Owned and cheerfully operated by husband-and-wife team David Merritt and Jaime Tenney, COAST makes a selection of delicious beers. While their production might be small, their focus on quality ensures many fans.

Focused on sustainable practices, COAST purchases organic ingredients, uses reusable glass or keg containers, powers its boilers with biodiesel, and sells its spent mash to a Johns Island farmer. When we visited in January 2009, we learned a few things about the beer brewing process and the growing number of microbreweries in South Carolina.

The brewing room at COAST Brewing Company in North Charleston is complete with copper boil kettles in the back and fermentation tanks to the right. With this equipment, master brewer David is able to brew about 2,000 kegs of handcrafted microbrew per year.

Learn more about COAST Brewing Company by visiting their website.

See more North Charleston Pictures.

Read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

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The CARTA Superstop (pictured above) is located at the intersection of Cosgrove and Rivers. It acts as the central bus stop on many routes through the North Charleston area. Inside the small building, you’ll find restrooms, a few chairs, and a small snack bar. It’s a warm place to stay on a cold day. From the Superstop, you can easily reach many parts of metropolitan Charleston.

The CARTA Express buses have been successful at bringing fast reliable service to commuters from James Island, Mt Pleasant, and North Charleston.

The interior of the buses are clean and spacious. As express buses, they make only a handful of stops on their routes, serving long-distance riders better. When we missed our stop, everyone aboard pointed us in the right direction.

For more information on CARTA routes, schedules, and fees visit the agency’s website here.

Learn more about public transportation in South Carolina.

Go to the North Charleston photo gallery.

Read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

Learn more about current happenings at North Charleston Elementary by visiting their official website.

Read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

Cheap space surrounding the former Navy Yard has attracted young entrepreneurs intent on operating sustainable businesses. Though not officially coordinated or promoted by the city’s government, this green community has grown one-by-one, almost by accident, with like minds aggregating around like minds.

It now hosts a bevy of low eco-footprint companies – such as a LEED-certified sporting goods warehouse, a biodiesel manufacturing plant, and even an earth-friendly brewery that only produces beer on tap!

North Charleston’s old main street, East Montague, has also experienced a revitalization, and it offers a hip retreat for locals. Park Circle is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the Charleston metro area.

Partnerships between North Charleston and private developers have led to the creation of Noisette, a 3000-acre mixed-use development which seeks to position itself as one of the nation’s premiere sustainable communities. Mixson is following suit, and together these communities help cement North Charleston’s status as South Carolina’s up-and-coming green destination.

While much work remains to revitalize the blighted landscape of North Charleston, the amount of energy and talent in the area has already made great strides in achieving a more sustainable vision for the city.

Read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

A few of the highlights of the Park Circle neighborhood include the Park Circle Disc Golf Course, the Olde North Charleston Picture House, EVO Pizzeria, North Charleston Elementary School, and COAST Brewing Company.

Check out the North Charleston photo gallery and make sure to read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

As it offers wide vistas of the Cooper River and a respite from the industrial landscape surrounding it, the Riverfront Park is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.

Go to the North Charleston photo gallery.

Read our SCIWAY News article: From Ships to Sustainability – North Charleston’s Changing Nature.

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The orphanage was officially chartered in July 1892 by the State of South Carolina; its mission was to create a safe haven for African-American children in need. In the 1930s, Social Security began providing assistance to families who needed financial help to care for children. This resulted in a dramatic decrease of abandoned children in America, greatly reducing the need for orphanages. In time, the orphanage was renamed Daniel Joseph Jenkins Institute for Children.

Jenkins’ mission today remains the same: To promote and support the social and economic well being of children, families, and individuals to enable them to become productive and self sufficient in their communities. It is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors and an advisory board which provides direction and information on current legal policies.

While in the past the institute has housed children of both sexes, presently it serves as a refuge for girls between the ages of 11 and 21. The dorm can accommodate up to 19 children. Each room has a television and a computer and is semi-private. All the children live in this building and are supervised 24 hours a day by a staff of 10, which includes care specialists and counselors.

At 16, each child has the option to “age out,” meaning that they stay at Jenkins until they are 21. If a child decides to stay, she must pursue a higher-education degree. More typically, girls stay at the institute for one school year, and then return to their families.

Jenkins Institute receives support from local churches and mentoring organizations, helping expose the children to many different experiences and broaden their horizons.

In addition to state funds, the institute is sustained through private donations and grants.
Jenkins hopes to bring in additional funding by becoming a stop for historical tours in the area. When we visited the campus and met with administrators, they shared their plans to build a museum which showcases the impact of the Jenkins Orphanage Band on the history of American Jazz. They are also considering growing sweet grass on their many acres of wetlands, planting locally-renowned Noisette roses, and designing a hedge labyrinth, which would provide a nice atmosphere for picnics.

Learn more about the Daniel Joseph Jenkins Institute for Children by visiting the official website.

Read our article: Orphanage Band Instrumental in Jenkins’ Past and Future.