Shrimping in the Old ways
By Chris Hinton
As I poured a cup of coffee, I reflected on my list of things to do for the day. The first thing on my agenda was to meet Doug Plash to discuss the history of shrimping and what the future holds for small business owners like himself. Little did I know that I would encounter such a joyful person, whose passion for his lifestyle and work is truly inspiring.
Doug Plash has been shrimping since he was 13, earning his first paycheck of $100. After a brief hesitation, Plash looked at the ground and, with a chuckle in his voice, said, "I'll never forget my cousins were so mad at me."
Plash's father, as well as his family, have been fishing these waters since before the Korean war. But not long after the war, his father, Floyd "Buck" Plash, started shrimping. Despite earning a business degree, Doug Plash realized that following his family's legacy and supporting his growing family would mean returning to his roots, leading him to the decision to build his own boat and embark on a shrimping journey.
In the summer of 1999, he started building the hull in his backyard with the help of his family, completing the project in just 14 days. The boat was named Melissa Jenn Kris, he shared that he has three girls, and the name fits it just fine.
"By the time I finished it, I was broke, and times were stressful," said Plash.
The house that Plash and his wife live in today is the same one they lived in when they married. The 120-year-old home has weathered many storms. I have seen a lot of beautiful sunsets, sunrises, and some rough storms that hit us. It is all beautiful if you know who created it," said Plash.
Plash has seen several storms while on his boat as well. He related, "One night, a storm blew in with 78 mph winds and lasted for over an hour. The waves were coming over the bow, and I was stuffing pillows in the windows to keep them from being blown out." He survived that night while another shrimper he knew, used a five-gallon bucket to keep his boat afloat. Thankfully, they both survived. He said when he came into the dock the next morning, pale face and exhausted, that his dad said what he was known to always say, "If you come back alive, that's a good day." Plash said, "You would be surprised as to how many didn't make it back to the docks in the old days.
Plash shared that he will probably not be shrimping in another ten years due to the change in the economy and the people. Hurricane Katrina wiped out many cold storage units, disrupting the supply chain and causing a significant loss in the shrimping industry. "We have nowhere to take the shrimp because no one will buy them," said Plash.
"In the old days, the shrimp could be sold to markets up and down the river where one would see as many as 68 boats in the Bon Secour fisheries. Today, the markets do not exist, and the imported farm-raised shrimp sell cheap; therefore, companies buy them in large quantities. The little man has been pushed to almost extinction."
In over 57 years of shrimping the Gulf Coast," said the captain, "I still love it, and it never gets old, so that's why I keep doing it."
Regardless of how times have changed, people still do what they love and are fortunate enough to continue to make money at what they are passionate about.
If you are ever in the Bon Secour area on Plash Island, go by and see an old shrimp boat captain named Doug Plash and buy some shrimp. You will be glad you did! Doug Plash embodies the spirit of resilience and passion in shrimping, reminding us that even in the face of change, a genuine love for one's craft can weather any storm, inviting everyone to share in the bounty of his enduring legacy.
The City of Foley provides scary and non-scary activities for everyone.
Baldwin County Master Gardeners
By Linda Williford
If you have a green thumb for gardening, or have an interest in growing plants, you might count it beneficial to join the Baldwin County Master Gardeners. This group is a nonprofit organization of trained and certified volunteers who love gardening and want to share their knowledge of gardening with their communities.
The Baldwin County Master Gardeners are associated with the Alabama Master Gardeners. The mission of the Alabama Masters Gardeners Association is to assist and support the Alabama Cooperative Extension System in its educational programs to support the local Master Gardeners. They train volunteers to educate communities with research-based information about gardening.
The Baldwin County Master Gardeners (BCMG) recently had their Annual Spring Plant Sale. Dolores Hammack, Plant Sale Coordinator said, “We had a huge variety of plants that sold out quickly.” They do this 3-day event every year at Week’s Bay off Hwy. 98 across from the Visitor’s Center. This plant sale serves as a fundraiser to help replenish the group’s expenses but also provides scholarships for students who are interested in horticulture for a career. Hammack said, “Last year we raised $10,000 and provided four college scholarships.”
Hammack said, “Presently, the BCMG consist of 183 members.” These members have earned a Certificate of Master Gardeners after completing a training course and 50 hours of volunteer service in the community. If interested in becoming a Master Gardener, you do not have to be a gardening expert but do need a passion for gardening and want to learn and grow. The course includes research-based gardening information on topics such as home lawns, trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers, and vegetable gardening. The spring session for 2024 is full, but you have time to register for the fall session, which will be August 8 – November 7. Registration is June 1-30. Go to www.aces.edu to sign up.
Hammack said, “We have some members who like public speaking, and they hold seminars and speak to gardening clubs throughout the year. Sometimes the seminars are online.” She said that these events are advertised through the website and their Facebook.” This year every Tuesday in the month of March, workshops were open to the public prior to the Annual Spring Plant Sale.
Eileen Huisman the BCMG’s Outreach Coordinator was certified in 2019. She said, “The BCMG group is like one big family. We work hard but we love what we do.” At the plant sale, they had a huge selection of vines, fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, annual, and perennials. Huisman said, “This year’s sale was monumental. We had cars backed up to get in all the way from Hwy. 98.”
Huisman coordinates Arber Day events, as well as other outreach events. She also coordinates meetings with high schools that have horticulture classes. Each county has their own Master Gardeners group. The Baldwin County group stays very busy.
Go to www.baldwinmastergardeners.com to get more information and learn about pesticides, when to plant, fertilize, and prune. The monthly newsletters have a wealth of information about gardening and other related topics. If you have any questions or need help on general gardening or how to treat a plant with a disease, call the help line 877-252-4769.
Bringing resue horses and kids together
By Linda Williford
Shorty was the name of Amber Buswell’s horse, which she parted with a few years ago. He went to someone who had a horse farm. Later, she found out that Shorty was starving and was not being properly cared for. She came to Shorty’s rescue and took him back to care for him.
Before that eye-opening experience with Shorty, earlier in April 2020, Amber Buswell had just adopted her daughter’s best friend, who was living in an abusive home situation. Buswell said, “I had to do something about it, so I was able to adopt her.”
Buswell said, “For a living, I transport horses across the country. One night as I was traveling on I-10 at 2:00 am that morning, I had this idea to bring together foster kids and rescue horses. It was a “God" thing." It was only a short time until Buswell started a non-profit organization in March 2022. Her mission was to bring abused and neglected horses, foster kids, and at-risk youth together to a safe place to heal and have hope again. Buswell is the founder and director of Shorty's Safe Haven Equine Rescue & Rehab Farm in Foley.
Buswell has 35 years of experience in the horse industry. She started riding at age 5 and showing horses at age 7. Later, she studied Special Education.
Her love for foster kids and horses was the perfect scenario. “My focus is to bring kids and horses that have gone through similar situations of abuse and neglect together to heal each other.”
The emotional benefits of the interaction between children and horses help with feeling accepted, building trust, confidence, and self-esteem. Of the rescue and rehab horses at the farm, Buswell says, “We use the quiet ones and those that are trainable to work with the children.” Some of the other horses are available to go out under an adoption contract. But Buswell said, “It states if for any reason the new owners can’t keep the horse, then the horse comes back to us. Hopefully, we can provide a sanctuary or forever home for these rescue horses.”
"Currently, we have 15 Foster Kids in the program and a waitlist," Buswell said. "We have a certified counselor on board.” There is no charge to the families in the program. They provide counseling services, as well as all riding gear for the children, such as boots, jeans, and helmets.
Right now, Shorty’s horse farm is in urgent need of help moving to its new location. The current farm that it leases has recently been sold. “We are fortunate and blessed to be able to buy our own 20-acre farm in Elberta. But now we need to raise $110,000 by May 1stso we can move our 25 horses, a pot belly pig, and a cow to their new home, as well as do some needed work on the new farm.
Buswell said, “My goal for our new farm is to have a disability riding program and also provide meals at Thanksgiving for our lower income families in the community”.
“We are reaching out to businesses and individuals for sponsors, donations, and help with fundraisers. We have a GoFundMe account and are advertising on social media. We will be doing a car wash, lemonade stand, and raffles as some of our fundraisers.” Go to their Facebook page to get up-to-date information about fundraisers and donate or volunteer. Buswell said, “You do not have to have horse experience to work on the farm. You don’t even have to get dirty. We have plenty of jobs, including office work.” Contact Amber Buswell at 251-213-9634
A Nature Preserve in Your Back Yard
By Linda Williford
A Nature Preserve in Your Back Yard
Linda Williford
The City of Foley owns over 600 acres of land dedicated to the preservation of native plants and wildlife. Graham Creek Nature Preserve is practically in your backyard. Less than two miles from the Foley Beach Express, with over 10 miles of nature trails to explore. This natural habitat has 700 species of plants, some of which are rare and endangered. It is one of the few places where the Pitcher Plant can be found. The park provides walking trails, a canoe launch, summer camps and workshops for children, an archery park, disc golf courses, and more.
In 2004, the City of Foley purchased the property for the sole purpose of drinking water resources from Graham Creek. In 2006, Leslie Gahagan, who is the Sustainability and Natural Resources Director, had a vision for Graham Creek. In 2007, She talked with the mayor of Foley about opening the area for public access. In 2008, they opened a canoe launch for the community.
Gahagan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Alabama with a major in Marine Biology. Gahagan says, "I grew up and still reside on the waterways of Wolf Bay in Elberta. I began my career with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management as a stormwater inspector." She is now employed with the City of Foley, where she manages the Environmental Department and Nature Parks Department. "With over twenty years of experience, I continue to be active in public education for stormwater management and water quality," she said.
In 2016, the park opened the Interpretive Center, which houses rabbits, turtles, flying squirrels, snakes, and fish. The Center also offers park maps and information about renting large meeting rooms and venues for weddings and other special events.
Gahagan says, "We have over 50,000 people who visit the park each year." The park offers family fun and activities for all ages. In October, the park has the Haunted Forest, located behind the Interpretive Center on the boardwalk trail. "That is one of my favorite events," says Gahagan. Her office was filled with haunted décor and props. Then comes the Christmas Trail in December, which ends with a visit with Santa. The fake snow and fog bubbles are very popular. "Everyone really enjoys popping the fog-filled bubbles, even the adults," she said. Gahagan said that in the spring, there will be a Bunny Scavenger Hunt and Easter Egg Hunt. The park recently hosted the USA Archery 3D Collegiate Nationals tournament event, attracting many people to the Foley area.
The Graham Creek Nature Preserve has ten employees, mostly Park Rangers. David Eckman, head Park Ranger, says, "We are all about community. We have service companies, Eagle Scouts, and other volunteers who do projects for the park." Eckman says that they do golf cart trail tours. "One of our rangers will take you on a tour of the trails, but you must make reservations." They have the regular golf carts and then a golf cart limousine, which will ride a small group.
Along the walking trails, you will probably see plenty of deer, birds, and other wildlife. Graham Creek Nature Preserve is a photographer's delight to get close- up photos of the wildlife and the native plants in their natural habitat.
The park is open from dawn to dusk and is located at 23030 Wolf Bay Dr. Website: grahamcreekpreserve.org – 251-923-4267.
Visiting the foley library
By Linda Williford
Have you been to the Foley Library lately? If not, you will be surprised to see how much more the library has to offer than just books.
Kate Norris, the new Library Director, recently gained this title in November 2023, says, “When you come through those doors, you will find a “happy place.” Norris has been with the City of Foley since 2007. She completed her 16th year this past October with nine years at City Hall in Human Resources and seven years at the Foley Library. Norris says, “The library has so much to offer to our community.”
"We have almost 86,000 items for check-out, of which 77,000 of those items are book titles,” Norris said. Other than the wide range of book titles available, there are books on CDs, DVDs, magazines, and other digital resources for all ages. “We have Hoopla, which allows patrons to access audiobooks, eBooks, comics, and movies. And we have Libby, which also allows access to audio and eBooks.”
Norris shared the opportunities available. To begin with, the library offers printing, scanning and faxing services, and has a notary public service. She said the library has a computer lab with 28 computers for public use, with one-on-one assistance to teach patrons about general computer use and assistance with Microsoft Office and Google Suites. Anything technical, their staff support will be glad to help with. Mae Bryant is Head of Collection Management and oversees the Computer Lab.
Michele Collins, the Library Cataloger, shared a few statistics for December 2022-November 2023 and found the average daily circulation was 1,168. Collins said, “We gain an average of 3.7 library patrons a day and an average of 2.6 library computer lab users a day.”
Foley Library came into existence in May of 1923. A Community Welfare Club (which later became the Foley Women's Club) started a community library. In 1957, the City of Foley took over the library, which has recently celebrated its 100th year in the community.
If you want to learn a language, go to the Foley Library. They offer the Mango Languages, preparing the student for realistic conversations in over 70 languages.
If you need a meeting room, the library has meeting rooms for reservations for groups of up to 40 people, a boardroom for up to 8 people, and a study room for 1-3 people.
The Children’s Department is brimming with all kinds of activities and programs. Maggie Pearson is the Children’s Department Director. She oversees and plans the activities for the children, including arts and crafts, special events, and characters that visit during the Children's Storytime. Recently, during the Christmas holidays, she arranged for Santa himself to make a surprise visit to the children’s Storytime.
The library has many programs and even arts and crafts for teens and adults. Teen activities include the Teen Create Spaces and the Teen Book Club. There is a Coffee & Donuts with Authors event and homeschool kit programs for adults. Also, recently, the library purchased Stay Sharp Kits, which are cognitive care kits assisting patrons with dementia. These kits contain puzzles, games, and other activities to stimulate the mind.
The History & Genealogy Department on the second floor has cultural and heritage collections for genealogy research. They have a collection of materials on the state of Alabama, county and city histories, and family histories in books, files, and films.
The library is a great asset to the community. It needs more space to adequately provide this wealth of information and services. There are future plans for a new library to begin construction this year. Norris says, “We have a lot of changes coming and our plan is to only get better!”
To learn more about the library, Visit their website, foleylibrary.org, or stop at 319 E. Laurel Avenue. Hours: Monday-Thursday 9-7, Friday & Saturday 9-5, Sunday closed, you may also call 251-943-1032.
Baldwin's tea plantation
By Linda Williford
Johnny Appleseed of the Tea Plants
The Fairhope Tea Plantation is tucked away off Hwy 98 amongst the woodlands, wetlands, and agricultural fields. Donnie Barrett, a native of Fairhope and owner of the plantation, has done many years of study and research on how to grow and make tea. He has been all over the world, including China, to learn how to make the perfect cup of tea. Barrett came from an agricultural background. His father was an agricultural research scientist. Barrett’s classes in wildlife biology at Auburn University have helped him with horticultural techniques for his tea.
Barrett started experimenting with tea in 1979. He was dumping hurricane debris at a Corps of Engineers dump site at the Auburn University Research and Extension Center in Fairhope, Alabama. He came across the area where the Lipton Tea Company had been conducting tea-growing experiments at a Substation. Hurricane Fredrick of 1979 caused a lot of damage, and the Lipton experiments were terminated. Lipton took all the files and data and left the area. Barrett was able to salvage some tea plants that were not destroyed and started his own experimenting with the tea plants.
Barrett says, “Today, I have 61,000 mature tea plants and thousands and thousands of little ones on my farm.” He says, “I’m the Johnny Appleseed of the tea plant.” Barrett sells tea plants to big farmers from all over the United States. “I’m well known in the industry for selling tea plants and am one of the most senior tea growers in the U.S.”
Tourists come to Barrett’s farm every day to learn how to grow and make tea. His tours include a ride through rows of tea plants on his plantation, and a thorough discussion of tea growing and tea making, over a cup of tea. “I tell them the difference between black tea, green tea, and white tea. I have a bucket of tea plants with me, and I give a piece of the plants to my visitors.” He also has green tea and black tea available to purchase, loose or in traditional tea bags.
He generally sells 5,000 to 7,000 tea plants to the big farmers every year. He has already sold 4,000 plants this year to farmers from South Carolina and Virginia. “I even have farmers that travel all the way from California to get my tea plants,” Barrett said. “Typically, farmers purchase the tea plants in the fall. This is the best time to move the plants.” The farmers and visitors must come to his plantation to get the plants because Barrett does not ship. He says, “I don’t like going to the post office and standing in lines.”
Tea plants can tolerate a wide range of soil. However, “There is a technique to growing tea, “said Barrett. “Originally, they come from an area where they live in cracks of rocks. Their roots run from cracks in the rocks looking for dirt.” Barrett holds one-hour classes for visitors and teaches them how to plant and grow their tea plants. The classes are free, and he sells his plants for $1.00 each. He said, “Generally, if you go to a professional, they will charge $650/hour for a consultation fee and then charge $18-24 a plant. It’s obvious that I get a lot of business. I help people start farms,” he said enthusiastically.
Barrett says, "I'm what you call an artisan producer, not a commercial producer. I have never wanted to be a big farmer selling to shops, restaurants, and huge companies.” He was adamant about that statement. He added, “I have resisted for 44 years.” He explains that he just wants to sell to the people and farmers who want to learn about growing and making tea. “I sell most of my tea right here in my driveway.”
Barrett retired 5 years ago after many years of service at the Fairhope Museum. He has a wide range of background experience, including being a schoolteacher and writer of many history books. A few years ago, he started writing his own book about tea growing and making tea. “I want to share what I know and how I have evolved over the years. I add a little information to my book every year.” Barrett said, “I do all of this for the fun of it. It was just a hobby, but now it’s a hobby on steroids. Visit fairhopeteaplantation.com
