The SCNPS Upstate Chapter is seeking individuals to be part of our Grants Committee, where they (you!) will participate in the review and recommendation of grant applications received under the Upstate SCNPS Grants Program.

The Committee will meet as needed to discuss the grants, evaluate applications against the Community Grants criteria, and identify any outstanding questions/clarifications. 

Additionally, Committee members may be asked to follow a grantee’s progress for compliance with grant conditions. They may also assist in the research of grant and fundraising opportunities, including drafting documents or completing applications to solicit funding for SCNPS Upstate projects.

To serve on the Upstate Chapter’s Grant Committee, individuals should reside in the geographic area that makes up the SCNPS Upstate Chapter. Grant writing experience is beneficial but not required.

If you’re interested, please contact Grants Committee Chair Daren Jakeman at [email protected]. We’d love to have you!

Wanted: Programs Chair

Board Level Position

The Upstate Chapter is seeking a Programs Committee Chairperson, a volunteer Board-level position which requires attendance at monthly board meetings (via Zoom). 

The Programs Chair oversees and works with the Programs Committee, arranging regular meeting programs and workshops for the Upstate Chapter. The committee selects topics and speakers and coordinates workshops and other educational activities; arranges schedules including dates, times, and meeting places; procures material and equipment for the programs; and provides annotated schedules and speaker contact information in a timely fashion to the Upstate Publicity Committee. 

Experience using Zoom is helpful but not required. If interested, please contact the Upstate Chapter President at [email protected].

SCNPS is an all-volunteer organization. We’d love to have you on board!

It’s seemingly everywhere these days: Get Thee Gone, Lawn!

In a sign of how mainstream the anti-lawn movement has become, the current (March/April, 2023) issue of Reader’s Digest has an article excerpted from the Washington Post which explores the history of the lawning of America, and the myriad reasons to reverse it.

It’s a fun and inspiring read, just at the right time of year for all of us in the Upstate to consider: How much lawn do we really want — or need?

An emissions testing lab pitted a 6,210cc truck against a 30cc leaf blower. Guess which one lost.

SCNPS founder Rick Huffman sent in the following report, along with a scathing commentary:

“The landscape industry is broken. From toxic chemicals and fertilizers to fueling climate disaster, it’s hard to comprehend the magnitude. It’s a billion-dollar industry built upon an artificial view of the outdoor world where water is to be wasted and polluted with fertilizers and herbicides, and nature is to bend to heel. Landscapes are chemically and mechanically frozen in time. The machine of marketing and money suppress our concept as “Daniel Boone” landscaping with stick and pots of dirt… As the blowers and weed eaters crank up, now you know.”

The results from the testing lab:

Click HERE to read a lively article detailing the setup and results of the test.

The SCNPS is partnering with the Friends of the Reedy River (FoRR) this spring to help eradicate the Fig Buttercup (Ficaria verna), an innocent-looking wildflower that is in fact an extremely aggressive invasive plant. It quickly forms mats that out-competes all other native plants along moist streambanks and other wet regions, denying vital resources for pollinators and threatening our healthy biodiverse ecosystems, from the quality of the water we drink to the places we value for recreation.

We need your help with this important Citizen Science endeavor! Unlike most problem plants, this one is an early spring ephemeral and easily recognizable for only a short period, usually March and early April.

Take a few minutes to view this video and learn HOW to recognize it, WHERE it can be found, WHEN to look for it, and WHY it’s so important.

Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve (LOBHP) is home to at least 37 rare plant species, including Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and Raven’s primrose willow (Ludwigia raevnii). Many of these species are fire dependent, meaning they require https://scnps.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2303-grand-strand-lewis-ocean-bay.pngire cycles to help maintain the habitat needed for growth, promoting pollinators and enabling nutrient cycling. 

Construction of a hospital has been proposed across from LOBHP by Conway Medical Center. At such close proximity, the hospital will drastically limit the ability to perform prescribed burns on the property which would imperil the fire dependent plant species.

We are asking you to take action! We encourage you to participate in the #seeLOB campaign by sharing photos and experiences of LOBHP on social media and with local councilmen and CMC. 

To learn more, click HERE.