Editor's Note

Readers, Southern Tides Magazine needs your input. I know you’re picking up the magazines, and I know you’re mentioning the ads to our advertisers and I’m grateful for both of these things. I’m also grateful for the kind words you have about Southern Tides when I see you out somewhere or get email from you! That always makes my day!

We need your input on another level now. The state of things this past year has changed how we source content for you. In the past, many of our feature articles have involved a writer participating in some field activity with one of our community partners – the organizations whose missions are compatible with our own, such as the GADNR Coastal Resources Division, Gray’s Reef, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, the Riverkeepers, and others. Or they involved physically visiting a place and talking with people. Now, however, much of this is impossible.

The article I wrote this month about Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a good example. In the past, I’d have made an appointment with someone there to spend a morning on a tour, asking questions, learning about the history, the geography, the flora and fauna, and getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the place. But that’s no longer possible with the state of the world today.

While we do have some new, unique and interesting content lined up for this year, we’d still like your input. As you’re reading the magazine or out living your life, if ideas occur to you, send them along to us. Maybe you live in a unique community, or work in a water-related field our readers would find interesting. Maybe you had a fun experience while out boating or took a daytrip that would make for a good article. Maybe you know a colorful local character we could interview and do a story on?

Get in touch with us and let us know. I can’t guarantee we’ll definitely do an article on your proposed topic – there are multiple factors involved – but we’ll absolutely consider it.

On page 18, you’ll find a call for content for our upcoming paddling issue. Please give that a read and reach out if you can help. We’ll be running a similar call for content prior to our October oyster issue.

I’d also like to get our Best of the Coast survey going again this year, but in order to make that happen, you, our readers, will have to participate.

Lastly, please let our writers know when they’re doing a good job. When y’all tell me how much you love Captain Gator or how much you enjoyed various articles, I do try to remember to pass it on, but it means so much more coming from you. Drop them a line!

This is a community magazine and it takes a community to keep it going. YOU are the community and this is YOUR magazine.

See you out there!

Amy Thurman Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com

There's a large woodstork colony on Woody Pond at Harris Neck NWR. While there's a short overview on a nearby information panel, it's not the same as getting first-hand knowledge. We'll definitely go back when things open up again!