Stalking the Wild Sweetgrass

Robert J. DufaultClemson University, Department of Horticulture, Charleston, SC, USA

• Introduction.- The beginnings of change.- My time to get involved.- Getting to the grass roots of cultivation.- Getting more involved.- Sweetgrass Utopia in the Southeast – Little St. Simon’s Island.- Getting to know the basketmakers.- Sweetgrass Culture Workshop Oct. 24, 1992.- The concept of large scale sweetgrass plantations.- 2nd Site of large scale sweetgrass plantings – McLeod Plantation, James Island.- 3rd Site of large scale sweetgrass plantings – Dill Sanctuary, James Island.- Alternative ways to access sweetgrass.- Sweetgrass biology.- Sweetgrass horticulture -environmental considerations.- Seedling cultural practices.- Field production practices.- Concluding thoughts.- Afterthoughts.