S.C. Ag + Art Tour in Darlington County
Muscadine grape vines at the Greensward Vineyard in Darlington
Photo by Jana E. Pye
By Jana E. Pye, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
The S.C. Ag + Art Tour began this weekend, June 4 & 5, providing free, self guided tour of farms featuring artisans at every stop in locations in nine counties. For this weekend, Darlington County was included for the first time. The following Darlington County farm sites were included:
Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center on Pocket Road, Florence; click to learn more about this amazing facility: Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center
Pressly Coker at Coker Farms
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Coker Farms National Historic Landmark at South Fourth Street, Hartsville, where Pressly Coker shared stories of Coker Pedigreed Seeds and farm life with visitors to the interactive exhibit that is free to the public to visit; to view photos of the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Coker Farms. (An accompanying story will be posted on Wednesday. June 8)
Muscadine grape vines at the Greensward Vineyard in Darlington
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Greensward Vineyard on High Hill Road in Darlington where John Ward grows blueberries and muscadine grapes; to view photos of the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Greensward Vineyard (An accompanying story will be posted on Wednesday. June 8)
Members of the Wednesday Watercolor Group paint at Kalmia Gardens of Coker College in Hartsville as part of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour on Saturday, June 4, 2016.
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Kalmia Gardens of Coker College on West Carolina Avenue in Hartsville where the ladies of the Black Creek Arts Council’s Wednesday Watercolor group painted in plein aire; ; to view more photos of and read more about the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Kalmia Gardens of Coker College
Le Farm of Hartsville, part of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Le Farm on Bobo Newsom Highway in Hartsville, where owner Suzanne Becknell offers organic blueberries and produce; the painters at her farm were Teresa Gaylord and Adrian Rhodes; to view photos of the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Le Farm (An accompanying story will be posted on Wednesday. June 8)
Rogers Brothers Farm, part of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Rogers Brother’s Farm on East Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, sharing delicious Gillespie’s Peanuts and a tour of the farm to survey the corn, cotton, soybean and peanut crops by Gill Rogers and his sons Lee and Charles; the artists at the farm were Shirley Romero, and Jason Crist; to view photos of the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Rogers Brothers Farm (An accompanying story will be posted on Wednesday. June 8)
Teal Farms Ben Teal with painting of tobacco leaf by Jessi Childs
Photo by Jana E. Pye
Teal Farms on Cat Pond Road, Patrick, where 5th generation tobacco farmer Ben Teal talked about growing organic and conventional tobacco crops; Ben purchased a painting of a tobacco leaf done on site by artist at his location, Jessi Childs; to view photos of the event, visit: S.C. Ag + Art Tour: Teal Farms (An accompanying story will be posted on Wednesday. June 8)
Although the temperatures were unseasonably hot, many residents from the area and across the state ventured out to enjoy two days of up close and personal visits with several farmers of the area. Many had items to sell at their venue, and all shared great stories of agriculture and their adventures in farming.
According to Suzy Moyd, Director of Main Street Hartsville, the event was a success.“It was great to see the support of the community,” she said while visiting the Le Farm site with Allison Pederson, Director of Black Creek Arts Council. “Although it has been a bit slow going for a hot Saturday, it’s been a good steady trickle. This was good exposure for the farmers, and the artists.”
Pederson agreed. “What was really interesting was watching the interaction of farmers. I saw a farmer from the Oates community talking to Gill Rogers at their farm, comparing grasses and field techniques.”