MARKET CHITCHAT

Mark Your Calendar! At this time COASTAL SHARPS is planning to be with us on Friday, March. 8 or Saturday March 9. Honestly we’re not sure which date yet so we’ll announce both on Facebook and in next week’s newsletter. If you can’t come and see her wizardy for yourself, free to drop off your blades ahead of time. They’ll be sharp enough to skin an elk when you get them back! Email marketatdothan@gmail.com for instructons. No need to purchase new knives when Amory can turn your old blades into sharper than new condition for a fraction of the cost.

It took longer than expected but the Market Bags are all dry and secure in their new crate now. We had to go with a different type container than planned (and the staff at Lowes is perplexed that there are no lids for their 27 gallon storage bins in stock!). Most of your bags are in great shape however we noticed that a few could use a wipe down or run through the washer. Your beautiful orders deserve to finish their journey to your home clean and safe.

THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES

We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.

HORTONS FARM: So Excited!
Part 1: When I was a kid my dad grew the BEST watermelons in the world. They were a roundish yellow variety with tan seeds and Dad told us the reason you didn’t see them in stores was because they did not travel well – they were so juicy they would burst in transit. As an adult I’ve enjoyed the occasional yellow watermelon, but none ever as good as the ones Dad grew.
Part 2: Many of you know my mom came to our home mid December to recover from pneumonia. She’s doing very well now and has left to spend some time with one of my sisters. Right before leaving she told me she’d found my Dad’s watermelons in a catalog.

Somebody just across the county line from where we grew up gave this local variety a name and introduced it to the rest of the world. Mom thinks The Catfish Preacher Zenus Windsor is responsible but I’ve not been able to confirm that. We only knew the melons as “yellow watermelons” and saved seeds every year that were shared and replanted the following year. It’s now known as a Clay County (Alabama)Yellow Watermelon and Ashland, AL even has a yearly festival in honor of them.

Seems I’ve missed a lot since moving from the area! Regardless I’m thankful to find them and am hoping they’ll take as well to our sandy south Alabama soil as well as they’ve done for generations in the rocky clay soil of my childhood. We shall see!

AVALON FARMS:

It’s taters, Prescious! (Yes! I love Lord of the Rings! Books and movies.)

Putting in 8 rows of red potatoes. We’ll move enough dirt into the furrows to just cover the potato pieces. Then in a few weeks when the potato plants are about 6 inches tall, we’ll cover them again. And probably 1 more time after that. That is referred to as “hilling” the potatoes. In a few months we’ll have new potatoes!

SMART DOC RESOURCES: Exciting news from SmartDocs! I just returned from a lengthy trip to West Africa and fell in love with the local people . I toured many facilities of like minded people (and nonprofits) that did everything from skill training to farming techniques.  Most of these nonprofits were sponsored by Norwegian folks,  Jamaican and British. We formed a nonprofit – Earth Farm Gambia collaborating with Art Farm and are in the process of putting hydroponics in the compound.  Our R&D guy, Terry, who just patented a fish serum nutrient is from England and my best friend in from Canada so we have an international group. Terry also has been working with other nonprofits and putting in Terry Gardens (terrace gardens using compost) in many areas. BTW  we will be shipping supplies once a quarter to Gambia, so any throw aways (clothes, children books, toiletries, etc) we will be collecting. No electronics please….they don’t work on the european plugs!

Here is our progress:

Editors Note: If you wish to donate usable items we will have a secure plastic tub at the Market Shed designated for this effort. You may drop off items at any time starting Friday March 1.