Carolina Yards

The Carolina Yards Hybrid Course is a 10-week online and self paced course designed to provide information and techniques to help you create and maintain a more environmentally friendly landscape. Weekly modules updated every Monday will guide you through the twelve Carolina Yards principles and interactive discussions provide the opportunity to connect with your peers across the state. (time commitment of 2 - 2.5 hours each week is expected)

This course is intended for anyone who is interested in learning more about environmentally friendly landscaping. Participants are encouraged to complete at least 18 action items from the Carolina Yards Scorecard to receive Carolina Yard Certification however this is not mandatory. Please note that only yards located in South Carolina are eligible for this designation.

The Carolina Yards course is designed to help South Carolinians conserve water and make positive changes to the environmental quality of their yards, neighborhoods, and surrounding waterways. You will learn more about how to achieve your desired landscape through actions that save money, increase success, and protect natural resources.

Online course content will include:

• The course will go over the 12 Carolina Yards Principles: Maintain Healthy Soil, Recycle Yard Waste, Mulch Matters, Right Plant/Right Place, Garden Like A Local, Remove Invasive Species, Be Wise When You Fertilize, Manage Yard Pests Responsibly, Water Wisely, Rain As A Resource, Reduce Runoff, and Provide For Wildlife.
• Interactive discussions with classmates through discussion boards on each topic

The course includes hands-on components that provide participants with the opportunity to apply practices learned, along with an optional in-person field day. Location of the field day will be announced at a later date.

During the course, participants have the option to certify their yard as a Carolina Yard and recieve an electronic certificate via email that can be printed off. A scorecard will be shared with participants at the beginning of the course that can be used to keep track of which action items you have completed. A total of 18 action items (equivalent to 36 inches) completed certifies a yard as a "Carolina Yard." Once you have completed your action items, you will then certify your yard through the Carolina Yards Certification Canvas Course. A link to this free course will be provided.

Benefits of having this certificate include access to Carolina Yards merchandise including the newly designed Carolina Yards Yard Flag, garden stones, yard signs and the ability to admire your beautifully unique Carolina Yard! Carolina Yards make for a great community showcase!

Weekly Topics

1. March 17 - Welcome & Introductions, Course Overview, Principle 1: Maintain Healthy Soil
2. March 24 - Principle 2: Recycle Yard Waste & Principle 3: Mulch Matters
3. March 31 - Principle 4: Right Plant, Right Place & Principle 5: Garden Like A Local
4. April 7 - No new modules; catch up week
5. April 14 - Principle 6: Remove Invasives & Principle 7: Be Wise When You Fertlize
6. April 21 - Principle 8: Manage Yard Pests Responsibly & Principle 9: Water Wisely
7. April 28 - Principle 10: Rain As A Resource & Principle 11: Reduce Runoff
8. May 5 - Principle 12: Provide For Wildlife, Yard Certification and Reflection, Conclusion/Course Evaluation
9. May 9 - Optional Field Day (locations to be announced)
10. May 12 - no new modules, catch up week

Course closes on May 19th at 11:59 PM. Certifications are emailed to passing participants at this time.

Participants will be invited to the course after registration closes on February 28th, 2025. Participants will have access to this course beginning on Monday, March 17th, 2025 and have until May 19th, 2025 to complete the online portion of the course.

To participate fully in this course, you will need:

An active email address for the individual participating in the course.

A desktop computer or laptop (recommended): Canvas is available on mobile devices, but some content may appear differently.

Access to a high-speed internet connection.

A web browser compatible with Canvas: Chrome and Firefox are recommended.

Headphones or speakers (closed captioning also available).

Computer skills including Internet browsing, using email, typing, downloading files, and basic troubleshooting.

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/carolinayards/index.html

Questions? Reach out to Mallory Maher at [email protected] or Anaston Porter at [email protected]

Host or Publisher Clemson Extension Water Resources