Blog

The Life Cycle of the Furman Farm

Pictured above: Corn approaching harvest; Frederick is 6ft tall for reference. A few weeks at the Furman Farm breeze by for anyone who works there, but all the stages of life are present throughout. My...

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Spearheading Organic Viticulture and Defying Agricultural Norms at Paris Mt. Vineyard

When other viticulturists told the owners of Paris Mountain Vineyard and I that it would be impossible to grow grapes one hundred percent organically, we took ‘impossible’ as a challenge to prove them wrong. [caption...

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The Shi Institute in a Snapshot

“So… what is the Shi Institute?” Hi! My name is Maggie Kropf and I am the Communications and Outreach Fellow for the Shi Institute for this summer. This role combines my deep passion for sustainable...

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Welcome 2026 Shi Institute Summer Fellows

Summer is here and while that means slowing down for much of campus, the Shi Institute is alive this season with 17 student sustainability fellows. This cohort - representing 13 distinct academic majors and minors, 8...

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Seeing the Bigger Picture: How Data Uncovers the Power of Public Transit

Each year, public transit in Greenville County serves approximately 750,000 rides across more than 270 miles of service and 480 stops, with access available to 32% of households. These numbers matter, but their impact depends on how clearly they’re understood. ...

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Data for a Greener FUture

Working on Furman’s Greenhouse Gas Report has helped me understand how small actions can make big impacts. Something as small as swapping a lightbulb can save enough energy to power a home! At a scale...

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Walking & Mapping: Reimagine Furman’s Campus with a New Map

Our campus closely resembles a maze. After attending Furman for about 4 years now, I still discover new paths to get to where I need to be simply by living in different residential buildings every...

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The Importance of Furman Farm in our larger Furman Community

Just a short walk from the center of Furman’s main campus is a place where students, faculty, and community members can contribute directly to our university’s sustainability goals. In addition to being a place where...

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Building Heat Resilience: How the Shi Institute and Bluffton Are Leading the Way

Extreme heat is one of the deadliest extreme weather events in South Carolina, and it’s getting worse. Residents already experience about 15 days each year with temperatures above 95°F, and that number is expected to...

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Collaborating Through Eco Reps for a Sustainable Campus

Practicing sustainable behaviors has always been important to me, but collaborating with other students while making new friends makes it that much more rewarding. My name is Anna Moon and I am serving as one...

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What Being an Eco Rep Fellow Taught Me About Leadership

Leading 28 busy college students is not always a walk in the park. My name is Nabila Wilson, a sustainability major from Houston, TX, and I’ve been leading the Eco Reps program for two years...

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Spend Your Summer with Shi

Spend your summer making a real impact with the Shi Institute’s 2026 Summer Sustainability Fellowships. Open to all Furman undergraduates (any major, any year), these 10-week paid fellowships (June 8–August 14) offer hands-on sustainability work...

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