Active, talented Board of Directors

Became a 501(c)3 non-profit, Kudzu Coalition, EIN # 20-8872959

Financial: Lived within our means, decided not to go after federal grants

Kudzu control sites:

            Increased to 49 sites in Spartanburg – all formerly “Spots of Embarrassment”

            Achieved 100% kill at 11 sites and saved hundreds of trees

            Traveling Kudzu SWAT: Bat Cave (NC), Rose Hill Historic Park (Union), Musgrove Mill (Clinton), Sumter National Forest (Enoree District)

Adult volunteers: Officially made “fun” a fundamental element

            Set up teams (Experiments, Treatments, Communications, Publicity, etc.)

            Began “Interests” survey. Found volunteers for hospitality & mobile lawn mower

Student Volunteers: “No student left indoors” theme

            Five different schools & over 100 kids worked in one or more kudzu patches

            Successful field trips to Rose Hill Historical Park (killed kudzu, taught history)

Kudzu Kapers: Started annual kudzu festival in April.

            Over 70 attended. Mostly students. Presented awards.

            Started Youth Art & Writing Awards and have $1,000 donor for 2008

Awareness: Signs at each of 49 sites have increased awareness in Spartanburg

            Brochure very helpful (grant from Allegra, thanks to Paul Savko)

            Outstanding web site. Informative, fun, & newsworthy (thanks to Dr. Lou Adams)

      Recognized in the SE (Auburn, Clemson, NPS, SE-EPPC, Sumter Nat’l Forest)

Treatments/Methods:    Identified advantages of a new treatment - the kudzu chop

            Continued improvements in tools and manual extraction (holster for saw, etc)

            Designed & implemented forks extension for skid loader – made in Spartanburg, productivity. Now defined as a “Weapon of Mass Destruction”

            Sheeting: Expanded use to vinyl, rugs, etc. Identified less North face effectiveness

            Sumter Nat’l Forest test proved we could eliminate one herbicide treatment

            Began joint study with herbicide application behind Beacon for SC-EPPC

Education:

            School presentations: Broome, Chapman, St. Paul’s Catholic, Day School, Spbg.

            In town presentations: Lost Acres, Rotary Club, several garden clubs, etc

            Away presentations: Rose Hill, Musgrove Mill, Columbia, Athens, Ga., etc.

            Kudzu Kollege: Roughly once each month, added diploma, hospitality improved

Developed strong partnerships:

            Master Gardeners, SMGC, City, SPACE, SC-EPPC, Clemson (Forestry),

            Forest Service, Rose Hill, Statewide Kudzu Control Task Force, SE-EPPC     

Resources: Trained a reliable landscape contract firm in kudzu control