Laurie Ritchie enjoys having guests at her Hephzibah farmhouse.
Whether it’s a group of Girl Scouts or a farm to fork fundraising dinner, Ritchie said she likes being the hostess and allowing people to visit and learn about growing food.
“We’re a certified naturally grown farm,” said Ritchie, who owns J and L Farm and Stables with her husband, John.
MORE: Local Growers Provide Plenty of Options for Farm to Fork Experiences
On the property, they grow a variety of crops and have animals such as laying hens, donkeys and horses. Currently, they have garlic in the ground and have several fruit-bearing trees as well as muscadine vines on the land.
The Ritchies have been a big part of Augusta Locally Grown, selling their produce through the website and at local farmer’s markets. She said they are scaling back some this year in favor of less labor-intensive crops.
She also makes several types of bread including rosemary/garlic bread and walnut/honey bread. J and L Farm and Stables also has several bee colonies and sell the honey.
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In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conversation Service selected their farm to participate in its conservation plan for 2021-2022.
“We received a grant,” she said. “This will help us conserve the land.”
Ritchie said the grant will help them restore some of the pastures with native, non-invasive grasses and plants and allow them to install more eastern bluebird houses. Currently, there are three.
The farm to fork events focus on locally-grown fruits and vegetables as well as locally sourced meats and cheeses. Ritchie said she does them by request, and people seem to enjoy them.
While COVID shut them down for most of 2020, Ritchie said they did have an event in October that was well-received. The event raised $167 for Child Enrichment.
In 2021, Ritchie is partnering with Tinks Grass-Fed Beef and Pork to donate products to Concerned Women of Grovetown. J and L Farms donates eggs, fruits and vegetables to the food pantry, and Tinks will donate 16 pounds of meat each month. They are doing this in memory of two farmers, Margaret Sloane and Karen Smith.
To learn more about farm to fork events, email Ritchie at lgritchie57@gmail.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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