Skidaway Farms Blake Caldwell ([email protected])

 Skidaway Farms Blake Caldwell ([email protected]) Skidaway Farms was a dream for a number of people at the Landings for many years after Paul Kurilla of Public Works and Jerriann Kirkwood of Skidaway Audubon visited the Hampton Island Preserve and saw the developer-­‐constructed community garden. A suitable piece of property, a former sod farm of The Landings Club, was identified in 2010, a lease was signed with the club and a Development Committee was formed under the authority of Skidaway Audubon. This committee worked tirelessly to plan and build Skidaway Farms. This included, creating the conceptual design and approving the actual layout, raising the estimated $80,000 dollars needed to construct the garden, working with Paul Kurilla and Chris John of Valley Crest to optimize the design and plans. The grading, hauling rock and soil, and installing the irrigation system was done at no charge by Valley Crest. In their honor awe named our central square “Valley Crest Square. A critical aspect of the construction was the work-­‐parties. During the construction almost every day a call went out to farmer-­‐wannabies to come to the site and help by clearing debris, raking gravel, pounding crush and run, and generally providing the and labor required. Over that time more than 40 people volunteered for 2-­‐41 hours each. It was a time for the future farmers to feel a part of this new community and help make it a reality. The Landings has a long tradition of residents working together to build amenities for the community. Skidaway Farms welcomed it first farmers on Feb 12, 2011. Today, Skidaway Farms has over 180 farmers, and organic section, a Children’s Garden Program, a partnership with the Landings Club chefs, a great web site (SkidawayFarms.net) and much more. Farmers are growing lots of tomatoes, peppers, broccoli and eggplant but also fava beans, bulbing fennel and sunchokes. We are currently raising money to build the Skidaway Audubon Pavilion which will sit in Valley Crest Square.