Davis Farms CSA

Can't believe it's been over a month since I updated things here. Many people have contributed their time and energy to help us plant, trim, weed, harvest, lay irrigation, and more. As a Community Supported Agriculture farm, volunteers who come to work are an important part of our farm. Our volunteers range in age from 12 months to seniors, and include many people who have no experience growing anything. Some of them visit once, others make it here weekly. With our busiest season fast approching more "hands on the farm" will be needed. Contact me at davisfarmscsa@aol.com to arrange a visit.

City Market on the Green is open every Sat., rain or shine, at Poplar Street and MLK Blvd. in Macon. This Sat. May 31 the market will feature 2 exciting events. Community Health Works will provide a free demonstration of foods that aid the function of the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, bones and reproductive systems. Located in Forsyth, GA, 478-994-1914, Community Health Works will also provide guides to food that aid the prevention of chronic diseases that are especially prevalent in Central Georgia, such as heart disease and diabetes. Learn how eggplant, avocados, pears, walnuts, olives and other foods impact your health.

 

The second demonstration is local blacksmith George DuPree. Using traditional tools and methods, DuPree shapes and fashions red hot metal into useful objects and interesting sculptures. He talks about this time-honored art and the role it played in history. The market is open Sat. between 8:00 a.m. and noon. Vendors at the market include locally grown food and handcrafted items. Vendor inquiries are welcome, contact Naomi Davis, 478-836-4564, davisfarmscsa@aol.com.

 

Well, it rained on the farm work day so no farm work got done. In fact, it rained so much that water got into the fuel line of the John Deer tractor and Bennie and I spent a day trouble shooting it. We finally got it cleaned out and the tractor started, but we are waiting another day or so before prepping the field again. The potatoes are doing well and I spent some time today cultivating them. The corn is also growing and the peas look great. We are expecting a cool evening and cooler tomorrow night, boy am I glad I didn't plant seedlings last week. Now, the race will be on next week to get things in the ground.

April 19 is opening day at the City Market on the Green with many special events; blacksmith demo, bag pipes and drums, McGruff the crime dog, pottery wheel, homemade food, locally grown produce and vegetable seedlings. Join us on Poplar Street and MLK Blvd 8:00m a.m. to noon, plenty of free parking!

FARM WORK DAY-Fri. & Sat. April 4 & 5. We will be preparing field rows for transplants, work suitable for all ages, children & adults! Bring your fishing poles and relax after helping, harvest some fresh salad greens for dinner, and enjoy some farm work. Call or e-mail for details; Naomi Davis, 478-836-4564, davisfarmscsa@aol.com

The peas have sprouted! The weather has been cool the past two nights but the days have warmed up and the soil is warm. I am tempted to put a few tomatoe plants in the ground...but instead have been busy transplanting things from cells into pots, and then in a few weeks into the ground. The greenhouse is filling up with more seed trays and the beds are full of greens. I was surprised when I harvested Kale today to find that I could harvest a good amount of mustard as well. Tomorrow I harvest all morning and head to Wesleyan to sell. Should be a good amount of greens and some plants to bring along also.

Although it was windy and cool Sat. we planted 1000 feet of potatoes, both red and white. Today Sherri and her girls helped and we planted another 500 feet of Yukon Gold potatoes and a row of peas and a row of corn. We plan on planting more corn as soon as our seed arrives. The ground was still moist when Bennie worked the soil this morning and after we finished planting a rain shower came through, hopefully getting everything off to a good start. We also worked in the greenhouse while it was raining and seeded 2 flats of tomatoes, 2 of pepper and 1 cinnamon basil. The only thing we didn't have time for was getting the Golden Nugget sweet potatoes in the ground so they can sprout, but that doesn't take long.

The weather is warming up and any day now the wild Blackberries will flower. When that happens, say the older farmer's, there won't be any more frost. This year we should have a large crop of blackberries because there has been so much rain. The pond is quite full and I look forward to seeing the gold fish spawn, which they did not do last year. I suggested to Bennie that he build a miniature water paddle to keep the pond aerated. But, he has so many other things to do we might end up just buying a spray fountain for it. If the weather stays warm and the blackberries flower I might take a chance and transplant some seeds early.

We have had about 1 inch of rain every other day for the past week or so. What a contrast to last year! The rows we prepared for potato planting were small creeks yesterday during the heaviest down pour, and having learned last year not to plant potatoes prior to a heavy rain we have waited. Hopefully tomorrow the rows will be dry enough for us to get the spuds in the ground. We have red, white and Yukon Gold varieties.

Yesterday after selling produce at Wesleyan I spent a few minutes speaking with Teresa Southern, a writer for a local magazine. She is interested in writing an article about City Market on the Green which will appear just prior to its opening April 19. It was good to be back at Wesleyan and I met many new people who have heard about our locally grown produce. Of course, it was great to see shareholders again, and for shareholders don't forget our 2008 Potluck Business meeting Sat. March 15, noon at The Lane Center on the Wesleyan College campus.

The following varieties have begun sprouting in the greenhouse, thanks to the people who attended our permaculture workshop; Jimmy Nardello peppers (our most popular pepper last year), Kurdi squash, dill, nasturtiums, Genovese basil, borage, tansy, cucumbers, petunias, and some more I can't remember.

On March 11 at 7:00 p.m. Central High School's book club is hosting Janisse Ray, author. She has written three books which creatively combine growing up in a junkyard outside Baxley GA with the story of endangered ecosystems of  South GA. She is one of the most outspoken advocates for conservation of south GA's ecosystems and watersheds. The event is free and all are welcome. The event is at The Douglas Theatre in downtown Macon.

Thanks to Dee Deville and Debby Waugh for their generosity in giving their time in our permaculture workshop last Sat. They helped us understand permaculture; "it is about designing sustainable human settlements. It is a philosophy and an approach to land use which weaves together microclimates, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, water management and human needs to intricately connected, productive communities". (Bill Mollison) If you want to contact Dee or Debby here is the information; Dee Deville, Gaia Permaculture, 202 Warermelon Lane, Mauk, GA 31058, 229-649-6411, gaiamon@windstream.net. Debby Waugh, Salamander Springs Farm, 396 Nelson Road NW, Milledgeville, GA 31061, 478-952-3544, dwaugh@linux.com

After learning the basics of permaculture and addressing some questions we all walked up to the greenhouse, accompanied by our dogs Laser and Toomany. The dogs were so excited to see all the people, about 30 including many children, they entertained us fetching sticks and swimming in the pond. Children ran through the fields and adults strolled along, and I loved having the farm filled up with people! In the greenhouse each person selected seeds and got busy planting a flat. Debby helped some children mix up more soil and Shirley and Carolyn filled more flats and in the end there was a large assortment of seeds planted; tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, dill, lemon basil, genovese basil, borage, tansy, petunias, nasturtiums, mustard, squash (winter and summer) and probably a few I have forgotten about. Today Bennie and I planted 10 wax myrtles that were a gift from Vicki Owen, the extension agent in Crawford County. We still have several dogwoods and a few other trees to plant.

After the work in the greenhouse we walked back to the farmhouse and enjoyed farm fresh salad (arugula, chard and sprouts) and tabouli with fresh flax seed bread from Eden'z in Macon. An assortment of muffins with sorrel tea topped off the meal. Several people purchased strawberry plants, both potted and barerooted, and worm castings. What had started out as a wet morning ended up being a bright, sunny day and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

In the past 2 years Crawford County has experienced two tornadoes. In 2007 it hit about 3 miles east of the farm, and two days ago one hit about 5 miles west of the farm. In both locations homes were destroyed, people were injured, pets were traumatized, but no fatalities. The rescue teams of the Crawford County Fire and Ambulance crews are made of both paid and volunteer members and arrived on scene almost immediately. We are grateful for their work and are thankful we have not been in the path of these damaging events. Our greenhouse sits on top of a hill where the winds are always stronger but somehow it has escaped damage also.

After Katrina I purchased a knapsack and use it as our "emergency pack". I encourage all of you to have one ready. My pack contains; my husbands medications, 2 bottles of water, alcohol pads, band aids, flash light and batteries, 2 small cans of tuna, a dog leash and collar, permanent markers and blank paper (remember the signs people in New Orleans made?), an envelope with $50.00 dollars in one dollar bills (the ATM's in New Orleans didn't work), socks and peanut butter. When bad weather is headed our way I take the pack and put it in our hallway bathroom, remove the shower curtain and rod, place a blanket in the tub and remove all other items that could become projectiles in the wind. I tuck our wallets in the knapsack, take a good book and our cocker spaniel and I ride out the storm, me reading and him trembling. Bennie watches the local weather sitting in his chair on wheels ready to propel himself into the bathroom if needed. Me, I prefer to already be there. Please, even those of you that are not in tornado areas, an emergency pack is required! When you hear the tornado, or flood or whatever it is, it's too late to get ready. Get ready now!

Cold! Cooler weather has returned and I fear it will freeze the delicate daffodils that have recently popped up out of the soil. Here on the farm I noticed them yesterday while walking with Chris and Mary who came out to visit. Mary is about 3 and enjoyed walking in the newly plowed field we have prepared for potatoes. She found a few pieces of drip tape that had been caught in the mower and draped them around her neck as if they were jewelry! And she is old enough now to enjoy the dogs and their antics, which included a romp in the pond.

One of the local stores, Karsten & Denson, where we have bought onions sets and potatoes, farm tools and peat moss, irrigation supplies and hoses, will be closing its original Macon store, which opened in 1917. Bennie's grandmother shopped there for her seeds and baby chickens, which they sell every spring. His mother considered a trip to the store a highlight of going to Macon. When farmer's traveled on  horses and mules to town the store had large water troughs outside for the animals. Ed Grismore, a local writer for The Macon Telegraph, wrote a wonderful article about Karsten & Denson in today's paper. The store is rich in history and has the most wonderful wooden seed draws, items that will never again be produced in the US. Some of the items they carry will be available in their other store but it won't be the same. 

I located the company I bought the Jimmy Nardello seeds from last year and ordered some, along with Lemon Basil and some varieties of tomatoes. The Jimmy Nardello's were our most popular pepper last year, they are early producers and prolific, and bear for a long time. Hopefully the seeds will get here in time for the Permaculture workshop Feb. 23!

Yesterday I spotted another huge flock of geese, heading north. I waited several minutes to see them after first hearing them, and by the level of honking I knew it was a large group. For the first time, perhaps due to my new glasses, I could see them riding on the air currents, the whole line rising one by one, like surfers on waves in the ocean. The distance between each member of the flock is almost exactly the same. And, they all seem to be the same size, no babies that I could tell. The goose at the head of the V showed up and behind it a long line on either side, very long. The longest I have seen yet. About 5 minutes after they all passed another small group passed by. It was late in the day and I was trying to finish weeding the chard before it got too dark, but watching the geese was more fun so I'll need to get back to weeding tomorrow.

 

Last week we had a first on the farm...I went to check the rain gauge after a cold, sleety day and the water in the gauge was frozen! It did measure one inch though which is excellent and brings the area up to a pre-drought level. It doesn't mean however that the water we lost from the catfish pond has been replaced, because the pond is still much lower and smaller then it was in 2004. That same cold day and  night burst a pipe in the well that supplies the greenhouse so we have a small repair job to do. The hydrangeas in the greenhouse were damaged so I brought them to the farm house and trimmed them back below the damage, and brought some of the strawberry plants down that have small beautiful berries on them. I have been preparing for the workshop in Feb. and have flats ready and cleaned for us to plant. But, the cold weather has stalled outside planting, due to the cold temp of the ground. I will be trying to catch up when things warm up. There are more strawberries to thin and more garlic and onions to go in the ground. And, Feb. is the time to plant potatoes and its just around the corner.

The talk given by Blue Thunder, a Shoshone medicine man and elder was inspiring and motivating. We were treated to traditional chanting and drumming along with his insights about mother earth, her limitations, wounds and future needs. His message was one of unity and peace, and stressed the need to eliminate anger, envy, greed, and jealousy. If you ever have the chance to hear him I encourage you to do so.

The City Maket on the Green opens April 19 and we will have several special guests that day. McGruff the Crime Dog will be there, along with Blessed Thistle, the bag pipe and drum duo. Also entertaining us that day will be Ken Rozier, a local mime artist, and Geoware will be bringing their portable pottery wheel. The market location is Poplar Street at MLK Blvd. from 9:00 to noon.

As a reminder, there is always more to do on the farm then we can get accomplished, so help is always welcome. Let me know via e-mail;davisfarmcsa@aol.com or call me at 478-836-4564.

Sat. Feb 23 is the date of our farm workshop "Permaculture, sustainability and seed starting". It will be held at the farm, 701 Hortman Mill Road, Roberta GA. The workshop will start at 10:00 and finish at 2:00 with a light lunch catered by Eden'z, a vegan restaurant in Macon. The chef will be on hand to discuss her recipes and help you adapt favorite recipes of yours to be healthier.

 We are excited to have Dee DeVille who will be speaking about permaculture. Dee holds a general Permaculture certification as well as an advance Permaculture teacher's certification. He has trained under friend and mentor Bill Mollison, and trained also with Max Lindegger, and Lee Harrison of Australia. Dee has been involved in many aspects of animal husbandry systems, and is Founder of  "Gaia Permaculture". Along with Dee we will have Debby Waugh of Salamander Springs Farm. Debby has applied the principles of permaculture in her life style and will help us apply the principles of permaculture to every day living. She will talk about native plants and ecosystems as we walk from the farm house to the greenhouse. In the greenhouse we will mix soil for starting seeds, set out trays and get hands on experience planting seeds. Varieties scheduled for planting during the week of Feb 23 are; peppers, parsley, rosemary, nasturtiums, sage, thyme, eggplant, basil and tomatoes.

Our greenhouse is a good example of using "on-farm" resources and supporting a sustainable life style. The building we selected for the greenhouse was built in the 1980's when Bennie was a hog farmer. We reframed it using trees grown on the farm, the tables are re-cycled floors from the hog operation, the screens supporting the side and top are recycled fencing. We use several recycled 55 gallon drums filled with water to moderate temperature fluctuations in the greenhouse. The only items we went off farm to get are the polyethylene wrapping and the PVC pipe we use for the water system. The first year we built the greenhouse we installed a propane heating system which was also recycled from the hog operation. We found the propane to be very expensive and have stopped heating the greenhouse.

Our raised beds are constructed from recycled industrial shelving. The hoops that support cover cloths on the beds are made from the pvc pipes of the water system for the hogs. Our cover cloths were used first at Crystal Organic Farms in GA and donated to us through the mentor program of Georgia Organics. When preparing these beds we recycle newspaper to keep weeds down and top it off with farm grown mulch. We have 5 wells on the farm that we use to water all our crops. I look forward to seeing you on Feb. 23 and showing you what I have described here.

 

 

Susan Raza, a shareholder of Davis Farms CSA has arranged for a very exciting speaker to be in Macon Sat. Jan. 19.

Shoshone Medicine Man, Blue Thunder, will be the guest speaker at the Unitarian Church on High Street in Macon GA on Sat. Jan. 19^th 2008 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Blue Thunder (Bennie LeBeau) is a spiritual leader and advisor living on the Wind River reservation in Wyoming. He has dedicated his life to healing Mother Earth through a variety of traditional methods.

 

Blue Thunder will explain how the energies of the earth work and how we can re-store and heal them before the imbalances being created from industrial life make it impossible to live here. He will discuss how sound and vibration can be used to heal the earth and avert severe climate changes, such as the Greenhouse Effect and prolonged droughts. Blue Thunder dedicates his life purpose to teaching and healing Mother Earth through meeting with other tribes, doing ceremonies on sacred sites to balance the elements and areas of discord, gathering information, and sharing these techniques with others so that we all may add our own energy in support of this planet in these changing times. For more information contact Ms Susan Raza, 478-501-3373, 478-745-7388, sueraza@cox.net

This article was written by Steve Nofs who manages the bee hives at Davis Farms. It was recently published in The Macon Telegraph.                                                                                                         

 

Why Not Become a Beekeeper?

 

 

As the new year quickly approaches, you may be creating a “to do” list for 2008 – new places to see, new things to try.  You could try a hobby where you can enjoy the outdoors, study one of nature’s most fascinating creatures, and harvest some sweet treats.  I’m talking about keeping honeybees.  The sheer joy and addictive pleasure of watching these animals accomplish amazing feats is very satisfying.  An engineering marvel (even by human standards) will take place in front of your eyes as 50,000 individuals work as a unit to construct wax honeycombs with such precision that it will hold over thirty times it’s own weight in honey.  Animals with brains smaller than the head of a pin will communicate through a dance language the location of food sources over two miles away.  They will collectively fly 55,000 miles and visit two million flowers to produce just one pound of honey.

 

There are currently over 200,000 beekeepers in the U.S. keeping nearly 3 million hives.  The vast majority of which are hobbyists with only a couple hives.  There have even been some famous beekeepers.  George Washington, Sir Edmund Hillary, Henry Fonda, and even Martha Stewart have donned their veils and poked their heads in hives.  Once started, it doesn’t take long to get hooked.  You’ll find yourself spending more and more time with your bees wondering how they do what they do.  Even though honeybees are the most studied organism on earth (except humans), there is a huge amount that we don’t know about them.  Beekeeping is definitely not a cookie cutter operation.  No two beekeepers do things the same way.  And like politics, all beekeeping is local.  What works in one part of the country (or even the state) may not work in another.  Besides, local beekeepers are our best defense against the inevitable arrival of Africanized bees in Georgia, but that’s a topic for a later article.

 

It doesn’t take much to join this elite club – mainly a sense of adventure and a willingness to learn.  Outside that you only need something to house the bees and a place to keep them.  A simple internet search will reveal catalogs full of standard equipment, but you can make your own.  The bees themselves can actually be ordered through the mail.  Believe me, that’s one package the post office will deliver promptly.  Bees can be kept in both suburban and even urban settings.  The biggest thing you need is knowledge.  A good place to start is with other local beekeepers.   Your local beekeeping organization, Heart of Georgia Beekeeping Association, meets at 7:00 pm on the 3^rd Tuesday of every month in the old courthouse in Perry.   For more information, contact your local county extension office.

 

 

Today I told Bennie that if I wanted to be in the cold weather I would have stayed in New York! How about VT, where they had 44 inches of snow? The temperature inside the greenhouse last night went down to 33, outside it was 24. And it is expected to be colder tonight. I spent some time yesterday repairing a few holes in the greenhouse wrapping and enforcing the edges. There is no way to tell if that helps, but it makes me feel better knowing the holes are sealed up tight and the edges are hammered down. The plants are grouped close together so they can keep each other warm, and it was sunny today, heating up the cement floor, walls and 50 gallon drums filled with water. Hopefully that warmth will protect things from freezing.

The wind is fierce and howling, blowing leaves into twirling spirals which our dog Toomany trys to catch in her mouth. She moves so fast that she is a blur, and when she catches one of those spinning leaves she chews it momentarily and then spits it out. And on to the next one. She stayed next to me yesterday as I weeded the arugula, resting on the sunny side of the raised bed against the warm steel. The wind wasn't too bad yesterday so working outside was possible, but today was a different story. I took the tractor up the hill and even with my 4 layers of clothing I could feel the cold. Since the tractor doesn't have an enclosed cab it is always a debate to me in cold weather; do I go fast to get where I'm going quickly and ignore the wind, or do I slow down so the wind isn't so bad and grit my teeth for the longer ride...

The wind has blown some trouble into our electrical system, when we awoke this morning our furnace was off and some of the outlets in the house didn't work. After some expert trouble shooting (Bennie was an electrician) we restored the electric to the furnace but could not get all the outlets to work. We'll tackle that when its less windy and warmer.

Both dogs are here in the house, staying warm with us for now.We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 Things on the farm are, well, wet! We have had significant rain the past week and the turnips, mustard, kale, arugula and chard in the field all benefited from it. The ponds, not so much. About 3 years ago we marked the water level at the catfish pond with several metal stakes. Now, they are no longer in the water, but stand sadly in soil that is almost 2 feet away from the water line. The upper pond has also shrunk. This pond is contained by tall side walls of soil, it was originally dug as a catch basin for the hog waste from Bennie's hog farm in the 1980's. About 30-40 feet below the top of the soil wall is the surface of the water. The first year we began farming we had a large water pipe sunk into the side wall of the pond and into the water, thinking that in a drought we could use the pond water to water the field below. That pipe now sits about 3 feet above the water level.

This time of year I clean the greenhouse, getting ready for starting seeds in Feb. and March. As I was sweeping the floor today I reflected on 2 years ago when Elaine Sherman helped clean the greenhouse with me. We had not used commercial grade polyethylene wrap the first time we covered the greenhouse and the first summer in the heat and wind it all cracked and flacked into little itty bitty pieces. Elaine and I swept for hours and then brought in the shop-vac for a final vacuum. What amazes me is that I am still swepping up little itty bitty pieces of plastic, although in a far smaller volume. The current poly wrap is commercial grade and seems to be standing up well. The beds that Matt built in the greenhouse held up really well and I am waiting for warmer weather to start planting in them. I noticed that flowers are starting to bloom on the Many Millions plants, I'll try to remember to bring my digital camera with me tomorrow so I can post pictures of the flowers. They are quite elegant and a lovely shade of pink.

Don't forget, we'll be on Poplar Street this Sat. Dec. 15th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Handmade Holiday celebration for City Market on the Green. Produce we'll be bringing include arugula, mustard, turnips, sweet potatoes, onions, alfalfa sprouts, cayenne peppers, chard, sorrel, and collard greens. Greenleaf Farms will be bringing radishes, cilantro, turnips (larger then ours) homemade breads and more. The other market vendors have an astounding variety of handmade holiday gifts, all beautifully crafted and created. They include pine cone wreaths, goat's milk soaps, hand made tree decorations, gift baskets of Amish and Mennonite products and natural lotions and soaps, handmade breads, cakes and cookies, potted herbs and bulbs, local pecans, soy based candles, local honey, jams, jellies, pepper sauce, evergreen wreaths and more. The market is held rain or shine, and this is the last market of 2007! Bring your gift list and come to the market to begin or finish your holiday shopping. We have plenty of parking and seating, hot mulled cider to warm you and delicious baked goods to snack on or give as gifts. See you Sat.

The weather couldn't have been better for the first day of the markets Handmade Holiday. Although cool in the morning when I was loading the truck, by the time all the vendors arrived at the market the sun was out and the day only got better. People were in a buying mood early, some of them with their wallets out before we were set up! Returning vendors brought new items specifically made for the holiday and new vendors added to the wide assortment of gifts, food and locally grown produce. Blessed Thistle, the bag pipe and drum duo, contributed their talents with holiday tunes and traditional music. And they really looked the part in their colorful red kilts and fishermen type sweaters.

Holiday gifts included rolly polly Santa's made from gourds, hand crochted scarves, skirts and hats, hand crafted goats milk soap, hand designed jewelry, homemade dog and cat treats, unique stuffed creatures, hand made breads, cakes, and cookies, coffee and mulled cider, locally grown persimmons, greens, radishes, cabbage, sweet potatoes, elaborately decorated wreaths, one of a kind sparkling holiday lights, topiaries, Amish and Mennonite products, handcrafted wooden tree decorations, pretty much everything you could want to finish shopping for your entire gift list! With plenty of parking and seating for when you need a rest, City Market on the Green offers well priced, locally made and grown items.

The market will return next Sat. Dec. 8th from 10:00 to 3:00 on Poplar Street, and again Sat. Dec. 15th. I have already received several phone calls from new vendors who will join us Dec. 8th, so don't miss the market and your chance to support local businesses.

Tomorrow we re-open the City Market on the Green in Macon for a special holiday market. Several new vendors will be joining us along with local author Suzanne Lawler who will be signing her new book More Cotton, Cornbread and Conversations. The market will be open Dec. 8 and 15 also from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. As I was harvesting assorted greens today for the market I got to thinking that I haven't seen any migrating geese this year the way I did last year. By this time last year Matt and I saw them on a daily basis as we were out planting or weeding. What is fascinating to me about them is that I hear them long before I see them, and I was missing the honk honk sound they make as they fly overhead in the familiar V formation. It seemed that as soon as I finished that thought the world filled up with honking, and I looked up to see 3 formations of geese traveling south. Smaller then the ones I remembered from last year but still breathtaking. I recall reading that the goose in the front takes the brunt of the wind and expends the most effort in the flock, and that the stronger geese all take turns in the lead position. I took a break from harvesting to watch as the three flocks passed overhead, feeling better that they were on their way south. When the last of the birds had passed I continued harvesting. A few minutes later I heard the honking again, and looked up to see a huge flock flying in perfect formation, no birds out of line, and I could see clearly the grace of the V shape as the birds soared on the wind drifts made by the bird in the front. What a sight! And the honking, they must have been having a great time because they sure were singing about it. There wasn't much daylight left  as I finished filling another bag with baby collard and mustard, climbed onto the tractor, and scanned the sky one more time. They were barely visible, probably already close to Fort Valley, but still in formation.

To learn more about Davis Farms please access the Farm Notes page, which I update periodically with what we have been doing on the farm. If you want to receive our farm e-newsletter e-mail me at davisfarmscsa@aol.com.

Davis Farms is a community supported farm growing strawberries and vegetables. We adhere to organic and sustainable methods of farming. Our crops this year (2006) include strawberries, salad greens, onions, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, eggplant, cabbage, chop choi, turnips, collards, okra, broccoli, oregano, dill, thyme, licorice mint, and sage. In 2004 we renovated a 60 by 20 foot building on the farm which now serves as our greenhouse, where we start all our seeds. Our farm well water is used on all crops, we have 5 wells and 2 ponds on the property. One of the ponds is open to shareholders for catfishing.

As a Community Supported Farm we host educational and community based groups, providing age appropriate activities tailored to each group. We also welcome interns, apprentices and adult volunteers to assist in daily farm chores. Workshops are held at the farm on topics such as breadbaking, cooking with herbs, canning and preserving, growing strawberries  and Tai Chi. Event schedules are circulated by email and this website. To be added to our e-mail list contact Naomi Davis at davisfarmscsa@aol.com.

Davis Farms is run by husband and wife team Naomi and Bennie Davis.