letters from the land of burning clay: no. 1

I’ve been living in Jenkinsville, SC for barely four days and already I’ve fallen in love: in love with the land, in love with the people and in love with the life here. It’s small town, population 783 at last count. There’s no stoplight and the most happening place in town is a little bitty home run sandwhich shop that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, where you’re greeted by the smile of a curious little girl helping her grandmommy out for the summer. The last couple of days I’ve taken my bike out for a ride so I could start meeting my new neighbors and everytime I pass the shop there’s always a crowd of folks gathered around a couple of picnic tables ready with a smile and an easy greeting. A smile that reveals the beauty of a community built on trust, love, generosity and good faith.

The only time I don’t see a crowd is in the heat of the day, and with this heat wave passing through, summer in Jenkinsville is characterized by the most burning red clay you’ll ever see and a stillness broken only by a mischevious wind off the lake and the breeze of passing eighteen wheelers along Hwy 215. And the lake is definitely a local favorite for fending off the heat. If you don’t live right on it, South Carolina Electric & Gas generously owns and operates a park with public access. Back when I was still looking for a place to live in Jenkinsville, I visited the park for the first time and almost cried when I met Kia, Hope, Travis and Tristian, four of the sweetest kids you’ll ever meet ranging in age from seven to ten, splashing around and celebrating their last day of school. As their mom and I spoke, I couldn’t help but wonder what the water quality was like, and as I was pulling back out to get to the highway, I saw a local man standing on a dock fishing, with a bucket at the ready for whatever he caught. In Jenkinsville, the water running out of your tap is from the lake, the water you use on your garden is from the lake. The Monticello Resevoir is the heart of the community, and right on the other shore is SCE&G’s one reactor VC Summer power station.

VC Summer, which you could see over the heads of my four newest friends, has been operational since 1982. Over twenty six years the people of Jenkinsville have grown used to the reactor; it’s just a part of everyday life, a spot to be avoided on the horizon. But now that SCE&G wants to build two new reactors, not everyone’s so sure it’s a good idea. There are rumblings; there are concerns; there are hesitations. And in just over a week, youth from both Carolinas and hopefully other reaches of the southeast will be sitting down in living rooms, kitchens, and on front porches to hear all of these concerns, all of these hesitations. In a community that’s used to being ignored, stopping to listen, and not only listening, but really caring about what the people of Jenkinsville have to say, will be revolutionary.

So if you’re interested in getting involved, please email me (sara.m.tansey@gmail.com) or call me (843.305.0490). I would love to share Jenkinsville with you, to introduce you to my new adoptive mother Miss Thelma, to take you to meet all the circle of community elders at the White Hall AME senior citizen group meetings any weekday from about 11:00-1:00, to let you sit in my backyard on the infamous Monticello Resevoir and enjoy the breeze that rolls in right from the reactor. There’s so much beauty and inherent goodness waiting in Jenkinsville, so much love and kindness to defend, so many smiles and hearts to earn! All you have to do is be open and genuine.

Our first training camp and listening project will be from midday on Friday June 20th through Sunday June 22nd, and all are welcome. But I’m also living alone in an apartment with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living room and would love to have anyone who cannot make it for this first training weekend (and there will be other weekend opportunities), or who just doesn’t get enough in a hurried couple of days, to come whenever and spend all the time they want or can dedicate to these projects. I’ll be in town almost all summer, until mid-late august, so give me a call and come on! I don’t think you’ll regret it; in fact, I would almost bet you’ll fall in love, too!!

from the land of burning clay,

sara tansey

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