Kickstarter update! Success!

Hello all,
    As you may know the kickstarter project to build the new kitchen was successfully funded! Thanks to our wonderful friends and followers we raised a total of $2,991 (after kickstarter/amazon fees). I cannot begin to express my gratitude to you all! The money will be available in about 5 days and construction will begin! Also, rewards will be coming soon for those backers who qualified! Thanks again!

Kickstarter update!

Hello all!
    We've gotten some amazing support for the new kitchen. However, we are nowhere near the goal! Remember, if we don't meet the goal we don't get anything! If you follow the Salamander Springs blog, please use the link in the previous kickstarter post to donate to the cause! The minimum donation is a dollar! Come on! Times are tough, but they ain't that tough! Let's do this!
                             Michael

Big News - Kickstarter Project is live!

Hey hey! The race is on to fund the new kitchen! Support us, even with a dollar! It adds up! Click here to check it out!

Newsletter - September 11, 2012

Finally! A new newsletter!

Just checking in ...

Hello all,
    Debbie has been really, really busy the past few months and hasn't been able to send much for the blog. She is trying to get a newsletter out soon. Hopefully we'll be able to post some new pictures too. Our kickstarter project for the new kitchen should be ready by next week too, so if you would like to support the farm that would be a great way to help out. 
                              Michael

More from the Farm

We have some of the blackberries along our fence and they are amazing. Some get as big as quarter and they taste great. Hopefully I'll be able to post the kickstarter video soon.
                                                                        Michael

Schedule a Tour of Salamander Springs!

Update and Thanks!

After spending the day at the farm, I can say that Molly seems to be doing relatively OK and I'd like to report that through your donations the entire vet bill got covered and there was a little left over for mom's impending eye surgery. Thanks again for helping out when she really needed it.
             Michael

Market Info

Hey hey,
    One more thing. Sales at the markets have really slowed down. Debbie is working hard with the Woofers on better presentation/information so expect to see a few changes at upcoming markets. See you there!

An Update on Molly: Part 2

No sooner than I posted that last entry I talked with mom and she said she just got Molly home. Mom's very excited, but Molly isn't quite out of the woods yet. Stay tuned for further information, and thanks again for your donations. If by some miracle more comes in than is needed for the vet bill I'd like to see her put that towards the eye surgery she has coming up on Tuesday. (This is beginning to sound like a country song - "My dog ran off and I'm half blind, the bills are piling up and I don't have the time ...)

An Update on Molly

Hello all, 
     Debbie's son Michael here. Mom has been slammed with a million and one things so she hasn't sent much for the blog of late but we should have some new pictures up next week.


In other news, if you haven't heard already, Debbie's faithful hound, Molly recently had a near-death experience. She wandered off the farm and mom wasn't able to find her for 24 hours, and when she did find her Molly was pretty bad off and had to be taken to the vet. As of this post, she is still there but is expected to pull through.


If you know Debbie, you probably know how attached she is to Molly. The vet bills are sure to pile up and some of you have already donated to help pay for the treatments. I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to help save mom's (best) friend. If you haven't donated and feel like it's something you'd like to do, just use the paypal button to your right. Thanks for all your support,


                         Michael

Tables Needed!

Hello hello,

       Michael here. Debbie could really use a couple of folding tables for the market. She has two, but she needs two more to be able to properly present everything. They go for about $30 a piece and I know she would appreciate it if any of you guys have one (or two) that you don't use and would like to donate. Thank you all for all the support you've already shown,

Michael 

Garden Happenings

Here's wwoofer Lily watering, flamingo style.

Here's some vibrant lettuce, with poppies behind.

And here's the potato bed.

Join the Permaculture Class!

Hello all! Come join our next permaculture class, scheduled to begin in June for 10 weeks on Thursdays from 6-8 at Central Georgia Tech College in Milledgeville. I will post the flier with more information soon. The date has been postponed because I only have 2 people and need 4 for the class to be approved. The cost is $125 and will be 2 hours for 10 weeks beginning as soon as I have at least 4 people. It's a great experience for all involved and a bargain at the price. Please contact me ASAP if you'd like to join!

Points of Interest around the Farm

The Palace Flophouse and Grill:

The left wing of the library, freshly organized. The right wing, though off-camera, is equally impressive (that's also the first time I've called something right-wing "impressive" - Michael).

The pond, undergoing expansion:

The swing by the creek, one of many serene spots around the property.

Salamander Springs in the News (Update!)

Front page of the Telegraph! Click here to read the article. The comment section has been blowing up, mostly in support, but there are a few trolls, so be sure to leave some positivity behind. Also, here's a related photo gallery and here's an article on the Mulberry Street Market.

Market Pictures

Here are some pictures from recent trips to our superb local markets.

This bike blends up tasty smoothies, and has been known to mix a margarita or three out on the farm. 

Cob oven bread is always a hit.

Photos Coming Soon!

Hello all,
    Lots of photos (courtesy of Josephine) coming soon! I'm just sorting through them and trying to figure out any sort of groups that might work. Stay tuned.
                 MIchael

Salamander Springs in the News

The Macon Telegraph is featuring the farm in either this Sunday or next Sunday's issue, so check your local newstand. Also, Julia Metzker at Georgia College is featuring us on her facebook page, so be sure to look her up. Speaking of facebook, the Fall Line Farmers' Market has started a page as well: www.facebook.com/FallLineFarmersMarket.

Annual Gathering!

Greetings to All My Friends and Family!

Time for the annual gathering to celebrate planting, growing, blooming, and blossoming!  Come and camp with us April 7th and 8th and take time out to reconnect with folks you love but haven't seen for awhile.  I also would love to share the beautiful spring forest with you all as things are rapidly taking off-so many trees are already budding out, and we can almost watch the garden grow with all of the sun and rain.  You can come on Friday if you need and set up camp. 
 
Bring everything you would need to primitive camp-except water-we have lots of that; bring bedding, tent, headlamp, snacks, beverages, goodies-whatever will make you comfortable and happy-and then bring musical instruments for Saturday night and a prepared dish to share for the potluck.  Everybody has been so good about preparing a delicious contribution to feed everyone on Saturday night, and that is a big help since I am working with volunteers all day on Saturday in the garden.  Those who want to help--during the day on Saturday is a traditional work day for any one who wants to get his or her hands in the soil and plant some seeds. 
 
Please call or email me and let me know if you are coming.  That really, really helps me plan ahead.  And please let me know what you are bringing for the potluck.  That also really, really, truly helps decide what we need for the gathering.
 
I would love for all of you to come and see what the amazing volunteers have done.  You will be blown away by the cabin at the creek.

RSVP  478-952-3544 or debbiekwaugh@gmail.com.

Newsletter (3/5/12)

Late again ... apologies.

Asparagus, Lawns, Ferns, Bees, and Viburnum

Here's Walter Reeve's most recent column from the AJC. There's lots more here.

Gardening - 4:54 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Q: I'm a first-time asparagus planter and just received my plants in the mail. The directions say to open up a trench in which to plant them. Do I bury the connected part of the roots or should I bury each individual root, leaving the middle exposed? -- Darren Kubiak, Lawrenceville

A: Asparagus is a perennial plant, so proper planting is important. I call the center part of asparagus roots the "crown" and the thick fingers spreading from it the "roots." It's best to bury the crown relatively shallow, just an inch or so, but the roots can be 2 to 4 inches deep. I typically dig an area 6 inches deep and wide enough to contain the root system when spread out. I put a clod of clay under the crown to support it a couple of inches higher than the roots around it.

Q: I have a well established lawn of centipede grass. Which comes first, aeration or dethatching? -- Earl Spell, Sharpsburg

A: Generally speaking, you don't need to remove thatch if you aerate a lawn every year or so. The aerator brings up plugs of dirt that help to speedily decompose a layer of thatch. You also can minimize thatch formation by mowing regularly, only removing a third of the height at each mowing.

Q: We have moved to northeast Georgia from south Florida. Knowing I need to protect my staghorn fern from winter freezes, can I have any possibility of success with it during the growing season? -- Roy Riggs, Dahlonega

A: If you have a good place to keep it indoors in winter, you can bring it in and out each year, as you’d do with any tropical plant. If your fern grows too large to carry, you can pull off newly emerged fern sprouts, mount them on a piece of wood and give to your new Lumpkin County neighbors.

Q: Do you know a source for mason bees in Georgia? I have a friend on the West Coast who swears by them for increased crops. -- A. G. Borud, email

A: Mason bees are a terrific substitute for honeybees when you have a fruit or vegetable garden. Unlike honeybees, they are solitary and make nests in hollow stems or tubes. No one sells them locally, to my knowledge. Your best bet is to buy them online. They will arrive in paper tubes containing several cocoons. The best housing is translucent paper tubes inserted in a short piece of four inch diameter plastic pipe. Mount the pipe to your garage or shed wall, under the overhang. Mason bees are active in spring and make cocoons for their larvae to hibernate in during summer and winter. You can remove the tubes in summer to see how many cocoons you have and to inspect for predators and parasites. Good sources for bees and their housing include Crown Bees (www.crownbees.com) and Knox Cellars (www.knoxcellars.com).

Q: I am looking for a pollinator for tea viburnum. Is there another viburnum that would suit its needs? -- Phil Greenawalt, email

A: Tea viburnum has perfect flowers (male and female parts in the same bloom) but it won't accept its own pollen. In order to get the bounteous berries for which it is famous, you need to have nearby a tea viburnum that came from different parents. Call several local nurseries and ask where they get their tea viburnum shrubs. If they come from different wholesale growers, it's likely that you'll get plants with different genetic parentage. These will pollinate each other nicely.

Listen to Walter Reeves Saturday mornings on AM 750 and 95.5 FM News-Talk WSB. Visit his website, www.walterreeves.com, or join his Facebook Fan Page at xrl.us/wrfacebook for more garden tips.

Newsletter (2/28/12)

Marcus Tullius Cicero on Gardens

Since mom threw a quote from Cicero in that last newsletter and I just happen to be a Latin teacher, allow me to expound.

Here's what Cicero said (Letters to Friends, Book 9 Letter 4): "si hortum in bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil.”

While often loosely translated into English as "If you have a garden and library, you have everything you need", what that quote really says is, "If you have a garden IN your library, nothing will fail".

I will be the first to admit that I haven't the foggiest notion what Tully (as he was known among friends) was talking about. A cursory google search provided a reliable source who thinks Cicero is referring to an ornamental garden, such as the ones philosophers sat in and discussed age old questions about chickens and eggs and what-not, and probably not a vegetable garden, which wouldn't be in any ordinary sort of library.

Comment away if you have any thoughts.

Newsletter (2/21/12)

Newsletter (2/13/12)

Sorry this one's late ...

Milledgeville Market Information

Saturday Farmers Market in Milledgeville presents local, farm-fresh, seasonal food!

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean there isn’t an abundant supply of local, farm-fresh, seasonal produce, meat, eggs, bread and dairy products available to residents of the Milledgeville community as well as those living in surrounding counties.

This Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon, the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church on Wayne and Greene streets in Milledgeville will be filled with an assortment of farm-fresh, nutritious and delicious foods, courtesy of a new farmers market opportunity.

The market, which opened the winter season on Jan. 14 as a huge success, will host 12 local vendors from within 100 miles whose farms and businesses are dedicated to providing nutritious and sustainable products.

Scheduled for Second Saturdays in the winter and weekly after the Grand Opening on April 14, this market is a partnership between First Presbyterian Church, The Milledgeville Community Garden Association, and Live Healthy Baldwin.

Come sample, browse and meet the folks who are passionate about bringing their products directly to you! A list of this week’s goodies and the vendors include:


Three Centuries Farm: free-range eggs, pastured pork including bone-in and boneless pork chops, Boston Butt, picnic shoulder, ham hocks, sausage (links, patties and ground)

Salamander Springs Farm: mustard greens, salad mix, green onions, kalamata olive bread, apple butter, strawberry jam, potted perennials, herbs and edibles

The Little Farm: apple jelly, apple butter, lavender jelly, lavender cookies, fresh-milled bread, turnips, beets, salad mix, bunching onions, spinach, broccoli, kale, radishes

Fort Creek Farm: grass-fed ground beef, roasts, steaks, soup bones and dog bones

Babe & Sage Farm: artisan bread, free-range eggs

Vesterfield Farm: salad greens, carrots, collards, cabbage, green pepper jelly, kale, homemade cakes

Elm Street Gardens: salad greens, collards, kale, chard, carrots, winter vegetables, and farm-fresh eggs

Southern Swiss Dairy: Milk (whole, 2%, skim, chocolate), buttermilk, heavy cream, 1/2 n' 1/2, ice cream (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry), salted and unsalted butter, Brown Swiss beef

Evergreen East: pork and lamb - all cuts available

Rocking Chair Ranch: T-bone and rib-eye steaks, filet, ground beef

Flat Creek Lodge: 13 varieties of artisanal cheese

Tink's Beef: variety of grass-fed beef and pastured pork cuts

Join your friends and neighbors this Saturday at the market, located at First Presbyterian Church, 210 South Wayne St., Milledgeville, Georgia.

For more information, call (478) 414-6433.

Fans of Old Crow Medicine Show ...

Michael here (Debbie's erudite son) and I thought I'd share something with you. When mom mentioned Aliza it made me think of this song I've been listening to, Liza by a little known band called the Wrinkle Neck Mules.

You really need to check these guys out. If you're into Old Crow, you should dig them. They're what you'd call alternative-country I suppose, and are a really cool bunch of guys. Sometimes twangy, sometimes bluegrassy, sometimes honky-tonk, so ... all you could really ask for.

If you watch TV, you may have incidentally heard them. There is a Geico commercial with a band playing in the background, and it happens to be the Mules (that's how I discovered them). Just to show you how cool they are, I wanted to learn the song "Central Daylight Time" on guitar, so I sent them an email, and they emailed me the chords four hours later.

You can get that song for free here and when you're done with that give Liza (below) a listen. It's beautiful (but creepy if you pay attention).

pax, amor et muli

Newsletter (1/30/12)

Note: The date says 2011 but we all know it's 2012.

Tree Planting - February 14th!

Hello to everyone!

The nights may be cold, but the days are beautiful. We are getting a lot done in the garden, orchard, and outdoor kitchen as the weather has been wonderful. Hope you find some time to soak up the sun and plant some fruit and nut trees this February.

For the past two years, we've been building a tradition at Salamander Springs. February 14 is our tree-planting day. Trees offer myriad benefits: reforestation, wildlife habitat, better air quality, aesthetic beauty, climate stabilization and food. Therefore, we'd like to ask you to join our tradition and plant a tree or two.

Our trees will be planted in the orchard. We'll be planting fruits like apple, pear, plum, nectarine, mulberry, pomegranate and Oriental persimmon. You can sponsor any of these trees for $25. We will use the money to buy an established, quality tree and we'll put a wooden plaque with your name on it next to the tree. 

Tree sponsorships really help us out. Our orchard will be a source of produce for many years, so I'd like to thank those who have sponsored in the past as well as those who will be helping us this year. And if you don't sponsor a Salamander Springs tree, please do plant a tree where you live.

How to sponsor:
Method 1 - Send a check or money order for $25 per tree. Let us know what kind of tree (from the list above) you would like us to plant and what name you want on the board. Here's the mailing address:

                Debbie Waugh

                396 Nelson Road NW

                Milledgeville, GA 31061

Method 2 - Make a $25 donation (per tree) via the paypal button to your right. Send an email detailing which tree (from the list above) you would like us to plant and what name you want on the board. Here's the email address: debbiekwaugh@gmail.com

Method 3 - Call me at 4789523544 and let's work something out. Also, if you have an orphan tree you'd like to bring out for tree-planting day, feel free.

You can sponsor as many as you'd like, and thanks again to all our past, present, and future sponsors! You're also welcome to come to the farm and help us plant our February 14th trees! Thank you all for your support of our many endeavors toward sustainability and education.
                                                       Love, Debbie

Note: you may also sponsor a pecan or chestnut tree, but due to increased costs these trees will be $30.

The delectable mulberry

Market Alerts!

Hello Everyone,
  Hope you all are doing well and appreciating all of the rain that we will be so grateful for during the imminent dry times.  If you want us to hold any market items for you, call me (4789523544) before noon Tuesday for Milledgeville and Wednesday before noon for Macon.  Aliza is baking her delicious kalamata olive bread, and the rest of us are busy, busy, busy improving infrastructure and getting ready for the spring garden.  We have so many good things happening, and so much to be grateful for, including being part of a burgeoning community of folks interested in where their food comes from.  Thank you all for all you do to support the incredible, hard working farmers at the market.  We have created our own special community that works together and, on occasion, plays together.  See you at the market. 
                      Love, 
                      Debbie and all of my wonderful volunteers

Newsletter (1/24/12)

Note:

The English teacher is guilty of plagiarism! I noticed that I copied a picture of my garden and covered up the name of the author of the second page newsletter article as I was so excited about our beautiful greens. Anyway, the author of "For me, gardening is a form of prayer...." is writer Kayla McLaren, not me. I wrote the article on the first page. Sorry for the sloppiness.

                                                          Deb

Weekend at Mump Mump's

Here are pictures from Katie and Abby's weekend sojourn to hang out with their Mump Mump, Salamander Springs style.

First, an attempt to ride Artie.

Notice how clean the pants are here (compare later).

We found some eggs!

And then Abby tried to lay some.

Mump Mump read some Dr. Seuss when we took cover from the storm.

Katie tried her hand at "drawing in the mud with a stick".

Here's the Palace Flophouse and Grill.

And here's an inside shot.

Pants update.

Checking out baby plants in the greenhouse.

Abby's next choice of reading material was a bit heavier.

Market Alert!

Hey Everybody!

           Thanks to all who came to Hancock Street today at 4:00 at Sid's CSA for bread, apple butter, and orange marmalade. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will be at Mulberry Street in Macon at 3:30 with loads of farm goodies. Hope to see you at there.Call me @ 4789523544 and leave any special orders that you would like to pick up tomorrow. Thank you so much for your support of all of my volunteers and farm projects. 

                                                         Debbie

Newsletter (1/16/12)

Market Alerts!

Great news! Our incredible bakers have returned and are firing up the wood-fired oven at daylight tomorrow. They are baking beautiful French baguettes, succulent semolina, wondrous wheatberry, and rosemary kalamata olive bread, plus making apple butter. Call me at 478-952-3544 and leave any orders on my voicemail, or e-mail me before 8:00 pm tonight (Monday) for Milledgeville orders or before 8:00 pm on Tuesday for Macon orders. Aliza and En Jeung are fantastic bread makers, and I am excited I can plant in the garden instead of keeping that oven going for hours!

Also, the all new Milledgeville producer-only market will be opening this Saturday, January 14th, from 9 am to noon at the parking lot behind the First Presbyterian Church / 210 South Wayne Street, in Milledgeville. We are very excited and hope you will come out and meet all the local farmers.

We will be on Hancock Street at Sid's CSA dropoff at 4:00 on Tuesday with our bread and other items and Wednesday at 3:30 at the Mulberry Street Market in Macon. See you there!

Thank you all so much.

Newsletter (1/9/12)