2023

Spartanburg Soil & Water Conservation District Storm Drain Murals

The Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District applied for an EEASC Mini-Grant to help with our Storm Drain Art Project. This project was also done in partnership with Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful, the Keep America Beautiful Affiliate in our county.

As storm drain awareness is an ongoing issue in our county, it was decided that an eye-catching message could definitely help to spread the word. The headquarters and 9 branches of the county library system were selected as perfect locations for the artwork as all of them have storm drain of one nature or another, they are visited by citizens with an interest in learning and with 90 % of the population of the county within 5 miles of a library, they are very accessible!

Working with the library system, sites were selected at each branch. A Call to Artists went out and submissions were selected by a jury made up of one commissioner from the Soil and Water Conservation District, one board member from Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful, the county stormwater manager and two representatives from the library system. Winners were notified and the sites were primed with Armor-Seal TreadPlex paint with sand to supply an evenly tinted, but slip-proof surface. Winners installed their designs during a two-week period and are now on display for all of Spartanburg County!

The biggest challenge we faced was finalizing the size allowed for the artwork. Originally, we had planned on entire parking spaces or sidewalk sections, but these dimensions were altered. All said and done, I think the project will be enjoyed by county residents and the message will reach many! (We are also still looking for 2 cones borrowed form the county.)

Thank you for partnering with us in the project, it couldn’t be done without the paint!

2022

EEASC is pleased to award spring 2022 mini-grants to support the following projects:

• Okatie Elementary School, Pollinator Garden Service Project Grant - $400
• Leaphart Elementary School, School Garden/Greenhouse Service Project Grant - $250
• Newberry SWCD, Camp Conservation and Greenville Zoo Student Learning Opportunity Grant - $500

2021

The Montessori School of Johns Island will receive an award of $300 for the completion of the Monarch Waystation/Pollinator Garden. The garden is to be placed in front of the school and will be certified as a pollinator garden. It will be used by pre-K to third grade. This grant will be supervised by Mary Claire.

The Fairfield Career and Technology Center has been awarded $500 to construct a ¾ mile trail loop from an existing outdoor classroom to the creek and back to the classroom.  The SC Forestry Commission is assisting with the project. This grant will be supervised by Ernest Manning.

2020

Anderson County Public Library Sensory Garden

EEASC provided a Service Mini-Grant to support the development of a sensory garden at the Anderson County Public Library in Belton, SC. Library staff and community volunteers, including Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists, worked together to create an aesthetically pleasing, therapeutically beneficial, environmentally friendly, and educationally enriching Sensory Garden that stimulates four of the five senses: sight, smell, sound, and touch. A colorful landscape of fragrant flowers, textured bark and rustling leaves will invite more melodious songbirds and beautiful pollinators to kindle the senses of all ages! 

Project Manager: Dodie Clark
 Award Amount: $300

   

Photo 1: Grant funding was used to purchase plant tags featuring QR code connections to an online Plants Map! Visit https://www.plantsmap.com/organizations/25490/collections/34775 to see NEW courtyard photos, plant descriptions, and related resources from the garden. This created a much-needed virtual learning outreach opportunity! 

Photo 2: The Sensory Garden provides a home for various pollinators, beneficial insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals at the library. Learn  more about wildlife in the Sensory Garden by perusing the Library's iNaturalist sightings: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?nelat=34.50773903029151&nelng=-82.64727811970849&place_id=any&swlat=34.50504106970851&swlng=-82.64997608029151. 

Photo 3: Projects such as the Sensory Garden at the Anderson County Public Library help to connect people with local nature and to promote environmental stewardship. In this photo, Anderson County Public Library Youth Services Department members Ahuvyah and Lisa are feeling the thick, soft leaves of naturalized Great Mullein while discussing how Native Americans medicinally used the leaves to wrap wounds. Library staff enjoy taking their lunch breaks in the garden where they can listen to the birds sing, watch the butterflies and bees collect nectar, and smell the herbs and flowers. Peace on Earth!