Is Basket Weaving Being Threatened In S.C.

It appears that basket weaving is being threatened in Charleston County according to Business Week publication.

This is happening because of the booming coastal development that has made finding the long swaying sweetgrass much tougher, and also because the upscale homes have been built on the traditional harvesting places. Gated subdivisions, many with "plantation" in their names, will often not let the weavers pass through to pick the long grass that they coil up with palmetto fronds, some bulrushes and pine needles, just the way their parents and grandparents taught them. This shortage appears to be threatening this centuries old American folk art.

The Stokes Marshall and some other local leaders are trying to preserve this art of sweetgrass basket weaving.

Researchers are currently taking an inventory of all buildings, stands, churches and all other sites that are related to the sweetgrass weaving tradition that could be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. But this still means that there is no requirement that eligible sites will be preserved.

This would be a great shame to let this art in this area die out.

Would like to hear what you think.