
Partnerships play a vital role to conservation efforts and allow us to work with more communities
Partnerships are an important tool to achieving our mission. South Carolina NRCS has a primary mission of "Helping the People Help the Land." We could not do this without our producers and our partners. Throughout the Palmetto State, organizations partner with us to share expertise, connect us in every community, and to deliver conservation and education on the ground
Here are a few of the partnerships in action in South Carolina.

United Way-Laurens County. NRCS partners with the United to provide a valuable food source in the Clinton, SC community through three community gardens. These Gardens provide free fresh food, education and a sense of community to an underdeveloped area on the grounds of a shuttered mill. Some of the bounty includes squash, collard greens, lemon grass and tomatoes.


The Green Heart Project, located in Charleston, South Carolina, provides an underserved community with a bountiful harvest through community gardens. The gardens serve the community and provide an invaluable educational opportunity through a relationship with the Charleston School District. The organization provides volunteer mentors, known as Green Heart Buddies, to teach students about health, community and food, while providing sustenance to people in need.


Based in the Environmental Health Sciences Department at USC’s Arnold School of Public Health, the Soil Health Labs has a long history with the USDA NRCS and specializes in soil and crop research while providing technical support to the agricultural community. Led by scientists Buz Kloot and Gabe Kenne, our dedicated team has a solid track record of collaborating with producers, researchers, and NRCS representatives nationwide to gather data from diverse agricultural operations. The Soil Health Lab’s mission is to share valuable insights and resources through videos, podcasts, and articles, highlighting the successes, challenges, and lessons learned by producers in South Carolina and the Southeast.
Their website, www.soilhealthlabs.com, serves as a comprehensive resource for agricultural professionals and producers alike. All content is available for sharing and reproduction, empowering anyone interested in improving soil health and agricultural practices. If you have a relevant story or know someone who does, we encourage you to reach out to help spread those experiences for the benefit of the broader community.