Final Pickins'

The blueberry's are about done for picking this year at Hidden Springs. I spent a couple of days, Tuesday thru Thursday (9/2-9/4), helping around the farm picking blueberries and doing a few other chores. Now the apples need a bunch of work, the Papaws are ready, and walnuts are not far off from "gathering". And that's partial list of the "chores to learn" as you educate yourselves about organic farming. So there is plenty of work to be done for the WWOOFers or anyone wanting to earn their "keep" while enjoying a small portion of the Cumberland Plateau.
A once-remote wilderness it's natural systems (the worlds longest hardwood-forested plateau) now face challenges from clearcut logging, Mountaintop Removal coal mining, the development of numerous large retirement communities; more being developed, w/ the accompanying golf courses and retail sprawl. Hmmm?! Sounds like some towns in the "far east", of Tennessee that is.
The rains we had a few weeks ago across most of the state helped some here at Hidden Springs. The stream in this gorge does what some over at Savage Gulf/Stone Door, do as well, in that they drop below the surface and run for miles before surfacing again. Leaving a dry rock streambed on the surface and making water usage a challenge at times due to lack of accessibility. Of course not being helped in any way from the draught this area of the country has been feeling for the last few years. This was another short trip into a peaceful relaxing state of learning some about farming and another persons path. I hope to continue this education w/ another trip soon!
(anyone looking for a unique working vacation or an internship for college credit should contact Hector or Susie at Hidden Springs Orchard in Cookeville, TN, "google it")