South Carolina Living June 2021

Down on the farm CHANGEOUT Agritourism offers an economic boon, education and fun

SC RECIPE

Pop-up barbecue HUMOR ME

JUNE 2021

Dressing up drawers

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THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS VOLUME 75 • NUMBER 6 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240)

Read in more than 600,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033

2021 |june

Tel: (803) 926‑3175 Fax: (803) 796‑6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop EDITOR

Keith Phillips Tel: (803) 739‑3040 Email: Keith.Phillips@ecsc.org FIELD EDITOR

Josh Crotzer

PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Travis Ward

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Camille Stewart PRODUCTION

Andrew Chapman

13 Farm days

WEB EDITOR

Chase Toler

COPY EDITORS

Need a family-friendly activity to keep the kids entertained this summer? Consider a visit to a South Carolina farm where tours, events and festivals educate and entertain.

Trevor Bauknight, Jennifer Jas, Jim Poindexter CONTRIBUTORS

Mike Couick, Hastings Hensel, Jan A. Igoe, L.A. Jackson, Maria Kanevsky, Sydney Patterson, Lynn and Cele Seldon, Belinda Smith-Sullivan PUBLISHER

4 CO-OP NEWS

Lou Green

Updates from your cooperative

ADVERTISING

Mary Watts Tel: (803) 739‑5074 Email: ads@scliving.coop

6 AGENDA

In the not-to-distant future, topping off your car’s tank may mean filling it with hydrogen or biofuel.

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

American MainStreet Publications Tel: (512) 441‑5200 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

ADDRESS CHANGES: 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.

The history behind our iconic state flag reminds us that South Carolinians always rise to the occasion in troubled times.

10 RECIPE Pop-up barbecue

Grilling season has arrived, and not a moment too soon.

Use these recipes to enjoy a complete cookout, including sides, sauce and dessert.

© COPYRIGHT 2021. 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.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

$8 nonmembers

$5.72 members,

12 SC STORIES The turtle lady

Mary Alice Monroe, queen of the beach novel and fierce turtle protector, draws inspiration for her life and work from living on the South Carolina coast.

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18 MARKETPLACE 19 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 20 GARDENER Regal treat: Persian shield

Available in iridescent purple, silver, pink and green varieties, Persian shield adds a dash of elegance to any landscape.

22 Member of the AMP network reaching more than 9 million homes and businesses

Down on the farm

HUMOR ME

Drab drawers lower morale

Humor columnist Jan A. Igoe delves into the latest scientific research, which suggests changing your mood is as simple as changing your underwear.

FRO M TO P : M I LTO N M O RRIS; DEP OS ITPH OTOS; K A REN H ERM A N N

Agritourism offers an economic boon, education and fun

SC RECIPE

Pop-up barbecue HUMOR ME

Dressing up drawers JUNE 2021

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS:

8

8 DIALOGUE A banner of resiliency

Kathy McCaskill, owner of Old McCaskill’s Farm in Rembert, is one of 466 farmers in South Carolina who embrace agritourism and invite families to stop by the farm for a fun day out. Photo by Milton Morris.

SC | agenda TECH WATCH

W H I R LPOO L

Cutting-edge dryer cuts energy costs

Heat pump clothes dryers may look like conventional units, but they operate more efficiently by removing moisture and recirculating heated air.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO SAVE ELECTRICITY in the laundry room, a heat pump clothes dryer can help reduce energy use by at least 28% compared to standard electric dryers.

Instead of using electricity to generate a constant blast of heated air that is vented outside the home, heat pump clothes dryers work by recycling heated air through an evaporator that removes the moisture without losing too much heat. The air cycles back to the drying chamber, where it picks up more water, and the cycle begins again. Water captured by the evaporator is collected in a reservoir or piped out through a drain hose.

Heat pump dryers do not require outside ventilation like standard dryers, and they use lower temperatures, so they are gentler on clothes. Several commercial brands like Whirlpool and Samsung sell Energy Star-rated heat pump dryers, and the cost typically ranges from $900 to $1,500 depending on additional features. —MARIA KANEVSKY

A dirty filter causes your air conditioner to work harder than necessary.

Remember to change your air filter every month (or every two months) to prevent dust buildup, which can lead to even bigger problems.

GONE FISHIN’

The Vektor Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and ­migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after.

Minor

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

JUNE

WIN A $100 GIFT CARD

Let summer 2021 begin!

R E A D E R R E P LY T R AV E L S W E E P S TA K E S

Register below, or online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply YES! Enter me in the drawing for a $100 gift card.

Name Address City State/ZIP Email* Phone* My electric cooperative is:

South Carolina Living, RRTS, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033 or travel@SCLiving.coop. Entries must be received by June 30, 2021, to be eligible. *Winner will be contacted to verify mailing address.

SEND COUPON TO:

Sign up today for our Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes and your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. To register, use the mail-in form or visit online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply.

We’ll draw the name of one lucky winner from all the entries received by June 30, 2021.

By entering, you may receive messages from these great sponsors, and you agree to join the South Carolina Living email list. j Alpine Helen, White County, Ga. j Discover Upcountry Carolina Association j Dorchester Heritage Center, Inc. j SC Dept. of Agriculture – Agritourism j South Carolina Living magazine

Register online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply 6

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

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SC dialogue

A banner of resiliency The British fleet finally withdrew late that evening, leaving Charleston free from attack for another four of polls and ratings. They all seem years. It was one of the first sigto come to a consensus—the South Carolina state flag is one of the nificant Colonial victories of the most appealing.

Revolutionary War. Days later, the With its simple design of a white Declaration of Independence was crescent and palmetto tree on an ratified in Philadelphia. indigo field, it consistently holds The fort was soon named after top 10 status in rankings across Col. Moultrie. The flag he designed the web, from the North American was known as the Liberty Flag. The Vexillological Association (they palmetto would become the state study flags) to funflagfacts.com, tree and the central icon on the Their caps were adorned with a which gives our banner the numbercurrent state flag. white crescent. Although easily one spot. It looks good waving atop Surprisingly, there is not a stana pole or adorning hats, koozies or version of the banner, so interpreted as a moon, the symbol dardized whatever you want to use to show the legislature recently established a pride in our state. committee of historians to propose represented the metal gorgets It’s not just the aesthetics that an official design. As we consider worn in the battles of ages past. make it so special. It is what it reprewhat the palmetto tree should look like or which way the cressents. Every element in the flag harkens back to the Battle of Sullivan’s Island, which took place on cent should face, I hope we reflect on what happened on that June 28, 1776. At what was then called Fort Sullivan, a small fateful June day 245 years ago. I think about the resiliency of force of American soldiers thwarted the initial attempt by the that fort and the men who were defending it, and it fills me British to capture Charleston, and in the process, handed the with pride for my state. world’s greatest navy its first defeat in 100 years.

That pride is multiplied when I think about the resiliency The soldiers for the South Carolina regiment were clad in of my fellow South Carolinians over the last few years. We deep blue uniforms, likely colored by indigo, a valuable crop have absorbed our own bombardments—the costly failure in the state’s economy. Their caps were adorned with a white of the V.C. Summer nuclear plant, natural disasters and, of crescent. Although easily interpreted as a moon, the symbol course, the coronavirus pandemic. represented the metal gorgets worn in the battles of ages past.

We have our heroes, too, some with the name recognition Flying above the still-unfinished fort was a flag that of Sgt. Jasper, but many others who have protected us without matched—a white crescent in the left corner of a blue field. fame. They restore our power lines, help neighbors in need and give support to the elderly and the young.

This iconography was determined by their commander, Col. Often forgotten was that the British took Charleston four William Moultrie. It was the first American flag displayed in years later, but the spirit of the 1776 battle was never defeated.

South Carolina, according to the colonel’s memoirs.

When the city was liberated at the end of the war in 1782, the For more than nine hours, Moultrie’s regiments withMoultrie flag was raised again. stood bombardment from the British fleet’s 300 cannons.

There may be more for us to absorb in the coming years, Their defense was aided by the unique physical properties but we should continue to be inspired by South Carolina’s rich of the fort’s walls, made from sand and Sabal palmetto logs.

Revolutionary War heritage. Keep breathing, keep hoping, and Instead of shattering from the impact, the soft but sturdy logs stand proud under our common banner. absorbed the iron cannonballs.

At one point, the flag was shot down, but Sgt. William Jasper restored the banner while under enemy fire. Jasper would add to his legend with more heroics during the war.

Although he left no descendants, his legacy and name live on.

South Carolina’s Jasper County, along with numerous other MIKE COUICK communities across the nation, are named for him.

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina AN INTERNET SEARCH OF “THE BEST STATE FLAGS” yields dozens

8

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

PL AN YOUR NEX T

farm adventure AT

SCFARMFUN.ORG

South Carolina AG RITOU RISM Summer offers sunny days to spend on the farm.

Enjoy u-picks, farm tours, trail rides, farm-to-table dinners, flower festivals, and much more!

Have you seen this bug?

AD

Lycorma delicatula (or SLF) is a voracious invasive planthopper that feeds on over 100 plant species including fruit, ornamental, and woody trees. It’s preferred host is another invasive species called tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima). SLF was first detected in the United States in 2014 in Eastern Pennsylvania and has since spread to several surrounding states. All life stages of SLF can hitch a ride and travel long distances via vehicles and other human activities.

UL T

Spotted Lanternfly

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in South Carolina please contact Clemson® University Department of Plant Industry

T UL

Photos from Bugwood.org unless otherwise noted.

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For more invasive species information visit clemson.edu/invasives

SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Photo by Dave Coyle, Clemson® Extension

(864) 646-2140 or invasives@clemson.edu

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SC recipe

POP-UP barbecue

BY BELINDA SMITH-SULLIVAN

Grilling ed, season has arriv soon. Use o to t en and not a mom e cookout enjoy a complet these recipes to t. For sauce and desser including sides, en ev n nce, you ca added convenie e th dishes make all the side . re fo be y da

GW ÉN A Ë L LE VOT

HOMEMADE PLENTIFUL BARBECUE SAUCE MAKES 3–4 CUPS

GRILLED TRI TIP STEAK WITH COFFEE SPICE RUB SERVES 4–6

The tri tip is a very affordable tender cut of sirloin steak/roast and is great for feeding a crowd! Prep and marinate the night before for the best flavor. Grill outside or prepare indoors on a grill pan and finish in the oven.

This steak pairs well with the smoky flavors of this month’s barbecue sauce.

RUB

1 tablespoon kosher salt ½ tablespoon fresh ground black pepper ½ tablespoon paprika ½ tablespoon dried Italian seasoning G tablespoon crushed red pepper 1 tablespoon finely ground coffee, optional 1 tablespoon brown sugar, optional 1 teaspoon ground cloves, optional 2 pounds tri tip steak/roast, trimmed of silverskin and excess fat

10

Combine all ingredients, except steak, in a small jar or bowl.

Use the rub to generously season the steak all over; cover tightly and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before grilling.

Heat outdoor grill to high temperature. Sear steak on one side 6–8 minutes; flip and sear 8–10 minutes on other side.

Lower temperature to medium-high; flip once more and move steak to cooler part of grill and cook until temperature on an instant-read thermometer—in the thickest part of the steak—reaches 130 degrees (for medium-rare). During the last 10 minutes of cooking, brush steak generously with barbecue sauce. Remove steak from grill and tent with foil; let rest 10–15 minutes. Slice steak against the grain and arrange on a serving platter. Pass additional sauce if desired.

What’s cooking at SCLiving.coop GRILL LIKE A PRO—Let Chef Belinda show you how to cook restaurant-style steaks indoors. Watch the video and learn the secret to perfect grill marks, only at

SCLiving.coop/food/chefbelinda

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

Made with staple ingredients found in most Southern pantries, this basic barbecue sauce works with chicken, pork, beef, seafood, baked beans and more. Even over hamburgers and fries.

Yum! 2 cups ketchup ½ cup water ½ cup bourbon ½ cup apple cider vinegar 5 tablespoons dark brown sugar 5 tablespoons sugar ½ tablespoon fresh ground pepper 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ tablespoon dry mustard 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or 1 teaspoon Sriracha 1 tablespoon chili powder 2 tablespoons honey or molasses

In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 60–75 minutes until thickened. Let cool completely and pour into a sterilized jar (or two). Affix date and monitor often.

I U LI I A N EDRYGA I LOVA

S H A RRI WO LFGA N G

K A REN H ERM A N N

TWISTED DEVILED EGGS

NO-MAYO HERB POTATO SALAD

MAKES 12

SERVES 8

Everything Southern we love, packed into one neat little appetizer. Make many—these won’t last long.

No need to worry about the summer heat with this “carefree” potato salad. Serve cold or room temperature. Make ahead. It tastes even better the second day.

EASY PEACH HAND PIES

2 pounds whole mini potatoes (or small red new potatoes, quartered) ½ red bell pepper, finely chopped, optional ½ small red onion, quartered and sliced or chopped 1 large clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon honey G cup white wine or champagne vinegar G cup extra virgin olive oil Sea salt Fresh ground black pepper Pinch red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon capers, optional 2 tablespoons chopped parsley 2 tablespoons chopped dill 2–3 scallions (green part) thinly sliced, for garnish

2 pounds fresh ripe peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch kosher salt 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 2 packages 2-crust pie dough (store-bought) 1 large egg, beaten G cup heavy cream or milk (more if needed) 2–3 tablespoons extra-fine sugar

6 large eggs, hard-boiled 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Creole mustard 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish Kosher salt Fresh ground black pepper 2 tablespoons chopped pimento 2 bacon slices, cooked crisp and crumbled J teaspoon hot sauce Chopped chives, for garnish Paprika, for garnish

Halve eggs and carefully scoop out yolks into a medium bowl. Place whites on a deviled egg serving tray. Using a fork or potato masher, break up yolks into fine smooth pieces. Add cheese, mayonnaise, mustard, relish, salt, pepper, pimento, half of bacon, and hot sauce.

Put into a piping bag or quart-size zip-close bag—one corner snipped off and fitted with a piping tip—and fill whites. Garnish with chives and sprinkle with paprika and remaining crumbled bacon. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove 30 minutes before serving.

Potatoes and salt. Potatoes have a tendency to absorb salt. In preparing any potato dish, you may want to increase the amount of salt called for in the recipe—after tasting and verifying, of course. Likewise, adding potatoes can remove salt if you overdo it when cooking soups, sauces and stews. Just add a few potatoes, quartered, for 20–25 minutes to absorb the excess salt. Discard the potatoes, or serve them on the side as an appetizer, sprinkled with some freshly chopped herbs.

CHEF’S TIP

In a large pot with enough water to cover (or a double boiler/steamer), over medium-high heat, boil potatoes until fork tender. Drain and pat dry. Allow to cool enough to handle. Place potatoes in a large bowl along with bell pepper, onions and garlic. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, honey, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and pepper flakes to make a vinaigrette. Lightly toss the potatoes and one-half vinaigrette together until all ingredients are evenly combined. Taste and adjust salt. Add capers, parsley and dill, and lightly toss again. Place into a serving bowl and garnish with scallions. Save remaining ­vinaigrette for tossing later—as potatoes have a tendency to absorb liquid. Serve room temperature or cold. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container up to three days.

MAKES 8

These individual pies are not only good but versatile too! They are easy to pack and travel well.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line two half-sheet or jelly roll pans with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan, combine peaches, sugar, cinnamon, salt, cornstarch and butter; cook over medium heat until thickened, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

On a clean, lightly floured surface, unroll pie dough (4 rounds) and cut each round in half— making 8 half-moon pieces. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Divide the filling between the 8 dough pieces—placing the filling on one side of the dough piece (this allows for folding the empty side over the side with the mixture), leaving a ½-inch space around the cut edges. Using a pastry brush, brush the edges with the egg mixture. Fold the empty dough over the filled dough side, and using a fork, crimp the edges. Use the fork to poke a few holes in the top to allow steam to escape while baking. Place little pies onto the sheet pan. Brush lightly with cream/milk and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in preheated oven for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.

SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

11

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SC stories

The turtle lady

Mary Alice Monroe Isle of Palms.

Passionate sea turtle conservationist; New York Times-bestselling author of 27 books and counting (maryalicemonroe.com).

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Monroe discovered a turtle nest on her 51st birthday, and with truth being stranger than fiction, there were exactly 51 eggs in the nest.

WHAT’S NEXT?: Monroe is beginning research on a new novel set in South Carolina. “It’s a full immersion into a South Carolina landscape different from my recent seaside settings.”

FAMILY MATTERS: Monroe’s daughter, Gretta Kruesi (a Clemson grad), is a muralist whose work, including paintings with sea turtles, adorns public facilities on Isle of Palms.

HOME TURF:

CLAIMS TO FAME:

12 SOUTH

CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

Mary Alice Monroe’s sea-blue eyes sparkle when she talks turtles—or passionately writes about them.

After all, this self-proclaimed “Turtle Lady” found her true calling in environmental fiction when she moved with her family to the Isle of Palms in 1999.

“When we moved to the Isle of Palms for my husband’s career, I was in my forties, raising three children, and working hard as an established writer,” Monroe recalls. “Little did I know that our move … would change not only my life, but my career.”

Monroe joined a volunteer team certified by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to safeguard loggerhead turtle nests, and the experience inspired her first New York Timesbestselling novel, The Beach House, which was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie starring Andie MacDowell (a Gaffney native).

“The first thing I did was become a volunteer for the Island Turtle Team,” Monroe recalls. “I knew nothing about turtles. My sister, who lived in Florida, told me about watching a mother turtle laying her eggs, and how tears flowed from her eyes as she nested.” After seeing a mother laying more than 100 eggs and the “tears” (actually a natural cleansing mechanism), Monroe knew she had a theme for her fiction.

Her newest novel, The Summer of Lost and Found, was released in May and is the seventh installment of her popular Beach House series.

Monroe has also published two children’s books, which complement the environmental themes in her novels, and co-authored a middle grade book with Angela May called The Islanders, which was released in June.

The writer remains a passionate conservationist, serving on the board of the South Carolina Aquarium and its acclaimed Sea Turtle Care Center.

Of her work on the beach, in the water, and at the keyboard, the author says, “I want to make a difference with my books and make people who didn’t know they cared about sea turtles or dolphins or other wildlife feel my passion.”

—LYNN AND CELE SELDON | PHOTO BY MIC SMITH

GET MORE Patrol the Isle of Palms with the Island Turtle Team, a cadre of dedicated citizen scientists who ensure hatchling sea turtles have a fighting chance at survival.

Read the story at SCLiving.coop/turtles.

O

n a late March morning at Old McCaskill’s Farm, the aptly named sheep shearer Chuck Costner—in a move equal parts Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger and equal parts Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves—grabs hold of a sheep’s two front feet, spins the animal around on its hind haunches, clips its cloven hooves and begins shearing its woolen coat with an electric razor as methodically as a surgeon.

SHEAR DELIGHT Spring The sheep, for its part, shows no Farm Day visitors observe as Chuck Costner relieves outward signs of anxiety other than its an ewe of its winter coat pink tongue bleating and baaing. And at Old McCaskill’s Farm. although it’s ridiculous to attribute human emotions to animals, it’s also hard not to reckon the sheep is enjoying itself like someone enjoying a spa day. The wool comes off in tufts as thick as mattress foam or shag carpet, and once it’s over, the newly sheared sheep runs around the pen looking like a skinned pear on four legs.

The people in the crowd, for their part, are certainly enjoying themselves. They are all smiles, camera clicks, oohs and aahs, applause, and funny asides (“Are you the black sheep of the family?”) as they stand at the edges of the sheep pen and watch two shepherd dogs herd the flock to Costner’s waiting arms.

“This is why we came out today,” explains Fairfield Electric Cooperative member Shannon Montgomery of Lugoff, with her two daughters in tow. The three of them are part of the more than 1,500 visitors who

Embracing South Carolina agritourism at Old McCaskill’s Farm

BY HASTINGS HENSEL PHOTOS BY MILTON MORRIS

SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

13

p INFORMATION PLEASE The American Lamb Board and other groups promote South Carolina farming at Spring Farm Day.

u “I LOVE MAKING SOME-

THING” Weaver Kelly Fort of Pluff Mudd Farm pauses to chat as she demonstrates how to spin wool.

PLENTY TO DO Clay Hasty of Seegars Mill Kennels explains the retrieval instinct of canines during the spring festival at Old McCaskill’s Farm. Other guests enjoy a mule-drawn wagon tour of the property near Rembert.

“ Farming is unpredictable—the weather, other conditions—so agritourism adds another income stream for the farmers.”

—JACKIE MOORE, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

More fun on the farm With 466 (and counting) farms participating in the S.C. Department of Agriculture’s Agritourism program, there’s no shortage of farm days, field trips and outdoor excursions offering a bumper crop of family fun. For a complete list, visit scfarmfun.org or sign up for the S.C. Agritourism email newsletter. At participating farms, you can pick up an S.C. Agritourism Passport and collect stamps at each farm you visit. Collect enough stamps, and you could win Certified S.C. prizes.

14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

have arrived at Old McCaskill’s Farm in Rembert for the 12th annual Spring Farm Day. “I really just wanted to see a sheep get its haircut.”

But sheep-shearing is far from the only Farm Day attraction. Visitors can watch dogs herd ducks or a blacksmith forge a candleholder. Kids can try to lasso a sawhorse or fill up their water bottles at a horse trough. Families can sample fresh ground lamb, pickled watermelon rind and stone-ground grits while listening to the band play feel-good standards (“Brown Eyed Girl,” “I’ll Be Around”). And all of it—down to the last drop of hand-pressed sugar cane syrup—is a part of the booming industry of

STRUTTIN’ THEIR STUFF Spring Farm Day had it all—live music to keep folks dancing, border collies to keep the sheep in line, and a graceful chicken to add to the fun.

agritourism, in which people visit farms to observe and participate in ways of life that may feel lost to them. It’s why farms all over South Carolina have pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple-picking, petting zoos, grape stomping, butter churning and even watermelon seed-spitting contests.

“Agritourism is not new, but it’s growing in popularity,” says Jackie Moore, agritourism marketing specialist at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. “Farming is unpredictable—the weather, other conditions—so it adds another income stream for the farmers. Also, you find that farmers are getting older, and this is a way they

can actually get their children back. Instead of just coming and working their dad’s field, it’s helping bring the next generation back. It’s something fun they can do.”

Moore says that she now has more than 460 South Carolina farms working in agritourism, and more farms are calling her every day to see how they can diversify and expand into the industry.

Old McCaskill’s Farm owner Kathy McCaskill, for her part, is something of an agritourism old pro. She started her farm—which is set deep in the rolling farmlands of horse country, where you see signs for tractor crossing and horse crossings—when

p SHEEPISH GRINS Shannon Montgomery and her daughters are all smiles as they spend the day at Old McCaskill’s Farm.

SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

“ IT’S INSTILLED IN ME” Kathy McCaskill thrives on the hard work necessary to run a farm, and has embraced agritourism to help keep it viable.

GET THERE Old McCaskill’s Farm is located at 377 Cantey Lane in Rembert.

HOURS: The farm store is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ashley’s farm-to-table, first-come, first-served lunch buffet starts at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays.

NEXT UP: The farm’s next event will be the 2021 Country Christmas Shopping Trunk Show, dates to be determined. For the latest updates, visit oldmccaskillfarm.com.

16

she bought the 12-acre property with her husband in 1989. McCaskill grew up on an abandoned dairy farm in upstate New York, but when her parents divorced, she moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and experienced a culture shock that made her want to return to farm life.

“It’s instilled in me,” she says. “I love the country.

There’s something about the anticipation of the eggs that are hatching from the chicks and the ducks, and the lambing. I love to plant the garden. I love to can. Just watching the cycle of life, I guess. It’s a lot of work, but I just love it.”

Hard work is a plain understatement. In order to make enough revenue simply to keep the farm going, McCaskill has had to put her eggs, as it were, in many baskets. She processes lamb, pork, and beef to sell alongside her wool shawls and blankets at farmers markets. She converted the new farmhouse into a bed-and-breakfast after the old farmhouse burned down in 2007. She serves lunch that her daughter cooks at the farm on Fridays. In addition to the fall and spring Farm Days, she does weddings.

She educates schoolchildren on field trips.

“The first question I ask them,” she says of the field-trippers, “is where does their food come from.

It’s amazing. They know that a chicken lays an egg, but they still make no connection. To them, eggs come from the grocery store. Same thing with cows.

Milk comes from the grocery store.”

Such an eye-opening, back-to-your-roots education is what drives agritourism in a world where, for the first time in history, more people live in urban areas

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

than they do rural areas. But if an agritourist thinks that farm life is simply a life straight out of a picture book, McCaskill is quick to set the record straight.

“People say that they want to get a piece of land.

They want to start their own farm. They want to homestead,” she says. “But then when they get into the reality of it—all the work and the heartache— it’s a romantic notion, and people don’t realize how hard it is.”

She cites the fact that many of the sheep in her flock die each year due to parasitic worms. When COVID-19 hit, events got canceled, farmers markets shut down and she didn’t qualify for loans because the farm didn’t show enough revenue and she didn’t have enough employees. (She got by as farmers often must—with a loan from her local bank.)

Still, McCaskill did something else that farmers always must do—she adapted. She taught canning classes to people who were suddenly interested in growing their own gardens and preserving their fruits and vegetables. She put a lot of work into making sure that the Spring Farm Day, when people could ­finally and safely gather outside, was a success.

And it was. Everyone there seemed to relish and cherish this day on the farm. Perhaps this year, they understood even more what it means to be a part of a community and to be a DIY-er.

“I love making something,” says Berkeley Electric Cooperative member and wool-spinner Kelly Fort as she sits at her drop spindle and weaves wool from her sheep. “I think that’s missing in people’s lives these days. When you make something, it’s ­empowering.”

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SC calendar JUNE 12–JULY 31

Upstate Spartanburg Chatauqua Spartanburg Public Libraries Headquarters, Spartanburg (864) 244-1499 info@historycomesalive.org

SCLiving.coop/calendar

21 The Art of Jazz: Matthew White

Our mobile-friendly site lists even more festivals, shows and events. You’ll also find instructions on submitting your event.

Please confirm information with the hosting event before attending.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As this issue went to press, many South Carolina communities were still following COVID-19 protocols. Please check with organizers if you plan to attend these events, and follow current health recommendations to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For updates on the pandemic, visit scdhec.gov/covid19.

JU NE

14 Spartanburg Chatauqua:

Benjamin Franklin portrayed by Larry Bounds.

Midlands J UNE

15 Spartanburg Chatauqua:

Nikola Tesla portrayed by Ian Ruskin (above).

16 Spartanburg Chatauqua: Hedy Lamarr portrayed by Judith Kalaora.

17 Spartanburg Chatauqua: Thomas Edison portrayed by Hank Fincken.

18 Spartanburg Chatauqua:

Rosa Parks portrayed by Becky Stone (above).

JU NE

18–20 Juneteenth Celebration, Abbeville Town Square, Abbeville. abbevillefriendsoffreedom@gmail.com.

JU LY

8–10 2021 SC Festival of Discovery, Main Street, Greenwood.

(864) 942‑8448.

15 Opening Reception: “Formation,” Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg. (864) 582‑7616.

O NG O I NG

Third Thursdays ArtWalk,

Parris Island Marine Band, Hopelands Gardens, Aiken.

(803) 642‑7631.

J ULY

3 4th of July Celebration, Lake

Murray, Columbia. (803) 781‑5960.

3 Aiken Music Fest: Flow

Tribe, Highfields Event Center, Aiken. (803) 649‑3505 or psjrickcram@aol.com.

10 Midlands Women’s Fair, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia. (843) 936‑1510 or info@touchofmagicevents.com. midlandswomen.eventbrite.com.

27 Banksia Tour, Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken.

(803) 642‑2015.

30–31 The Black Cowboy Festival, Greenfield Farm, Rembert. (803) 499‑9658 or bcesociety@aol.com.

Lowcountry J UNE

15 Paddle with a Ranger,

Colleton State Park, Walterboro.

(843) 538‑8206.

17 Live After 5, downtown, Beaufort. info@visitdowntownbeaufort.com.

17 Virtual Storytime at the Gibbes, virtual event hosted by Gibbes Museum of Art, based in Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

19 Edisto Watersports and Tackle King Mackerel Tournament, Edisto Watersports and Tackle Dock, Edisto Beach. (843) 869‑0663.

19–26 Society of Stranders Spring Safari, Ocean Drive Beach & Golf Resort and various other venues, North Myrtle Beach. (803) 371‑4731.

23 The Art of Jazz: Peter Kfoury, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

26–27 Jennie Gowan Memorial Art Show, Edisto Beach Civic Center, Edisto Beach. edistoartguild@gmail.com or (404) 725‑2061.

JU LY

2 Paddle with a Ranger, Colleton State Park, Walterboro.

(843) 538‑8206.

4 Hilton Head Firecracker 5K, Jarvis Creek Park, Hilton Head Island. info@firecracker-5k.com.

9–11 Lowcountry Bottom Fishing Rodeo, Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, Charleston. (843) 724‑1212 or samantha@coastalcrisischaplain.org.

10–11 Nexus: Music at the Crossroads of East and West, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

11 Arts in the Park, Bay Creek Park, Edisto Beach. edistoartguild@gmail.com.

12 Paul Reiser in Concert, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686‑3945.

13–18 Virtual Junior Society of Stranders, virtual event, based in North Myrtle Beach. garrett.humphries@me.com.

14 Movies in Bay Creek Park, Bay Creek Park, Edisto Island.

(843) 869‑3867.

15 Live After 5, downtown, Beaufort. info@visitdowntownbeaufort.com.

15 Paddle with a Ranger, Colleton State Park, Walterboro.

(843) 538‑8206.

16–25 Beaufort Water Festival, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. (843) 524‑0600 or info@bftwaterfestival.com.

ONGOING

Various dates through Aug. 27

Festival of Houses and Gardens, Morning History Walks, Old & Historic District, Charleston.

(843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in June and July

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Walk, Edisto Beach State Park, Edisto Island.

(843) 869‑4430.

Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 30

St. Phillips Island Excursion, Pier Nature Center at Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838‑2011.

Tuesdays through Sundays, June 23–Aug. 22 Mamma Mia!,

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686‑3945.

Wednesdays Arts & Crafts Market, Bay Creek Park, Edisto Island. (843) 869‑3867.

First Thursdays through December First Thursdays Gullah

Spirituals (part of the Festival of Houses and Gardens Live Like a Local event series), Unitarian Church, Charleston. (843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623.

EDISTO B E ACH .CO M

downtown cultural district, Spartanburg. (864) 542‑2787.

First Fridays First Fridays Open Studios, Mayfair Art Studios, Spartanburg. (864) 278‑3228 or aheckel@spartanarts.org.

12–20 Southeastern Piano Festival, University of South Carolina campus and surrounding venues, Columbia. (803) 777‑1209 or mlomazov@mozart.sc.edu or jrackers@mozart.sc.edu.

18 Virtual Lunch and Learn: Indigenous Languages of the Southeastern United States, USC‑Lancaster Native American Studies Center, Lancaster. (803) 313‑7172 or usclnasp@mailbox.sc.edu.

18–19 Juneteenth Rock Hill, virtual event, based in Rock Hill. (803) 322‑5798 or juneteenthrockhill@gmail.com.

19–20 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, various local farms, Fairfield County. gypsywindfarms@gmail.com.

19–26 Columbia Fashion Week, multiple venues, Columbia. hello@columbiafashionweek.com.

21 Hopelands Concert Series: Southern Meltdown, Hopelands Gardens, Aiken. (803) 642‑7631.

22 Banksia Tour, Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken.

(803) 642‑2015.

24 Joye in Aiken “Jazz Explosion” Concert (Jazz Camp Faculty), Etherredge Center at the University of South Carolina–Aiken, Aiken. director@joyeinaiken.com.

26 Junk to Jewelry, Environmental Education Center at Lee State Park, Bishopville. (803) 428‑4988.

26–27 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, various local farms, Chester County. ccl@g.clemson.edu.

26–27 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour, various local farms, Chesterfield County. chesterfieldcotourism@outlook.com.

27 Joye in Aiken “Jazz Explosion” Concert (Jazz Camp Student Performance), Etherredge Center at the University of South Carolina–Aiken, Aiken. director@joyeinaiken.com.

28 Hopelands Concert Series:

and the Super Villain Jazz Band, Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

21–24 Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament, The Marina at Edisto, Edisto Beach. (843) 869‑3867.

22 Japonisme in Charleston with Curator Sara Arnold, virtual event on Facebook Live hosted by Gibbes Museum of Art, based in Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

26 The Voices of El Shaddai, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686‑3945.

30–Aug. 1 Lowcountry Summer Coin Show, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, Ladson. (843) 302‑6210.

31 Isle of Palms Beach Run, The Windjammer, Isle of Palms.

(843) 886‑8294.

Reserve your spot on a nighttime walk this June or July to learn about logger­head sea turtles at Edisto Beach State Park.

SCLIVING.COOP | JUNE 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

|

SC gardener

Regal treat: Persian shield

JUNE IN THE GARDEN n Watch for leaf galls—ugly, deformed bumps—on azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. Pick off and trash any that you find. Do not compost them.

BY L.A. JACKSON

WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTS

n To encourage the developing roots of new plantings to penetrate far down into the soil, water thoroughly when it’s time to irrigate. Plants with shallow roots are much more susceptible to stress during the hottest, driest times of the growing season.

TIP OF THE MONTH If you find the foliage of your carrot, parsley, fennel or dill plants being munched on by rather large green caterpillars with black stripes and yellow dots, don’t be so quick to reach for the bug spray. These are the immature forms of the black swallowtail butterfly. Instead of using insecticides on such beauties-to-be, consider growing more of their favorite plants than you need for yourself. Then, designate some to be sacrificial suppers, so when you find any of these caterpillars on “your” plants, simply relocate them onto “their” plants to feast upon so they can bulk up and eventually fly away as pretty butterflies.

20

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

L . A . JACKSO N

L . A . JACKSO N

Plant enough carrot, parsley, fennel and dill so you can share the bounty with the black swallowtail caterpillars in your garden.

with colorful foliage, being elegant without banging on the gates of gaudy can be a fine line. One plant that does this delicate dance well is Persian shield (Strobilanthes dverianus), which, in spite of its stately name—and looks— is no stranger to local nurseries and big-box garden centers.

Iridescent purple, silver, pink and green—these are the shimmering shades cast in Regular watering will keep Persian shield’s colorful leaves a low glow on 6-inch, lanceshimmering and standing strong through the summer months. shaped leaves that announce the restrained yet regal presground up and prevent constantly soggy ence of Persian shield, which actually conditions that can cause root rot. hails from Myanmar (formerly Burma) Persian shield will grow in shadier instead of the Middle East. Being from gardens, but not necessarily upward. the tropics, it loves heat and humidUnder ideal conditions, it tops out at ity—two things Southeast Asia and around 4 feet tall, but in areas where summertime South Carolina have in the sun is a stranger, the soft limbs will common. weaken as they stretch for more light, As a tender perennial, Persian shield causing flop. For some gardeners, this might survive typical winters in the Lowcountry, but probably not elsewhere makes for a dramatic, vibrant flow of multicolored flora. For others, it looks in the state, where options are to simply treat it as an annual or make it a pot- like a drunken plant.

To tame Persian shield’s tottering, ted portable that can be brought indoors pinch back its branch tips late in the during the cold months. Personally, I spring to create a more compact, fuller do neither, preferring instead to take plant with shorter stems that are less ­autumnal cuttings that can be easily rooted in water and overwintered inside. likely to instigate any stagger. Watering with a balanced fertilizer solution once Morning sun intensifies Persian a month through the summer will also shield’s colors, but some light shade in make for a sturdier, prettier plant. the hottest afternoon heat—along with Finally, don’t worry about deer or regular watering—will pamper this pretty through the long summer season. rabbits taking a culinary interest in your Persian shield—it is not on their “Most To further help Persian shield ­tolerate dry, scorching days, enrich its planting Preferred” list. site with such moisture-retentive ingredients as quality commercial garden soil L.A. JACKSON is the former editor of or compost. Adding these organic imCarolina Gardener magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com. provements will also fluff the growing

|

SC humor me

Drab drawers lower morale

BY JAN A. IGOE

We need new underwear. Not because the elastic is shot or the old ones were murdered by a hot dryer—it’s because Huffpost.com says so.

I’m not sure how their reporters got into our drawers (pun intended), but apparently, they didn’t trigger any alarms.

I’m guessing most of us don’t spend a lot of time contemplating the importance of mundane undergarments, the final frontier between the world and our birthday suits, except for moms. Every mother lives in fear that her child might turn up in the hospital without pristine ones. Moms are hormonally wired to be less concerned about a gushing head wound than exposing a medical professional to an offspring’s inferior hygiene.

Besides securing your matriarch’s reputation, the right undies provide a smooth canvas (thank you, Spanx) so fashion designers can drape their creations without interference from seams, wrinkles and bulges. They’re also helpful if your pants split, but it’s still a thankless job. Undies spend most of their lives in quiet captivity unless they belong to a Kardashian.

Fashion psychology experts (yeah, that’s a thing) believe that wearing fine lingerie—the luxurious, self-indulgent silky stuff—will make us happier and more self-confident, even if your hamster is the only one that’s going to see it.

You’re not buying it for the hamster, you’re buying it for you.

The right underwear seems to work like Superman’s tights and signature “S” top, the foundation garment under the Clark Kent getup. With the consummate confidence that comes from wearing fine WELL, IT’S OFFICIAL:

22

If you own a guitar, you could pair briefs with white cowboy boots and a matching hat. Then head to Times Square where your attire, or lack thereof, is the least of their worries. lingerie, you’ll strut into your next corporate meeting like Elon Musk. One glance and everyone will know your only enemy is kryptonite. Or tanking Tesla stock.

So yeah, your mental health is counting on you to buy it new undies.

Especially post-pandemic, when we need to feel empowered. While it doesn’t seem like the fashion folk are aiming their advice at men, who pretty much jumped from loincloths to boxers with

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JUNE 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

only a brief pause at pantaloons, the right underwear can still make or break a guy’s career. If you own a guitar, for example, you could pair briefs with white cowboy boots and a matching hat. Then head to Times Square in New York City, where your attire, or lack thereof, is the least of their worries.

Just ask the Naked Cowboy, who says he sometimes tops $1,000-aday in tips.

Women, on the other hand, had to survive whale bone corsets, bustles, hoop skirts and inflatable bras. But thankfully, there’s much less scaffolding required these days. And the whales are happier.

Here’s another ­lingerie fact: It’s not just humans. Rodents appreciate it, too.

Particularly the virgin males, according to LiveScience.com. Scientists outfitted female rats with little harnesses (rat lingerie) and introduced them to the guys.

From then on, given the choice between females with or without undies, the guys chose the Frederick’s of Hollywood version every time.

The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank on a new confidenceboosting underwear repertoire. Start at Costco or Big Lots. Even top fashion psychologists concede that putting food and shelter ahead of lingerie on your priority list is a wise decision. But it’s doubtful they consulted the rats.

JAN A. IGOE has been seeing signs of postpandemic life at the beach, with tourist-packed traffic, shortages of potato chips and a few creative people running around in bathing suits made from disposable masks. Share your sightings at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

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