This past week, I took a walk through one of our newer fields—the one tucked just behind the greenhouses, where the dirt feels a little softer and the trees cast longer shadows as the sun dips low. I wasn’t headed anywhere in particular, just following a hunch and a little tug in my chest that said, “Go.”
The rows had already been planted, and tiny leaves were just starting to push up past the plastic, still a little shy under the weight of the world. I stopped and crouched down to look closer—those first few sprouts always look so brave to me. They don’t know what the season will hold Read More
When the clouds rolled away, the winds calmed, and the waters began to recede, we emerged from the storm like children, wide-eyed and full of renewed hope. In that moment, the sun began to shine, casting a warm glow on our farm and illuminating the path ahead. This scene, so vivid and transformative, serves as a powerful metaphor for resilience and the enduring spirit of not only Southern Valley, but of our industry as a whole.
The aftermath of a storm often leaves us grappling with challenges, much like the turbulent times we all face in life. Whether it’s personal struggles, community hardships, or larger societal issues, the clouds can Read More
I never really pictured myself starting off a blog with a warning about the water here at Southern Valley. But at this point skirting around it seems unavoidable, and I’ve concluded that something must be said, so here goes: There’s definitely something in it!
Let me explain. Between the months of February and September this year, we will have six new babies added to our Southern Valley family. Yes, you read that right – six little ones. See, I told you there was something in the water!
Needless to say our office is buzzing this Spring with extra excitement, not only for the new life cultivating in the fields but also Read More
It might seem to anyone outside of Southern Valley that the Georgia Fall season is just like the Spring. It’s a fair assumption that in the Fall, we’re bustling with the same Springtime energy and excitement in preparation for another busy season. After all, Fall means we’re back at home, picking, packing, and shipping every single day but The Lord’s Day.
But when the Fall finally hits and along with it comes the first cool breeze of the changing season, the pace around here seems to switch. That very first morning we step outside and the cool breeze hits, we slow down and breathe it in. Morning routines normally characterized by rush-rush-rush Read More
Our love for the land and people of Yucatan, Mexico began in January 2003 after a purchase of some 1,200 acres of farm land in the middle of the Yucatan jungle. And since then, the state of Yucatan has been a home to us and its people a part of our family.
If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably read or heard about what it’s like at our farm in Yucatan. We’ve written blog after blog about Valle Del Sur – the years of sacrifice it took to make it what it is today, the way the mud feels slick as snot under your boots, and the never-ending Read More
Last Friday, I randomly felt the need to take a drive. It was well before the typical lunch hunger pains start to creep up and sometime past the dew point, when the sun shines just right and the day really begins. I’m not sure what made me want to or even where I would go, but I just knew I needed it. So, I closed my laptop, slipped on my newly worn in ‘field boots’ that I keep tucked away under my desk, and grabbed my camera on the way out the door.
I put my car in drive and hit the gas, squinting past dusty road signs and Read More
This past July, I was asked to tag along on a dove hunting trip to the farm in Yucatan. I practically jumped at the opportunity, my passport begging to be stamped with a big ‘MX,’ another notch to add on my adventure belt.
We landed at the Merida International Airport around lunch on a Thursday, loaded up and hit the road. The drive from the Merida airport to the farm is about two and a half hours, and the first 30 minutes is pretty much just getting out of the city. We passed modern businesses, beautiful homes, and quite a few McDonalds. After that there was Read More
You can’t talk about Colquitt County, the roots of Southern Valley, without talking about high school football. And if there’s anything you can say about Colquitt County football, it’s that it’s earned quite the reputation over the years. A reputation surrounding a strong work ethic, a wide pool of talent, and a passion for the game that’s incomparable to others.
The Colquitt County football program has the kind of work ethic that doesn’t just come around when the mornings get cooler and the leaves change color. It’s work ethic that stems from two-a-days, spring and summer practices, and a coaching staff that invests countless hours year-round. Colquitt County’s talent pool Read More
I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about being at our Tennessee farm that makes you feel closer to God. Is it the fact that you’re surrounded by sheer remoteness? Is it the breathtaking views? Could it be as simple as just being at a higher elevation?
Whatever the reason, you feel it as soon as you step outside. You feel it when you breathe in that first breath of crisp dewy morning air. You feel it in the afternoon breeze that floats through the hills and in the soft sunshine that falls delicately across your skin. You can hear it when your boots crunch with every step, colliding with Read More
Well, summer has offically started which means that summertime heat is in full force here at the Valley. Evenings that were once spent outside enjoying a nice breeze and a glass of sweet tea are now spent swatting gnats in between running from your truck to your front door. It’s the kind of heat where your upper lip sweats if you even think about walking outside and where you wake up every day thanking God that you live in the era of air conditioning.
Despite the heat, the Valley is still thriving. The crops seem to savor every drop of those afternoon rain showers in the same way that we Read More