Yearly Archives: 2014

Valdosta Farm Days –Gretchen on WALB

Gretchen is at the old Lowndes County Courthouse now, setting up for Valdosta Farm Days, 9AM to 1PM today.

By Colter Anstaetts reported from Okra Paradise Farms for WALB yesterday, Lowndes County farmers ready for “Farm Days”,

Lowndes County farmers will be at the courthouse in downtown Valdosta from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. selling their crops. This is the fourth year for the “Farm Days” program, and Lowndes County farmers are looking forward to it.

“I’m definitely looking forward to Farm days,” said Gretchen Quarterman, a farmer in Hahira. “It’s an excellent opportunity for farmers, not only to sell but for local people to get local, fresh food. And, when we buy from local farmers we support the local economy.”

-jsq

64th Annual Ham and Eggs Show

hameggs2014

The 64th Annual Ham and Eggs show is this week. The only one left in Georgia, it is not to be missed.

Where: Lowndes County Civic Center
2102 E Hill Ave.
Valdosta, GA 31601

When:
11am Tuesday, February 18th Judging.
Tuesday events will also include presentations on

  • back yard hens by Dr. Claudia Dunkley of UGA
  • and egg candling by the USDA.

1pm Wednesday, February 19th Auction.

I’ll be there. I hope to see you.

–gretchen Continue reading →

Citrus Resources –Marj Schneider

This goes with Yes, we can grow citrus in Georgia!, Marj Schneider’s talk at South Georgia Growing Local 2014. Also available in PDF and Word. -jsq

Citrus Resources

South GA Growing Local, January 25, 2014

From Marj Schneider: marjschneider@bellsouth.net

Loch Laurel Nursery
2867 Carroll Ulmer Road, Valdosta, Georgia 31601
Exit I-75 on Georgia Route 31 East (Exit 11). Turn right on Carroll Ulmer Road.
Nursery entrance is one half mile ahead on the left.
Phone: 229-460-5922
Email: craw142@bellsouth.net
http://www.lochlaurelnursery.com/map.asp
Features cold hardy citrus, Satsumas, mandarins and lemons. Mark Crawford offered nursery tours for this conference.

McKenzie Farms
 2115 Olanta Hwy, Scranton, SC29591
Phone: (843)-389-4831
EMAIL: citrusman99@hotmail.com
http://www.mckenzie-farms.com/index.htm
Stan McKenzie offers over 40 varieties of mostly cold hardy citrus, priced very affordably. Check out his website and call or write for availability and size.

Plant Folks Nursery
 Continue reading →

Doug Tallamy at Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council & Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council A Joint Annual Symposium

Sent today by Karan Rawlins. -jsq

Please share this with everyone you know!
SAVE the DATE!
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council
& Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council
A Joint Annual Symposium

November 12-14, 2014
Georgia Center, Athens

Keynote Speakers:
Douglas Tallamy: Bringing Nature Home, How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
Charles Bargeron: Using Technology to Fight Invasive Species: Past, Present and Future
Nancy Lowenstein: Creating National Guidelines for Listing Invasive Plants

Includes:
Conference
Lunch & Refreshments
GA-EPPC Membership
CEUs
Vendors
Door Prizes
Field Trips
Learn more about Exotic Pest Plant Councils in the Southeast at www.SE-EPPC.org.

Please read Douglas Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home, before the Conference in November. If you are interested in native plants, ecosystems, songbirds and other wildlife, this book will provide much useful and interesting information.

Video of Prof. Doug Tallamy on Sustainable Landscaping, by U. Delaware:

-jsq

SOGALO14 Farm Tours in the VDT

Most of the front page of the Valdosta Daily Times Saturday was about the South Georgia Growing Local 2014 Farm Tours.

Stuart Taylor wrote on the front page of the VDT 25 January 2014, Growing Local Farm Tour gets under way,

While past South Georgia Growing Local conferences have had self-guided farm tours, this year’s conference offered a guided tour through four local farms, starting off Friday morning at Raisin’ Cane.

“We teach people about agriculture,” said Jessica Bolesta, who Continue reading →

4-H bus for Farm Tours

The 4-H bus we’ll be using for the Farm Tours today South Georgia Growing Local 2014 was in the Valdosta Daily Times Wednesday.

New minibus for Lowndes County 4-H,

Lowndes County 4-H honored County Commissioners and local businesses for their support of the 4-H program in the recent purchase of a new Lowndes County 4-H minibus at its Kids Dig It Thank You Luncheon held in December.

Continue reading →

Using Solar –John S. Quarterman

From solar electric fences to selling solar power for profit, John S. Quarterman will talk about solar opportunities for farmers and some legal hurdles, at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:

Why solar power is the fastest growing industry in the world and how to apply it to agriculture. Financing is the main obstacle. Some ways to get financing, and at least one law that could be changed to help with that.

His conference bio: Continue reading →

Curing Ham –Derrick Dawson

Derrick Dawson will talk about a long-time tradition at South Georgia Growing Local 2014:

The Lowndes County Ham and Eggs show is the only remaining Ham and Eggs show in Georgia and one of only two in the country.

Hams are cured by a local team that travels periodically to Fort Valley State University to work in USDA certified facilities. Hams are treated with a cure, turned, treated, turned, treated, turned, washed, bagged and finally smoked over the course of several weeks in preparation for judging and auction.

The Ham and Eggs show this year will be February 18 and 19.

Continue reading →