Our Cancer and Infusion Services provide excellent outcomes through preventative strategies, molecular profiling, genetic, genomic, and germline testing, and the promising potential of immunotherapy. At AdventHealth Polk, we treat the body, mind, and spirit to help you feel whole again.
AdventHealth.com/Polk 828-894-0111
Mark Levin, Writer and Photographer
Mark is retired from a career in education, both in and outside of the classroom. He enjoys traveling in his campervan and finding stories about the people and places encountered along the way. You can follow his blog at FoothillsFaces.com as well as at youtube.com/ TheCountryLifeWithColumbusMark.
List, Writer and Photographer
Linda List’s career was spent in the food industry, often surrounded by chocolate and candy. Retirement and the Tryon Daily Bulletin have provided the opportunity for her to share her writing. Growing up in New York on the Canadian border, she lived most of her adult life at the foot of the Rockies in Golden, Colo. And is now enjoying life in Landrum the foot of the Smokies.
Clay Johnson, Writer and Photographer
Clay is an award-winning documentary producer and writer as well as a contributing producer for PBS NC’s “North Carolina Weekend” show. He also produces educational videos and writes magazine and newspaper articles. Johnson and his wife Debra moved to Tryon in June 2021 and enjoy exploring the outdoors. He can be reached at cj@ clayjohnsonproductions.com.
Emily Williams is a recent graduate of North Greenville University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing while working as a substitute teacher. In her free time, Emily loves to explore Western North Carolina, try out new coffee shops, and write fiction and nonfiction alike.
Storme Smith is a writer who lives in the Foothills of North Carolina. He is the co-founder and publisher of Buno Books, and has a passion for the arts. He also enjoys writing about the history, sports and unique people and places of our area.
Pebbles is the “spokespony” for HERD, or Helping Equines Regain Dignity, a local nonprofit that saves equines from dire conditions and in many cases slaughter. She dictates her monthly columns about her adventures, and what a rescue organization does, to Heather Freeman. Pebbles and Heather can be reached through HerdRescue.org
Jeff Allison Publisher
(Story on page 26)
Story by Ellen Henderson
February has arrived! As we celebrate the month of love, we recognize a few local highlights of the place we call home in this edition of Life in Our Foothills.
This month, we learn about Thompson Family Farms in Campobello and how they plant thousands of tulips on this U-Pick farm. We’ll also visit with well-known local Harold Stott—the owner of Stott’s Ford in downtown Tryon—who is far more connected to NASCAR life than many might know. Stott spent years working on a NASCAR pit crew, earning honors and making dear friends along the way.
Also, we meet with the Landrum Quilters and some of its members as they prepare for the upcoming Landrum Quilt Show. This group has promoted the art of quilting in the area for 45 years! Additionally, we catch up with the folks behind Saluda Community Land Trust as they work to “keep Saluda green.”
And, of course, we’ll hear from our resident spokespony, Pebbles, as she shares the stories of unconditional love at the HERD ranch.
You’ll find all of this and more in this month’s edition! We hope you enjoy what we’ve put together for you this month, and as I do each month, I encourage readers to reach out and help us share your story. Email me at jeff.allison@tryondailybulletin.com with any thoughts or ideas for upcoming issues. As always, thanks for reading
Jeff Allison Editor
Publisher and General Manager
Jeff Allison
Graphic Design
Jagdish Jadhav
Marketing
Lynn Cromer
Distribution
Jamie Lewis
Alex Greene
Administration
Stacey Tully
Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia LLC. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Please address all correspondence (including, but not limited to, letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to Manager, Life in Our Foothills, 16. N. Trade St., Tryon, NC 28782, or email to jeff.allison@ tryondailybulletin.com. Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and Upstate South Carolina, and online at www.tryondailybulletin.com. Subscriptions are available for $30 per year by calling 828-859-9151. To advertise, call 828-859-9151.
All Members Exhibit: Before & After Through March 1
Tryon Painters and Sculptors
78 N. Trade St., Tryon Tryonpaintersandsculptors.com
Showcase of Excellence 2025
Feb. 1, 10:30am
JP Gallery at Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon Tryonarts.org
Columbus Winter Market
Feb. 1 & 15, 10am – 1pm Iron Key Brewing 135 Locust St., Columbus
Yoga @ Your Library
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 at 6pm Landrum Library 111 Asbury Dr., Landrum
Feed the Foothills Food Drive/Music Festival
Feb. 8, 4-8pm Landrum Farmer’s Market CarolinaFoothillsChamber.com for tickets
Second Saturdays in Downtown Tryon
Feb. 8, 11am - 5pm Shops and restaurants downtown Exploretryon.com
Bingo to the Rescue
Feb. 13, 5pm Landrum Depot 864-457-3694
Chamber Business After Hours at Steps to Hope
60 Ward St., Columbus
Feb. 20, 5:30pm CarolinaFoothillsChamber.com
Copper & Bronze Door Knobs Welding Workshop
With Joe Cooper
Feb. 21-22
Tryon Arts & Crafts School Tryonartsandcrafts.org
Chimney Rock State Park Wildlife Program for Kids: Marvelous Mammals
Feb. 25, 4pm
Polk County Public Library 1289 W. Mills St., Columbus polklibrary.org
FEB. 28
Drawing Marathon VI Through Feb. 28
Weds. - Sun. 12-5pm 49 S. Trade St., Tryon UpstairsArtspace.org
FEB. 7
John Brown’s “Little” Big Band featuring Shana Tucker
Feb. 7, 7:30pm Tryon Fine Arts Center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon Tryonarts.org
FEB. 10
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center “Spanish Journey”
Feb. 10, 7:30pm Tryonconcerts.org
Tryon Little Theater presents Gypsy A Musical Fable Feb. 28, 7:30pm tltinfo.org
4th Fridays in Downtown Tryon Feb. 28, 4-7pm Downtown Tryon shops & galleries
Compiled and Photographed by Mark Levin
Each month, you’ll be introduced to something in our area that’s worth some exploration. Some of these will be familiar, but perhaps you’ve never been or haven’t been in years. And others might be things you have never heard of or thought to visit. All of these will be family-friendly and either free or inexpensive. Get out there!
The Bell Park kiosk serves as the starting point. It includes background info on Frank (Chief) and Calla Bell, the park's namesakes.
Bell Park opened in November 2024, and hikers are already enjoying this new addition to our area. Built along the slopes of the Green River Gorge, it’s suitable for families. Leashed dogs are also welcome to explore. There are approximately 1.8 miles of trails. Start at the information kiosk and follow the path to trail junction. At the junction, you can go left on a one-third of a mile in-and-out trail that leads to an observation deck. This short trail (blue markers) does involve some stairs to the overlooks where you can gaze out toward the US 176 bridges (the new and the old one). There’s an impressive cascading waterfall at the observation platforms and the Green River is below.
From the trail junction to the observation deck, you can also continue along the nature trail (red markers) that runs as a loop (with a couple of options for smaller loops), totaling about 1.5 miles.
All the trails are of moderate difficulty, with a total elevation gain of approximately 272 feet.
The beginning of the trail is wide and relatively flat. The nature trail section is where most of the elevation gain is to be found.
Bell Park is a Henderson County Park in partnership with Conserving Carolina. Bell Park was named in honor of summer camp pioneers Frank and Calla Bell and continues their legacy by creating a new place for people to connect with nature.
Bell Park is off US 176, just west of Saluda. As you’re heading toward Hendersonville from Saluda, the park is on the right side of the road before you get to the Green River Bridge. There are a few parking spots at the park entrance, but it’s better to park across the road at the parking area on the Polk County side of the old historic Green River Bridge. That makes leaving safer as the Bell Park parking area is right in a curve, making it hard to see vehicles coming from the left. Either way, watch and listen carefully for traffic so you can get to enjoy that hike.
Story by Linda List
Photography by Linda List and courtesy of Thompson Family Farms
Imagine planting 4,000 tulip bulbs by hand only to have the neighboring deer ravish 80% of the blooms. Would you cry and proclaim never again to plant tulips?
Josh Thompson from Thompson Family Farms vowed to continue with his plan.
“I had learned my lesson,” he smiles. “I installed an electric deer fence to thwart my trespassing, four-legged, hungry neighbors.”
Looking down from a helicopter flight, he discovered a plot of 20 acres that he could rent. In his second year, a garden of 30,000 tulips bloomed, and he opened his U-Pick farm. This year, in early March, his crop of 120,000 tulips will be ready for picking.
It's been a family endeavor involving his children, nieces and nephews, all under the age of ten, his wife, his sister and her husband, grandparents, and his parents. He laughs, “I think I tired everyone out. As the number reached 120,000 bulbs, my family members were wary. My Dad and I managed the planting using a bulb planter.”
Josh had a dream. He graduated from the University of Florida with an agricultural science degree. He wants to share his knowledge of how things grow. After moving his family to South Carolina, his vision of developing a U-Pick tulip farm became a reality. But he only had an acre of land, and he knew he would need more for all the tulips he wanted to grow.
Tulip bulbs are fussy. They need a dormancy of 15 to 17 weeks in cold temperatures below 45 degrees but above freezing. Here in the South, that means planting time begins in early December. They will only bloom once in this climate. Visiting the Biltmore in early spring, the tulip fields will be in full bloom. But once the season is over, the tulips are all pulled and destroyed. New bulbs will take over the next year. Tulips are a short-term crop.
“Our season is two to three weeks based on when the tulips bloom. Even with a range of varieties, we have not found a way to extend the season beyond that,” Josh says. “There is only one bloom per bulb. They like full sun. When grown in the shade, it results in a very long stem.”
He goes on to explain that the tulips leaf out and bud in February.
“Bright red tulips are the first to bloom in March, resembling a red parade in the fields. It's really a sight to see,” he continues. “Baskets and scissors for use while you are here are available, but you are welcome to bring your own cutting and gathering materials. Unfortunately, pets are not permitted due to liability and safety issues. Some families bring their own strollers or wagons to the farm. Keep in mind that the farm is located on a sloping hill and has dirt and rocks, so bumps are inevitable. Bees are buzzing at the farm, checking out the tulips, both pollinating the crops as well as producing an abundance of honey. There are picnic tables
to enjoy a meal or a snack and non-alcoholic beverages while basking in the colorful view.”
When cold temperatures and dark clouds of January and February can be wearisome, seeing tulips on display in the grocery store or flower shops brightens spirits and announces that spring is on its way. Living in our mountains can be frosty. A vase of tulips on the table contrasting with the snow glimmering outside, covering trees and gardens, offers a festive atmosphere at the end of a long winter.
Fresh tulips picked in early spring from the garden will last ten or more days if they are picked in the bud stage and with the cut angled on the stem. Any foliage below the water line should be removed, and the water in the container
should be kept clean. The flowers should also be kept out of direct sunlight.
Digging into tulip history, the flowers are native to Central Asia, near the Russian-Chinese border. Turks were cultivating tulips as early as 1000 AD. The name "tulip" is likely derived from the Turkish word for turban due to the flower's resemblance to the headwear.
Later, they were introduced to Western Europe, particularly the Netherlands, where they became in extreme demand and resulted in the famous "Tulip Mania” of 1634-1637, which caused rare tulip bulbs to cost more than six times the average person's annual salary. Tulip bulbs now originate in Holland.
“There are over 1,000 species of tulips with names like Apricot parrot, Cerise, Orange
Princess, and Canary,” Josh explains. “They can be grown in practically any color, from white to purples, but tulips aren't available in blue. Despite breeders' best efforts, 'blue' tulips are usually more purple or lilac.”
He informed me that Thompson Family Farms tries to plant the ones that do best in our area.
“Tulips require a certain number of chilling hours to bloom and the varieties range on how many hours they need, so we plant bulbs with a lower chilling hour requirement due to our mild winters,” he says. “We have them prechilled in a cooler to ensure they get enough hours. Some of our several unique varieties are variegated or have multiple colors. I'm experimenting with different varieties and
hoping to take pre-orders for bulbs. They would arrive in the fall for December planting.”
Josh is now dreaming bigger.
“I want to expand my U-Pick program. Maybe gladiolas would be interesting,” he adds. “They're an unusual flower and not seen often. Zinnias and asters could be a possibility. We enjoy growing beautiful things at the farm, but we recognize that all of these gifts are from our Heavenly Father. What we grow is temporal, but God’s Word and his work last forever.”
Thompson Family Farms is located in Campobello on Highway 11 between Campobello and Gowensville. Check thompsonupick.com for dates, times, directions, entry, and tulip fees.
Harold Stott
Story by Emily Williams
Photographs by Emily Williams and courtesy of Robbie Stott
Anyone who lives in Western North Carolina knows about NASCAR. The sport is arguably part of the heartbeat of this region—a pastime many Carolinians have been raised to appreciate and view with unwavering dedication every time a race airs on screen. Racing lovers from the area regularly flock to nearby Mooresville, North Carolina, also known as Race City, USA. There, NASCAR lovers come to learn about the history of racing, watch live races, and even embark on a career in the racing industry.
Well-known Tryon local Harold Stott—the owner of Stott’s Ford in downtown
Tryon—is far more connected to NASCAR life than many might know. Stott spent years working on a NASCAR pit crew, earning honors and making dear friends along the way.
The NASCAR spirit has run in Harold Stott’s blood since he was a young boy. “I’ve always been an idiot for cars,” he proudly admits as he recalls his early days when he first got behind the wheel. As soon as his feet could reach the pedals of a car, Stott began drag racing. He did so locally for several years until an opportunity arose for him in the big leagues—although not behind the wheel.
In 1976, NASCAR car owner Bud Moore invited Stott to be a
part of his team’s pit crew. Stott knew he could not pass up such an incredible opportunity. Five years after making the decision to travel down this career path, Stott had saved enough money to be able to open his dealership in 1981. His regular travels for NASCAR were not an issue for the growth of his new business, though.
“I had two brothers working along with me, so I could leave and not have to worry about it,” he shares.
Stott worked on the motors of Moore’s cars, making sure they were properly tuned and capable of taking the driver the five hundred miles to victory. “I enjoyed every minute of [the
job]. I got to travel the whole world. We went to Mexico, Canada, and even Japan,” Stott reminisces.
He also enjoyed every minute of making friends along his NASCAR journey. Early on in his time with Bud Moore, Stott met Bobby Allison, one of Moore’s drivers.
“Bobby Allison and I talked and, just like that, became buddies. He’d fly us out to Alabama on Friday nights to run dirt racing, then we’d fly back on racing day to do the job Saturday night and Sunday,” he recalls. “Bobby was probably the best race car driver I ever worked for. You couldn’t trick Bobby.”
Stott shares that Allison was so sharp and knew his car so well that he could even tell when the crew had
changed a shock absorber. Stott always admired Allison for the friend he was and for the great driver he always proved to be, winning the Daytona 500 multiple times and taking trophies home for various national and international races.
Stott was proud to work with Allison and just as proud to work with his fellow pit crew members. “All of us crew members got along together,” he states. “Our team stuck together like glue.” Stott’s team was surely one to beat; their camaraderie and teamwork led them to win awards for being the top pit crew nine years in a row. In 1991, his team even won the coveted title of Pit Crew Champions for breaking the world record for the fastest pit crew performance.
Stott worked for Bud
Moore twenty-two years before Moore retired due to illness, which resulted in Stott taking a job with Travis Carter’s team. He worked for Carter for six years before Stott himself decided it was time to close the door to this chapter of his life. After qualifiers for a race in Atlanta, Stott told Carter he was going home.
“I hated to give it up, but I was getting too old to do it,” he shares.
Since ending his days with NASCAR, Stott has continued building his legacy at home. His dealership business is booming, with plans to expand to other locations in the surrounding region. His dealership has also become a family affair. Stott has trained and mentored his son and grandson to take on the positions of president and vice president of his company.
After leaving NASCAR, Stott has also taken the time to continue to build upon relationships formed during his pit crew days, as well as to commemorate those who have passed away. He still regularly talks to Travis Carter over the phone and meets with his pit crew friends who are still living. Before the passing of Bud Moore in 2017, Stott would visit Moore weekly.
“I started going every Thursday,” Stott states, “and this went on for about six weeks. The last time I was there, I could tell Bud was going down. He said, ‘When you come next week, I'm going to take you down and show you my cow herd.’ I said, ‘Okay,’ but I knew then he wasn’t going to do it. He was on his deathbed, and he died that weekend.”
Stott still holds memories of Moore, as well as those of his other racing friends who
have since passed, near and dear to his heart.
Though the awards and honors Mr. Stott won while in NASCAR earned him the title of “champion” in the racing industry, and the success of his dealerships have labeled him as a champion of business, they are not the components of his story that make him a champion in life. Of course, these successes are worthy of accolades and make up many valuable years of his life. However, the most prominent memories Harold Stott holds most dearly after all the years he has spent on earth are not of the moments he won awards or met milestones in his career; what he deems the most cherished experiences of his eighty-six years are with the family he has raised and the close friends he has made.
In the words of the angel
Clarence from the film It’s a Wonderful Life, “Remember no man is a failure who has friends.” More than anything else that he has worked toward in life, Mr. Stott has worked to be a loving husband and father, as well as a man who still cares for his friends even after they are gone. He has not failed in living a life that has positively impacted those close to him, and that is how Harold Stott has truly lived the life of a champion.
Story by Ellen Henderson
In 1980, a small group of women officially formed the Landrum Quilters after learning to quilt together at the Landrum Library. Librarian Ruth Farrar brought the group together and found Georgia Bonesteel to teach them.
Now, 45 years later, the club, with some 98 members, promotes its love of quilting through a biennial quilt show—set for March 13 through March 15 this year—and the Airing of the Quilts, an outdoor quilt celebration held on alternate years.
The club’s contributions to the community and philanthropy in the area are widespread, and in 2020, the Landrum Quilters received the Governor’s Group Volunteer Award for the State of South Carolina.
For years, children and their
siblings at the Ronald McDonald House in Greenville have received quilts labeled “Made With Love by the Landrum Quilters.” When the Smith-Phayer Hospice House opened in Landrum in 2009, quilts from the club arrived monthly as gifts to the patients. That relationship has continued, and there has been a longtime monthly commitment to provide household items and other needs for those at Steps to Hope in Columbus, NC.
Although no official count is available, club members have easily made and donated more than 3,000 philanthropy quilts over the years.
In 2012, a club team worked with the City of Landrum to secure a Polk County Community Foundation grant to develop the Foothills Quilt Trail. Now, visitors enjoy seeing some 50 blocks painted with quilt patterns
installed on Landrum businesses and other locations nearby.
The traditional quilt designs painted on the side doors of the recently built Cunningham Farmers Market Pavilion further demonstrate the importance of quilting in the Landrum community.
The Landrum Quilters meet monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at the Gowensville Community Center and hold a quilting bee on the first Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the same location. Visitors are always welcome.
To see the Landrum Quilters featured on one of Georgia Bonesteel’s quilting shows on YouTube, Google “Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel - Here’s the church, Here’s the steeple.”
For more information, visit landrumquilters.com and foothillsquilttrail.com
The 2025 Landrum Quilt Show, March 13-15, will feature over 150 quilts representing all genres.
Taking place at the Cunningham Market Pavilion in Landrum, the show will also include seven vendors, a silent auction, sale of quilt books and magazines, a boutique with handmade items, a raffle quilt, and drawings for baskets of quiltrelated items.
Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite entries in a number of categories.
Show hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $6.
Vendor booths offer a variety of products that are attractive to quilters.
Say the name “Georgia” to a certain generation of quilters, and no last name is needed.
Georgia—last name Bonesteel— introduced them to quilting and inspired them in 1980 when the PBS Series “Lap Quilting with Georgia” began. Amazingly, most of her early lessons are still accessible on YouTube by Googling the show's name.
Women aren’t the only ones familiar with her name. When she introduced herself to a fellow airline passenger years ago, he said, “Oh! You are the reason my wife doesn’t cook anymore.”
A quilting teacher for more than 40 years now, her acclaims are many: president of the International Association of Quilters, induction into the Quilters Hall of Fame, author of
12 books, co-producer with son Paul of the documentary “The Great Quilting Revival” and subject of a four-part video series as the 2015 Quilting Legend, named by quiltersshow.com.
As if that’s not enough, she is also the co-founder of the Landrum Quilters and the Western North Carolina Quilt Guild in Hendersonville, NC.
Teaching is still her passion, and this year, she looks forward to her August 3-9 class at the prestigious John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. Reluctantly, in 2024, she decided to end some 30plus years of co-teaching and creating new designs for a week-long quilting retreat at Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Bozeman, Mt.
Now, in semi-retirement at her long-time home in Flat Rock, Georgia has two big projects on her drawing board and has started a weekly commitment that takes her back to her roots and love of fabric.
The first goal is to establish a quilt museum in Hendersonville, an idea encouraged by her late
This first self-published book, sold through her PBS show, was the first introduction to quilting for many.
son-in-law, Bill Smith. Many ideas swirl in her head as she conceptualizes a place that encourages education and creativity for quilting and the arts, along with plenty of classroom and meeting space.
She also wants to design a quilting fabric line that celebrates the heritage of Western North Carolina and have it carried exclusively by Beginnings Quilt Shop in Hendersonville. She was first introduced to the concept of fabrics incorporating local landmarks at Three Forks Quilt Shop in Montana.
“I envision apple trees, the mountains, the French Broad River and more,” she said, explaining that she is excited to work with a local artist to create batik designs for Hoffman Fabrics.
Meanwhile, on Saturdays, as she processes her thoughts,
Georgia is surrounded by fabric and customers at Beginnings. For several years, she has held a monthly “Tea Time with Georgia” at the shop, where local quilters come to show their latest projects and provide feedback as she develops new designs.
Now on Saturdays she is enjoying the weekly interaction with owners Kathy Neal and Todd Simmons and the satisfaction of working with fellow quilters. Some of them appear star-struck when they realize that Georgia Bonesteel is helping them.
When she’s at home, she is found in her studio almost every day doing what a quilter does—pondering the next design and fabric choice, then actually sewing the various pieces together.
For more information, visit georgiabonesteel.com.
page in one of her early books features two projects completed by the
for one of her television shows.
Look around Carol Galaski’s home in The Cliffs and your eyes will land on quilts—lots of quilts—everywhere.
Quilts hang along one hallway wall. Some are displayed in a glassfront cabinet, with others stacked neatly on top. Every bed has a beautiful quilt, and her sewing room displays even more quilts, with new projects filling storage boxes.
Carol’s specialty is appliqué, which she compares to putting a puzzle together. However, she quickly points out that she hates jigsaw puzzles.
“It takes too long to see a picture emerge working that type of puzzle,” she said. “With small pieces of fabric, you can quickly see a design emerge, and if you don’t like the pattern or the fabric choice, it’s easy to change.”
The verb appliqué means to decorate a garment or large piece of cloth with pieces of fabric to form pictures or patterns.
Imagine cutting out and handsewing the hundreds of pieces
required for just one quilt top. Multiply that by most of the 45 quilts in her own collection to understand how remarkable and time-consuming Carol’s favorite part of quilting is.
While contemporary patterns are found in her collection, vintage patterns attract more of her attention, as do the muted colors and patterns found in Civil War reproduction fabrics.
Her collection of books that inspire projects include Quilts from the Henry Ford Museum and The Baltimore Album of Roses by Rita Verroca, a world-renowned hand quilter and master of hand appliqué. Carol credits much of her productivity to the techniques she learned in a class with Verroca. Like her teacher, Carol often combines different embroidery styles with appliqué to create fresh designs.
Carol’s creation entitled “Crown & Feathers” is based on an 1835 pattern.
Her quilting seems to have fallen into a seasonal rhythm— working on the quilt top design and hand-appliquéing the pieces in the summer. Then, when the weather turns cooler, it’s time to start the labor-intensive task that Carol finds enjoyable—hand quilting together the three layers: top, batting and back.
A member of the Landrum Quilters since relocating from Virginia three years ago, Carol is known as the club’s Queen Bee.
As such, she is responsible for coordinating planned quilting activities at the Fourth Monday Bee at the Gowensville Community Center. She is also one of the chairs for the 2025 Landrum Quilt Show set for March. Starting in March, she will
lead a workshop for the club members to make blocks for the raffle quilt to be featured at the 2027 Landrum Quilt Show. No appliqués are planned at this point in the design, but with Carol in charge, appliqués are sure to show up.
If you are a resident of Polk County or Rutherford County, your tuition could be free with the Powers Promise!
Teenager Baylee Crawford of Travelers
Rest is by far the youngest member of the Landrum Quilters.
She is also an interesting enigma. While her specialty is traditional hand quilting, her techniques for teaching rely on technology. Videos, Zoom calls and social media are the tools she uses as effectively as her thimble, needle and thread.
She attributes her love of sewing to the Wednesdays she spent weekly in Greenville with her grandmother, starting at age 10. With instruction from Noma (Sandy Crawford), she first learned to sew clothes for her American Girl dolls. Then, a couple of
years later, she made animal dolls, which she sold at a local store. Together with Noma, Baylee made her first hand-quilted piece, which featured chickens.
Next came making and selling small hand-quilted pieces, such as coasters, at area craft shows, and two years ago, she was a vendor at the Landrum Quilt Show.
At 15, when she felt sufficiently proficient, she began teaching hand quilting. With help from her older brother Charles, she created a website and started an online business, Little Barn Quilter. On her website, Baylee offers The Quilting Academy, where students learn to make a quilt from start to finish
using videos she developed. More than 300 have logged on to watch these videos, and her live Zoom classes have attracted quilters from across the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Her other professional services include hand quilting for others and quilt repairs.
While Baylee often develops her own patterns, charting them out on graph paper, she also loves to repair old quilts. Working from her collection of vintage fabrics, sourced from thrift stores or gifted by other Landrum Quilters, she is able to carefully restore both treasured family quilts
and orphan quilts she acquires periodically.
Recognition of her expertise in quilting came this year when her original hand-quilted design, “Walking After Midnight,” was among only 417 accepted for Quilt Con, an annual juried show of The Modern Quilt Guild. More than 2,300 quilters from around the world applied to have their work accepted.
As a homeschooled student, Baylee received high school credits in home economics and in business for her success with Little Barn Quilter.
Now a high school graduate with two
part-time jobs occupying so much of her days, she is at a crossroads. For now she foresees spending less time with the business so that she can continue doing what she loves: hand-quilting the old fashioned way as people have done for generations. For more information visit littlebarnquilter.com.
Story by Clay Johnson, photos submitted by SCLT
When Gerard Prendergast was living in Wisconsin, he used to drive down to visit his daughter, who was a student at the University of South Carolina.
“Every time I drove across the Blue Ridge Mountains, I would stay a little bit longer,” says Prendergast. “I would just linger and take longer drives to get to her, and I just said, I’ve got to move here.”
So Prendergast did, coming to Saluda in 2017. One day, while
hiking with his do,g he ran across Betsy Burdett, a member of the Saluda Community Land Trust who encouraged him to get involved. He decided to volunteer cleaning up trails. Now, he’s president of the organization.
“Little did I know what walking that dog would turn into,” says Prendergast.
With help from the Polk County Community Foundation, a group of Saluda residents formed the nonprofit SCLT in 2007.
“They saw that a lot of Saluda land and areas surrounding Saluda were
being developed and that farmland was disappearing, and that’s still true to this day. In fact, it’s accelerating,” says Prendergast.
The SCLT’s mission is to preserve undeveloped land in commercial and residential areas for agricultural and public use, educate people about the importance of land preservation, establish hiking trails, and protect Saluda’s small-town character.
The SCLT accomplishes that mission by encouraging people to donate land and working with private landowners to establish conservation easements where the owner retains
the land but promises to preserve it and allow some public access. In rare cases, the SCLT purchases land for preservation.
“We are a small community organization that is different than a lot of land trusts in that we are the roots of the community,” says Prendergast. “We are not one of those big boys with a lot of money to purchase land.”
The land trust has a volunteer board and only one paid part-time employee. Prendergast says the rest of its work is done by about 50 full-time and 100 part-time volunteers. Among them is Robert Bruce, who moved to North Carolina from Philadelphia in 1981 and from Mooresville to Saluda in 2015.
“I think it’s important that we try to preserve as much of the natural beauty around us as possible. That is what attracted me to Saluda to begin with,” says Bruce. “It’s not necessarily going to stay that way if we don’t take steps to preserve the natural beauty and the resources that we have around us.”
Bruce walks land that the SCLT has under 20 different conservation easements to make sure property owners are complying with the terms they agreed to and are preserving and protecting their land. He also encourages other landowners to enter conservation easements.
“We usually walk the land with them, get an idea of what their interests are and whether they’re compatible, and then as we get closer to formalizing an agreement, we actually walk the land and take photographs and do the baseline documentation to establish that the condition of the land is in at the time the agreement is entered into,” says Bruce.
Bruce and other volunteers also monitor land that has been donated to the SCLT and build and maintain trails.
“I feel like I’m contributing something good to the community,” says Bruce who enjoys the comradery of working with other volunteers. “And
frankly, I just like getting out and walking in nature. I get to do that while I’m actually serving a public purpose at the same time, so it’s like a win-win situation for me.”
The SCLT also partners with other community organizations to help support its mission, including non-profits, government agencies, civic groups, and churches.
“Because we’re a community we want to establish ties across all businesses and organizations so that it’s a grassroots movement,” says Prendergast. “Everyone has a stake in conserving what we love.”
Since it was formed the SCLT has created eight public nature parks including Little Park, Judd’s Peak Nature Park, Bradley
Nature Preserve, Twin Lakes, Round Mountain, Moonshine Park and the Missing 40. It’s also helped local citizens with a hemlock recycling program, kudzu control, forest management, botanical studies, stream stabilization and has helped create a community garden and a dog park. Prendergast says locals who take their dogs there on Sunday call it “church for dogs.” The SCLT sponsors swim lessons with a certified instructor for people of all ages at Twin Lakes and its Youth Challenge program encourages children to hike its trails with family and friends.
“I think our biggest accomplishments are yet to come,” says Prendergast. Prendergast says the
SCLT has some big projects in the works, including Henry’s Nature Center, which will have hiking and education trails and a youth outreach program to teach about invasive and native species. He says it’s also working on a long-term project called Reclamation Park, which will be a historical, cultural and artistic hiking trail exploring the contributions of African Americans to the community.
The SCLT’s ongoing work is all made possible by volunteers investing in their own community.
“I think people get involved because they want to make a difference. They want to leave it better than they found it and I think the land trust has done that,” says Prendergast.
By Pebbles
“From the first time that I saw you, had I known you better then, I would’ve said those three old words!”
These upbeat lyrics by musicians Daryl Hall & John Oats perfectly describe how my mistress, Heather Freeman, felt about me when she saw me years ago trapped in a dire situation. That instant connection to another life is simply undeniable for many of us. Otherwise, Valentine’s Day and those
three old words, “I love you,” would not be internationally recognizable for centuries.
Who recalls the world’s most beautiful woman in Greek mythology, Helen of Troy, and her love, Paris. Their entangled romantic story was the catalyst for the Trojan War. Then there was Egypt’s Cleopatra, queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC. After a brief liaison with Julius Caesar, she gave her heart to Mark Anthony. Similarly, legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor met iconic star
Richard Burton on the set of Cleopatra in 1962, leading to a passionate love story together.
Then, for the royal watchers, there is the fairytale love story of Britain’s Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. They have certainly caused a stir. In truth, most of us are captivated by reading about remarkable deeds performed for love.
So, what is love? That feeling of deep affection truly guides us. This noun and verb encompass many shapes and sizes. The love of one’s children, love
Pearl the day we saved her from the kill buyer of country, love of God, love of family and friends, love of a hobby or career, and the love of a heart’s greatest desire.
Love is a magic emotion that transports us beyond ourselves. It makes us larger in spirit and braver at heart. Love brings a new level of devotion that pushes us to new limits of personal growth.
Look at me, for example. I share my coveted alfalfa hay
and horse cookies with my adopted sister, Sedona, in the name of love and compatibility. No one can accuse me of being modest or big-hearted. However, I do adore my pasture mate and depend upon her greatly. I also love my mistress, as her devotion to me is admirable. What we do is often guided by love. Helping Equines Regain Dignity (HERD)
We offer high quality cabinets at an affordable price, designed specifically for your project by our cabinet specialists. Cabinets will be shipped to you in as little as 4 ~ 5 weeks.
was founded based on an overwhelming love for horses. A passion that was so strong from early childhood that it dictated most of my mistress’s decisions. Bitten by the horse bug, she has never recovered! Heather had some important choices to make in her young life. She could accompany her family on summer-long vacations, seeing multiple countries. Or stay home in South Carolina with the patient housekeeper, Josephine Griffin, and go to horse shows with the horse trainer and barn buddies. This was an easy decision for Heather. Her horse won her over.
Later, she attended her June debutante ball in Spartanburg at age 18. Instead of going to the after party with friends and her handsome date, she loaded her car with her riding clothes and tack, driving all night to
Virginia. She arrived in time to braid her horse’s mane for her 8 a.m. equitation class at this famous Upperville Colt & Horse Show. This multi-day event takes place in the shade of ancient majestic oaks and is the oldest horse show in America. The nation’s top-ranked hunters and jumpers compete alongside local equines. It is a mecca for horsemen.
A few notable exhibitors Heather met and watched perform at the show were double Gold Medal Olympian Joe Fargis and Show Jumping Hall of Fame equestrians and United States Equestrian Team riders Rodney Jenkins and Conrad Homfeld. Conrad showed Heather’s horse in the higher four-foot working hunter division at this show, which was thrilling to watch.
I completely understand her decision. She made her passion Scott
her priority. What a grand time if you love to ride and be around top-tier equine performers. I would have done the same thing.
While Heather never made it to the Olympic level with her riding, she did enjoy showing on the A-show circuit. The knowledge she acquired has helped her select and train numerous young horses in her lifetime. She continues today by rescuing equines that join our HERD. These young lives have the potential to be transformed to find a productive career. We steeds are her passion, her “Joie de vivre.” So many of us were on our way to being sold for meat in Mexico. Now, we are champions in our chosen discipline. This accomplishment
Homstead. He met her through her horses over 20 years ago. Scott tackles the demanding farm work and training with the most challenging, larger horses. Without him, Heather’s dream could not be a reality. Those who volunteer their time, like Bill McClelland, Celeste Chaput, and the Moore family, are also crucial to the successes here. They fall in love with the horses too. This makes saying goodbye hard when the equines leave us for new homes. Emotional tears flow when the horses call out to us one last time as the transport trailer departs. It is a painful goodbye for all parties.
Yes, running a horse rescue is a big, challenging romance. This certainly applies to those who wholeheartedly cherish the equines. It also includes those who love the person who is in love with horses. Oh, the things we do for love.
All kinds of resolutions are made at the start of a new year, and most of them involve some sort of healthy habit. Losing weight and eating better often top the list of health initiatives.
Individuals who want to revamp their diets may be on the lookout for healthy recipes. "Health food" may evoke images of lots of leafy greens and bland grains, but diners can rest assured there are plenty of tasty options—even beef.
Historically, beef may not be seen as healthy fare, but when enjoyed in moderation, beef can be part of a healthy eating/weight loss plan. This recipe for "Tender Salsa Beef" can replace Taco Tuesday on your weekly menu. For a kid-friendly option, be sure to use mild salsa. Enjoy, courtesy of Taste of Home Healthy Cooking Cookbook (RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC) by the Taste of Home Kitchen.
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 3Ú4-inch cubes
2 cups salsa
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
4 cups hot cooked brown rice
In a 3-quart slow cooker, combine the beef, salsa, brown sugar, soy sauce, and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or until meat is tender. Using a slotted spoon, serve beef with rice.
Per serving: 259 cal., 7 g fat, 53 mg. cholesterol, 356 mg. sodium, 28 g carbs, 2 g fiber.
INSURED & REGISTERED CALL OR TEXT: 269-220-2985
GOOGLE-NEXTDOORFACEBOOK •TOILETS •CEILING FANS •SWITCHES/ OUTLETS •GUTTER CLEANING •LIGHTING FIXTURES•DRYER VENT CLEANING•FAUCETS AND SINKS•REPAIRS AND ODD JOBS
Bill the painter for all your painting needs! Also do drywall repair and wood repair! 32 years experience. Like Bill the Pinter on Facebook 828-899-2647
MillSpringAgCenter. com NOW LEASING Hi-Tech office spaces and art studios starting at $600/month Auditorium, Outdoor Event Space, and Conference Room also available Call:828229-5397
David’s Roofing and Remodeling We have •Shingles •Metal •Rubber Roofing •Painting Also! Call David at 828-713-4154
DILL PLUMBING
Specializing in small repairs, Water Heaters, Well Pumps. Serving Polk County for 34 Years Licensed and Insured NC & SC 828-817-1327
DIXON AC & HEATING
• Your HVAC Service & Repair Expert • Serving the Tryon area for 30+ years. Call (828)8630555
Epperson’s Tree Service • Complete Tree Service •Dangerous removals •View Cutting •Lot Clearing •Tree Trimming •Crane Removals Serving NC for 25yrs Fully Insured ISA Certified Arborist (828)606-4980
GOOD BY STUMPS
Stump Removal Quantity Discounts on 50+ Stumps! As low as $10 each! Call for pricing. Fully insured. Free Quotes! Call Ron at 828447-8775
HANDYMAN SERVICES
SPECIALIZING IN DECKS, PAINTING, CARPENTRY, AND HOME MAINTENANCE. “1 CALL DOES IT ALL. CALL CHRIS AT (828)388-2503
Lake Pointe Landing, A Century Park Community. Lake Pointe Landing is not just a great place to live, but a great place to work as well! We are currently looking for nursing staff including CNAs, RNs and LPNs, offering competitive pay and benefits. Visit www. centurypa.com today to explore available positions and apply online! Or stop by out facility to fill out a paper application.
LAWSON PAINTING
Residential Painting
•Interior & Exterior •Ceiling Texturing •Light Carpentry Free Estimates Please Call: 864-4943397
Manuel Flores
Construction •Stucco •Block •Brick •Tile •Concrete •Stone Work 864-361-1794
Nice Guys Yard Clean
Up Serving Foothill Mountain Area: Tree Trimming, Brush Pile Burning, Hauling, Shrubbery, Weedeating, Weed and Brush Spraying, Garage/ Shed/Barn Clean Out. Competitive Prices Hourly or By the Job! Call The Nice Guys Today! Ask for Charles 864-285-8486
Nik’s Painting 17+ years of experience. We do more than just walls: soft wash, interior/ exterior painting, cabinet remodeling, wallpaper & popcorn ceiling removal, garage floor epoxy coatings, deck/ fence wood staining, carpentry repairs. Add a fresh coat to your home todat! 864-293-3437 tryonpainting@gmail. com
Philco’s Pressure Washing Get all the Mold, Mildew, & Oxidation off your house! •Clean Vinyl Siding •Driveways •Sidewalks •Stain & Seal Decks & More! Liability & Workers Comp 31 years Experience Call To Clean Today! Phil Tolleson 864599-1978 or 864-3048463
POLK COUNTY SCHOOLS Visit https:// polkschools.org/ personnel/ to apply Or Call:828-894-1001
$10 Off Fall
Preventative Maintenance (Reg $75) Rutherford Heating and Air 828-287-2240
STEPS TO HOPE Thrift
Barn • Landrum, SC • FT Donation Assistant FT Donation Assistant/ Driver Duties include
but not limited to: •Greet donors, accept donations, provide tax receipts •Sort/separate donations •Unload truck after pickups •High School diploma/ equivalent •Ability to stand for long periods & lift heavy items •Backup Driver must have valid driver’s license PTO, Healthcare Benefits included. Send resume to retail@stepstohope.org
•Housekeeping •Laundry •Dietary Aides Benefits (F/T) Competitive Pay Great Environment Come join the team at White Oak of Tryon Applications Currently Accepted at White Oak of Tryon 70 Oak Street Tryon, NC 28782 White Oak of Tryon is an Equal Opportunity Employer
