The Palmetto Porch

Merry And Bright In Monetta

It takes six years to grow a Christmas tree — talk about a commitment! But in the small town of Monetta, families look to Tom Sawyer for their annual tradition of picking

A Voice For The Community In Edgefield

Lydia Wherry’s family has been connected to the Edgefield Advertiser—the Palmetto State’s longest continuously running newspaper—for six generations. Lydia shares with De

Honoring Heritage In Bluffton

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of the enslaved Africans who lived in the coastal regions of South Carolina. But their stories—and relevance to state history—di

Ladies Of The Letter In Hartsville

A typewriter in her closet. That’s what Hartsville’s Elizabeth Boatwright Coker used to write her novels, at a time where a woman’s ambition usually took a backseat to ev

A Sanctuary In Summerton

The area around the town of Summerton isn’t exactly known for its hustle and bustle. But there’s still something wholesome and peaceful tucked into its lush, green landsc

Hard Work On A Half Shell In McClellanville

McClellanville is a very small town—one of the smallest we’ve ever featured on the Porch. But it’s known all over the state for its fish and seafood. And even today, its

A Sustainable Farming Legacy In Chester

Ethan Bedford is a jack of all trades — and he kind of has to be, as the owner of Hazelwood Dairy Farms in Chester. He and his family run the farm, an agricultural center

A Farm-to-Table Delight in Conway

Darren Smith, owner and head chef at Conway’s Rivertown Bistro, has had an extraordinary journey. Starting as a child in his grandma's kitchen, he passed on formal culina

A Hub For Bluegrass In West Columbia

In the 1980s, the late Bill Wells wanted to build a place where families could enjoy the music he loved. He and his wife opened Bill’s Music Shop and Pickin’ Parlor — par

The Palmetto Porch Season 4

New places, new stories, same Southern charm. Host Devyn Whitmire brings us another season on the Porch, highlighting individuals who contribute to their town's unique ch

In North Charleston, Find Community Over Sounds And Spirits

Scott Newitt, co-founder of Firefly Distillery, started out with a job in the wine industry and a love of music. With that in mind, it makes sense for South Carolina’s la

Mitchelville’s History Unearthed

Before going through her studies at Binghamton University, Dr. Katherine “Katie” Seeber didn’t know anything about Mitchelville, the first town built for free people on H

A Riverside Renaissance In North Augusta

North Augusta is a cozy, family-friendly city nestled along the Savannah River, right at the state line. People often pop in to visit relatives — but local leaders want t

Adventure Ends, And Begins, In Little Pee Dee

Michelle Cunningham wanted a change of pace. Selling everything she owned, she set out on a trip across the country in a camper. In the Pacific Northwest, Michelle discov

An "Underground" Dining Experience In Abbeville

In 2008, busy middle school teacher Erica McCier received news that would change her life forever: her kidneys were failing. As she adjusted to this harsh reality, she fo

Boggin’ Around Town In Loris

Every day, a restaurant in Loris serves steaming bowls of chicken bog, the town’s most famous dish. But what is chicken bog? And how did it place an entire town on the ma

Critters And Conservation At Cypress Gardens

The unique natural scenery at Cypress Gardens  has made it a popular backdrop for films and television shows. As the garden’s resident naturalist, Gabe Shuler is an exper

A Treasured Legacy At Lexington’s Old Mill

The legacy of textiles touches almost everything in Lexington. But change is constant, and in the 1980s, the old textile mill in Lexington was converted into a mixed-use

Paris Mountain’s Poetic Stillness

In Greenville, those who have a love of the outdoors can find refuge at Paris Mountain State Park. For Greenville’s poet laureate Glenis Redmond, the park holds a special

Cheraw, Birthplace Of A Jazz Legend

In small towns, historic preservation isn’t always at the forefront of the conversation. But in Cheraw, birthplace of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, there are old and iconi