Explore Georgia's Historical Farms
Four of the oldest farms in Georgia that have been feeding Georgians since 1812 — and you can visit them today to see (and taste) why they're still doing it.
Watermelon Creek Vineyard
Founded in 1812, Watermelon Creek Vineyard began on the banks of Watermelon Creek in 1812. The Hopkin Padgett family settled and began a legacy that forged its influence on agriculture, business and spiritual life in Tattnall County for more than 150 years.
The third generation farmer, C.C. Padgett, also called "Uncle Lum," continued to prosper by expanding the pine tree business into turpentine, lumber and barrel making. He was also the postmaster of Tison and owned a Naval store on the property until his death in 1947.
Between 1958 and 2004, the once-vibrant crossroads community of Glennville was almost lost forever, but luckily, family members Charles and Deborah Tillman came in to save the property. "We got into winemaking because it gives us a chance to have an audience and tell the story of the area. We want to share this enchanted corner and tranquility with others who have a common interest in history," said Charles.
He and Deborah built a winery that honored as well as memorialized the nine generations of Padgetts that had occupied the land where Watermelon Creek vineyard now resides.
Watermelon Creek Vinyeard Today
Watermelon Creek Vineyard is a full-service Georgia farm winery with a Tasting Room and Vineyard Store. The 15-acre site includes many of the original buildings: The Naval store; the Padgett family one-room log cabin, which is now the home's kitchen; the ironing cabin; syrup cabin and more.
Mitcham Farm
Mitcham Farm, founded in Oxford in 1848, has been in operation through five generations. The Mitcham's great-grandfather, Henry James Boggus and his wife, Molly, settled in Newton County on 180 acres. His son, Thomas Grover Boggus, made the farm self-sustainable and because of this, the farm was well-adapted to the production of crops and cotton.
During the 1920s, great-grandfather Boggus had pure Barred Rock chickens, a small herd of hogs and Jersey cattle. He sold enough butter, eggs, sausage, cowpeas, corn and other products to pay for all the supplies he needed to run the farm.
Mitcham Farm Today
The farm is owned and operated by Tommy Mitcham, great-grandson of Henry James Boggus, and his two sons, Kevin and Keith. In October 2000, the farm was recognized as a Centennial Family Farm by the State of Georgia for its contribution to Georgia's agriculture heritage. Visit Mitcham Farm and pick your own pumpkins, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries right from the field! At their farm stand, they also sell more items like homemade strawberry ice cream, slushies, jam, local honey, preserves, salsas, fresh produce and more.
Dickey Farms
The Atlanta and Hawkinsville railroad was built through Middle Georgia in the mid-1890s and built sidetracks along the way. The railroad opened the doors to travel, transportation of products and business opportunities. This area in Crawford County became known as Musella.
Dickey Farms began in 1880 when Robert Lee Dickey moved to this area from the other side of Crawford County where the Dickey family had been farming since the 1840s. With the encouragement and help of his father-in-law, RL purchased land and planted his first Elberta variety peach trees in 1897. Three years later as his first peach crop was being harvested, he built a packinghouse and opened a general store in Musella at age 30.
Many other businesses developed — cotton gin, churches, warehouses, blacksmith shop, undertaker. During the depression, RL continued to purchase land and expand his acreage. He built his third packinghouse in 1936 along the side tracks of the railroad.
RL was very innovative with his equipment and the peach varieties. In fact, he was one of the first peach growers to install a hydrocooler in the 1950s. This packinghouse is still in operation today having been mechanized over the years with new machinery including an electronic sizer.
RL's grandson, Robert "Bob" Lee Dickey II, joined the farm in 1949 and was still active in the business in his 90s. He told many stories about working at the packinghouse as a youngster. One of his favorite stories was the time he built a sundial in the attic of the packinghouse. At age 6, he was assigned the job of building wooden peach crates. As any young child would naturally do, Bob would ask what time it was every few hours because he was getting hungry. One day he asked the time as usual and then hammered a nail where the sun was shining. At the end of the day he had a sundial. The next day his grandfather asked, "Why are you not asking the time all day?" Bob proudly showed him his sundial and never had to worry again about missing lunch at his grandmother's house!
Bob's son, Robert Lee Dickey III, came back to the farm after graduating from the University of Georgia in 1976 and presently lives in the house his grandfather built at the turn of the century. His son and the fifth generation, Robert “Lee” Dickey IV, runs and operates Dickey Farms now.
Dickey Farms Today
You can still step back in time when you visit the farm and enjoy some of their delicious peach ice cream while rocking on the porch.
Jaemor Farms
The Echols family at Jaemor Farms has been harvesting crops from their land in Alto since 1912. The family began farming cotton and a few peach trees in 1912. After a few years of growing this row crop, they switched their focus to those few peach trees and began selling peaches on the side of Old Cornelia Highway.
Jimmy Echols grew peaches his entire life, a farming tradition started by his grandfather. The original peach shed still sits on Old Cornelia Highway.
In 1965, despite warnings from fellow farmers, Jimmy added a few acres onto his family's land. Although many thought this was a terrible idea, it just so happened that in 1981, a four-lane highway was built next to this "newer" piece of land, and the foot traffic came with it. The Echols opened their first produce stand on what is now Highway 365.
Once the third generation of Echols family members had inherited their portions of the original 1912 farm, there were two peach stands in Lula: Echols Orchards and Echols Peaches. Therefore, when the market on the hill opened, the Echols renamed their portion of the family farm as Jaemor Farms. J.A.E.M.O.R. combines all of the family names.
Jaemor Farms has 500 acres of land in production today. Jarl (son) and Drew (grandson) work daily in the fields, growing peaches, strawberries, blackberries, apples, pumpkins, and other fruits and vegetables.
Other family members run the markets and bakery.
Jaemor Farms Today
The farm now sees more than 1 million customers annually. You can visit to pick your own veggies, shop at the farmers markets or attend one of their annual festivals.
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