USC Upstate Sustainability

10/24/2026

UNIV U101 students helped strengthen USC Upstate's campus ecosystem by planting 40 trees along the Science Trail. The project was made possible through our partnership with TreesUpstate and grant support from the Noble Tree Foundation.

10/24/2026

🌳 40 new trees on the University of South Carolina Upstate Science Trail! 🌳

UNIV U101 students got their hands dirty and made a lasting impact by planting 40 trees along the Science Trail Friday morning!🌱

A huge thank you to TreesUpstate for partnering with our students and to the Noble Tree Foundation for providing grant support to make this project possible following the loss of the trees during Hurricane Helene.

This was a great way for students to learn about sustainability, connect with their campus, and leave USC Upstate a little greener than they found it. 💚🌎

10/16/2026

We had a terrific time on the Palmetto Trail during the Fall Color Walk with Conservation Voters of South Carolina.

As USC Upstate enjoys Fall Break, sometimes, a walk in nature is all the reset you need. 🌿💚

10/02/2026

🌶️🍅🌿 Community Harvest Alert! 🌿🍅🌶️

Before the rainy weekend rolls in, come visit the Food Forest today and help yourself to an amazing harvest! We have lots of beautiful varieties of peppers, tomatoes, and okra ready to be picked and enjoyed.

Bring a basket, invite a friend, and enjoy spending a little time outdoors before the rain arrives. The gardens are full, and we'd love to see this fresh produce make its way to your tables instead of being left on the plants. 🌱💚

09/30/2026

💧🌿 Learning beyond the classroom!

Our UNIV U101 class of first-year Biology majors got some hands-on experience learning about water quality monitoring with the Watershed Ecology Center! Students explored how citizens can monitor the health of our waterways and why protecting local watersheds matters.

What a great way for our newest Biology students to connect their studies with real-world environmental science! 🌎🔬💦

09/29/2026

Spend some time during Fall Break exploring fall colors! Explore the USC Upstate Passage of the Palmetto Trail!

Celebrate the fall season with CVSC at an upcoming trek along our state’s breathtaking Palmetto Trail. We’re stopping in Spartanburg on October 16 and Awendaw on October 23 for coffee and a leisurely walk with environmental advocates and enthusiasts surrounded by fall colors.

We want your help spotting all of the beautiful colors along the way, so choose a color, take some photos, and share them with us after the event to take home a CVSC T-shirt!

All are welcome to come meet our team, learn more about our work to protect the South Carolina we love, and explore the beauty of the great Palmetto Trail.

Register here: https://www.cvsc.org/get-involved/events/

09/26/2026

Congratulations to our hardworking Landscape Services team and Arbor Day Committee! 🌳 We 💚 trees at the University of South Carolina Upstate!

Congratulations to USC Upstate, which has been recognized for achieving its 18th year of Tree Campus Higher Education recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation this year! ⁠
⁠
University of South Carolina Upstate's 18 years are the greatest number of Tree Campus awards achieved by any university and college in South Carolina; Clemson University and USC Columbia each have 17 years. SCFC Piedmont Urban Forestry Specialist Ann Huyler presented the award to Director of Building and Landscape Services Bruce Suddeth earlier this year.
⁠
USC Upstate takes its campus green space seriously!

Fast facts:
-The 12-acre Susan Jacobs Arboretum contains at least 130 tree species and 80 shrub species and 12 gardens.
-The six-acre Rotary International Peace Park holds almost 400 trees.
-With 200 acres of campus green space management, including 25,000 square feet of landscaped beds, USC Upstate said it could do even more! ⁠
⁠
Two years ago, USC Upstate received a food forest grant from the Forestry Commission. At least 300 plants, producing fruit, nuts, berries, vegetables and herbs were established in a green space pocket between University Way and Valley Falls Road behind the Health Services building. ⁠
⁠
This venture was created to help feed students, faculty, staff and the surrounding Spartanburg community and provide hands-on education in urban horticulture. Congratulations and keep up the great work, USC Upstate!

09/21/2026

New books at the USC Upstate Food Forest little library! 📚 🌺

08/21/2026

Today was the first day of the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!! 🐝 🦋 🐞

You can participate tomorrow by spending time in your neighborhood counting your pollinators!

Learn more here: https://gsepc.org/

And check out the super cool book available at Spartanburg County Public Libraries!

08/19/2026

Harvest Ready!!! 🥒🥕🍅

Have you been to the Food Forest recently?

Now is the time for SO MANY crops! Stop by anytime and find your next meal. FREE! Pick what you need.

We have beans, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, squash, and probably more 😊

First come, first harvest - but come back again because it’s growing fast!

995 University Way, Spartanburg (open to everyone)