Seeking solace in uncertain times: How Upstate Forever is responding to COVID-19

With so much uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 in the Upstate, across the country, and around the world, our Greenville and Spartanburg offices closed this week while Upstate Forever staff work from home to help protect the health of each other, our families, and our communities. 

However, you can rest assured that our team is still working hard to protect our region's critical lands, waters, and unique character. Even though we are not together in the office, we are together in our continued efforts and dedication to this work that benefits all of us.

Thanks to your support, we are still working with landowners, utilities, and stakeholders to protect the Upstate's land and water resources; still advocating for smart growth, energy, and conservation policies at the local and state levels; and remain dedicated to protecting what makes our region so special during these unprecedented times. We will continue to share the progress of our work with you. 

Now, more than ever, we can turn to nature as a place of solace. These stressful days present an opportunity to seek refuge in the great outdoors — while, of course, observing responsible social distancing practices. We hope you’ll find comfort in our region’s special places.

And since, like us, you’ll find yourself spending much more time indoors in the coming days, our team wanted to share some enlightening, entertaining, and informative documentaries and books you might enjoy during this time of social distancing...

TO WATCH

• Sustainable (Stream on Netflix or Rent with Amazon Prime Video) – Caitlyn Smith, Land Conservation Specialist
• Rivers of Life (Watch for free online at PBS.org) – Drew Brittain, Land Conservation Specialist
• Chasing Coral (Stream on Netflix) – Lisa Hallo, Land Policy Director
• Local Hero (Rent with Amazon Prime Video) – Kerry Newberry, Office Manager / Executive Assistant
• CBS Sunday Morning's recent special, The Road Less Traveled (View at CBSNews.com) – Sherry Barrett, Land Policy Manager

TO READ

• Taking Back Eden: Eight Environmental Cases That Changed the World by Oliver A. Houck – Christina Sprecher, Land Stewardship Manager
• A Wholly Admirable Thing: Defending Nature and Community on the South Carolina Coast by Dana Beach – Shelley Robbins, Energy & State Policy Director
• Seven Days on the Santee Delta by John Lane and Philip Wilkinson – Shelley Robbins
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – Caitlyn Smith
• The Carnivore Way by Christina Eisenberg – Drew Brittain
• The Anna Pigeon Mysteries by Nevada Barr – Chris Starker, Land Conservation Manager
• A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold – Dorothy Signal, Land Stewardship Associate
• Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver – Erika Hollis, Clean Water Director
• The Biophilia Hypothesis by Stephen R. Kellett and Edward O. Wilson – Megan Chase, Clean Water Advocate
• Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams – Lisa Hallo