Just back from visit to Charleston and everywhere I turned there were people weaving sweetgrass baskets, from the roadsides outside Charleston to throughout the city. I'm curious, is all of this sweetgrass gathered from the shores of South Carolina? Do they have an erosion problem?!

Hi Benava!

I'd love to hear about your trip, as I'll be in Charleston in October.....Hope you had a great time!

Betsy

Actually, the sweetgrass baskets are made of kudzu and since you have likely never seen kudzu let me just tell you that you can watch it grow. So as for errosion, we have erosion of the local culture, but still have most the dirt.

I did a search at www.charleston.net and went to the archives and typed in "sweetgrass baskets" and found the following:

SWEETGRASS FACTS
Sweetgrass facts from Clemson University horticulturist Robert DuFault and Internet sources:


Muhlenbergia filipes is the scientific name for the grass most often used to make sweetgrass baskets in the Lowcountry.

Muhlenbergia capillaris is another type of grass used locally. It is found in marshy areas that are a bit woody as well.
It can be found over a range of more than 5,000 miles - from the Outer Banks down into Florida and across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula.

There are numerous articles about how the rapid growth in the Charleston & Mt. Pleasant areas have caused the sweetgrass to seriously dwindle. I saw a demonstration at our church and the woman used 3 types of reeds in the making of her baskets - they are very expensive, but take an enormous amount of time to weave. It's definitely a dying art since none of the younger generations want to spend the time to learn the craft.

Sweetgrass is a wild marsh type "grass" that is gathered by the locals for weaving. As far as I know the Carolina Low Country is the only place they do this. These are unique items and very durable. We get some everytime we are there. They never wear out and make terrific gifts. They can be a bit expensive. I never "bargain" because the people who make them need the money more than I do.
I grew up in Charleston and know they have been around since my childhood (40 years ago).
Drive North on US 17 and there are lots of roadside stands. They also sell in the market place in town.

As pointed out above, sweetgrass baskets are definately not made from kudzu (although I have seen some crafts made from the giant weed). Sweetgrass is not the same as the sea grass that grows on the dunes and protects the beaches from erosion. That is protected. Sweetgrass grows in the marshes.

I recently read a magazine article on the Low Country and the wonderful baskets that are still made today. I remember buying one as a child 40 years ago at a roadside stand and it still is in wonderful condition . I believe the article was in Coastal Magazine a month or two ago.

Leaving for Charleston Thursday morning. Did you do any of the House & Garden tours going on right now? Where would I find the best priced sweetgrass baskets? What was the weather like?

Thanks.

Go across the bridge on RTe 17 in Mt. Pleasant for the best prices on the baskets. Still very dear.

If you go past the Isle of Palms Connector turnoff on Rte. 17 (going north) there are a few women on the right side of the bridge whose baskets are a little lower priced and of outstanding quality. I always go to a woman's stand - her name is Albertha Jones. Don't know if she's still there, but she's a real sweetheart and her baskets are a bit unique.

Thanks Carol and Gretchen, will check out baskets on Rt. 17 and see if I can locate Albertha.

To Betsy and others who are planning a trip to Charleston--the highlight of my visit was the Gullah tour. I would suggest an advance booking. The folks at the Visitor Center can help. There is also a website, www.Gullahtours.com or something similar. It included a visit to a blacksmith-turned-wrought-iron artist. Enjoy.