23
Feb
As spring gets nearer, so does the likelihood of what could be mistaken as a head cold actually turning out to be nothing more than allergies. In the last couple of weeks, South Georgia received its first coating of yellow pollen for the year. We know winter isn’t over yet, but spring has begun its entrance into the area and leaves behind little telltale signs of yellow pollen everywhere it touches.
Despite the fact that the farm in Yucatan is still smack-dab in the middle of winter season, in the words of Dug Schwalls, “When we see pollen on the plastic, we start thinking about Memorial Day.” We know it’s only February, but May is coming and months of work go into preparing for spring season to arrive. We start now to be ready to harvest then. Seeding begins, plastic is laid, temporary labor begins to arrive, transplanting commences, and the hustle and bustle around the farm in Norman Park picks up.
These rhythms and patterns of spring bring a familiar comfort with them to the family and staff of Southern Valley. Spring season is foundational to who we are as a farming operation. It’s a pattern and a way of life we’ve done for over 30 years now and we know it well.
So while most of the country continues to experience freezes and while our crops in Yucatan are still sun-bathing in 90 degree weather, here in South Georgia we’re just beginning to see the first signs of pollen.
And when the pollen shows up on the plastic around Southern Valley, our minds are already on Memorial Day.