SOQUE BULLETIN
June 22, 2012
1) SOQUE RIVER FESTIVAL - Smashing Success
2) GEORGIA MOUNTAINS FARM TOUR - Just one week away
3) SOQUE RIVER CLEANUP - Saturday July 7th - 9am
"FIRST EVER" SOQUE RIVER FESTIVAL
SMASHING SUCCESS
Barbara Steinhous and Jerry Richmond enjoying their paddle during the 4th of 10 trips down the river on Saturday June 16th.
(photo by Lane Gresham - Northeast Georgian)
If you have photos from the festival we'd love for you to share them with us.
1) SOQUE RIVER FESTIVAL - Smashing Success
Last weekend's SOQUE RIVER FESTIVAL exceeded all our expectations. We had over 200 people come out for the event, including exactly 150 who floated down the river, and eight who toured the Proposed Greenway on bicycles. We're collecting feedback from everyone who attended and this is one of the comments we received.
"The whole thing was great! Loved the relaxed feel of the event - everyone seemed to have fun, and at the same time, there was a sense of ease....as if we were floating along the river even when on dry land......delightful!"
For those who attended, thanks for contributing to a successful day! We can't thank you enough for being a part of our "very first" SOQUE FESTIVAL! We had PERFECT WEATHER, GREAT TURNOUT, DELCIOUS FOOD, LOTS OF HELPERS, AND VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDEES.
If you didn't make it this year, we hope you'll take a look at some of the photos from this year, and ask around, as we think you'll be hoping we host a similar event next year. Based on the community reaction, we certainly hope to do something similar again next year, that's why we'd really like to get YOUR FEEDBACK. Even if you didn't attend the event, but followed our publicity, your input for a similar event next year would be helpful to us. If YOU DID ATTEND this year's festival…….
ENTER TO WIN A FESTIVAL T-SHIRT
and ORGANIC SEED STARTING KIT
Congratulations to Mark Cross for winning our door prize of a FESTIVAL T-SHIRT
You could be the next to win if you take just 3-5 minutes to complete our survey.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SUPPORTERS
We could never have pulled this off without their help
Also special thanks to:
Tom Hensley and Springer Mountain Farms for providing Chicken, water and sponsorship, Matt Mixon for sponsoring our Laminated Maps for the Event, Doug Henry and Headwaters Realty for sponsoring our volunteer rewards, Cool River Tubing for loaning us Lifejackets, Habersham Bicycles for sponsoring the Greenway Bike Tour, Northeast Georgian for printing our registration form, Deana Brooksher and Garden of Wellness for preparing our local foods (and Jen Lynch, Marie Tannander and Liesel Potthast), Steven Patrick and Sheena (for Fish Frying), Andy Haygood (4H shuttle driver), John Mather for manning the grills. SERVERS - Deb Kilgore, Bob Kilgore, Teri Parker, Liesel Potthast, John Mather. REGISTRATION – Kimberly, Jean, Barbara Moser, Ching-Yu, Morning Washburn, and others. DRIVERS -Bob Bouchard, Dale Holmes, Randy Moser, David Budd, Andy Haygood ,Tom Pinion, Alex Smith. BOAT LOADERS -Stephen Giles, Charles Cunningham, Colt Martin, Jeffrey Turner, Blake Limbaugh, Jonathon Thacker and Brother and Dan Calhoun. GUIDES -Walter Matlock, Dan Calhoun, Bob Brooksher, Doug Henry, John Bigelow, Duncan Hughes, Scarlett Fuller, Ben Dockins, Justin Ellis, and Walter Matlock again. ARTWORK - Linda Anderson. DONATIONS - CERTUS bank – festival site, Marty Simmons and partners – put in site (and maintenance), City of Clarkesville and public works – mowing of site, CopperPot – Kitchen for food prep, Ice from Grace Calvary Church, Squash from Community Gardeners, Habersham County - Courthouse parking lot ,Bluegraphics - discounted t-shirts. BIKE TOUR –Walter, Scarlett, Joe Elam. KIDS ZONE - Duncan Hughes – bug hunt, Janet Westervelt – bug hunt and id, Laura Turpen – rainbarrel painting, Julianne Wilson – face painting, Rocket Roy fly casting, Robert Sullivan - Fly tying, Bob Brooksher - games. SANITATION - Travis and Tammy Halbrook - Chase Sanitation. MUSIC - Richard & Lynda Averack, Walter Daves, Jeanie Daves, Jennie Inglis and Mark Baker. The Yonah Pickers Dulicimer Band, Lynn McCollum, Dee Petty. LOANERS - Trucks from Scarlett Fuller and Duncan Hughes, Shuttles from Clarkesville United Methodist Church and Extension 4H, Trailers from Wildwood Outfitters and Bob Brooksher, Lifejackets from Cool River Tubing, Tables from Marty Simmons, Grills from Dan Calhoun, Brian Sandven, Justin Ellis. Boats loaned by: Duncan Hughes, Dudley Sisk, Doug Henry, Tom Hodges, Bob Brooksher, Dan Calhoun, Janet Westervelt, Anne Shirley, Wildwood Outfitters, Walter Matlock, Peter Bull, Tom Woods, Harold Kennedy, Justin Ellis. SITE PREP and SET UP - Dennis Clines, Marty Simmons, Randy Moser, Walter Matlock, Bob Brooksher, Duncan Hughes, Justin Ellis, Tom Pinion, Duncan Hughes, Harmony Fontaine, Debbie Bouchard, Barbara Steinhous and many others
There are probably many others that contributed to this event that we've failed to mention here. It was a great community effort. Thanks to each and every individual who attended and helped out!
Group #1 prepares for their trip with the most experienced guide on the Soque - Walter Matlock.
To stay connected to other great SOQUE EVENTS
send a reply e-mail and request to be added
to the SOQUE BULLETIN e-newsletter
or please JOIN the SRWA
Membership is what makes these events possible
2) GEORGIA MOUNTAINS FARM TOUR - Just one week away
For the last two years the SRWA has hosted a Tour of Sustainable Farms that has been one of our most well attended outings of the year. This year we decided to step it up a notch, and rather than have just 3 farms visited as a caravan on a Saturday, we expanded it to 18 total farm and food stops, spanning 5 counties all across North Georgia, and even touching into North and South Carolina. The reason is that the local sustainable food movement has exploded over the last three years and we wanted to showcase all of the farms and individual farmers that are making it possible. This year we're also including two optional MEAL STOPS by local chefs who know the value of local food (Jamie Alred at Lake Rabun Hotel and Jeff Morris at Copper Pot). To help raise money for a brand new Georgia Mountains Farmers Network, a portion of the proceeds will be used to help build farmer collaboratives throughout NE Georgia. Online advance ticket sales are over, but you can still purchase your weekend pass or brochure at the SRWA offices in downtown Clarkesville (call to arrange a time), at the Simply Homegrown market at Clayton, the Soque Lover Gardens! booth at the Clarkesville Farmers Market (we'll be there after 10am), Mountain Fresh Creamery in Clermont, The Root Cellar in Clayton, or you can show up the day of the event at the first featured farm of the day (LoganBerry Heritage Farm near Cleveland on Saturday) or Cedar Hill Enrichment Center (in Gainseville on Sunday).
To see the list of farms, the map of farm locations, and other details….click on the poster below to see the website and link to our brochure.
Fill up your car and bring family and friends on a weekend adventure to see local sustainable foods in action.
3) SOQUE RIVER CLEANUP - Saturday July 7th - 9am
If you are itching for an opportunity to see more of the SOQUE your next opportunity will be our SOQUE RIVER CLEANUP – Saturday July 7th . The Soque River Watershed Association is participating in American Rivers National River Cleanup event by leading a litter cleanup at Jackson Bridge on Hwy 197. Volunteers will meet at 9am at Old Clarkesville Mill (left parking lot) and carpool up to the bridge by 9:30 (you can meet us at the bridge if you're coming from the northend of the county. We'll provide all the garbage bags and gloves you'll need. The area around the 197 bridge is all withing the National Forest and encompasses a one mile section of public access to the Soque. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's beautiful.
After the cleanup the group will enjoy a short hike. Details call 706-754-9382 or soque@windstream.net.
Justin Ellis
Executive Director
Soque River Watershed Association
706-754-9382
