South Carolina Living March 2011

ial specn & lawden gar ue iss

Growth spurt

Tips that can put a lush lawn and fresh veggies within your reach

S .C . SC e n e

March 2011

Take to the skies

S .C . Sto r i e S

It’s the guitar man

Humor me

Great eggspectations

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 65 • No. 3 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 450,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 E-mail: letters@scliving.coop

March 2011 • Volume 65, Number 3

15 Garden of envy

That house in the neighborhood that makes everyone jealous with its beautiful, green lawn and that picture-perfect vegetable garden? This year, it’s going to be your house, courtesy of the pro tips, techniques and advice in our spring lawn and garden guide.

EDITOR

Keith Phillips FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

ART DIRECTOR

Cooperative news

SC LIFE

DESIGNER

6 ON THE AGENDA

21 Boot Arreola

Pam Martin

Sharri Harris Wolfgang

Celebrate National Red Cross Month by learning how the nonprofit organization serves South Carolinians in need.

Plus: Don’t miss the fun of the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, the Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee and the World Grits Festival.

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Jason Clarke WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars CONTRIBUTORS

POWER USER

Lou Green

The leaders of your nonprofit electric cooperative work hard to deliver reliable and affordable power, but there are some costs that are simply beyond the co-op’s control.

ADVERTISING MANAGERS

Tel: (800) 984-0887 Dan Covell E-mail: dan@scliving.coop Keegan Covell E-mail: keegan@scliving.coop National Representation

12 Balancing efficiency

with comfort

New construction techniques allow you to build an energyefficient home that’s also a pleasant place to live.

Please send to your local co-op. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Address Change, c/o the address above.

Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, S.C., and additional mailing offices.

TRAVELS

See, smell, taste and feel what life was like for South Carolinians in the 18th century by walking the streets of North Augusta’s Living History Park.

RECIPES

30 Fresh spring flavors

CHEF’S CHOICE

me s De lt ec Ho

12

TIM HANSON

and, oh, so tasty

The dress code at Sea View Inn on Pawleys Island is strictly casual, but you’ll definitely need reservations if you want to taste their classic Lowcountry cooking.

HUMOR ME

38 The perils of pampered poultry

l specia & lawn garden issue

Just between us chickens, some people have very odd notions about what life is like in the hen house.

34 MARKETPLACE Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 7 million homes and businesses

26

32 Elegantly shabby

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Printed on recycled paper

22

Cabbage roll casserole Mary’s chicken puffs Caesar salmon fillets Citrus Eskimo pie

© COPYRIGHT 201 1. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor. is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.

Prolific wildlife, natural beauty and the absence of manmade noise make Lake Marion’s Sparkleberry Swamp a premier paddling destination.

28 Where history comes to life

ENERGY Q&A

ADDRESS CHANGES:

26 Listening to nature

s

Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

From riding in a hot-air balloon to jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, South Carolina has lots of opportunities for high-flying fun.

Te rry H o pk in

National Country Market Tel: (800) NCM-1181

SCENE

22 High adventure

OUTSIDE

DIALOGUE

10 Bottom-line impact

Publisher

Turning wood scraps into beautiful stringed instruments is all in a day’s work for this Hartsville luthier.

36 SC EVENTS

Growth spurt

Tips that can put a lush lawn and fresh veggies within your reach

S .C . SC e n e

Take to the skies

March 2011

Kenneth S. Allen, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Stephanie Green, Tim Hanson, S. Kim Henson, Carrie B. Hirsh, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Bob Polomski, Marc Rapport, Lisa K. Wagner, Libby Swope Wiersema

STORIES

S .C . Sto r i e S

It’s the guitar man

Humor me

Great eggspectations

On the Cover: Beautiful juicy tomatoes and a prize-winning lawn can be yours, thanks to our tips.

Photo collage by Sharri Wolfgang.

On the Agenda For a listing p m co lete s, see of Event 6 page 3

Highlights

TOP PICK FOR KIDS April 10

The Big Nosh and ShalomFest ’11

Jewish cultural arts, food, music and fun activities for kids will be featured when two of South Carolina’s oldest Jewish congregations hold festivals on Sunday, April 10. In Columbia, it will be The Big Nosh at Tree of Life on North Trenholm Road.

Among the highlights is live klezmer music, like they played in the old country. In Greenville, it’ll be ShalomFest ’11 at Temple of Israel on Spring Forest Road, the only Jewish festival in the Upstate.

For details on the Big Nosh, visit tolsc.org or call (803) 787-2182.

For ShalomFest ’11, visit templeofisrael.org or call (864) 292-1782.

March 25–27

Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic

March 24

Taste of Lake Murray

Billed as the state’s premier hunting and fishing show, the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic will be back for its 27th year at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia. More than 300 exhibitors will be on hand, showing off the latest in fishing and hunting gear, along with boats, marine equipment and ATVs. Special presentations include a 4,000-gallon bass fishing tub, a reptile expert and his slithery friends, a nationally known deer hunting expert and, last but not least, Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel.

For details, visit dnr.sc.gov/psc or call (803) 734-4008.

Savor the samplings of more than a dozen Midlands restaurants gathered on Thursday, March 24, at the Radisson Hotel Columbia & Conference Center. Taste of Lake Murray was created seven years ago by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board as the sole fundraiser for the Fourth of July fireworks shows on the big lake. Come hungry and bring friends—they’re trying to raise $100,000.

For details, visit lakemurraycountry.com or call (866) SC-JEWEL.

April 2–3

Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee

Greet the new season with a visit to an old Upstate favorite, the Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee. Held since 1978, the gathering features the artwork and craftsmanship of 90 juried vendors from around the country, live music and the serene setting of downtown Pendleton’s beautiful Village Green.

For details, visit pendletondistrict.org or call (864) 646-3782.

April 7–May 1

Plant and Flower Festivals

Thousands of Palmetto State ­gardeners get their tasty tomatoes and bedding begonias started each spring with purchases from the spring plant and flower festivals. This year, they’ll stock up at the Southern Plant & Flower Festival, April 7–10 at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market in Florence; the Midlands Plant & Flower Festival, April 14–17 at the new S.C. State Farmers Market just off I-26 near Cayce; and the Piedmont Plant & Flower Festival, April 28– May 1 at the Greenville State Farmers Market.

For details, visit agriculture.sc.gov/ springfestivals2011 or call (803) 734-2200.

6

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

April 8–10

World Grits Festival

Grits, of course, are a favorite across the South but the World Grits Festival is something else again! The gathering began in 1986 after civic leaders and a local Piggly Wiggly manager determined that the good people of St. George consumed more grits per capita than anywhere else. Good reason for a festival, and it’s been held every year since. Along with a street dance, parade and pageants, this Dorchester County favorite also includes a grits-eating contest and settles the burning question: Who can roll in a big tub of grits and get the most stuck to them?

For details, visit worldgritsfestival.com.

E-MAIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

American Red Cross Month there are two groups of people South Carolinians can count on to be there returning life to normal: the linemen of the electric co-ops and the volunteers of the American Red Cross.

Often working shoulder-to-shoulder with co-op crews, Red Cross teams mobilize to provide immediate emergency assistance including clothes, lifesaving medication, water, financial assistance to buy food and mental health counseling. “The organization is so swift in responding to emergencies that most people forget it’s a network of local, nonprofit chapters that are funded solely by private donations,” says Rachel Hodges, chairman of the American Red Cross, Columbia Region.

“People just automatically think that we’re funded by the government. We’re not,” she says. “We’re a charitable organization that is funded by the generosity of the people of this state and country.”

March is National Red Cross Month, and an excellent time to support the organization through donations, by volunteering and by attending fundraising events like the Third Annual Red, White & Black Tie Gala, to be held March 4 at 7 p.m. in Columbia’s Medallion Center. For details and tickets, call (803) 540-1242 or click on Events at columbiaregionredcross.org.

In addition to funding disaster relief programs, the Red Cross supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood, teaches lifesaving skills, provides international humanitarian aid and supports military members and their families. To learn how you can help, contact your local Red Cross chapter.

In the wake of natural disasters,

By the Numbers

South Carolinians in need of disaster relief have always counted on the volunteers of the American Red Cross to provide food, water and emotional support.

The organization also helps people prepare for emergencies by providing first aid and CPR training.

Central South Carolina Chapter 2751 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 540-1200 Aiken County Chapter 1314 Pine Log Road Aiken, SC 29802 (803) 641-4152 Coastal South Carolina Chapter 3531 Pampas Drive Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (843) 477-0020 Pee Dee Chapter 1601-A West Lucas Street Florence, SC 29501 (843) 662-8121 Upper Palmetto Chapter 200 Piedmont Boulevard Rock Hill, SC 29732 (803) 329-6575

By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 25

Lighting Small appliances Large appliances Water heating Cooling Heating

columbiaregionredcross.org

S.C.RAMBLE!

Annual energy bill for a typical versus efficient home

Typical home Efficient home

American Red Cross of the Columbia Region

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, 2009 Buildings Energy Data Book.

Savings are DOE Home Energy Saver estimates.

Find the value of

R U R A L S A V I N G S _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ + _ = __ The Rural Energy Savings Program Act proposed by South Carolina’s electric co-ops (see South Carolina Living, Oct. 2010) is just one of the ways we strive to help rural members enjoy reliable, affordable power. Each of the different letters in RURAL SAVINGS has been given a different value from 1 through 9. Given the total value of the letters in each word below, can you find the value of each letter, and the total value of RURAL SAVINGS? E=0 GIVING = 23 VALISE = 23 ANNUL = 21

SAIL = 20 GANG = 19 SALVE = 19 RAIN= 19

VAIN= 16 NAIL= 14

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

7

On the Agenda Letters

time. I wish I had known Tom Smith, but at least now I have an appreciation for his service to the people of South Carolina.

Safe refrigerator recycling

GONE FISHIN’ The Vector Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times.

Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after.

As an avid reader of South Carolina Living for several Truitt Rabun, via e-mail years, I have enjoyed many AM PM informative articles. However, Minor Major Minor Major I feel it’s important to point March out that the article “Pull the 17 10:46 5:01 4:46 11:01 plug on your old refrigerator” 18 5:31 11:31 5:31 11:46 on page 7 of your February 19 — 5:46 6:31 12:01 2011 issue, neglected a critical 20 12:31 6:16 7:16 12:46 Stop! Before ditching that old fridge, safety issue. You advised 21 1:01 6:46 8:16 1:31 take the doors off. It may save a life, 22 1:31 7:01 9:16 2:16 readers to donate or recycle and, in many jurisdictions, it’s the law.

23 2:01 7:31 10:46 3:01 old refrigerators, but didn’t 24 2:46 8:01 — 4:01 advise them to first remove which make it impossible 25 1:01 8:16 — 5:31 the doors. Each year, many for a child to exit.FOR Even the DEVELOPED ESPECIALLY MOBILE HOME ROOF OVERS 26 8:46 3:01 — 7:01 Energy System for Mobile Home Roof Overs childrenSaving die when they newer models with magnetic 27 9:16 3:31 12:16 8:16 become trapped inside old, rubber gaskets can be difficult WhoWarranty are you calling lazy?

28 9:31 4:01 2:16 9:16 Quality Materials • Made in the usa • lifetiMe Written unused refrigerators. Very old for small children to open.

Whoa, now! What is this 29 10:01 4:16 3:16 10:01 refrigerators have door latches Removing the doors fromIncrease home’s “eighth laziestroof state” busi­ for mobile It’s ayour protective system 30 homes 10:31 that 4:31 will 4:16 10:31 unusedSolar refrigerators and value, your comfort ness? (“Humor Me,drastically ” page 38, decrease prevent leaks and 12″ 31 utility 4:46 bills, 10:46 4:46 11:01 Shield freezers (both upright andand yourvirtually peace eliminate maintenance and increase your January 2011) I maintain we Overhang April chest types) is required byoflaw mind with this home’s value, your are first.

I tried to comfort call my and your Polystyrene 1 peace 5:01 of mind.

11:16 11:31 5:31 in many locales. It only takes Write SCL Designed to since prevent leaks 2 5:16 11:46 11:46 6:01 protectivedoc roofthe system other day, a few minutes and could for savemobile a the Reduces roof noise homes. office is allegedly open Existing 3 — 5:31 6:31 12:01 Saves utility bills child’s life.Roof 4 12:16 6:01 7:16 12:31 until 4:30 p.m.on The answering Letters to Adds 2” polystyrene Addson insulation valueMy Daniel W. Baluka, Batesburg 5 12:46 6:16 8:01 1:01 service was by 4:10 p.m. the editor insulation • Saves on maintenance free 6 1:01 6:31 8:46 1:31 dentist Virtually works 4½ days a week.

• Reduces We love hearing from our insulation 2″ thick SaveaStune for utility bills 7 1:31 6:46 9:46 2:16 Hoisting BankingPolystyrene hours on Saturday readers. Tell us what you think roof noise • Reduces 8 1:46 7:16 11:01 3:01 e n e mornings?

Ha. The old vault Tom Smith R *LIFETIME WRITTEN WARRANTY* gy about this issue, send us story maintenance • Designed 9 2:31 7:31 — 4:01 clangs shut Friday afternoon.

I Well done, Mr. Couick!

After suggestions or just let us know to prevent leaks

10 1:01 8:16 — 5:31 reading your eloquent Dialogue would have written this note what’s on your mind by writing 11 10:31 2:01 — 7:01 earlier this month, but didn’t column in the Nov./Dec. issue to Letters, South Carolina 12 8:46 2:46 1:16 8:01 Other Living, Custom Designed Home & Mobile Improvements have the energy until today. of South CarolinaHome Living, I felt 808 Knox Abbott Drive,

13 9:16 3:16 2:46 9:01 Vinyl Siding • Screen Windows • Carports Oh, and if you are a 48-yearCayce, SC 29033. YouRooms can also • Insulated like I knew Tom Smith.

I liked 14 9:46 3:31 4:01 10:01 old, deliciously youthfule-mail us at letters@scliving. in particular the references Vinyl Siding • Screen Rooms • Insulated Windows • Carports 15 4:01 10:31 10:46 4:46 looking mother, I could be coop or send •a Small note by fax to the “poet/botanist” being 100% Financing Monthly Payments 16 4:31 11:01 11:31 5:46 to (803) 796-6064.

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scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

9

Dialogue

Bottom-line impact Most of us focus only on the total at the bottom of our electricity bill each month.

We pay it and usually think it’s too much no matter how much it is, disregarding the fact that electricity prices have risen far slower than most other things we buy. This month, I want to mention two issues that have an impact on that monthly total and explain why you should be concerned.

Mike Couick

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

10

Captive and paying the price

The cost of shipping coal to power plants affects your electricity bill. More than 80 percent of the electricity you as a cooperative member use is produced using coal as a power plant fuel. That coal arrives by freight train from Illinois and Central Appalachian states such as Kentucky and West Virginia.

CSX Corporation owns all the railroad tracks.

Negotiations for preferred shipping rates can be challenging. When you use coal by the ton (10 to 12 million tons per year for Santee Cooper), and it has to be shipped by train, and one company owns the tracks, you become what we call a “captive shipper.” Santee Cooper generates much of the power we provide to you, and as their shipping contracts with the railroad expire, Santee Cooper and your electric cooperative are facing increased costs.

The good news is that Santee Cooper was able to negotiate a contract that will save about $180 million over the next five years compared to what was projected. The bad news is that delivery costs in 2011 and 2012 will be higher than what was budgeted.

Captive shippers such as electric cooperatives have no antitrust protections against unrestrained shipping costs and unreliable service.

The resulting cost increases are passed on to consumers who buy their products and use their services. While the major railroad companies log record profits and stock prices on Wall Street, delays in coal deliveries have caused higher electricity prices on Main Street.

I urge you as a member to express concern to your national legislators. Ask them to look out for your cooperative on this issue.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Protecting the environment costs money

Have you ever noticed how many costs are itemized on your telephone bill? Taxes, fees and charges galore add up to significant money in addition to the price attributed to your actual phone service.

My bill has a long list: municipal business license tax, federal universal service fee, federal subscriber line charge, local universal service charge, intrastate universal service charge, federal excise tax, state/local tax, telecommunications relay service, emergency service preparation, federal universal service fund fee, S.C. universal service cost recovery fee and a carrier cost recovery fee. Whew!

On a simple $49 land-line phone and Internet service bill, those extras total $13.44.

The phone company chooses to list them to make a point: there are a lot of tacked-on charges the phone company didn’t choose to add but that were required by various laws and regulations.

Your electric cooperative has its share of those types of costs, primarily in the form of what we must pay to comply with an expanding number of rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We usually don’t itemize these costs, but they can be significant.

Regardless of whether you agree with the end goal of EPA regulations—ostensibly cleaner air, water and land—the bottom line is that they have a very real cost that can drive up your electricity bill. South Carolina’s electric co-ops are committed to providing you reliable and ­affordable power, which is why we continue to promote energy efficiency and explore the cleanest, most cost-effective alternatives to meet the state’s growing power needs. In the meantime, we can’t ignore federal and state regulations, but we can (and will) keep you informed on how they impact your personal bottom line.

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scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

11

EnergyQ&A

BY Jim Dulley

Balancing efficiency with comfort

Q

LearnMore Deltec Homes, (800) 642-2508; deltechomes.com Kodiak Steel Homes, (800) 278-0888; kodiaksteelhomes.com Eco-Block, (800) 293-3210; eco-block.com Winter Panel, (800) 882-9490; winterpanel.com 12

Deltec Homes

A

You are wise to think about the livability of a house in addition to efficiency measures.

You should always balance a home’s efficiency with comfort and convenience, and you can have the best of both worlds—if you pay attention to the details of how your home is constructed.

Many of the typical “to-code” stickbuilt houses—homes constructed entirely or largely on-site—are not very energy efficient, due ­primarily to air leaks and the fact that they contain a bare minimum of insulation. However, it’s easy to dramatically improve a stick-built house during construction by having more insulation put in and by upgrading to higher-quality windows and doors. You should also pay close attention to the vapor/air barriers during construction, making sure that the finished house is as airtight as it can be.

There are alternative construction methods that are inherently more efficient than a rectangular, lumberframed, stick-built home, but as with any building choice, you have to consider the trade-offs and your budget

Eco-Block

I am planning to build a new, lumber-framed, “stick-built” house but I’ve heard they aren’t the most energy-efficient option. I want my home to be very efficient, but still livable. Are there other construction methods I should consider?

in order to decide if they are right for you.

Round panelized construction

A round house is particularly energy efficient for several reasons. A circle provides the greatest amount of indoor floor space with the least amount of exterior wall surface. Less wall area means less heat loss. Also, wind tends to flow smoothly over the exterior, resulting in fewer air leaks. A circular panelized house, like those from Deltec Homes, can be built using a series of 8-foot-wide, flat panels made specifically to your house plans. A combination of insulation inside the hollow panels, and thick foam sheathing on the exterior, results in a high level of insulation.

Steel-frame construction

Although it seems counterintuitive because metal conducts heat, steelframed houses provided by companies like Kodiak Steel Homes can be very energy efficient. Steel members replace the lumber in the walls, so these houses look virtually identical to a standard, stick-built, lumber house. Their efficiency advantage comes from the fact that the supports are spaced very far apart. You can’t insulate studs, so fewer supports means there are fewer thermal

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Energy-efficient building techniques include round panelized construction, left, and foam-block construction, above. In foam-block construction, the exterior surface of structural walls is built with interlocking foam blocks. The interior space is filled with concrete to form a thick, highly insulated wall.

bridges inside the walls. Bonus: Steel supports don’t settle, so the home stays airtight through its life.

Foam-block construction

Foam-block houses are assembled from what look like giant Lego pieces.

The lightweight blocks from companies like Eco-Block, are stacked on top of one another to create the basic structure. Then the channel inside the blocks is pumped full of concrete to create an extremely strong, thick wall with a very high insulation level.

This construction method also offers a great deal of architectural design flexibility.

Structural insulated panels (SIPS)

SIPS, like those from a company called Winter Panel, are very strong panels with thick insulating foam in the center. They are also called stress skin panels because the interior and exterior skins provide the structural strength for the house. These long panels are factory-crafted to fit your house plans. With the high insulation level and few joints needed between the panels, these houses are another efficient option.

Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce SC 29033, e-mail energyqa@scliving.coop or fax (803) 739‑3041.

How’s this for a bright idea? Give a gift subscription to South Carolina Living!

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of Garden Envy

How to have the perfect lawn, tasty veggies and jealous neighbors

Raise your right hand, stick your thumb in the air, and imagine it as a bright, green signal to your family and neighbors. This is the year. You will conquer your wilting lawn.

You will grow your own fresh veggies. And you will do it all with a smile, thanks to our bumper crop of tips, techniques and professional advice. As your landscape springs to life, you’ll enjoy another benefit—watching your neighbors turn green with envy as they wonder how you did it. l l l

Get more Visit SCLiving.coop for more lawn and gardening articles, including:

In the weeds: From dandelions to dollar weed, here’s how to eliminate leafy lawn invaders Grasses for South Carolina: The pros and cons of seven turf grass varieties By the book: Print and web resources as recommended by Lisa Wagner and Bob Polomski Good seed: Lisa Wagner’s list of recommended vegetable seed suppliers Edible ornamentals: Amazing plants that liven up your yard—and your dinner plate

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

Growing a kitchen garden The notion that you need a “green thumb” to successfully grow your own fresh, tasty vegetables? It’s a total myth.

Here in South Carolina, just about anyone with a backyard and a willingness to get his or her hands dirty can grow a small “kitchen garden” that will put home-grown food on the table year-round. All you need to get started this spring is a 4-by-4-foot plot of ground and our five-step plan for success.

I’ll let you in on a secret:

BY LISA K. WAGNER

Pick a sunny spot

Locating your kitchen garden close to the house makes it easy to monitor, tend and enjoy, but the first Step 1 consideration should be exposure to sunlight. Most vegetables require 6 to 8 hours of full sun a day, and direct sunlight is particularly important to ensure summer crops such as tomatoes and peppers develop ample fruit.

Avoid placing beds near large trees and shrubs.

In addition to casting shadows on your plants, large tree roots can steal nutrients from your vegetables. Another consideration: Proximity to a good water source. Hoses and watering cans can get heavy if you have to drag them too far every time you tend your garden.

You don’t need a lot of space for a thriving garden. In fact, small garden beds—each no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet in size—are easier to maintain than large garden plots, and the square dimensions allow you to work the garden without stepping into the bed. As you gain experience and confidence, you can always add more beds, but for beginners, it’s better to have one or two manageable mini-gardens than one big garden that is hard to maintain.

Prepare the ground

LISA K. WAGNER

Modern vegetables are highly domesticated plants that need pampering, primarily in the form of soil Step 2 that’s healthy, full of organic nutrients and as light and loamy as you can make it.

What do I mean by loamy? Think of the texture of good-quality potting mix. Chances are your backyard isn’t like that, so get ready to dig—or as gardeners say—to “amend” your soil.

16

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Weed-free straw is an excellent mulch that will help conserve soil moisture. Adding stone trim to your garden bed is optional, but a nice way to decorate your yard.

LISA K. WAGNER

Want fresh, flavorful produce all year-round?

All you need is a 4-by-4-foot plot of ground and our five-step plan for success

Remove any grasses or weeds and thoroughly work the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Start by turning over shovelfuls of soil. Break up large clods of clay with the end of your shovel or a spading fork and remove any large rocks. Small beds can be hand-dug (it’s great exercise) or tilled with power equipment if hand-digging is too difficult. Now assess what you have. If your freshly dug plot is largely broken-up clay subsoil, you’ll need lots of organic material to lighten it up. If you have sandy soil, it’ll be easier to dig, but it also needs the addition of plenty of organic matter in the form of bagged compost, ­composted manure or topsoil from your local lawn and garden center. Either way, count on working in at least 4 to 5 inches of compost or topsoil. Spread this layer on the surface of your bed, and then mix it in with your shovel or spading fork to create a bed of rich, loose soil (remember that potting mix).

Compost and topsoil alone will not provide adequate nutrients to support vegetable production. You’ll also need to add organic, timed-release fertilizer.

Carefully follow the label directions, and don’t overdo it. Adding too much fertilizer will result in excessive If your soil has a lot of clay, you’ll need to succulent plant growth that add plenty of organic matter before planting. is attractive to pests and subject to disease. You may also need to add pelletized limestone to achieve a neutral, vegetable-friendly soil pH of 6.2 to 6.5.

To determine precisely how much fertilizer and lime your soil needs for optimal growing conditions, have it tested by Clemson University’s Agricultural Service Lab (clemson.edu/agsrvlb) after you turn the soil and add compost, but before adding fertilizer and lime.

If the ground is hard and compacted, an excellent alternative to digging and amending the existing soil is to create raised plant beds. Smother the turf and weeds with a thick layer of moistened cardboard, then add a layer of compost followed by 10 to 12 inches of rich topsoil or a bagged, organic planting mix. This is the easiest and most dependable (but not the cheapest) way to get your vegetable garden off to a great start. There’s no need to contain the beds, but if you wish to make your garden more decorative, use wood, brick or stone edging. l l l

Growing seasons

For every vegetable, there is a season Early spring spinach lettuce broccoli cabbage arugula snow peas sugar snap peas

Mid spring

(after the danger of frost has passed)

pole and bush beans black-eyed peas

Late summer and early fall lettuce mustard greens arugula broccoli kale and collards turnips and turnip greens spinach Swiss chard radishes beets

Spring

(when soil temperatures are between 50 to 60 degrees F) beets carrots radishes Asian greens red mustard potatoes parsley onions

Late spring & summer (night-time temperatures above 50 degrees F) tomatoes peppers cucumbers eggplant okra zucchini summer squash Swiss chard

Winter

(crops carried over from fall) kale collards cold-resistant varieties of cabbage

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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18

LISA K. WAGNER

As the plants get larger water them less frequently in order to encourage deep, healthy root growth

Recently emerged squash seedlings will be thinned in a week or so to the one or two strongest plants.

Plant according to seasons

Thanks to our relatively mild winters, South Carolinians can rotate through cool- and warmStep 3 season plantings and maintain a garden almost year-round. Early spring (March to early April) is a great time to plant lettuce, kale, mustard, spinach and other leafy greens that thrive in cool weather. If you plant today, you can harvest and enjoy them in time to replant summer vegetables like beans, tomatoes, peppers and squash. These warm-weather plants— tomatoes in particular—need nighttime air temperatures greater than 50 degrees to thrive, so as a general rule, it’s wise to wait until the third week of April to plant summer vegetables. For details on seasonal plant options, see “Growing seasons,” page 17, and consult Clemson Extension’s HGIC Factsheet #1256, “Planning a Garden” (hgic.clemson.edu/­ factsheets). It lists the best planting times for each region of the state.

For the best results, choose pest- and diseaseresistant varieties of seeds or transplants. Buy only fresh seed from established seed companies (I’ve listed some of my favorites online at SCLiving.coop) and shop carefully for transplants. Look for sturdy, well-grown transplants with healthy leaves and check the labels for information on resistance to disease, wilt and blight. When shopping for tomato transplants, for example, look for the abbreviations RN (which indicates resistance to nematodes) and V, F1 and F2 (which indicate resistance to wilt).

Follow the planting instructions on the seed packets or plant labels, and resist the urge to overplant—even a small garden can produce a surprising amount of produce. Trellises and supports for tomato and pepper vines will help maximize space in a small bed and increase productivity. Before you begin planting, map out your garden by dividing each bed into 16 1-by1-foot planting spaces. Each square-foot space can support one large plant (e.g., tomato, pepper, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli or summer squash), two cucumber plants or eight pole beans. Large

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

robust tomato varieties will benefit from more space (2–4 blocks) and support for their vines with tomato cages or trellising. Smaller plants, like radishes, spinach, beets, lettuce, chard, carrots and parsley, can be sown directly into a 1-by-1-foot space and thinned to 12 to 16 plants per square foot through early harvesting.

Tend to your garden, naturally

Monitor your garden frequently for any pest and weed problems. In a small garden, low-impact control Step 4 methods, like planting disease- and pest-resistant vegetable varieties, hand weeding and hand removal of insects are often all that is needed. You can prevent weeds and conserve soil moisture by keeping your garden mulched with an inch or two of chopped leaves, weedfree straw, dried grass clippings (not treated with herbicides) or weed-free compost.

Daily watering is required to get vegetables established from seed, but as the plants get larger water them less frequently in order to encourage deep, healthy root growth. Established vegetables with deep roots need watering only once a week, though in periods of drought or extreme heat—or any time plants look stressed and don’t recover overnight—you may need to water twice a week. And remember: Gently water the soil around the plant, not the plant itself.

Harvest early and often

Now it’s time to savor the sweet taste of success. Harvest your vegetables frequently while they are young and Step 5 tender. The unsurpassed flavor of home-grown produce picked at its peak is a wonderful reward for all your hard work, so enjoy!

For fun, you might even try a taste test, comparing your veggies to what’s available at the grocery store. You won’t believe the difference.

Once a crop is going downhill—when the vegetables become watery or over-mature—rip the plants out, amend the soil as needed, and plant something else. Quick-growing “fillers” such as lettuce, cilantro, edible flowers and greens are a good choice to plant if you need to wait out a change in seasons. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and, most of all, have fun with your very own kitchen garden.

Lisa K. Wagner, Ph.D., is the director of education at the S.C. Botanical Garden in Clemson and an avid home gardener. Read more about her passion for natural gardens at naturalgardening.blogspot.com.

Your threestage battle plan for a green, healthy lawn

BY BOB POLOMSKI

Winning the turf war

In the never-ending fight to maintain a green, healthy lawn, there is one unavoidable fact: It’s a jungle out there. We share our yards with a wide assortment of nature’s weeds and insects, and unless you call in the folks at Astroturf, that’s just how it is. But don’t despair. With a few simple tweaks to the lawn-care chores you’re already doing, you can give your turf grass a competitive advantage and enhance its natural ability to ward off invaders.

Three factors make or break a lawn: mowing, fertilizing and watering. As with most things in life, timing and moderation are the keys to success. Here’s how to win your “turf war”—and still have your weekends free.

Just a little off the top

The biggest mistake most homeowners make is letting the grass grow too tall before “scalping” Stage 1 it—mowing it down to the approximate height of a drill sergeant’s crew cut. This stresses the plant and hampers root growth.

Each of the common grass varieties in South Carolina has an ideal growing height (see chart), so adjust your mower accordingly.

A good rule of thumb is to remove no more than one-third of the ideal grass height at a time. If you’re trying to maintain tall fescue at a height of 3 inches, for example, you’ll want to mow 1 inch off the top when the grass reaches a height of 4 inches. Keeping grass at the correct height may require you to mow a little more often than you’re used to, but the rewards are worth it. Proper mowing will keep the plants strong and healthy, and you can skip the hassle of bagging and disposing of cuttings. The short clippings can be left on the yard where they act as a natural fertilizer.

One more tip: Before you fire up the mower this season, have the blade sharpened. Sharp blades cut grass cleanly which ensures rapid healing. Dull blades tear and bruise the leaves, making your lawn vulnerable to invading weeds, insects and diseases.

Feed the troops

Proper fertilizing has a direct impact on the health and appearance of your lawn. Cool-season Stage 2 grasses, like the tall fescues found from the Piedmont to the foothills, should be fertilized in the fall. Warm-season grasses, like Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and zoysia, which grow from the Piedmont to the coast, are best fertilized in the late spring and early summer, ideally two or three weeks after the lawn has completely greened-up or come out of winter dormancy. l l l

Recommended mowing heights for lawn grasses Cutting height (inches)

Mowing frequency

Tall fescue

Winter: 2 to 3 Summer: 3 to 3.5

High

Ryegrass (annual/perennial)

Winter: 1 to 2.5

Medium

1 to 2

Medium high

0.5 to 1.5 1.5 to 2 1.5 to 2 2.5 to 4 1 to 2

Very high Low Low Medium to high Low to medium

Turf grass Cool-season

Warm-season

Common Bermuda grass Hybrid Bermuda grass Carpet grass Centipede grass St. Augustine grass Zoysia grass

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

The key nutrients in fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but it’s the nitrogen that controls how much fertilizer you need to apply. Don’t overdo it. All you really need is 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, and at least 25 to 50 percent of it should be in a

Pest control

Turn on the water works

Fall armyworm These voracious caterpillars appear from June to September. They attack en masse and can consume large areas of turf overnight. Organic insecticides with the active ingredient spinosad are an effective control method. Apply it when the caterpillars are less than one inch long and do not irrigate the lawn for at least 24 hours after application.

Two-lined spittlebug Over-fertilized centipede grass is most at risk from this close cousin of the aphid. The nymphs feed in the thatch layer causing purplish streaking and yellowing of the grass blade. There are usually two generations: May-June and August-September. Most lawn insecticides work well if applied properly and at the right dosage (follow label directions).

The key is to irrigate lightly after application to flush the insecticides into the thatch.

20

Southern chinch bugs The scourge of St. Augustine lawns, chinch bugs attack during hot, dry weather and cause ever-widening dead patches that are often confused with drought damage. To confirm the presence of chinch bugs, cut out both ends of a coffee can and push it 2–3 inches into the edge of a dead zone. Fill the can with water, wait 20 minutes, then count the number of chinch bugs floating on the surface.

Twenty or more per square foot means it’s time to go to war. Most common insecticides are effective against chinch bugs.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Armyworm: University of Nebraska; Spittlebug: Clemson Extension Service; chinch bugs: Texas Agricultural Experiment Station/Dr. James Reinert

Effective lawn care will go a long way to bolstering your lawn’s natural defenses against grass-chewing insects, but sometimes you’ve got to wage chemical warfare to defend your turf. According to Juang‑Horng ‘JC’ Chong, Ph.D., a research entomologist at Clemson University, here are the three most destructive insects and how to beat them.

slow-release form. Never over-fertilize. At best, you’ll create an overgrowth situation that is attractive to turf-eating insects. At worst, you’ll just be throwing money away and causing potential harm to the environment in the form of polluted ground and surface water. For more tips on when and how to fertilize your yard, see the pamphlet “Fertilizing Lawns,” (HGIC 1201) available at clemson.edu/extension/hgic.

Turf grasses, like all living plants, require water for growth and survival. If nature doesn’t provide it, Stage 3 you’ll have to step in.

Early signs of a thirsty, drought-stressed lawn include leaves with a bluish-gray cast, footprints that stay in the grass, and leaves that are wilted and rolled. When you see these conditions, apply a gentle soaking of about three-quarters to 1 inch of water to your lawn. This is equivalent to 465 to 620 gallons of water for each 1,000 square feet of lawn.

If you have heavy clay soil, you may not be able to apply this much water in one session.

If water starts to pool or run off, turn off the sprinkler for half an hour and let the water soak in. Repeat the cycle as needed until you’ve applied the full inch. For fast-draining sandy soils, apply a half-inch of water at a time, about every three days. The best time to water? At night. If you irrigate at midday, in hot, dry and windy weather, 30 percent or more of the water you’re putting on the lawn will simply evaporate.

Watering at night cuts evaporation in half and can save a significant amount on your water bill.

Don’t water again until you see the return of drought-stress symptoms. This encourages the deep root growth that supports a healthy lawn. Watering too often only makes grass less drought-tolerant, while encouraging the growth of common weeds. Unless yours is a newly seeded, sodded or sprigged lawn, there is absolutely no need to water every day.

Declare victory

And that’s it. Unless you require the absolute perfection of a PGA putting surface, proper mowing, fertilizing and watering don’t take much more time and effort than you’re already putting into your turf war, only now you’ll have a naturally healthy yard to show for it.

Bob Polomski, Ph.D.,

Clemson University.

is a horticulturist with

SCStories

SC Life

Starting from scrap Boot Arreola OCCUPATION : Luthier and musician AGE: 29 EDUCATION : Apprenticed with

Baron J. Martin of El Paso, Texas To build a thriving business that will fully support the mission trips he takes with wife, Stacy

SPECIAL GOALS:

milton morris

One man’s scraps can be another man’s livelihood. For Boot Arreola, a fallen persimmon tree, a worn-out piano and leftovers from a high school woodworking class represent the makings of beautiful music.

Arreola is one of a handful of luthiers— skilled artisans who make and repair stringed instruments—living in South Carolina, and his line of original guitars, marketed under the brand name BA Ferguson, is crafted entirely from repurposed wood. He gleans the materials for his trade from the trash bins, floors and forests of places as far away as the Pacific Northwest and as close by as the coffee bar located just a few doors down from his shop, Frets and Necks, in downtown Hartsville.

“This piece of wood came from a guy I know in Alaska who collects old logs that wash up on shore and wood from fallen trees,” Arreola explains, pointing to the neck of a guitar in progress. “And this inlay on the back is made from coffee stirrers from the Midnight Rooster Coffee Shop.”

South Carolina is a luthier’s treasure trove, he says, offering plenty of pine, oak, cedar, poplar and hickory for repurposing. Once the wood is in his shop, the entire recycling process, from salvaging to strumming, takes about eight months. “Luthiers always used what was available in the environment,” Arreola says. “I’m proud to get back to the roots of guitar building.” —libby swope wiersema

For additional images of Boot Arreola at work, see our exclusive web gallery at SCLiving.coop. For more on BA Ferguson guitars, visit bafergusonguitars.com.

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

SCScene

BY KENNETH S. ALLEN

By Marc Rapport

High adventure

When it comes to having a good time in South Carolina, the sky’s the limit ranges from the genteel experience of hot-air ballooning, to the exhilaration of soaring in gliders to the adrenaline-pumping thrills of skydiving. Are you ready for some high-flying fun? Here’s how to get started.

oning o Hot-air ball Float across the sky

Up, up and away: Hotair ballooning offers a unbeatable view of South Carolina. Each voyage ends with a champagne toast, and a presentation of your First Flight certificate.

22

that takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Once everyFor sheer beauty and romance, nothing can thing is ready, we climb aboard and take off.” match floating away in a multicolored hot-air Steve pilots the balloon and Connie follows balloon on a clear morning. Who knows where in the chase vehicle. With no means of propulthe winds will take you? sion, the balloon and its occupants are at the Steve and Connie Lambert offer that caremercy of the wind. Connie’s job is to keep them free escapism through their company, SkyScapes in sight and bring them back once they land, of America, based in Anderson. The couple which is usually about an hour after liftoff. used to run a balloon business in Orlando, Fla., Befitting the genteel experience, each trip ends taking passengers over Disney World and central Florida, but moved in 2003 after they fell in love with a champagne toast.

The balloon will accommodate up to six with South Carolina during Anderson’s annual people. Adults ride for $175 each; children balloon festival. under 12 for $85. The usual load is three or “We love it here,” Steve says. “The people are four passengers, although friendly; the weather is great for couples can reserve a private ballooning.”

LearnMore flight for $600.

Most SkyScape flights take SkyScapes of America That’s what Kevin and place in the early morning, 3300-D N. Main St. Apasala Benoit did recently, to when the air is calm. “We meet Anderson, SC 29621 celebrate their 10th anniversary. at sunrise at the Civic Center (864) 221-0552 “It was a surprise for her,” Launch Field,” Steve says. “The For information on the 2011 says Kevin, who likens the passengers go through some Balloons Over Anderson sensation of lift-off to that of paperwork while we begin festival (Nov. 4–6) visit going up in an elevator. “A very setting up. If they wish, the pasballoonsoveranderson.org. smooth elevator. It was really a sengers can help us with the nice experience.” assembly and the inflation. All of

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Terry Hopkins

Aerial recreation in the Palmetto State

Photo and video packages of your first tandem jump catch the excitement of freefalling at 120 miles per hour—and they let you share the experience on your Facebook page.

Skydiving Take a flying leap Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane? For the excitement, of course. And the bragging rights.

Thrill-seekers can get a taste of skydiving by making what is known as a tandem jump with South Carolina’s commercial skydiving operations—Skydive Carolina, based at the Chester Catawba Regional Airport, and Skydive Walterboro, based at the Lowcountry Regional Airport.

On a tandem jump, the novice skydiver is attached to an instructor and both of them descend on a single chute, but not before they freefall for 60 seconds or so, at 120 miles per hour. Once the parachute opens, it takes about five minutes to glide to a landing, says James La Barrie, general manager of Skydive Carolina.

The jump offers plenty of heart-pounding

thrills, but the thing that surprises most firsttimers is that there is no sense of plummeting during freefall, he says. “There is no sensation of speed. It’s a very comforting feeling, not a scary feeling. If you can handle a roller coaster, then you can handle skydiving.”

Tandem jumps costs anywhere from $180 to $215 (Savings alert: Skydive Carolina is a member of York Electric Cooperative and offers a $15 discount on tandem jumps with your Co-op Connections card), plus an additional $85 to $105 if you want the video/photo package of your exploits. You are going to want evidence that you actually did this, right?

If a tandem jump whets your appetite for more high adventure, you can come back for the Accelerated Free Fall Progression, a package of 16 jumps and instruction that will lead to becoming a certified skydiver. It costs about $2,300 in all and takes a minimum of six weeks to complete. l

LearnMore Skydive Carolina 1903 King Air Dr. Chester, SC 29706 (803) 581-5867 skydivecarolina.com Skydive Walterboro 627 Aviation Way Walterboro, SC 29488 (800) 549-JUMP (5867) skydivewalterboro.com

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

23

SCScene

Introductory rides in two-seat trainer sailplanes like the one pictured at left, entice many people to become solo sailplane pilots. The sport can be addictive, warns soaring enthusiast Karen Kovecses. “It gets you totally away from everything,” she says. “You leave all your stress behind.”

LearnMore Bermuda High Soaring School Thermal Trail P.O. Box 1510 Lancaster, SC 29721 (803) 475-7267 glider.org Carolina Soaring Association* Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport Spartanburg, SC (864) 266-3279 carolinasoaring.org Lowcountry Soaring Club* Ridgeland Airport Ridgeland, SC (843) 689-3452 lowcountrysoaring.org * Denotes a private, nonprofit club. Availability of introductory flights may be limited. Contact the clubs for schedules and details.

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SOARING Glide on

For many travelers, the “Bermuda High Soaring” sign by the side of S.C. 903 at the Lancaster-Kershaw county line is something of a mile post. Follow its pointer down a lonely dirt road and you will find the largest commercial glider port and school in the Southeast.

Frank Reid and Jayne Ewing, members of Lynches River Electric Cooperative, have run their commercial soaring business (and a private soaring club) here on the outskirts of Lancaster since 1991. Today they can point with pride to a fleet of 11 sailplanes, three tow planes, a clubhouse, hanger and their own 4,000-foot grass runway­.

Although the gliding aircraft are properly called “sailplanes,” Reid is quick to correct any misconceptions about the experience. “We don’t go sailing. That’s what those things on a lake do.

We go soaring. Birds don’t sail. They soar. We are like the birds, we soar.”

And like the birds, they appear to do so

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

effortlessly, staying aloft hours at a time and covering hundreds of miles over North and South Carolina. Bermuda High Soaring will gladly take visitors up for 20-minute sailplane rides at a cost of $75 per person. And the flight is well worth it.

Reid uses one of his dual-seat instructional planes for the flight, with the passenger up front.

Ewing tows the sailplane to about 3,000 feet and Reid releases the tow rope, which makes a sharp “snap” followed by an almost weightless feeling. The only noise is the air rushing past the canopy and the panoramic view of the Carolina Sandhills is intoxicating. “We have people come in all the time who go up with us and then say, ‘I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,’” Reid says.

You can also get a taste of the sport through nonprofit soaring clubs, like Lowcountry Soaring in Ridgeland and Carolina Soaring Association in Spartanburg. For a fees of $75 to $90 per flight, paid to the club, members will gladly take guests up for an unforgettable ride and share their passion for the sport of soaring, but arrangements must be made well in advance.

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scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

25

SCOutside

BY TIM HANSON

GetThere Sparkleberry Swamp is owned

by Santee Cooper, the state-run utility, and open to a variety of uses including fishing and duck hunting.

Three boat ramps provide access: Pack’s Landing, located just west of Rimini, and Sparkleberry Landing, near Pinewood, are on the east side of the swamp; Low Falls Landing is on the west side.

For guided tours, contact Hunter Morgan at Naturally Outdoors in Florence, (843) 665-1551. The fee is $60 per person and includes a kayak and paddling gear; $50 if you bring your own boat. Trips usually last four or five hours. A list of other guides can be found at the South Carolina Paddle Sports Industry Association’s website, paddlesouthcarolina.org.

26

TIM HANSON

Listening to nature in Sparkleberry Swamp It is mid-morning on a cold December

and as our small group of kayakers glides across the black water of Sparkleberry Swamp, it’s the stillness that is most striking.

We are deep into the heart of the magnificent 16,000-acre wetland on the northern end of Lake Marion, surrounded by stands of tupelo and cypress. Every now and then we hear a distant outboard motor, but for the most part, the journey is blissfully quiet. And it is that lack of man-made noise, the solitude of the area, which makes the swamp one of South Carolina’s premier paddling destinations.

“The East Coast is so populated with humans that to find a place that you can have just the sounds of nature is golden—totally golden,” says Mary Crockett, a biologist and paddling enthusiast who long ago lost count of the hours she’s spent in the swamp.

Saturday,

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Sparkleberry is easy on the eyes, too. It’s a prolific wildlife habitat, and in the soft morning light we spot ospreys and double-crested cormorants perched on cypress branches. We scan the water’s edge for signs of deer and wild pigs. Occasionally, our small flotilla crosses paths with a line of colorful wood ducks pumping away across the mirrored surface of the water.

There are dangers behind the beauty, including cottonmouths and some really big alligators, but the greatest risk is simply getting lost in Sparkleberry’s maze of narrow, unmarked channels. With a knowledgeable guide, however, the swamp is a joy to explore, says John Cely, an avid paddler and the land protection director of the Congaree Land Trust.

“The place speaks for itself,” he says. “It’s just one of the most beautiful flat-water paddling destinations in the Southeast.”

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Fish for a state or world record in lakes Marion & Moultrie that cover 171,000 acres and have 450 miles of shoreline!

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Check the appropriate box to receive information about any of the following, and register to win! ❑ S.C. National Heritage Corridor ❑ Alpine-Helen, Georgia ❑ Sportsman’s Classic, Columbia ❑ Palace Theater, Myrtle Beach ❑ Captain’s Quarters Resort, Myrtle Beach ❑ TBonz Restaurants, Myrtle Beach ❑ St. Patrick’s Fest, N. Myrtle Beach ❑ Audubon Center at Beidler Forest ❑ Island Travel ❑ Low Country Tourism ❑ Sculpture in the South, Summerville ❑ Stone Soup Storytelling, Woodruff ❑ S.C. 47 State Parks ❑ Santee Cooper Country ❑ Newberry’s Historic Opera House ❑ N. Charleston Cultural Arts Fest ❑ Florence Tourism ❑ Aiken Center for the Arts ❑ Pickens Azalea Festival, April ❑ S.C. Farmers Markets

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Send coupon to: South Carolina Living, 1040 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington, SC 29072 or travel@SCLiving.coop.

Entries must be received by April 5th to be eligible for drawing. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Selections do not affect your chance of winning.

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

SCTravels

BY STEPHANIE GREEN

Photos cou rte sy of Livi ng His tory Par k

Where history comes to life in South Carolina, the village blacksmith never lacked for work. Whether it was making tools for farmers or fashioning kitchen utensils for the lady of the house, his skills were always in demand.

A quick browse through any history book will attest to their value and even offer photos of common blacksmithing tools. But to hear the crackle of a soft coal fire and watch a craftsman hammer a lump of glowing metal into a useful object right before your eyes is an entirely different learning experience, says Lynn Thompson of the Living History Park in North Augusta.

“You can read it all day long, but what better way to tell the story than to have it come alive,” she says.

The 7½-acre park allows

During colonial times

The Living History Park in North Augusta offers visitors the sights and sounds of early 18th-century life, including typical gardens and re-enactors who tell stories and give demonstrations.

“ You can read [about history] all day long, but what better way to tell the story than to have it come alive.”

GetThere The Living History Park is located at 299 West Spring Grove Avenue in North Augusta. From I-20, take Exit 1 to Hwy 230 (Martintown Road). Take a right on West Avenue and a right on West Spring Grove Avenue.

Hours: Open year-round from dawn till dusk.

Admission: Free, though donations are accepted.

Special events: Olde Towne Artisans Fair, April 15–17; Under the Crown, June 4–5; Colonial Times: A Day to Remember, Oct. 15–16; Spirits of Hallowed Eve, Oct. 29; Christmas for the Birds, Dec. 3.

Details: (803) 279-7560; colonialtimes.us

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visitors to walk the streets of a replica colonial village, where everything from the buildings to the plants in the gardens are designed to provide the sights, sounds, textures and smells of what life was like for South Carolinians in the early 18th century. “We want it to be real,” says Thompson.

Living history ­demonstrations with a complete cast of costumed ­re-enactors, storytellers and even musicians are held on the last Saturday of each month and during special annual events like the Olde Towne Artisans Fair (scheduled this

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

year for April 15–17) and the Colonial Times festival (Oct. 15–16).

Thompson says the park strives to be accurate to every historical detail, no matter how painful the facts of that history may be. That includes depictions of slavery. On a recent day, visitors could see a costumed slave re-enactor praying outside the Willow Springs Meeting House while others held a service inside.

“People run from things they don’t know,” Thompson says. “But if you don’t tell the story, history has a tendency to repeat itself.”

Open year-round from dawn until dusk, the park draws more than 25,000 visitors each year, including tourists and school field trips. Teachers use the experience as a teaching tool and the park offers a state-approved curriculum geared toward 4th-grade students.

“If I can get one person or one child excited about history, then it’s all worth it,” Thompson says.

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2011 Spring Plant & Flower Festivals Southern Plant & Flower Festival

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Visit www.agriculture.sc.gov for more information

scliving.coop | march 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

29

SCRecipe

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Gary amrtin

Fresh spring flavors Mary’s Chicken Puffs Serves 8 as an appetizer or 4 as a main course

½ cup flour ½ cup milk 1 egg ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken Oil of your choice for frying

Dirkr /iStock

Mix flour, milk, egg, salt and sesame seeds together in a medium bowl. Cut up chicken into bite-size pieces. Drop chicken pieces into the mixture.

Heat oil in a deep-fry pan until medium-high heat. Deep fry coated chicken pieces until medium brown. Remove and drain on paper towels. Serve warm or cold.

Mary L. Gecha, Murrells Inlet

Caesar Salmon Fillets Serves 4

4 6-ounce salmon fillets ½ cup fat-free Caesar salad dressing 1 ⁄4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 garlic clove, minced

Cabbage Roll Casserole Serves 12

2 pounds ground beef, raw 1 large onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce, divided 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon dill weed ½ teaspoon rubbed sage 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄4 teaspoon black pepper 1 ⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cups cooked rice 1 medium head cabbage (about 2 pounds), shredded 4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded

Agnes M. Shear, Myrtle Beach

Send us recipes! We welcome recipes for all seasons: appetizers, salads, main courses, side dishes, desserts and beverages. Selected original recipes win a $10 Bi-Lo gift card.

About submitting recipes Entries must include your name, mailing address and

phone number. When writing recipes, please specify ingredient measurements. Instead of “one can” or “two packages,” specify “one 12-ounce can” or “two 8-ounce packages.” Note the number of servings or yield. Recipes are not tested.

Send recipes to South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, by e-mail to recipe@scliving.coop, or by fax to (803) 739‑3041.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

Katherine Putnam, Effingham

Citrus Eskimo Pie Serves 12

Ron Bailey/iStockphoto

© Nicole S. Young

Place salmon fillets in a large re­sealable plastic bag. Add the salad dressing. Seal the bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Drain and discard marinade. Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Place salmon skin down on grill rack. Grill, covered, on medium heat for 5 minutes. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce and garlic, brush over salmon. Grill 10–15 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting occasionally.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet, cook the beef, onions, and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, then drain. Stir in 1 can of tomato sauce and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in cooked rice and heat through. Remove from heat.

Layer a third of the cabbage into a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers, and top with remaining cabbage and bacon. Pour remaining can of tomato sauce over top. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Continue baking for 10 additional minutes, ­uncovered, or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

1 cup orange juice 1 10½-ounce package miniature marshmallows 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 pint whipping cream 1 prepared graham cracker crust in 8-by-8-inch pan 2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs

Pour orange juice in heavy, large pot. Add marshmallows and melt.

Add lemon juice. Cool.

Whip the cream, then fold into orange juice mixture. Pour over prepared graham cracker crust.

Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on top. (If doubling the recipe, a 9-by-13-inch baking dish can be used.) Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Franca Osowicz, Santee

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SCChef’sChoice

BY S. KIM HENSON

Elegantly shabby and, oh, so tasty Tucked in beneath the palms and overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the “elegantly shabby” Sea View Inn bedand-breakfast on Pawleys Island just might be the Grand Strand’s best-kept dining secret.

The inn’s 60-seat dining room features a lovely beachfront view and a menu of savory Lowcountry and southern favorites. And while most of the tables are reserved for staying guests, savvy foodies know that with a phone call and a little luck, they can book open seats, especially during the off-season periods of April, early May, late September and October.

Shorts and flip-flops are the dress code, say owners Brian and Sassy Henry. “For non-staying guests, we encourage them to come early and enjoy a rocking chair on the porch, so

Sea view Inn’s

Palmetto Macaroni and Cheese Serves 8

1 pound macaroni 1 tub regular or jalapeño Palmetto Cheese 1 ⁄4 cup butter or margarine 1 ⁄3 cup flour 2 cups milk Salt and pepper

32

Sea View Inn

Sassy and Brian Henry, the “big cheeses” at Sea View Inn, welcome diners to come early and enjoy the oceanfront view.

they can take in the view before their meal—and be on time to hear the dinner bell,” Brian says.

Once through the double screen doors, just follow your nose to the dining room, where you’ll mingle with staying guests like Eleanor Vallejos, a resident of San Diego who vacations here annually—in large part for the Southern cuisine. “Their fried chicken is my favorite,” she says. “I also love their crab divine, macaroni and cheese, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes . . . oh, and their creamy grits every morning.”

The Henrys purchased Sea View Inn in 2002 after Brian (a former Coca-Cola executive) and Sassy (a sous chef) grew tired of bustling Atlanta and relocated to Pawleys Island. They inherited a six-person staff that has

Cook macaroni in boiling water for approximately 12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Drain and set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir flour into the melted butter until combined. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add milk and stir until flour mixture has dissolved. Continue to stir until the mixture has thickened.

Once thickened, add 1 cup of Palmetto Cheese and remove from the heat. Stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. In a 9-by-13-inch pan, combine macaroni and the cheese sauce until mixed ­thoroughly. Spoon remaining Palmetto Cheese over the top. Bake at 350°F until bubbly, ­approximately 25 minutes.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

414 Myrtle Avenue Pawleys Island, SC 29585 (843) 237-4253 • seaviewinn.net Sea View Inn is open seven days a week from April to November. Reservations are required for non-staying guests. Breakfast ($12 per adult) is served at 8:30 a.m., lunch ($20 per adult) is served at 1:15 p.m. and supper ($20 per adult) is served at 6:15 p.m.

been preparing and serving meals there for more than 25 years, and the new owners weren’t about to mess with a good thing. The menu is updated seasonally, and the price includes the meal, all sides, dessert and non-alcoholic beverages. Guests are welcome to bring their own beer and wine if they like. “Folks who dine with us look forward to the best, most authentic Low Country and southern cooking they’ll ever eat,” Brian says.

One addition to the classic menu is the inn’s now-famous Palmetto Cheese.

It’s based on Sassy’s pimento cheese recipe, but it was Vertrella Brown, one of the inn’s veteran cooks, who added a secret blend of Lowcountry spices to give it an extra kick. Guests began asking how they could take the addictive appetizer home with them. Today the “pimento cheese with soul” is packaged and sold—with Vertrella’s picture on the label—in more than 1,000 stores in 10 southeastern states. Available in regular and jalapeno varieties, it’s also sold online at ­palmettocheese.com, which is how Vallejos gets her fix between visits.

“It’s the best I’ve ever eaten,” she says, and a reminder of “a truly special and unique place.”

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Calendar of Events Please call ahead before attending events. For entry guidelines, access SCliving.coop.

UPSTATE

MIDLANDS

17 • Oconee Bell Nature Walk, Devils Fork State Park, Salem. (864) 944-2639.

19 • Hike to Reservoir Three, Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville. (864) 244-5565.

19 • Spring Wildflowers Walk, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405.

19 • Fourth Annual KidsFest, Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center. (864) 898-2936.

26 • Animal Scats, Tracks and Other Signs, Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville. (864) 244-5565.

26 • 100 Year Reunion of the Olde Pendleton District, Southern Wesleyan University, Central. (864) 898-0840.

26 • Clemson Off-Road Triathlon, Issaqueena Forest, Central. (864) 506-4703.

26 • Firing on Fort Sumter: The Opening Ball, American Legion Hall, Spartanburg. (864) 599-1947.

26 • Little River Bridge 8K Run, 5K Run-Walk, Laurens. (864) 984-2119.

15 • Absolutely Incredible Kids Day, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

15 • SC Assistive Technology Expo, Columbia Conference Center, Columbia. (803) 772-9811.

17–19 • Patchwork Tales Storytelling Festival, York Technical College, Rock Hill. (803) 981-5840.

17 • 2011 James and Mary Oswald Distinguished Writers Series, Etherredge Center, USCAiken, Aiken. (803) 648-6851.

19 • Aiken Trials, Aiken Training Track, Aiken. (803) 648-4631.

19 • St. Pat’s in Five Points, Columbia. (803) 748-7373.

19 • Camden Kitchen Tour, Camden. (803) 425-7676.

19 • Woodford Hummingbird Festival, Woodford Community Center, North. (803) 568-3550.

19 • Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration, Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster. (803) 285-3344.

19 • Jazz Discovery Music Festival, Northwestern High School, Rock Hill. (803) 981-1225.

19–20 • Quilt Extravaganza, Patriot Hall, Sumter.

(803) 436-2260.

22 • Tales for Tots, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

24 • Taste of Lake Murray, Radisson Hotel Columbia and Conference Center, Columbia. (803) 781-5940.

25–27 • Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic, State Fairgrounds, Columbia. (803) 734-4008.

26 • Yellow Jasmine Festival, Riverview Park, North Augusta. (803) 441-4300.

26 • Aiken Spring Steeplechase, Ford Conger Field, Aiken. (803) 648-9641.

26 • Children’s Day on the Farm, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. (803) 684-2327.

26 • Celebrating Children with Disabilities Conference, Brookland Baptist Church, Cayce. (803) 400-1133.

26 • Kangaroo Crossing, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

26 • 12th Annual Spring Herb Fest, Little Red Barn Gallery, Barnwell. (803) 541-7900.

26 • Spring Valley Open Car and Truck Show, Spring Valley High School, Columbia. (803) 240-1364.

MARCH

APRIL

2–3 • Historic Pendleton Spring Jubilee, The Village Green, Pendleton.

(864) 646-3782.

2 • Peace Power Run, Pendleton. (864) 634-4205.

9 • Music on the Mountain, Table Rock State Park, Pickens. (864) 878-9813.

9-10 • Shubert Alley in the Valley, Sautee Nacoochee Center, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-3300.

15–16 • Pickens Azalea Festival, Pickens. (864) 878-3258.

ONGOING

Wednesdays in February and March • Storytelling in the Garden, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405.

Wednesdays until May 4 • Garden Naturalist Program Series, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405.

Thursdays until May 5 • Young Naturalists Program Series, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405.

36

MARCH

APRIL

1 • Arts and Draughts, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810.

1 • Polo Asado and Tango, Powderhouse Polo Field, Aiken. (803) 641-1111.

1–2 • Dogwood Festival, Denmark. (803) 793-3734.

1–3 • 95th Annual Aiken Horse Show, Hitchcock Woods, Aiken. (803) 270-7331.

2 • Tartan Fest, SC State Museum, Columbia.

(803) 898-4952.

2 • Pacers and Polo, Powderhouse Polo Field, Aiken. (803) 641-3486.

2 • Carolina First Carolina Cup, Springdale Race Course, Camden. (803) 432-6513.

2 • Children’s Book Day, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

2–3 • Columbia International Festival, State Fairgrounds, Columbia. (803) 799-3452.

4–10 • LEGO Factory, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

4–14 • Tables, Lewandowski Student Gallery, Winthrop University, Rock Hill.

(803) 323-2493.

7–16 • Come-See-Me Festival, Rock Hill. (800) 681-7635.

9 • Farmville, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

9–10 • Armies Through Time Military Time Line, Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841.

10 • Salkehatchie Stew: Living, Loving and Dying, Dance Theater, Denmark.

(803) 584-3446, ext. 188.

11–23 • Spring Planting & Easter Egg Hunt, Williams Muscadine Vineyard and Farm, Nesmith. (803) 397-1859.

11–May 6 • MFA Thesis Exhibition, Patrick Gallery, Winthrop University, Rock Hill. (803) 323-2493.

12 • Family Night at EdVenture, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

13–17 • Indie Grits Film Festival, Nickelodeon Theatre, Columbia. (803) 254-8234.

14–16 • A(ugusta) Baker’s Dozen—Celebration of Stories, Richland County Public Library, Columbia. (803) 929-3472.

15 • Wine Tasting, Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

15–16 • Vietnam Era Veterans Homecoming, Columbia. (803) 708-4752.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

15–17 • Olde Towne Artisans Fair, Colonial Times, North Augusta. (803) 279-7560.

ONGOING

Daily until March 20 • Make Your Move! Strategic Play Through the Centuries, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

Daily until April 3 • Nano Days, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

Daily until May 8 • Attack of the Bloodsuckers!

EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

Daily until July 11 • Conservation Quest, Museum of York County, Rock Hill. (803) 329-2121.

Saturdays in March • Mission to Mars and Journey into the Living Cell, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654.

Tuesdays in March and April • Toddler Tuesdays, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

Saturdays in April • Worlds in Motion, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654.

Thursdays • Sumter @ Six Outdoor Concert Series, Brody Pavilion, Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Fridays at the Terrace Concert Series, downtown Sumter.

(803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Big Screen Fridays at the House, Sumter Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Main Street Marketplace, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005.

LOWCOUNTRY MARCH

12–20 • Canadian-American Days Festival, Myrtle Beach. (843) 626-7444.

16–20 • Charleston Film Festival, The Terrace Theater, Charleston. (843) 762-4247.

17–April 16 • Festival of Houses and Gardens, Charleston. (843) 722-3405.

18–20 • Charleston International Antiques Show, Captain James Missroon House, Charleston. (843) 723-1623.

19 • Spring Swing / Big Band Fest, La Belle Amie Vineyard, Little River. (843) 399-9463.

19 • Fourth Annual Taste of the Coast, Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach. (843) 997-4162.

19 • Beaufort Twilight Run and Oyster Roast, Habersham Marketplace, Beaufort. (843) 379-0319.

19 • Tea at the Creek, Metro North Church, Goose Creek. (843) 797-0301.

19 • Wingfest, Shelter Cove Park, Hilton Head Island. (843) 681-7273.

19 & 26 • Crazy Over Crabs, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

22–26 • Charleston Fashion Week, Marion Square, Charleston. (843) 971-9811.

25–26 • Plantation Tours of Prince George Winyah Parish, Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church, Georgetown. (843) 545-8291.

25–26 •Art Sculpture Welding Rodeo, FlorenceDarlington Technical College, Florence. (843) 661-8003.

25–27 • The Battle of Charleston, Legare Farms, Johns Island. (843) 559-0788.

25–27 • RenoFest Bluegrass Music Festival, Center Theater, Hartsville. (843) 332-1600.

26 • Isle of Palms Half Rubber Tournament, Recreation Department, Isle of Palms. (843) 886-6428.

26 • Lowcountry Walk to Defeat ALS, Riverfront Park, Charleston. (843) 971-0933.

28 • Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 842-2787.

28 • Youth ArtsFest, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 842-2787.

APRIL

1 • Summerville Community Orchestra First Federal Subscription Series: The Planets, Summerville Baptist Church, Summerville.

(843) 873-5339.

1–2 • Smoke at the Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Summerville. (843) 851-2470.

1–3 • Cheraw Spring Festival, Cheraw. (843) 537-8420.

1–3 • Summerville Family YMCA Flowertown Festival, Azalea Park, Summerville.

(843) 871-9622.

2 • Cooper River Bridge Run, Charleston. (843) 792-0345.

2 • Park Palooza! Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

2 • Garrison Weekend, Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, Summerville. (843) 873-1740.

2 • Car Show-N-Swap Meet, Pee Dee State Farmers Market, Florence. (843) 665-5154.

2 • Spring Planting Event, L.W. Paul Living History Farm, Conway. (843) 365-3596.

2 • 3rd Annual Rekindle Society Antique Fire Truck Parade and Muster, Cheraw High School, Cheraw. (864) 809-9498.

2–10 • Family Circle Cup, Family Circle Tennis Center, Daniel Island. (843) 856-7900.

2–15 • Plantation Days, Middleton Place, Charleston.

(843) 556-6020.

3 • Lowcountry Cajun Festival, James Island County Park, Charleston. (843) 795-4386.

8–9 • Spring Tour of Homes, Beaufort. (843) 522-1712.

8–10 • World Grits Festival, St. George. (843) 563-7943.

9 • Arts International, Francis Marion University, Florence. (843) 661-1225.

9 • Process of Discovery, Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site, Summerville.

(843) 873-1740.

9 • Founders Day, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4200.

9 • Ring Around the Campfire, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

9 • Charleston Air Expo, Joint Base Charleston Air Base, Charleston. (843) 963-3816.

9 • Fun Sun Run, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-3762.

9–10 • Pet Fest, Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, Charleston.

(843) 795-4386.

11 • Hootie and the Blowfish Monday After the Masters, The Dye Club at Barefoot Resort and Golf, North Myrtle Beach. (843) 272-3000.

14–16 • South Carolina BBQ-Shag Festival, Hemingway. (843) 344-2527.

15–16 • The Garden Club of Charleston’s House and Garden Tour, Charleston. (843) 530-5164.

15–17 • East Coast Canoe and Kayak Festival, James Island County Park, Charleston. (843) 795-4386.

ONGOING

Saturdays–Tuesdays • Mansion Tours, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville. (843) 546-9361.

Second Saturdays • Local League of Artisans Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Yesterday’s, Hartsville. (843) 498-6576.

Tuesdays until March 29 • What Dwells in a Shell?, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Thursdays until March 31 • Backyard Bird ID, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

The perils of pampered poultry Dashing through the grocery story

in paint-splattered sweatpants, no makeup and a hairstyle Einstein made famous, I’d been deployed on an urgent mission to capture some breakfast rations and return home without scaring anyone.

I had a dozen eggs ready to ­surrender when an itsy-bitsy woman pushing a cart full of carrots commanded me to put them back. “You’re guilty of cruelty to chickens,” she said, wagging a bony finger at my nose.

Then she marched off, leaving me in a cloud of newfound shame.

Until that moment, I wasn’t giving eggs—or their mothers—much thought. You just find the cheap ones, check for cracks and claim your carton. An egg’s an egg . . . or at least it used to be.

Back in high school, I worked at a roadside farmstand owned by Attila the Hun’s sister. When customers were scarce and the tomatoes had been rearranged six times, she’d put me in charge of egg hygiene. I was raking in $1.67 an hour, so Ms. Hun wanted her money’s worth. That meant sorting through 600 eggs—armed only with sandpaper—to scrape off the brown spots left by sloppy layers. (Try not to think too much about that.)

Today’s omelet lover has a lot more than speckled shells to brood over. Eggs are no longer a simple matter of brown or white, medium or large. Socially conscious eaters must research the egg layer’s lodging, diet, emotional welfare and political views.

Was your breakfast’s biological mother a free-roaming vegetarian or a sweatcoop prisoner denied her daily dust bath and right to flap?

Once again, strangers are determined to raise my consciousness against my will. I’ve already given up 38

steak, veal, burgers and eating anything “with a face” in front of my vegan daughter, who probably paid Carrot Lady to ambush me at the market. Now, I’m forced to devote any brain cells that aren’t busy storing computer passwords to chicken welfare.

Rather than worry, my friend Kim decided to raise her own hens so she could pamper them properly. Believe me, any animal in Kim’s care thinks it died and went to Club Med. Her flock dines on a 24-hour organic buffet with unlimited fresh grubs (that’s prime rib to poultry). No cages—just spacious digs with heat, air and premium cable.

You’d think the little peckers would show some gratitude by leaving an egg or two in their nests, but instead, they become fighter pilots. That’s one of the perils of raising free-range birds.

Some chickens prefer to release their cargo from a high perch under the porch rafters about 9 feet up, so the eggs arrive pre-scrambled.

Another surprise: Chickens aren’t always in a good mood, no matter how you treat them. They may scream, growl or resort to cannibalism. And

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | March 2011 | scliving.coop

that’s before they hit menopause and get really testy.

But Kim won’t give up, even though every usable egg is running her about $67, not including bandages for the peck wounds covering both her arms. That’s how those feathered tyrants thank her.

If those were my chickens, they’d be at KFC before you could say “extra crispy.” Maybe a nice side of coleslaw would improve their manners.

They make it with carrots, you know. is a writer and illustrator from Horry County who still suffers occasional nightmares about giant chickens chasing her with belt sanders.

Send your comments to HumorMe@ SCLiving.coop (as in co-op, not chicken houses).

Jan A. Igoe

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