ♪ 584 00:33:05,033 --> 00:33:09,266 The South Carolina Dairy Heifer Project gives youths from non 585 00:33:09,366 --> 00:33:11,966 dairy backgrounds a truly hands on experience raising a 586 00:33:12,066 --> 00:33:15,766 dairy heifer. For eighteen months kids care for and 587 00:33:15,866 --> 00:33:18,866 train their cow and participate in juried events that 588 00:33:18,966 --> 00:33:21,100 give them experience in public speaking, 589 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:24,300 deportment and critical analysis. Not only does 590 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,000 this program provide quality dairy cows 591 00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:30,633 to add to established herds but encourages participants to 592 00:33:30,733 --> 00:33:33,366 consider careers in the dairy industry. We've been 593 00:33:33,466 --> 00:33:36,666 following two sisters Madelyn and Logan Bolin 594 00:33:36,766 --> 00:33:39,166 in their journey. Our first stop was at the 595 00:33:39,266 --> 00:33:42,733 Clemson Spring Dairy weekend at the T Ed. 596 00:33:42,833 --> 00:33:45,900 Garrison Arena where the girls received their calves. 597 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,700 From there we visited Madelyn and Logan at their 598 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,466 home in Clover to learn how they had cared for 599 00:33:51,566 --> 00:33:54,066 their animals and how hard it is to get a cow 600 00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:55,900 to walk where you want it to. 601 00:33:57,966 --> 00:34:00,733 Madelyn and Logan, y'all are second generation 602 00:34:00,833 --> 00:34:04,800 heifer project people. And tell me about your first 603 00:34:04,900 --> 00:34:08,500 experience going and getting your heifer. 604 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,433 Well, we're really, really excited. 605 00:34:11,533 --> 00:34:14,266 Because my brothers and my mom had did the heifer project 606 00:34:14,366 --> 00:34:16,800 and so then when I met my heifer it was 607 00:34:16,900 --> 00:34:20,199 just so like happy to have my own heifer. And not 608 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:22,966 to have to see my brother's heifer so I could just have my 609 00:34:23,066 --> 00:34:26,400 own and say it was it was my own. It was really nice and 610 00:34:26,500 --> 00:34:28,833 y'all were pretty young when you got your first animal I believe. 611 00:34:28,933 --> 00:34:31,466 Yes we were four years old. That's unusual. Yes. But 612 00:34:31,566 --> 00:34:33,766 you've grown up with heifers around you. That made a 613 00:34:33,866 --> 00:34:38,033 difference here. And what is the day to day 614 00:34:38,133 --> 00:34:40,533 operation of having a cow? What is like what's your 615 00:34:40,633 --> 00:34:42,866 day like? The interaction you have with 616 00:34:42,966 --> 00:34:45,966 a cow. So we have to feed them and make sure 617 00:34:46,066 --> 00:34:49,333 they have water. And make sure they, there are not a lot 618 00:34:49,433 --> 00:34:52,133 of flies on them. So they don't get sick or nothing. 619 00:34:52,233 --> 00:34:55,300 And then we always just walk them and make sure 620 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:57,800 they're not feeling sick or anything. Make sure they're 621 00:34:57,900 --> 00:34:59,966 healthy. Just so to make sure they're feeling 622 00:35:00,066 --> 00:35:03,166 their self. Okay so we have to check up on them and 623 00:35:03,266 --> 00:35:06,200 make sure they're okay. And y'all make sure that 624 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:10,333 they're clean too. Do they like to be washed off and 625 00:35:10,433 --> 00:35:13,233 cleaned? I think it cools them down. Especially during the 626 00:35:13,333 --> 00:35:17,033 summer, it makes them feel cooler and relieved to not 627 00:35:17,133 --> 00:35:20,066 be so sweaty and hot and everything. Things 628 00:35:20,166 --> 00:35:24,333 that you or judged on are two fold, I think. One 629 00:35:24,433 --> 00:35:27,266 involves the cow, how the cow looks and one involves 630 00:35:27,366 --> 00:35:30,133 about how you show the cow. Can you talk a 631 00:35:30,233 --> 00:35:34,000 little bit about that? Yes, so there's certain 632 00:35:34,100 --> 00:35:36,600 classes that you can do. So, showmanship is about 633 00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:39,000 how you present your animal to the judge. And 634 00:35:39,100 --> 00:35:44,100 so you want to be, you want to have like good posture and 635 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:46,733 you want be, you want him to tell that 636 00:35:46,833 --> 00:35:49,233 you've been working with your heifer for awhile, 637 00:35:49,333 --> 00:35:52,866 cause you want them to kind of listen to you. And 638 00:35:52,966 --> 00:35:56,733 you two will work very good together. And then 639 00:35:56,833 --> 00:35:59,500 there's confirmation classes, which is 640 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:02,900 her class to shine. And so you want to make her look 641 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:08,400 the best that she can. And it's judged on her dairy character 642 00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:11,533 and how deep she is. and her 643 00:36:11,633 --> 00:36:14,800 correctness of her feet and legs. And how straight she 644 00:36:14,900 --> 00:36:21,066 is over her back. And just an overall very good heifer. 645 00:36:21,166 --> 00:36:23,066 Do you feel like your confidence 646 00:36:23,166 --> 00:36:26,366 level in almost any situation, not just in a 647 00:36:26,466 --> 00:36:31,033 barn, has developed and strengthened through this? 648 00:36:31,133 --> 00:36:34,600 Yes ma'am. Just because for judging you have to say reasons 649 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:37,600 So you have to talk to the judge. So this really you have 650 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:40,166 to have a lot of confidence because you have to speak 651 00:36:40,266 --> 00:36:43,266 up so you can understand what you're saying and so you can 652 00:36:43,366 --> 00:36:46,066 be clear about it. So the clearer you are, the more 653 00:36:46,166 --> 00:36:48,066 able we are to win. 654 00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:51,933 I think your next big event is going to be in Columbia, which 655 00:36:52,033 --> 00:36:55,266 is going to be the State Fair. And is that the culmination of a 656 00:36:55,366 --> 00:36:58,366 lot of this work? Yes ma'am. It's like where it all comes 657 00:36:58,466 --> 00:37:00,266 together into that last final piece where we get 658 00:37:00,366 --> 00:37:02,433 to spend a lot of time with our friends and 659 00:37:02,533 --> 00:37:04,666 cousins and like a lot of people from different 660 00:37:04,766 --> 00:37:07,333 counties and stuff that are in South Carolina. So it's 661 00:37:07,433 --> 00:37:10,066 really nice getting to see everyone and getting to know 662 00:37:10,166 --> 00:37:13,466 their cows and getting to see everybody, a barn full 663 00:37:13,566 --> 00:37:16,200 of cows. And so it's where we everyone comes 664 00:37:16,300 --> 00:37:18,733 together and we'll show against each other in a 665 00:37:18,833 --> 00:37:20,700 couple classes usually. 666 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:23,566 We just have fun at that show. 667 00:37:23,666 --> 00:37:32,766 (man auctioning cow) 668 00:37:32,866 --> 00:37:35,166 One thing I was wondering about is, 669 00:37:35,266 --> 00:37:38,033 you've had such a close relationship with these cows, 670 00:37:38,133 --> 00:37:41,100 what's it like when you are taking them 671 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:42,966 for the last time and because part of the 672 00:37:43,066 --> 00:37:45,600 program is that these cows are going to go back 673 00:37:45,700 --> 00:37:48,166 into the dairy herd. Well, it's kind of sad but it's 674 00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:50,700 also kind of happy at the same time because you get to 675 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:53,566 get a new cow. So you get to experience someone else. 676 00:37:53,666 --> 00:37:55,900 Because if you don't like your cow then you're gonna be 677 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,766 really happy to get rid of her. 678 00:37:57,866 --> 00:38:00,166 And you have two cows at the same time. 679 00:38:00,266 --> 00:38:02,566 That's kind of interesting. Explain that to us. 680 00:38:02,666 --> 00:38:05,166 So you'll get a cow and you'll raise it. 681 00:38:05,266 --> 00:38:07,766 And then the following year you'll get another calf. 682 00:38:07,866 --> 00:38:13,700 And then that show season at the end you'll sell the heifer 683 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:15,700 that you've had for eighteen months. Okay. 684 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,333 And you'll say goodbye? Yes. 685 00:38:18,433 --> 00:38:22,866 But then you'll pack up and come home. Yes. And still the process 686 00:38:22,966 --> 00:38:25,666 just keeps on going, doesn't it? Yes ma'am. 687 00:38:25,766 --> 00:38:35,100 ♪ 688 00:38:38,733 --> 00:38:41,433 Those little girls were a lot better at moving cows around 689 00:38:41,533 --> 00:38:43,766 than I was. I'm glad they were doing it. 690 00:38:43,866 --> 00:38:46,900 Let's go to Laurens where Reed Edwards is exploring 691 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:49,466 new ways of finding forage for his horses. 692 00:38:52,166 --> 00:39:28,600 ♪ 693 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:30,933 I'm in Laurens, South Carolina 694 00:39:31,033 --> 00:39:33,566 at FoxPipe Farm. I'm speaking with Reed Edwards. 695 00:39:33,666 --> 00:39:37,666 Reed, you have a horse farm here and you want 696 00:39:37,766 --> 00:39:40,200 to have the best quality pastures for your horses 697 00:39:40,300 --> 00:39:43,466 and then you also have hay production 698 00:39:43,566 --> 00:39:46,633 as well. Let's talk about what's growing in the pastures 699 00:39:46,733 --> 00:39:48,900 and how you manage to keep it 700 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,600 growing vigorously for the horses. 701 00:39:51,700 --> 00:39:53,933 Okay. What I'm trying to do, Amanda, is to have something 702 00:39:54,033 --> 00:39:56,700 green and growing all the time for my horses, 703 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,466 and horse pastures are notorious for horses overgrazing 704 00:39:59,566 --> 00:40:02,600 an area, eating it down to where there's almost nothing 705 00:40:02,700 --> 00:40:06,133 and then leaving tall, over mature forage elsewhere. 706 00:40:06,233 --> 00:40:09,033 So, I am using a strip grazing concept. 707 00:40:09,133 --> 00:40:13,133 Only give the horses a small amount of ground at any time. 708 00:40:13,233 --> 00:40:17,200 They're on that strip of grass for one, two, three days. 709 00:40:17,300 --> 00:40:21,933 My target is two days. You put a lot of animals on that area, 710 00:40:22,033 --> 00:40:25,633 graze the whole thing down and then move them onto another area 711 00:40:25,733 --> 00:40:27,966 and you let that strip 712 00:40:28,066 --> 00:40:31,166 have time to grow back. So you get a uniform cutting, 713 00:40:31,266 --> 00:40:32,566 You do. Yes. 714 00:40:32,666 --> 00:40:35,100 So, you bring it down to four, five, six inches. 715 00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,066 So you still have leaf on the plant. 716 00:40:37,166 --> 00:40:39,000 because the leaf is the solar panel that 717 00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:41,166 lets the plant really come back quickly. 718 00:40:41,266 --> 00:40:42,533 So they haven't scalped the pasture. 719 00:40:42,633 --> 00:40:46,300 How do you move them and fence them in? 720 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:49,033 There is an exterior fence that is electric wire. 721 00:40:49,133 --> 00:40:53,100 I use a single strand of poly wire running across the field 722 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,766 with a step-in post, so a few minutes 723 00:40:55,866 --> 00:40:58,233 every day you run a new strip of wire. 724 00:40:58,333 --> 00:41:01,433 I will move my water trough. 725 00:41:01,533 --> 00:41:04,433 A lot of times I use the water to move the animals 726 00:41:04,533 --> 00:41:06,700 because there's still forage in the 727 00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:08,900 strip where they are so they're not dying to leave. 728 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:10,700 There's still food there. 729 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:13,266 But you might, particularly in the Summer, 730 00:41:13,366 --> 00:41:15,700 move the water trough ahead of time and then they get 731 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:17,766 a little thirsty so then they look for water 732 00:41:17,866 --> 00:41:19,400 and they'll move following the water. 733 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:22,700 So you don't necessarily have to go in and take each horse and 734 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:25,700 put a lead on him and move him over. No, typically you're just 735 00:41:25,800 --> 00:41:28,466 pulling back the last 20 feet of fence opening of the gap, 736 00:41:28,566 --> 00:41:30,800 and the horses will go right in. And they are 737 00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:33,266 pretty well behaved. That's all you need to keep them separated? 738 00:41:33,366 --> 00:41:35,466 Yes, the electric is a very effective - 739 00:41:35,566 --> 00:41:38,500 you do have to keep the power on it all the time 740 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:41,233 because they can walk right under it otherwise. 741 00:41:41,333 --> 00:41:43,466 No problems keeping them in otherwise. What 742 00:41:43,566 --> 00:41:46,400 are the mixtures or blends that you have in the pastures? 743 00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:51,533 So, I've got a mixture of warm season and cool season 744 00:41:51,633 --> 00:41:54,833 grasses: Bermuda and fescue. The problem with fescue is we you 745 00:41:54,933 --> 00:41:58,233 have a toxic tall fescue in this part of the world 746 00:41:58,333 --> 00:42:01,833 that survives well because of the fungus that 747 00:42:01,933 --> 00:42:03,833 lives inside the fescue plant. 748 00:42:03,933 --> 00:42:06,733 That's the endophyte problem they talk about? It is. 749 00:42:06,833 --> 00:42:10,200 The toxic endophyte problem. It gives - good properties in 750 00:42:10,300 --> 00:42:14,500 surviving our hot summers because fescue is a cool season 751 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:18,633 plant. It is also toxic however, to our livestock that eat that. 752 00:42:18,733 --> 00:42:22,333 Estimates are between a billion and two billion dollars per year 753 00:42:22,433 --> 00:42:24,933 in the south to livestock operations. 754 00:42:25,033 --> 00:42:27,333 So the fungus that's protecting the plant unfortunately 755 00:42:27,433 --> 00:42:29,833 produces compounds that are harmful to the animal. 756 00:42:29,933 --> 00:42:31,633 Yes, ma'am. 757 00:42:31,733 --> 00:42:33,366 How are you getting around that? 758 00:42:33,466 --> 00:42:36,566 I am transitioning my farm over to a 759 00:42:36,666 --> 00:42:39,633 novel endophyte tall fescue. There are fescues 760 00:42:39,733 --> 00:42:42,366 that have no endophyte and 761 00:42:42,466 --> 00:42:44,500 they have no problems for the grazing livestock. 762 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:46,266 But they don't persist very well 763 00:42:46,366 --> 00:42:50,366 because the endophyte does give protection to the plant. 764 00:42:50,466 --> 00:42:52,300 There are novel endophytes so they have removed 765 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:56,000 the endophyte or fungus and put in a 766 00:42:56,100 --> 00:42:58,866 different fungus that gives the plant the beneficial properties 767 00:42:58,966 --> 00:43:00,900 in survival but not the toxic properties 768 00:43:01,000 --> 00:43:04,000 to the animal. And then, what are the 769 00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:06,066 other grasses and seeds that you have? 770 00:43:06,166 --> 00:43:10,333 I also have an annual field that is a 771 00:43:10,433 --> 00:43:12,733 mixture - about a 10 way mixture of a - 772 00:43:12,833 --> 00:43:15,266 lot of times folks call it a cover crop now. 773 00:43:15,366 --> 00:43:18,366 So, one or two grasses, two or 774 00:43:18,466 --> 00:43:22,533 three legumes and also some brassicas in there. 775 00:43:22,633 --> 00:43:24,466 So for my winter mix in the winter field, 776 00:43:24,566 --> 00:43:29,466 there is oats and wheat, ryegrass and then 777 00:43:29,566 --> 00:43:34,633 crimson clover, winter peas, turnips, radishes and rape. 778 00:43:34,733 --> 00:43:37,633 Horses like that. Horses will eat all of that. 779 00:43:37,733 --> 00:43:40,666 They don't have to just have grass. 780 00:43:40,766 --> 00:43:42,766 Not just grass and the clovers and 781 00:43:42,866 --> 00:43:44,966 legumes are higher quality feed so you get a 782 00:43:45,066 --> 00:43:46,933 little bit more quality in there. 783 00:43:47,033 --> 00:43:49,600 It's also nice to be able to go out and pick 784 00:43:49,700 --> 00:43:51,466 the greens and have fresh greens for supper 785 00:43:51,566 --> 00:43:54,033 every night. Here we are going into the fall and we're 786 00:43:54,133 --> 00:43:56,466 in Bermuda grass, but we've got some other things 787 00:43:56,566 --> 00:43:58,233 that are coming up in this pasture. 788 00:43:58,333 --> 00:44:02,166 Right, so this is primarily a hayfield that has 789 00:44:02,266 --> 00:44:04,000 had alfalfa overseeded into it. 790 00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:05,433 So it's an alfalfa-Bermuda mixture. 791 00:44:05,533 --> 00:44:08,000 That's actually what I'm sitting on here on the hay bale. 792 00:44:08,100 --> 00:44:09,400 So this is baled for hay. 793 00:44:09,500 --> 00:44:12,600 It will be gray some over the winter. 794 00:44:12,700 --> 00:44:14,533 This is primarily for hay. 795 00:44:14,633 --> 00:44:18,700 This is primarily for hay. It's a grazing tolerant 796 00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:22,500 variety of alfalfa so I will graze it some over the winter. 797 00:44:22,600 --> 00:44:24,900 When the weather is too cool to make hay. 798 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:27,233 Then you've got a new hay that you're growing 799 00:44:27,333 --> 00:44:29,066 that's completely novel to me. 800 00:44:29,166 --> 00:44:31,600 Yes, and that is Sericea Lespedeza. 801 00:44:31,700 --> 00:44:34,600 It's actually an old plant that was very common in this 802 00:44:34,700 --> 00:44:36,900 area up until about the 50's or the 60's. 803 00:44:37,000 --> 00:44:41,533 Sericea Lespedeza is a legume. It's a warm season legume. 804 00:44:41,633 --> 00:44:44,366 It pulls its own nitrogen in from the air and 805 00:44:44,466 --> 00:44:48,766 it also has the wonderful property of being a 806 00:44:48,866 --> 00:44:52,133 de-wormer for sheep and goats. Let's talk a little bit 807 00:44:52,233 --> 00:44:54,433 about why, now that we've got a lot 808 00:44:54,533 --> 00:44:57,000 of people that are hobby farmers or small farmers 809 00:44:57,100 --> 00:45:00,600 adding those to their farm plan and they're 810 00:45:00,700 --> 00:45:03,833 running into problems with a worm that's in the soil. 811 00:45:03,933 --> 00:45:06,600 The small worm that sheeps and goats primarily - 812 00:45:06,700 --> 00:45:10,400 the barber pole worm Haemonchus contortus 813 00:45:10,500 --> 00:45:13,300 is very resistant to our chemical de-wormers and is 814 00:45:13,400 --> 00:45:17,900 very harmful, even deadly to the sheep and the goats. 815 00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,900 So how does the Sericea play into this game? 816 00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:23,333 It reduces the fecal egg counts almost immediately 817 00:45:23,433 --> 00:45:26,366 on sheep and goats. It also protects against toxidia. 818 00:45:26,466 --> 00:45:30,833 Sericea has condensed tannins inside the forage 819 00:45:30,933 --> 00:45:34,733 and that is what has the action against the worms. 820 00:45:34,833 --> 00:45:36,900 They don't know exact how it works just yet, 821 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:38,900 but it is very effective against them. 822 00:45:39,000 --> 00:45:41,566 It's really easy to grow. Is is. It will tolerate 823 00:45:41,666 --> 00:45:44,066 poor quality, low ph soil 824 00:45:44,166 --> 00:45:46,766 which we have a lot of in this part of the world 825 00:45:46,866 --> 00:45:49,266 and where alfalfa, a lot of times we don't have the 826 00:45:49,366 --> 00:45:52,166 fertility to grow. Sericea will grow just about anywhere. 827 00:45:52,266 --> 00:45:54,866 In fact, they put it on the sides of road banks 828 00:45:54,966 --> 00:45:56,900 when they have graded a new road and they've 829 00:45:57,000 --> 00:46:00,233 taken all the top soil away and yet Sericea will still grow 830 00:46:00,333 --> 00:46:02,666 there. I know that goats will probably eat it 831 00:46:02,766 --> 00:46:04,800 up and enjoy it, but the other animals, 832 00:46:04,900 --> 00:46:06,233 will they eat it as well? 833 00:46:06,333 --> 00:46:08,966 They really do. It seems to be, as far as hay usage, 834 00:46:09,066 --> 00:46:11,533 it is the preferred hay over everything I have found. 835 00:46:11,633 --> 00:46:12,866 Even for your horses? 836 00:46:12,966 --> 00:46:15,500 Even for my horses. Sometimes the horses will sometimes eat 837 00:46:15,600 --> 00:46:17,500 that before they'll eat sweet feed. 838 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:21,466 Very, very palatable hay. Reed, I have enjoyed learning 839 00:46:21,566 --> 00:46:25,300 about someone who is staying current with all the research 840 00:46:25,400 --> 00:46:27,733 and new ways of doing things to keep a farm profitable 841 00:46:27,833 --> 00:46:30,100 and healthy for the animals. I want to thank you 842 00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:31,833 for letting us visit with you. 843 00:46:31,933 --> 00:46:34,300 If people want to learn more about the processes 844 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:37,800 here, what's the best way to get in touch with you? 845 00:46:37,900 --> 00:46:45,233 By phone at 864-871-2575 or by email at Reede@pikesfarm.com. 846 00:46:45,333 --> 00:46:47,600 Thank you for explaining all this to me today. 847 00:46:47,700 --> 00:46:49,100 Sure thing. Thanks for coming, Amanda. 848 00:46:50,466 --> 00:46:55,200 ♪ 849 00:46:58,466 --> 00:47:01,933 Reed is really gracious, sharing his talents and knowledge. 850 00:47:02,033 --> 00:47:04,933 He has field days at his farm. And I think some 851 00:47:05,033 --> 00:47:07,600 of his innovations are going to make a difference to 852 00:47:07,700 --> 00:47:08,700 people down the road. 853 00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:10,900 We're now going to the State Farmer's Market 854 00:47:11,000 --> 00:47:14,266 where there is really a brand new way of farming 855 00:47:14,366 --> 00:47:16,400 going on. This is going to be fascinating. 856 00:47:16,500 --> 00:47:18,766 Let's visit Vertical Roots. 857 00:47:20,500 --> 00:47:43,766 ♪ 858 00:47:43,866 --> 00:47:46,666 I'm speaking with Andrew Hare who is a co founder 859 00:47:46,766 --> 00:47:49,766 and manager of Vertical Roots a very unusual way 860 00:47:49,866 --> 00:47:52,933 of farming. And tell me how you got involved in a 861 00:47:53,033 --> 00:47:55,133 different way of going plants in South Carolina. 862 00:47:55,233 --> 00:47:57,233 absolutely well thanks for having me. Vertical 863 00:47:57,333 --> 00:47:59,500 Roots started about four years ago. Twenty fifteen 864 00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:02,266 a buddy and I wanted to basically approach a 865 00:48:02,366 --> 00:48:04,333 different way of growing. I had always been 866 00:48:04,433 --> 00:48:06,133 interested in growing plants growing up, in 867 00:48:06,233 --> 00:48:08,866 animals in general. And we decided to embark on the 868 00:48:08,966 --> 00:48:11,200 hydroponic way of growing which is soil less. You're 869 00:48:11,300 --> 00:48:13,266 using water and nutrients for us we use 870 00:48:13,366 --> 00:48:16,366 coconut husks to be able to grow the plants. And so what 871 00:48:16,466 --> 00:48:18,600 kind of started off as a hobby over the last 872 00:48:18,700 --> 00:48:20,133 couple years has blossomed into a 873 00:48:20,233 --> 00:48:21,533 relationship with the manufacturing company 874 00:48:21,633 --> 00:48:24,733 that we are now part of. So we basically go from a 875 00:48:24,833 --> 00:48:26,866 blank shipping container all the way through the 876 00:48:26,966 --> 00:48:28,800 process. So what Vertical Roots does is farming 877 00:48:28,900 --> 00:48:30,933 operation to grow will be focused on is leafy 878 00:48:31,033 --> 00:48:33,266 greens and lettuce here in South Carolina. Well and it 879 00:48:33,366 --> 00:48:35,500 sounds like the idea of using a shipping 880 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:38,200 container when it's at the end of its life of 881 00:48:38,300 --> 00:48:40,100 being sturdy enough to send across the 882 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:43,566 ocean and haul up and down all that kind of stuff. 883 00:48:43,666 --> 00:48:46,266 Being sustainable, I think has driven you. 884 00:48:46,366 --> 00:48:48,133 So tell me how the shipping 885 00:48:48,233 --> 00:48:50,266 containers are used. And then let's expand from 886 00:48:50,366 --> 00:48:52,500 there. Yeah the biggest thing that we're trying 887 00:48:52,600 --> 00:48:55,166 to do is, be sustainable in our practices. So the 888 00:48:55,266 --> 00:48:57,400 the shipping container one allows us to mitigate 889 00:48:57,500 --> 00:49:00,000 risks, compartmentalize and build to grow in an 890 00:49:00,100 --> 00:49:01,933 isolated controlled environment. But the great 891 00:49:02,033 --> 00:49:04,133 thing with a shipping container is to your point 892 00:49:04,233 --> 00:49:06,700 it's end of its life cycle, why not up cycle another 893 00:49:06,800 --> 00:49:09,133 piece of our equipment that no longer has a need 894 00:49:09,233 --> 00:49:11,100 so when they're going back and forth overseas, 895 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:13,366 and they get de-commissioned to come back to port, 896 00:49:13,466 --> 00:49:14,800 we purchased those from local companies 897 00:49:14,900 --> 00:49:16,466 and turn those into grow environments. 898 00:49:16,566 --> 00:49:18,700 And I believe that the whole business is all 899 00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:20,933 under one umbrella now. The shipping containers 900 00:49:21,033 --> 00:49:22,933 are re-purposed all the infrastructure that goes 901 00:49:23,033 --> 00:49:25,900 into them is part of the whole company. Yes so we have 902 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:27,900 two sister companies. So Vertical Roots is a 903 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:30,433 farming operation of just production. Tiger Corner 904 00:49:30,533 --> 00:49:32,433 Farms is our manufacturing arm. So they 905 00:49:32,533 --> 00:49:34,200 literally take that blank shipping container and 906 00:49:34,300 --> 00:49:37,266 outfit it with the air conditioning, the plumbing, the 907 00:49:37,366 --> 00:49:40,033 lights, everything you need to be able to grow a plant. 908 00:49:40,133 --> 00:49:42,333 And then we also have a technology company, Boxcar 909 00:49:42,433 --> 00:49:44,366 Central, that handles all of our software, 910 00:49:44,466 --> 00:49:47,066 automation, we're able to pick up our phone and 911 00:49:47,166 --> 00:49:49,200 make controls and changes to the farm itself 912 00:49:49,300 --> 00:49:51,100 through a cloud based system that we also 913 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:52,766 operate. Well, we're sitting here with the 914 00:49:52,866 --> 00:49:55,400 beautiful array of leafy greens. Is that the 915 00:49:55,500 --> 00:49:57,766 product that y'all are now focusing on? Yes ma'am. 916 00:49:57,866 --> 00:49:59,433 That's exactly we're focusing on. It's leafy 917 00:49:59,533 --> 00:50:01,400 greens is a nice supplement compliment to the 918 00:50:01,500 --> 00:50:03,933 southeast traditionally grown in just two states 919 00:50:04,033 --> 00:50:06,333 in the west coast. It's trucked over two thousand 920 00:50:06,433 --> 00:50:09,333 miles to get to us. So for us we are able to find 921 00:50:09,433 --> 00:50:10,666 something that's conducive to the 922 00:50:10,766 --> 00:50:12,500 environment we grow in, complimenting traditional 923 00:50:12,600 --> 00:50:14,100 agriculture in the southeast. It's something 924 00:50:14,200 --> 00:50:16,266 that really just doesn't do very well when it's 925 00:50:16,366 --> 00:50:18,900 hot and humid like it is here in South Carolina. 926 00:50:19,000 --> 00:50:21,733 And so you actually start with these little plugs 927 00:50:21,833 --> 00:50:24,233 and I'll hold one up. And you say this is mostly 928 00:50:24,333 --> 00:50:26,366 coconuts bark. Yes. Coconut bark because a number of 929 00:50:26,466 --> 00:50:29,033 things that go into that. But we chose that. It grows 930 00:50:29,133 --> 00:50:31,600 plants well for us. Yes. But it's able to be 931 00:50:31,700 --> 00:50:33,666 composted. It can be eaten by livestock if we 932 00:50:33,766 --> 00:50:35,666 donate to a farm, maybe some pigs or such 933 00:50:35,766 --> 00:50:38,033 that want to be able to enjoy some of the leftover 934 00:50:38,133 --> 00:50:40,833 greens and roots there will be able to eat that 935 00:50:40,933 --> 00:50:42,966 coconut as well. So you start by actually seeding into 936 00:50:43,066 --> 00:50:44,800 that by hand - your farmers. Yes. 937 00:50:44,900 --> 00:50:47,200 Our farmers do all of the seeding, the transplanting 938 00:50:47,300 --> 00:50:50,366 and the harvesting and again your software program is 939 00:50:50,466 --> 00:50:52,900 introducing the correct stream of nutrients 940 00:50:53,000 --> 00:50:56,800 depending on which lettuce wants what. Some want 941 00:50:56,900 --> 00:50:58,833 a little more of one thing, a little less of 942 00:50:58,933 --> 00:51:00,900 another. Is that correct? Yeah everything you could 943 00:51:01,000 --> 00:51:03,433 think of, we can control, CO two, humidity, nutrients, 944 00:51:03,533 --> 00:51:06,333 water temperature, PH, the list goes on. Our software 945 00:51:06,433 --> 00:51:08,433 controls all of those functions. And it's pretty much 946 00:51:08,533 --> 00:51:10,466 hands off. This is an extremely clean crop. It 947 00:51:10,566 --> 00:51:13,133 is. We don't have to use any foliar sprays. So there's 948 00:51:13,233 --> 00:51:14,600 no pesticides or insecticides you're gonna 949 00:51:14,700 --> 00:51:17,000 find on the greens. So again for the consumer, 950 00:51:17,100 --> 00:51:19,300 it's something that's very important to us that they 951 00:51:19,400 --> 00:51:21,400 have a fresh clean product that we know when 952 00:51:21,500 --> 00:51:23,766 they're eating that it's gonna be a healthy option 953 00:51:23,866 --> 00:51:26,766 for them. Well, in my garden at home I've had to water a 954 00:51:26,866 --> 00:51:28,433 lot because it's been so dry lately. 955 00:51:28,533 --> 00:51:30,900 I believe that your water use is much smaller than 956 00:51:31,000 --> 00:51:33,266 one might expect. Absolutely, so because 957 00:51:33,366 --> 00:51:35,133 it's a closed loop re-circulating system it's 958 00:51:35,233 --> 00:51:37,200 about ninety five ninety seven percent more 959 00:51:37,300 --> 00:51:39,466 efficient than what you would do traditionally. So 960 00:51:39,566 --> 00:51:41,566 to give an example, 34 hundred of these 961 00:51:41,666 --> 00:51:43,900 plants will grow in a container at any given time. 962 00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:45,866 And they may consume about ten gallons of 963 00:51:45,966 --> 00:51:48,600 water into the entire crop in just one day. 964 00:51:48,700 --> 00:51:51,133 So if you compare that to what you do outdoors, it's 965 00:51:51,233 --> 00:51:53,266 night and day difference of what we're consuming 966 00:51:53,366 --> 00:51:55,500 for water and nutrients. When they're ready 967 00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:57,900 how do you harvest and how do you prepare 968 00:51:58,000 --> 00:52:00,200 them to send to the market? Yes so the team 969 00:52:00,300 --> 00:52:02,133 just like they do with the seeding and transplanting, 970 00:52:02,233 --> 00:52:04,433 we have the team that goes in there and harvests. 971 00:52:04,533 --> 00:52:06,800 They do the roots attached to that so the head is 972 00:52:06,900 --> 00:52:08,566 actually coming out of the system still alive, 973 00:52:08,666 --> 00:52:10,466 which of course helps with the freshness and 974 00:52:10,566 --> 00:52:12,266 quality of the plants. It's not going to 975 00:52:12,366 --> 00:52:13,866 continue to grow necessarily but it is 976 00:52:13,966 --> 00:52:15,966 still sustaining itself in a lot fresher than 977 00:52:16,066 --> 00:52:18,433 having to cut that off. So the team will go in there 978 00:52:18,533 --> 00:52:20,566 with their carts and just harvest all those plants 979 00:52:20,666 --> 00:52:22,800 into bins and they go into basically a packing 980 00:52:22,900 --> 00:52:24,900 room that's brought down to fifty degrees in 981 00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:27,066 temperature, that's got a cold storage attached to 982 00:52:27,166 --> 00:52:29,500 it. So the plant is then being cared for as it 983 00:52:29,600 --> 00:52:31,333 goes through the production line and it 984 00:52:31,433 --> 00:52:33,900 can go to a restaurant. It can be going to a grocery 985 00:52:34,000 --> 00:52:35,866 store. So depending on where it's going to will 986 00:52:35,966 --> 00:52:38,133 dictate how it's gonna be packaged when it's in that 987 00:52:38,233 --> 00:52:40,333 kind of cold room environment. And at each 988 00:52:40,433 --> 00:52:42,300 phase, hygiene is very important? Yes. Every 989 00:52:42,400 --> 00:52:44,266 decision that our company makes whether it's 990 00:52:44,366 --> 00:52:46,666 technology, manufacturing or us growing it is 991 00:52:46,766 --> 00:52:49,433 with food safety in mind. Everyone's very aware 992 00:52:49,533 --> 00:52:52,266 that just one corner being cut can mean the 993 00:52:52,366 --> 00:52:54,300 difference of someone being sick and not 994 00:52:54,400 --> 00:52:57,333 to being able to properly utilize our product the 995 00:52:57,433 --> 00:53:01,466 way that we want it to be. So gloves, washed hands, bio 996 00:53:01,566 --> 00:53:03,766 security is what we call it. Not allowing people to 997 00:53:03,866 --> 00:53:05,600 come in without going through a certain 998 00:53:05,700 --> 00:53:07,533 protocol into the farm system itself are all 999 00:53:07,633 --> 00:53:09,666 things that we take very seriously. And also I 1000 00:53:09,766 --> 00:53:12,733 believe there's a very systematic system of 1001 00:53:12,833 --> 00:53:15,800 cleaning after each harvest. Yes so we make 1002 00:53:15,900 --> 00:53:17,600 sure after all those plants are harvested, the 1003 00:53:17,700 --> 00:53:19,700 team comes through there, rinses out all the root 1004 00:53:19,800 --> 00:53:21,733 debris or anything that's kinda left over from that 1005 00:53:21,833 --> 00:53:24,166 harvest and then the farm goes through a sanitation 1006 00:53:24,266 --> 00:53:26,266 process, where it's going to be basically scrubbed 1007 00:53:26,366 --> 00:53:29,200 down and cleaned, then sanitized, the water gets 1008 00:53:29,300 --> 00:53:31,133 tested and then we transplant new plants into 1009 00:53:31,233 --> 00:53:33,266 that so once all those tasks and completed. And 1010 00:53:33,366 --> 00:53:34,933 again with y'all's emphasis, I believe all 1011 00:53:35,033 --> 00:53:37,433 the products used are ones that are considered to be 1012 00:53:37,533 --> 00:53:39,900 sustainable and not particularly harsh? Right. 1013 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:42,033 So while we're not organic certified. We're organic 1014 00:53:42,133 --> 00:53:44,766 in practice. We use listed ingredients. Again 1015 00:53:44,866 --> 00:53:46,700 staying away from those really harsh chemicals 1016 00:53:46,800 --> 00:53:48,933 and pesticides, reusing things like alprocide 1017 00:53:49,033 --> 00:53:51,600 that you're able to get the cleaning that you 1018 00:53:51,700 --> 00:53:53,700 need to get done out of it without any over 1019 00:53:53,800 --> 00:53:55,433 lasting or long lasting residue that's going to 1020 00:53:55,533 --> 00:53:58,166 be left behind with some other chemicals. So I could go 1021 00:53:58,266 --> 00:54:00,633 to the store and found this and enjoy it at home 1022 00:54:00,733 --> 00:54:02,800 in my salads. What about restaurants? Do you have a 1023 00:54:02,900 --> 00:54:04,900 different way of packing for them? Yes so the heads 1024 00:54:05,000 --> 00:54:07,400 are gonna go, roots attached into a case that the 1025 00:54:07,500 --> 00:54:09,633 restaurants are gonna be able to pick more of a variety 1026 00:54:09,733 --> 00:54:12,033 of different products we offer them. We work with 1027 00:54:12,133 --> 00:54:14,266 really everything in the Low country to the 1028 00:54:14,366 --> 00:54:16,533 Midlands, from your fast casual places like a 1029 00:54:16,633 --> 00:54:18,700 salad bar to your fine dining restaurants that 1030 00:54:18,800 --> 00:54:21,133 are really taking our lettuce and making a 1031 00:54:21,233 --> 00:54:23,133 masterpiece out of it. And here at the farmer's 1032 00:54:23,233 --> 00:54:25,100 market, I believe you're working in cooperation 1033 00:54:25,200 --> 00:54:27,566 with one of our well, well established fruit and 1034 00:54:27,666 --> 00:54:29,933 vegetable suppliers. Yes. So we're fortunate to be 1035 00:54:30,033 --> 00:54:32,333 in the farmers market here in Columbia. So that 1036 00:54:32,433 --> 00:54:34,433 allows us to be able to work with the 1037 00:54:34,533 --> 00:54:35,766 distributors, Senn Brothers right next door 1038 00:54:35,866 --> 00:54:38,266 to us, we're able to bring our truck just a hundred 1039 00:54:38,366 --> 00:54:40,366 yards down the street and pack, unload our 1040 00:54:40,466 --> 00:54:42,566 packages right into their facility and out they go 1041 00:54:42,666 --> 00:54:44,166 to our different customers. Well Andrew 1042 00:54:44,266 --> 00:54:45,966 this has just been fascinating and I can't 1043 00:54:46,066 --> 00:54:48,933 wait to share your story with other people around the state. 1044 00:54:49,033 --> 00:54:51,200 Well, thank you. I really appreciate you having me. 1045 00:54:57,633 --> 00:55:02,266 Imagine salad greens that don't have sand blown all over them. 1046 00:55:02,366 --> 00:55:04,900 You don't have to use your spinning bowl, nearly as 1047 00:55:05,000 --> 00:55:08,100 much as you do. And the carbon footprint is so much less 1048 00:55:08,200 --> 00:55:10,200 because they're grown right here in South Carolina. 1049 00:55:10,300 --> 00:55:12,600 And they don't have to be shipped across the country. 1050 00:55:12,700 --> 00:55:15,433 We really wish them great success with this new innovation 1051 00:55:15,533 --> 00:55:16,700 that they are doing. 1052 00:55:16,800 --> 00:55:19,533 And we want to thank you so much for joining us tonight. 1053 00:55:19,633 --> 00:55:22,333 We love knowing that you're out there. Please write us and 1054 00:55:22,433 --> 00:55:24,100 call us. Tell us how you think 1055 00:55:24,200 --> 00:55:26,900 we're doing with this new way of coming to visit with you. 1056 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:29,566 We're trying and every Tuesday night. If you'll cut us on 1057 00:55:29,666 --> 00:55:32,733 at 7 o clock, we'll have another Making It Grow ready for you. 1058 00:55:32,833 --> 00:55:34,033 Night, Night. 1059 00:55:34,133 --> 00:55:38,533 ♪ 1060 00:55:46,333 --> 00:55:47,666 Making it Grow is brought 1061 00:55:47,766 --> 00:55:50,466 to you in part by the South Carolina Department 1062 00:55:50,566 --> 00:55:53,633 of Agriculture. Certified South Carolina grown 1063 00:55:53,733 --> 00:55:57,033 helps consumers identify find and buy South 1064 00:55:57,133 --> 00:56:00,466 Carolina products. McLeod Farms in McBee 1065 00:56:00,566 --> 00:56:03,500 South Carolina. This family farm offers 1066 00:56:03,600 --> 00:56:06,033 seasonal produce including over 22 1067 00:56:06,133 --> 00:56:09,300 varieties of peaches. Additional funding 1068 00:56:09,400 --> 00:56:12,566 provided by International Paper and the South 1069 00:56:12,666 --> 00:56:14,933 Carolina Farm Bureau Federation and Farm 1070 00:56:15,033 --> 00:56:16,300 Bureau Insurance.