Posts from the Farm

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When the Yellow Lights are ON 

We’ve made another upgrade to the electric fence … and the entrance gates!

The whole system is now on a digital timer that automatically turns the electricity:

ON in the evening and OFF the next morning:

ON at 8:pm and OFF at 7:00 am …everyday.

This will allow us to keep the critters out of the Farm more efficiently…especially during those hours at dusk before the TLA Security staff has locked the gate on McWhorter Drive (usually done after dark each night).

In the past, raccoons could easily enter the Farm well after sunset… but before the fence was ON … eat to their hearts content and then escape before Security drove in and turned on the power to the fence.

The new fence timer will turn ON at 8:00 pm … you’ll know it’s ON by the two YELLOW post lights that will glow whenever the electricity is ON.

**One of these lights sits on top of the fence post at the South Gate

 **The other light is on the SW corner fence post – visible for anyone who drives past it on their way to the North parking lot.

If you see the YELLOW lights ON, please don’t attempt to enter through either gate… the electric shock you get won’t knock you over but it will give you quite a “stinger”!

As the times for sunset change with the seasons, we will adjust the timer accordingly.  When we do, we will post the new ON time online… and on the bulletin boards… and at each entrance gate.

The first evening this timer will be activated will be:

 Thursday, April 25 at 8:00pm.


The Construction has Begun…

The concrete slab for the Skidaway Audubon Pavilion was poured this week and is now drying for the next few days.  The next phase of construction will begin once the lumber arrives…the projected finish for the entire project is sometime late May.

Please exercise caution when walking near the slab.  There are pipe trenches and piles of dirt that make the area uneven…so tread carefully!

The concrete arrived on Tuesday
Pouring begins…
Smoothing and doming…
Rock Salt finish added
Setting the saddles that will hold the uprights
Time to let the slab dry…

Raisin’ the Roof at Skidaway Farms

Sunday April 28

Join us for a PARTY at The Farm from 6-8pm to celebrate our new Skidaway Audubon Pavilion!

Sign up for tickets here …you can pay online, or send in a check.

Through the dedication of countless and often silent volunteers, the Farm has moved from a dream to a reality and through the financial generosity of the entire Skidaway Island community, we were able to secure the funds needed to build the Farm. We are now asking our community to help us raise the funds for the final phase of Skidaway Farms:

The Skidaway Audubon Pavilionin Valley Crest Square

To raise the funds needed for completion of the pavilion….join us for our Roof Raisin’ Party

Sunday April 28 6-8pm  (rain date April 29)

Raisin’ the Roof will include appetizers, beer and wine, and entertainment. Ticket prices are $25.00 per person in advance, sign up right here!

Concrete Slab footprint

Excavation Begins Today

The excavation for the foundation for the pavilion will begin this morning, Thursday April 11. The water was off all day on Wednesday, but now all the overhead irrigation pipes and wiring and hose bib supply pipes that run under the slab have been cut and capped. The water is back on, and there shouldn’t be any exciting geysers today. Meanwhile, the overnight watering has continued overnight each night this week. In particular, overhead irrigation of sections E, F, and G (all sections north of the square except for organic, H) should have occurred last night, and we will check later this morning to make sure it did. There is some possibility that a few of the rotors might be disconnected, so if you have a chance to check your plot for moisture, please do so. And if you can’t get out to the farm, we’re expecting rain tonight and Friday.

Today’s excavation work will prepare the footings and concrete forms for the slab, and the concrete will be poured as soon as the rains subside. Once the forms are removed, the irrigation piping and wiring will be re-routed in the trench around the slab to provide full connectivity to the system. That work should take only a few hours, and we’ll put out a notice before doing so. Meanwhile, be careful at the farm – it’s now a construction site! (4/11/13)


More New Things at the Farm!!

Thanks to Bethesda Barn Builders for yet another wonderful addition to the Farm…our new chalk/bulletin boards!  We decided to use these boards to communicate quick news with the Farmers…you can’t miss them as you enter the Farm…one each at both entrances.

Moving the old bulletin to its new spot at the North entrance

Many thanks to the TLA who graciously lent us the front loader ….and Glen the driver… so this moving job could go smoothly!The top half of each board is a chalkboard…for quick notes and announcements…which the Governanace Committee will use to post notices for all to see.  The bottom half is a cork board that can be used for any and all postings Farmers may want to share with others…push pins are provided at the boards!

Putting the roof back on

 

Wonderful!

 

See y’all at the Farm!

 

New gates at the Farm!

In order to make it easier to enter the Farm….with your hands full of garden tools and stuff… we have installed new gates on the outside fence.  These are 75-pound heavy guage farm gates that can swing IN or OUT, depending on whether you PUSH or PULL.  In the next few days, we’ll be adding side boards on the wood fence posts to block out the critters… and wiring to electrify the gates at night.

The inside fence gates are open in this picture…

In the meantime, here’s how to use the new one-handed latches…simply pull up on the gold-plated shaft and push the gate open. You can also pull up the other shaft if you want to pull the gate towards you… easy to use either way….the gates swing either IN or OUT depending on what you want to do.

Pull up one shaft…or the other…to either push or pull the gate open.

Once you pass through the gate, just give it a good shove and it will swing close… and snap back into the latch…all by itself!

So much easier!


Our First-ever Seed Swap!

Close to 30 Farmers and their relations got together this past weekend at Blake’s abode on the marsh …to trade stories, swap seed packets…and…of course…eat!

The dining room table was loaded with platters of goodies…artichoke dip and taco dip and antipasto…and deviled eggs and stuffed celery…and eggplant…and Danish meatballs….and chicken wings!  And the “bar” was stocked with dozens of BYOB additions … more than enough to keep the conversations and the social mingling going full steam!

Farmers brought packets of seeds they were willing to hand out to whomever wanted them…the coffee table was packed with envelopes of Dill, Marigold, Bush Beans, Lettuce, Beets, Tomatoes and lots more!  Many folks took one of these little package-of-promise home with them… with visions of a surplus bounty in their imaginings!

If you missed this gathering…don’t despair…we’ll do it again for sure!  It was a fun event…a good time was had by all… and we’re sure to add another one to the calendar in time for the fall season!

Thanks, Blake for hosting! (1/28/13)


Renewing your Farm Membership

By now, all current Farmers should have received an email notification regarding the renewal date for their Farm membership and plot fees.  You can manage your account online at www.skidawayfarms.net/members  and follow the prompts from the link “Click here to get a new plot or renew your plot lease for 2013.”
Payments can be sent to “Skidaway Farms 600 landings Way South Savannah GA 31411”  or you may use your PayPal account as well. 

If you have any questions contact us here. (1/15/13)


The Farm’s Pavilion Project

So far the Farm has received a total of $ 2,700 in donations for our pavilion construction project!

Applied towards the budget of $ 18,000, this is about 16% of the support the Farm needs to complete the building of this wonderful structure.

So please give this request for your financial support some serious consideration. The Skidaway Audubon Pavilion will enhance the Farm so we can all enjoy it even more.

Getting out of the warm sun for a minute’s rest…or eating a picnic lunch under the soft breeze from a ceiling fan… or having a real meeting place to chat with fellow Farmers. The Governance Committee even has plans to install a security system and cameras atop the pavilion roof to help safeguard the Farm!

Gerry Cowart, of The Cowart Group, has graciously donated his time and skill towards the design of the pavilion.  You can read about Gerry’s commitment to giving back to the community here at  http://cowartgrouparchitects.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/habitat-for-humanity-then-and-now/

There’s still time left in this tax year to take advantage of a donation to a non-profit organization.  Suggested giving levels are:

Patron: $ 1,000 minimum

Benefactor: $ 500 – $ 999

Supporter: $ 250 – $ 499

Friend: $ 100 – $249

Of course, any amount you can donate will be greatly appreciated!

You can make a check payable to Skidaway Audubon (the Farm’s parent organization) and note it’s for the pavilion in the memo line. The mailing address is: Skidaway Audubon  600 Landings Way  Savannah GA 31411.

Thank you to those Farmers who have so graciously sent in their donations. Their names will be permanently engraved on a wall inside the pavilion as a humble “thank you” from the Farm.

Both Farm Chair, Blake Caldwell and Event Coordinator, Cathy Adler will be happy to discuss this project with those of you who have a question or need more information. Contact them at either chair@skidawayfarms.net or events@skidawayfarms.net  (12/15/12)

Skidaway Audubon Pavilion

Evidence of BIG FOOT Seen in the Farm…

Several Farmers have reported recent evidence of alien footprints in their plots…human-shaped, some smaller than others (which look like a healthy size 10)…and some which reappeared after one Farmer weeded between her rows!  Unlike last year, 2012 has compiled more of these sightings with no earth-bound explanation except an over-developed sense of curiosity to inspect what your plot-neighbor is up to.

The irritating thing about unwanted travelers in your plot is the blatant disregard for all your work and the lack of respect for the seeds that are probably getting tromped into oblivion.  Given all this infuriating pedestrian activity, the Governance Committee had no choice but to publish the following notice:

Skidaway Farms Garden Etiquette…

“Rules to Garden Respectfully In and Amongst

200 Other Farmers”

  1. Harmony and great farming are the goals for these rules: treat each other’s plot with arms-length admiration and all will bode well inside the Farm.
  2. Arrange your plants so you can garden without stepping into your neighbor’s plot:  plants that encroach into a neighbor’s plot may be trimmed back to the plot perimeter by that Farmer without your permission.
  3. The perimeter of a plot shall not be breeched by anyone except the owner of that plot or those the owner has invited in:  please do not walk through or cut the corner of another’s plot just to save a few steps.
  4. View and admire others’ plants and gardens from the woodchip or gravel pathways only:  do not step foot on a Farmer’s wood plank “sidewalks” or fieldstone walkways that are inside their plot.
  5. Do not leave any refuse on the common walkways in the Farm: this includes weeds, unwanted vegetables and all other plant life you had cleared from your plot as well as trash that should go home with you.
  6. Hoses and spray nozzles may be left attached to hose bibs but if so, they are then able to be used by anyone:  so if you don’t want your equipment “borrowed” detach it and leave it inside your plot perimeter.
  7. The Farm’s wheelbarrows must be returned to the gate areas after you have used them:  and if a tire goes flat while in use, please contact the Committee so it can be repaired.
  8. Do not harvest or prune or trim any plant growth except that which is in your own plot:  this sort of unrequested “help” is not your prerogative and has already made for some hard feelings that were truly so avoidable.

Further rules of etiquette will be welcomed by the Committee at   chairman@skidawayfarms.net