Southern Hospitality and Fish Farms

You are viewing one of Our Dispatches. RSS

A Dispatch is a report from our trip. Browse via keywords or global map.

By: leelefever on December 28, 2005 - 7:55am
There are a few parts of the country near my hometown that are perfect examples of smalltown and rural America.  In fact, my Mom is from the area that most people know as Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show, called Mt. Airy, which is about an hour away. 
 
Near the border of North Carolina and Virgina are rural areas with farms, country roads, old tobacco barns and rolling hills.  The place has a down-home country feel that is very much a part of my family. You will never meet nicer and more welcoming people than folks from this part of the country. They are almost dripping with southern hospitality and have a lot of pride in their country ways. It's a culture all it's own.
 
Today we went to visit my uncle Rick and his family in Patrick County, Virginia, just across the border from NC. He runs the product side of the fish hatchery and has his own little paradise nestled in the hills, complete with a deer hunting stand called "the condo". Tonight we heard about 20 stories over beer, chicken and dumplings, mustard greens and cornbread - good ole country cookin. Thanks Sheila!
 
Sachi and I spent the afternoon exploring the fish farm on a 4 wheeler.  On this particular farm there are about 60 ponds at about 1-3 acres each. Lots of water.  It's one of about 5 fish farms.
 
I always say that going up to my uncle's place is a cultural expereince, especially for Sachi, who loves being there, but has a hard time understanding everyone when they speak.
 
 

Carrick's picture
By: Carrick on December 28, 2005 - 9:35am
Hi Lee, I'm really enjoying your dispatches so far. I'm curious to know where all that pond water comes from? How long have the fish farms been there? And what was there before?

By: leelefever on December 28, 2005 - 11:31am
Hey Carrick! The ponds are situated on rivers, one of which is called the Dan River. The water is pumped out and put through biological and UV filters to keep the pond water as clean as possible. Some of the farms have been there 30-40 years, the one in the pics above are only about 6-8 years old. The ponds are on what we call "bottoms", which are usually river valleys that were previously farmlands. I'm getting started on a post about fish farming in general that should answer a lot of questions. Please do ask if you have any other specific ones- this stuff is what my family is all about.
By: nep on December 28, 2005 - 1:00pm
The first time I read through this, I thought you said "deer hatchery"! I thought, wow, that's some modern stuff they're doing out East...
By: Anonymous (not verified) on October 1, 2006 - 3:31am
Hi,I love Koi and like to have more infos about it,if it`s possible pls give me ur email address. :)