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Episode3 – South Carolina

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America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell Goes to South Carolina to film the Third PBS Episode

America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell is proud to bring you a third PBS Episode sharing the landowners of the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention ( SFLR) program is a partnership of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and USDA Forest Service (USFS). We filmed the success of African American landowners across the southeast in South Carolina this Fall. A glimpse into the life of landowners through film is just what is what we captured with tree plantings, forest cruising, personal stories of family land, and Chuck Leavell even played piano at the local church to create church choir music. You do not want to miss this premier episode. 

We watched three landowners tell their stories of family land and forestry focus. On the first set, of America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell, certified tree planter Mary Hill, was interviewed. The property her family owns has been handed down and her late husband’s great, great grandfather received 43 acres and a mule after the Civil War. Now the land is cultivated as a tree farm for the benefit of future generations.

Chuck enjoyed showing future generations how to plant pine trees on the property and even had his wife Rose Lane get a behind the scenes picture with him.

Next, he could not help but get in on some gospel music with the choir of Greater Emanuel A.M.E Church in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

A natural tree farmer from Georgia, Chuck Leavell is always wanting to hear from the people. He listens patiently and hears the voices of the land like here in South Carolina on the steps of the historic Cherry Hill Classroom with landowners. The Cherry Hill Community Center is a place where visitors can go in search of African-American history. ⠀

At the register of deeds in Colleton County, South Carolina, Chuck talks with tree farmer Joe Hamilton. They explored his family history in the basement of the county seat to understand land ownership dating back to the Civil War. On our last stop, Chuck interviewed the Acting Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service Leonard Jordan at Francis Marion National Forest.

We hope you are as excited about the premiere of our third episode in South Carolina and the SFLR program, as are we. The inspiring and life-changing stories of these landowners won’t be found anywhere else. When the episode premiers this Spring, call into your local PBS station request it!

For more information on the series, to host a showing of an episode or to get involved in future episodes, visit americasforestswithchuckleavell.com, follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email us.

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America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell is Going to South Carolina to see What the Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention Program is all About

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SOUTH CAROLINA – Chuck Leavell is on the road again. Stay tuned for a special episode of America’s Forests with Chuck Leavell and follow his journey into the south. The new episode aims to shine light on a deep-rooted program that helps African American landowners better understand options for forested land they inherited or own.

The Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention (SFLR) program is a partnership of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and USDA Forest Service (USFS). The program promotes intergenerational land retention and family asset creation for African American landowners across the southeast.

“The success of the Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project demonstrates the power of government, philanthropy, and community collaboration to advance opportunity. We at the Endowment are proud to support a program that leverages public and private investment designed to empower African American families and communities to retain rural family land ownership, enhance forest health, and build intergenerational wealth,” said Endowment President and CEO Carlton Owen.

The SFLR program was launched in 2013 as an effort to aid African American landowners in turning their forested properties into economic assets. The program capitalizes on innovative partnerships between local, state, and federal organizations to assist landowners in this process. SFLR provides a variety of support to these landowners, including access to legal assistance and opportunities for sustainable forestry. To date, the program supports 8 project sites across 7 states and more than 955 landowners. The participants own a combined 71,000 acres, ensuring land assets remain held by historical landowners.

SFLR has continued to strengthen networks that support, connect, and empower landowners. These networks are catalysts through which African American landowner leaders are emerging and organizing—both locally and regionally. Ultimately, it is the empowered leadership of these landowners and those they influence that will define the program’s legacy.

The series is produced by Choose Outdoors and 42 Degrees North Media and the South Carolina episode is made possible with support from the USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Endowment.

We hope you are as excited about the premiere of our next episode in South Carolina and the SFLR program, as are we. The inspiring and life changing stories you hear won’t be found anywhere else. Check it out on your local PBS station. Call in to request it! 

For more information on the series, to host a showing of an episode or to get involved in future episodes, visit americasforestswithchuckleavell.com, follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or email us.