Families pass heirlooms from generation to generation. Perhaps it’s great grandfathers’ pocket watch or grandmother’s china plates. These items are cherished and protected. The same is true for passing on a family farm. That’s why generations of South Carolina farmers have protected the soil and natural resources for the future by practicing good management practices and using the latest in mechanical, computer, and biological technology.

Like farmers, each of us plays an important role in protecting our soil and water resources. Farmers have always been “teachers’ and “environmentalists.’ They work hard to protect the land on which they and their families live and work. We can learn from them by applying the following conservation measures in and around our homes and offices.

1. Try a variety of the pesticides and insecticide alternatives that farmers are using (use mulch to control weeds and use good insects to control bad insects.)

2. Use fertilizers wisely (take soil tests, minimize lawn fertilization, and use recommended types and amounts of fertilizers based on test results and plants to be grown.)

3. Design a well-planned landscape to help prevent nutrient runoff and erosion in your yards.

4. Farmers recycle crop residue with a practice known as conservation tillage to help prevent soil and nutrient loss following harvest. As homeowners, we can also practice conservation by composting.

5. Farmers know the importance of conserving water. They use the “checkbook principle” of irrigation---balancing plant moisture needs with rainfall. We can learn from them by selecting grasses and plants that do not need a lot of water; by watering lawns infrequently, but deeply; by avoiding watering at night (it encourages disease); by only applying water as fast as it can be absorbed; and by not over-watering.

Take if from South Carolina farmers. Do what they are doing and have been doing for generations. Follow their lead and use their best management practices, so that we can all be stewards of the land. Working together, we can make a difference for South Carolina.