August Newsletter

Regenerate Upstate 

Brought to you by Students for Stewardship

Hey, Friend. Welcome to Regenerate Upstate!

Welcome to the first edition of Regenerate Upstate! We are thrilled to bring you a wealth of information and inspiration from the vibrant permaculture and regenerative farming communities in upstate South Carolina. Our goal is to connect like-minded individuals, share resources, and support the growth of sustainable, eco-friendly businesses.

Be sure to check out our Back-to-School event section at the end of this newsletter to see what we are up to and how you can become a part of Regenerating Upstate South Carolina.

Food Forest at Clemson

Introducing a new community space at Clemson! Ground has been broken at the Hunnicutt Food Forest. This space will be dedicated to promoting regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles on campus at Clemson. The new ‘Students for Stewardship’ Club has been given a land grant right off of Newman Rd to start a regenerative food forest. We hope to prove that through the right processes, even upstate SC's hard-pan clay can be transformed into a food-abundant oasis. Inspired by projects like the Cleo-Bailey Experiment, the Treehouse Trade School, and ‘Roots so Deep’ we are committed to making this vision a reality.

Currently, the Food Forest area requires significant stewardship. Our biggest challenge is water. Despite being near a stream, the hilltop location is very dry, and the heat wave during the first half of July severely affected our efforts. We need both short-term and long-term water solutions. I’ve managed to get a 55-gallon barrel for rainwater harvesting as a temporary measure. If you see it, please withhold judgment—it's a work in progress!

Thanks to Lowes for donating the first round of plant supplies, we have planted 3 peach trees, 4 blueberry bushes, 3 raspberry bushes, and a grapevine.

Fall Mission at Hunnicutt:

At Hunnicutt, we are embarking on an exciting journey to cultivate both food and community. Our vision includes:

Biochar: Supplementing the soil with biochar will raise the organic content of the soil and increase the absorption and retention of water. It also provides a home for micro-biodiversity.

Winter Planting: We have winter seeds that we want to start growing with the help of the agronomy club. We hope to see real yields out of the 

Inoculating Soil for Plant Health: We plan to inoculate the soil with beneficial fungi for our peach trees, raspberries, grapes, and a native passionfruit species. This symbiotic relationship will enhance soil health, improve plant resilience, and increase yields.

Inoculating Logs with Lion's Mane and Bioluminescent Mushrooms: Imagine walking through the Hunnicutt Food Forest at dusk, witnessing the ethereal glow of bioluminescent mushrooms illuminating the paths. Lion's Mane, with its impressive neurological benefits, will be cultivated on logs, offering both a fascinating sight and potential health benefits.

Protecting American Chestnuts: One of our most ambitious goals is to bring together mycelium and plants that are synergistic to American Chestnut Trees. By fostering a supportive network of mycorrhizal fungi, we hope to help the effort to restore these majestic trees to their rightful place in Appalachia.

Goals for Hunnicutt Creek Project

1. Environmental Stewardship and Restoration:

   • It’s our goal to enhance the health of our local water cycle through stewardship of Hunnicutt Creek. By implementing sustainable practices such as “half-moons” and swales to guide water to our plants we can use the landscape itself to manage rainwater runoff. Focus on stream and riparian health to create a more resilient and diverse ecosystem.

2. Education and Outreach:

   • Through our club, we want to connect students to hands-on learning opportunities and to the community through workshops, seminars, and volunteer activities.

   • Assist in educational programs that teach sustainable practices in agriculture, water management, and ecological restoration.

3. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production:

   • We want to build connections with our community by helping various operations establish some form of sustainable agriculture including: worm farming, black soldier fly farming, algae farming, the creation of biomaterials and many more.

   • Plant food crops and develop food forests to promote local food security and biodiversity.

4. Community Engagement and Collaboration:

   • Foster partnerships with local organizations, clubs, and community members to support and expand the project's impact.

   • Engage the community through events, collaborations, and shared initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and sustainability.

5. Research and Innovation:

   • Conduct research on innovative techniques in sustainable agriculture, water purification, and ecological restoration.

   • Develop and implement off-grid capabilities and biosystems to model sustainable living practices.

6. Water Quality Improvement:

   • Implement natural and engineered solutions to mitigate pollution and improve water quality in Hunnicutt Creek and surrounding areas.

   • Utilize biofilters, natural pools, and phytoremediation techniques to purify water and enhance aquatic habitats.

7. Carbon Accounting and Environmental Impact:

   • Use carbon accounting to measure and demonstrate the environmental impact of green spaces and sustainable practices.

   • Develop strategies to reduce carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability.

8. Mycological Integration:

   • Incorporate mycological elements like inoculating logs with fungi (e.g., Lion's Mane and bioluminescent mushrooms) to support plant health and soil ecology.

   • Develop a mycelium-plant guild to protect American Chestnuts and enhance soil fertility.

Our mission to Fortify South Carolina by partnering with Fungi

The Hunnicutt Food Forest, with its beautiful crape myrtle guilds, is the perfect project area for growing mushrooms on logs. This fall semester, we are excited to host a mushroom workshop at the Food Forest. Participants will learn about the cultivation of various mushroom species, the benefits of fungi, and how to integrate these practices into their own gardens and mycoremediation projects.

We’re still in the early stages of societal acceptance. However, many people are beginning to use  mushrooms as a safe alternative to  . We are already building community awareness to help everyone benefit from fungi, decreasing chronic inflammation, and improving quality of life.

The future of fungi at Hunnicutt is bright and full of potential. We invite students, researchers, community members, and local businesses to join us in exploring the incredible potential of fungi at Hunnicutt. Together, we can create a thriving, sustainable environment for all.

Imagine a world where locally grown mushrooms hold the key to health, environmental sustainability, and community resilience. At Clemson University, we're exploring this incredible potential through innovative projects and collaborations. Whether you're dealing with brain fog, looking to enhance your garden, or curious about cutting-edge research, fungi offer a nature-based solution that could transform your life.

The Mushroom Man and world renowned renowned mycologist Paul Staments, highlights a surprising fact about mushrooms:

“A very interesting metric is about 1% of mushrooms are poisonous, about 1% are psilocybin active. This means about 98% of them are not poisonous and not psychoactive.”

- Paul Stamets

It's essential to approach mushroom foraging and consumption with caution, ensuring you have accurate identification and guidance. Resources like the app Seek and  Mushroom Mountain in Easley can assist in this journey.

Now, let's delve into the exciting world of fungi and discover how these incredible organisms can benefit our health, ecosystems, and community initiatives at Hunnicutt.

“Fungi can offer many benefits to the brain, including decreases in inflammation, increases in neuroplasticity, as well as increases in BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which promotes the growth of new neurons.”

-Camden Hartley, President of Clemson Neuroscience Club

• Anti-inflammatory: Certain mushrooms can reduce inflammation in the body.

• Immuno-modulators: Mushrooms like Reishi can help balance the immune system for humans as well as bees.

• Adaptogens: Mushrooms such as Cordyceps can help the body adapt to stress.

Lion’s Mane mushrooms are known for their potential to support neurological health. Research suggests they can promote nerve growth and improve cognitive function.

Medical Advances:

Mushroom Mountain is collaborating with a doctor in Charleston to use mushrooms grown on their property in Easley to treat pancreatic cancer.

New breakthroughs in medical applications are happening every month.

Mycorrhizal Fungi:

Mycorrhizal fungi form synergistic relationships with plant roots, fostering a healthier and more resilient micro-ecosystem. A diverse mycorrhizal population is essential for biodiversity and the success of ecosystems from old-growth forests to backyard gardens.

Community Updates

• Announcing the launch of Students for stewardship Club

• Clemson Carpentry Club is now available to join!

• Upcoming workshop on mushroom cultivation and mycoremediation

• Student for Stewardship Meeting times to be decided

• Volunteer with the local community - Check out Cleo-Bailey, EcoReps, and the Clemson Area Food Exchange aka CAFE.

Join Us for a Back-to-School Hangout Event!

• Date: September 8th

• Time: 6:00 PM

• Location: Issaqueena Lake

We're excited to kick off the new school year with a community gathering at one of Clemson's most beautiful spots! We'll be tidying up the trails and restoring a picnic table with the best sunset view on the lake. We hope to use this event to make goals for the club this year and start some of the seeds we already have. This is a great opportunity to explore the hidden gems of Issaqueena Lake and meet fellow Students for Stewardship.

Activities Include:

• Picnic Table Restoration: Help us repair and refresh a picnic table with the best sunset view.

• Council Ring Cleanup: Join us in cleaning up the iconic Council Ring area.

• Starting From Seed: We’ll be planting winter seeds in small planters to give them a head start for the upcoming season.

We are also looking forward to the presence of some of our community's most valued members, including local leaders and business owners who share a passion for sustainability and stewardship.

Afterward, we'll wind down with some music, refreshments, and a cozy fire, celebrating our hard work and enjoying the serene surroundings.

We hope to see you there!

Contact Us

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