Editorial

In this issue, we cover an interesting topic which may seem out of place in a magazine that is focused on food! But snakes are not as far off topic as they might seem at first glance.

A balanced and healthy ecosystem should be the goal of any farmer working with regenerative/ sustainable methods. And snakes are definitely part of a healthy ecosystem here in Southeast Georgia, where we are home to approximately 46 species of snakes. These snakes range from a few inches in size to several feet! Venomous and non-venomous.

If you’re on the fence about snakes or if you’re one of those people who believes the only good snake is a dead snake - please take a few moments to read In Defense of Snakes and let’s see if we can’t change your mind!

I interviewed Steve Hein of the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern for this article. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Center, you should definitely make a point to do so. They not only have an extensive snake collection but some pretty awesome birds of prey as well.

Among other things, Steve is known as the person to whom Freedom flies when the Bald Eagle does his flyovers for the football games. I have a personal connection with Freedom because my graduation from GSU was Freedom’s first flight as the official GSU mascot. (Freedom has an injury to his beak that makes him unable to live in the wild.)

I also spoke with Kristan Fretwell of Hunter Cattle Company. Kristan is an outspoken advocate for snakes and shares some of the ways that snakes play an important role on their family farm.

A big thank you to Executive Chef and co-owner of The Wyld Dock Bar, Tony Seichrist, for serving up some great food and taking the time to give us an inside look at his kitchen! Read all about it in the Chef’s Table feature. Be sure to check out this great spot for food and views next time you’re in Savannah. (See photo highlights next page.)

If you are enjoying the content that Southern Soil provides and have the means to do so, please consider making a small donation to help pay it forward and keep our content free to read!

LEEANNA TATUM, Editor

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