Friday headlines: Some Lowcountry farms want Christmas trees – Charleston City Paper

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Charleston City Paper
With the holiday season at an end, many Christmas trees will start to end up in landfills across the Lowcountry. But some farms in the area are asking for old trees for their animals. 
Ridgeville farmers Lacey Hill-Hiers from Just a ‘Lil Bit Farms and Nicki Peardon from Family Farm 251 said the trees can be used for food for their pigs and goats, while chickens can use the foliage as shelter.
“It helps us out,” Peardon told WCSC. “If you can donate and support your local farm that’s great. Because that’s what we want to do. Our main goal was to support our family, but then also support the community.” 
Any trees without frosting, ornaments, tinsel, light wires or any other harmful materials are accepted for donations. Peardon and Hill-Hiers say to check with other local farms before throwing out Christmas trees to the curb or landfill. 
REMEMBER TO VOTE:  Voting has been extended to Dec. 31 to nominate your favorite businesses and people in our 2023 Best of Charleston contest.  Get your nominations in today.
In other headlines:
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Emergency allotments for food stamps to end Feb. 1, state says. Emergency food stamp allotments, which started at the beginning of the pandemic, will end Feb. 1, the state Department of Social Services has announced. The program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, will revert to regular benefit amounts at that time.
S.C. legislation to end sales tax on tampons. Republicans in the South Carolina Senate and House agree that it’s time to put an end to the so-called “tampon tax.” The proposed bill will eliminate sales tax from tampon purchases and provide free access to tampons in schools.
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