Clear Creek's new twist on farming
- October 22, 2014
- / Alice Crann Good, Beaches to Woodlands
- / training-development
Talk about being innovative.
Ten years ago, Ray and Wanda Davis created Clear Creek Farm on 30 acres just west of Whiting Field Naval Air Station off State Road 87 in Milton, on dense briar-packed, wooded acreage that did not offer much fertile, level ground.
Wanda, a retired English professor, and Ray, a semi-retired insurance and financial service professional, thought it would be fun to try their hand at farming to keep active and learn how to grow their own food in retirement.
"You know how it is…we wanted to stay off the couch and golf courses," Ray Davis says, laughing.
Today, through the use of innovative container, raised bed, active and passive hydroponics, and high tunnel gardening, the self-taught growers are providing for their needs and selling pesticide- and insecticide-free crops to local restaurants year round. Clear Creek Farm produces about 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers.
The farm's vegetable produce has been featured on menus of some of the finest restaurants in Pensacola, including Global Grill and Jackson’s Steakhouse.
Named the Santa Rosa County “Innovative Farm of 2014,” Clear Creek Farm is participating in the 11th annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County throughout October.
Visitors can learn about non-traditional farming techniques and solar energy systems as well as get advice on growing their own vegetables and heirloom trees.
[sidebar]
Want to go?
What: Clear Creek Farm
Where: 6065 Clear Creek Road in Milton. Reservations are required.
Details: Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, with 10 percent discount for active military and groups of 10 or more. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a feel Oct. 1-31, except for no visits Thursday and Sunday mornings.
Questions: Send an email to [email protected] or visit clearcreekfarm.net.
[/sidebar]
The Davises eagerly share what they have learned about natural gardening to farmers and non-farmers alike, with much of their energy focusing on education provided via community outreach and guided tours of the farm.
“We talk about the development of the farm and how we got into this activity later in life," says Ray Davis, 72.
"We compost garden plant materials and vegetable kitchen waste, weeds, wood chips and grass clippings, tree leaves, shredded newspaper and junk mail to enrich the soil used in our containers and raised beds. We also use worms to create vermicompost."
The tour also showcases the farm’s solar power system, which generates power for the farm and the Davis’ home, the rain-water collection, drip irrigation system and geothermal energy system.
"We have created our own gardening medium and try to teach others about non-traditional gardening, how to grow vegetables and other plants in sandy, rocky soil like ours," Davis says.
Today, through the use of innovative container, raised bed, active and passive hydroponics, and high tunnel gardening, the self-taught growers are providing for their needs and selling pesticide- and insecticide-free crops to local restaurants year round. Clear Creek Farm produces about 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers.
The farm's vegetable produce has been featured on menus of some of the finest restaurants in Pensacola, including Global Grill and Jackson’s Steakhouse.
Named the Santa Rosa County “Innovative Farm of 2014,” Clear Creek Farm is participating in the 11th annual Beaches to Woodlands Tour of Santa Rosa County throughout October.
Visitors can learn about non-traditional farming techniques and solar energy systems as well as get advice on growing their own vegetables and heirloom trees.
[sidebar]
Want to go?
What: Clear Creek Farm
Where: 6065 Clear Creek Road in Milton. Reservations are required.
Details: Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, with 10 percent discount for active military and groups of 10 or more. The farm is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a feel Oct. 1-31, except for no visits Thursday and Sunday mornings.
Questions: Send an email to [email protected] or visit clearcreekfarm.net.
[/sidebar]
The Davises eagerly share what they have learned about natural gardening to farmers and non-farmers alike, with much of their energy focusing on education provided via community outreach and guided tours of the farm.
“We talk about the development of the farm and how we got into this activity later in life," says Ray Davis, 72.
"We compost garden plant materials and vegetable kitchen waste, weeds, wood chips and grass clippings, tree leaves, shredded newspaper and junk mail to enrich the soil used in our containers and raised beds. We also use worms to create vermicompost."
The tour also showcases the farm’s solar power system, which generates power for the farm and the Davis’ home, the rain-water collection, drip irrigation system and geothermal energy system.
"We have created our own gardening medium and try to teach others about non-traditional gardening, how to grow vegetables and other plants in sandy, rocky soil like ours," Davis says.
Recent Posts
-
CivicCon launches with a look at good growth in cities
-
Building stronger brains one baby, one parent at a time
-
SCI debuts commercial on Early Learning City
-
Entrecon: World class speakers and an opportunity to sharpen skills
-
PYP Quality of Life survey 2017
-
EntreCon Pensacola 2016: A look back
-
Leadership tip: getting better employee takeaways
-
Leadership tip: be interested instead of interesting
-
Leadership tip: delivering difficult messages
-
Brain Bags boost Arc, Early Childhood Court programs