Fall Bucket List

Sunday was the first official day of fall and although it doesn't fully feel like autumn outside, I have taken it upon myself to get this family into the spirit of the season.  The house smells of cinnamon, apples, and pumpkin, the air is set a little cooler (to give the full effect), I have been serving up pumpkin spice lattes like it's my job (iced of course. . .it's hot outside!), and I started my first fall bucket list.  Bucket list or not, do you have a list of things that you like to do, or would like to do, in the fall?  One of the biggies on my list is to go to the Pickin' Patch (https://www.facebook.com/pages/ThePickinPatch/133377916709927).  The Pickin' Patch is located in Dunnellon and owned and operated by a local farming family.  I highly recommend giving them a try if visiting a pumpkin patch is on your list this fall. They have different kinds of pumpkins, from traditional to unique (I loved the white pumpkins!) as well as a sunflower patch, photo opp spots, hay rides, and a small corn maze.    

I have included my "current" bucket list with this post, but I'm sure I will be adding things as fall continues.

What are your plans for fall?

Prepping for Fall

This week we'll keep it short and sweet.

We have been busy around the farm.  We've been planting, transplanting, finishing propagation in the greenhouses, prepping hydroponic systems in the shadehouses for lettuce production, seeding plants, and prepping the ground for strawberries.  We are doing all of this in preparation for produce sales this fall.  Produce will be sold via e-mail.  Once we get your e-mail we will pick your produce to order.  We will let you know week-by-week what we have available -- just check the blog and Facebook for updates.  The produce will be sold per pound or per piece, depending on the item.  

Also, look for us at the McIntosh Fall Festival on October 19.  We will be selling plants and decorative fall items.

Here at the farm, we are looking forward to fall.  Fall means less weeds to pull, fewer mosquitoes to swat, lower humidity, more family time, and good food.  What are some of your favorite things about fall?

Who's writing this anyway?

For the people who know Wet Hammock Nursery, the biggest question and/or confusion we get is related to who is posting on Facebook and who is writing this blog.  Well, let me to take a minute to introduce myself.  I am Mrs. Douglass.  I am a gator graduate and fifth-generation Floridian.  When I'm not moonlighting as a farmhand or social networking guru (<--ha!), I work as a speech-language pathologist.  I grew up in the country with country folks, but never lived on a farm or participated in 4H or FFA.  Growing up, my grandfather always had a garden and would grow and harvest cane, which we would then turn into cane syrup, but that was the full extent of my agricultural background.  I didn't even ride horses growing up, which if you know anything about Marion County, is unheard of.
I have known Mr. Douglass since preschool, but we did not become an item until I had moved to Tampa years later.  We began dating and after graduate school I moved back home to Marion County.  Since the start of this relationship I have been immersed in agriculture and have developed skills that I never thought I would have (heck, that I never knew existed!).  Now, don't let me fool you, I still have a lot to learn, but I'm getting there and I'm hoping to share what I learn and experience with our friends and customers.
As for Mr. Douglass. . . he is a graduate of the University of Florida.  He has a bachelor's degree in ag operations management and a master's degree in ag finance.  He was a member of both 4H and FFA, and won national proficiency in diversified agricultural operations in high school (such an overachiever, right? hehe).  He currently works as nursery manager at a local blueberry farm during the day.  After finishing his day job, he goes home to work on the family tree farm (Douglass Tree Farm) and our new nursery (Wet Hammock).  As if this were not enough, he also works as an adjunct professor at the College of Central Florida teaching agribusiness.  Personally, just thinking about all he does makes me want to take a nap.
Returning to the original question, who is doing all this posting?  All blog posts are written by me, Mrs. Douglass.  The Facebook posts could be posted by myself or Mr. Douglass.  Here's a tip though, if it's in anyway related to cooking, it was probably me.
I hope y'all enjoyed learning a little bit about us and hopefully we cleared up any confusion.  Have a wonderful week!

Mr. & Mrs. Douglass.  Circa 2012.

The Floridian

What they say about themselves:

We here at The Floridian have a relatively simple goal: to make really great food using local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients as much as possible, and to provide a comfortable and casual atmosphere in which this food can be enjoyed. We believe we can best support the local community, economy and environment by purchasing ingredients cultivated and crafted within the Northeast and North-central regions of Florida, thereby promoting the sustainability and growth of our region’s agriculture and artisan economy. It is our commitment and responsibility to provide truly authentic food, to reconnect this most important part of culture to its origins in the cultivation of the land and responsible plying of the sea.

Our menu will change continuously with the seasons, and will reflect our sincere appreciation of Southern cooking, with healthy notions. Keep an eye out for our featured Farm, Fish, and Artisan Partners as we do our best by their incredible product. After all, a restaurant’s menu can only be as good as the ingredients used to craft it.

What we say about them:

Yummy!  This weekend we went to St. Augustine, one of our favorite places.  I had done some "research" on Pinterest trying to find some new things to try while in St. Augustine and stumbled upon The Floridian.  I looked over the company website and read reviews on the Urban Spoon and Southern Living -- it looked like a winner -- now all I had to do was convince Mr. Douglass.  I explained that is was a "farm to table" restaurant and it would be good to try it -- you know, just for the blog.  ;)  By Sunday, we were all seated on their patio enjoying drinks and fried green tomato bruschetta.  We all chatted while we ate our appetizer and sipped our drinks, then came the main course.  Silence fell over the table.  It was amazing.  The boys had the Dixie Burger made from beef from the CartWheel Ranch and I had the FGT Hoagie made with fried green tomatoes, cilantro mayo, cabbage slaw, and Wainwright's pepperjack cheese.  Mr. Douglass had the Minorcan Datil-BBQ Sandwich which they describe as a "sweet, spicy, and boozy BBQ sauce" over slow roasted CartWheel Ranch pork, and served on a bun with pimento cheese, cabbage slaw, and house pickled vegetables.  My sister-in-law, Ms. Douglass, had the Shrimp Remoulade Po'Boy made from local shrimp.  As delicious as these descriptions sound, they do not even begin to do these dishes justice.  The only small warning I will give is that parties of 6 or more will not be allowed to split the check and there is a automatic 20% gratuity added to parties of 6 or more.  This certainly wasn't a deal breaker for us, but it was noted as a teensy annoyance.  With that small warning in place, we say to you, the next time you're in St. Augustine give The Floridian a try. . . you won't be disappointed.