Local Heroes: Greenwood Residents Among Thousands Volunteering to Advance Gardening and Environmental Education in South Carolina

The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service benefits from the efforts of over 4,500 volunteers who contributed nearly 90,000 hours of service last year. These volunteers play a key role in helping the university achieve its land-grant mission to provide unbiased, research-based information to South Carolina residents. Volunteers, including Ann Barklow and Missy Lowery from Greenwood, enjoy their work in gardening, where they engage with eager learners. Their work helps spread knowledge and build a community interested in gardening and environmental care.

Volunteers at the Extension come from various backgrounds and have different motivations. For example, Clemson undergraduate Vone’ Whaley is committed to youth leadership and community engagement, while Eleanor Nault, who holds multiple degrees from Clemson, is driven by her love for nature. This variety of motivations enhances the volunteer program and its impact on different South Carolina communities. The Cooperative Extension system, designed to promote mutual assistance within states, is well represented by these volunteers.

In 2023, volunteers were active in programs like the Master Naturalist Program and the Master Gardener Program. The Master Naturalist Program involved 314 volunteers who dedicated 22,126 hours, and the Master Gardener Program included 919 volunteers who contributed 66,219 hours. These programs support environmental conservation and gardening and are crucial in educational outreach, with the Master Gardener Program helping over 200,000 people last year.

The contribution of these volunteers extends beyond hours and numbers. For instance, the Master Gardener Program is valued at over $2 million to South Carolina, according to the Independent Sector Value of volunteer hours. This financial estimate highlights part of the broader impact these volunteers have. They foster greater appreciation and understanding of gardening and environmental stewardship in their communities.

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