July Newsletter
7/31/16
From Helen
It's hot and miserable but it's the south so that's what we expect. I wouldn't want to live any where else but if I was a rich women, I'd have a mountain house for the summer months. I know the cooler weather is coming but not fast enough.
We've had a rough week besides the heat, Thomas blew 5 tires on trailers hauling grain. There's never a good time to blow a tire but changing tires on the side of the road in this heat was no fun. On top of that July and August are always a slow time for sales.
Having said that leads me into a special offer on meat. We're offering a beef package and a pork package at discounted prices to entice you to purchase NOW. See the Feature of the Month for the details. You can also purchase a Butchers Club or a Meatpon. A Butchers Club and the meat packages can be purchased on our website http://legarefarms.com/pages/special-meat-sale.
Now is the time to join the CSA vegetable program for the 6 week fall season if you're interested. We're planting fall vegetables and need to know how many to plant for and the most important part is that we need the money for seed, fertilizer, etc.
It's hard to get in the planting mood in the heat but it has to be done. We cut the eggplant and pepper plants back to about a foot high then they flush back out and start bearing again in the fall. Tomato plants have to be started and then transplanted into the field. Cucumbers, squash, and zucchini are being planted from seed. We have 3 basic growing seasons spring/summer, fall, and winter.
It's hard to believe that October and the Pumpkin Patch is just around the corner. We're getting ready to plant the pumpkins in a couple of days. We're working on signs and everything else that has to be done before we open. Teachers are already making reservations for their school field trips. We're having a few inquiries about birthday parties in October. I'm excited for October to come but also dreading it.
___________________________________________________________________
Linda's contribution to the Newsletter.
As those of you who follow us on facebook know, Fourth of July weekend Helen bought a horse. While this may seem a strange thing to do for someone who hasn’t been on a horse since college, Thomas and I understood completely. You see Jasmine is a Marsh Tacky, a rare breed of horse that our grandfather raised. While there hasn’t been one here on the farm since any of us were born, Daddy talked about how great they were until the day he died. He always said that he wanted another one but was never able to find one.
The Marsh Tacky is a seriously endangered breed with only about 300 left. They are a member of the Colonial Spanish group of horse breeds. These breeds are a group of closely related horses which include the Spanish Mustang of the southwest, the Florida Cracker from (obviously) Florida, the Banker Horse from N.C. and the Marsh Tacky, native of S.C. These horses are descended from the horses brought over by Spanish explorers in the 1500’s. Each breed within this group, being fairly isolated, developed their own characteristics.
The Marsh Tacky is a smaller horse, usually around 14 hands (56 inches) and is known for its stamina. They are extremely sure footed and work well in and around swamps, marshes and water. An extremely gentle and smart animal, they are great with children. They do not spook easily and are a good horse for hunting and for herding cattle.
The Marsh Tacky breed was the most common horse along the S.C. coast from Colonial times until after WW2 when the breed numbers began to decline. Used by locals in all American wars fought on “home soil”, the Marsh Tacky contributed greatly to the history of our state.
Used by American troops during the Revolutionary war, this horse is credited with giving the advantage to Francis Marion “The Swamp Fox” in his battles against the British. Marion’s Marsh Tackies were better able to maneuver in the Lowcountry than the heavier British cavalry horses. They were also the horse of choice for the Stono Scouts, the Johns Island home guard or militia during the Civil War. In addition they were used in WW2 by beach patrols, patrolling the SC beaches for Nazi U-boats.
By the 1980’s, these horses had become critically endangered.
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and the Equus Survival Trust worked together in 2006 and 2007 to map the DNA of all known horses in this breed. In 2007 The Carolina Marsh Tacky Association was formed. In 2010 The SC General Assembly made the Marsh Tacky the state heritage horse. The bill was signed into law by then Gov. Mark Sanford who said that he grew up riding Marsh Tackies.
I have run into former State Senator and U.S. Congressman Arthur Ravenel a number of times over the last 35 years. Every time I see him he tells me about his father bringing him out to our farm when he was a small boy to buy him a Marsh Tacky. This horse his father purchased from our grandfather, Vardell Legare, was his first horse.
D.P. Lowther of Ridgeland, SC is the owner of the largest herd of the remaining population of Marsh Tackies. Helen’s husband, Rick, is D.P. Lowther's nephew. Mr. Lowther, a legend in the horse community, has been, for many years, the owner of the largest herd of the remaining population of Marsh Tackies.
He acquired many of his horses from Islands along the coast such as Ladies Island, Bull Island, Dafuskie and Hilton Head. About the same age as our father would have been, Mr. Lowther grew up riding Marsh Tackies to herd cows, as Daddy did. Earlier this year, Mr. Lowther, in his 80’s, decided to sell part of his herd. He decided to sell about 80 horses at auction. Helen, Thomas, and I attended the auction, mainly just to watch a historic event, and Helen ended up bidding on and acquiring Jasmine.
Jasmine is still young, only a little over a year old, so it will be a few years before she can be ridden or bred. However, she has already claimed a place on our farm and in our hearts. She eagerly comes to greet any of us who visit her paddock.
She loves to be petted and will already let us lead her around on a lead rope. She also will nip you on the rear end if you turn your back on her and do not give her your full attention. Hopefully in just a few years we will be riding her and soon after be raising baby Marsh Tackies here for the first time in over 70 years.
Calendar
September 17th Backyard Chicken Workshop
October Pumpkin Patch
November Thanksgiving on the Farm field trips
November 26 Holiday Open House
Feature of the Month
Beef package 5 packs (20 patties) of hamburger patties and 5 packs(25 links) of beef sausages, your choice of favor for $55.00 normally $70.00.
Pork package 6 packs of 2 each pork chops and 4 packs (20 links) of sage sausage for $65 normally $85.
Butchers Clubs and Meatpons are also available. Butchers Clubs run $250, $500, and $1000 and that gives you 25% off everything you buy. Meatpons cost $75 and you get $100 worth of meat.
Call 843-559-0788, message us, or come by on a Saturday morning 9-12. You can also purchase on our website http://legarefarms.com/pages/special-meat-sale.
Special of the Month
Ribeye steaks are on SALE this month. Normally $14.99 but this month they are $12.99. Stock up!!
Recipe of the Month
I was looking for a recipe that didn't involve cooking in this July heat. I was thinking salad so I came up with a cucumber salad. Cucumbers don't like me so I don't eat them but everyone tells me this is a good one.
Cucumber Salad
2 or 3 tender cucumbers, peeled and cut into very thin slices
½ cup sour cream 2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar Dash of red pepper
Combine all ingredients and chill well. Serves 4 to 6.
See our other recipes HERE
We are still trying to be open every Saturday 9-12. Call to check before coming out because sometimes things come up.
___________________________________________________________________
If you have any questions or suggestions, call or email us,
Helen Legare-Floyd
Legare Farms
2620 Hanscombe Pt Rd
Johns Island, SC 29455
843-559-0788
info@legarefarms.com
www.legarefarms.com
www/facebook.com/legarefarms
|
