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the event of Hurricane Camille and then again 10 years later when Fredrick struck. The damage to the pecan groves necessitated more decisions and more diversity.
Down through the years, the farm has produced eggplant, strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers. Joyce says, “In the early 80s, Art began planting peach trees, something our Daddy had tried several years earlier without success because the varieties did not survive due to the number of chill hours required to produce the peaches.” Taking the information provided by Auburn University along with the availability of peach tree varieties that require fewer chill hours, the farm was soon into the peach business. Today, peach production is one of the specialty crops at Sessions Farm.
Currently, the Sessions Farm grows vegetables using the plasticulture system. Joyce says, “They have been using this system for over 15 years now. David and Art have interplanted crops to provide more diversity. They use the space in the pecan groves and between the peach trees to grow vegetables with the plasticulture system. They are making optimum use of a small space. The farm
pro-duces tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupes, watermelons, and squash using the plasticulture system.”
The Sessions Farm is truly a family operation. Several grandchildren are now associated with the family operation, along with in-law children. Joyce Nicholas is no longer associated with the farm on a daily basis, but she still has a heart for the land. Joyce is a soil conservationist with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS). In that capacity, she saw a connection with her family and a group of NRCS employees.
NRCS has an organization known as the National Organization of Professional Black Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees
(NOPBNRCSE). This group of NRCS employees is committed to conservation and leadership. Their mission is to mentor and motivate their members for leadership roles and to initiate an effective and strong outreach approach to under served communities. This group of moti-vated NRCS employees chose to visit the Sessions Farm as a part of their Annual Meeting this year. The theme of their meeting was, “Small Scale Farm-Approaching the Next Level.” What better way to learn about the next level than from a farm where the family has had “hands-on experience” with moving from one level to the next in the farming operation.
The NRCS employees were greeted by two young farmers, Jeremy Sessions and Blake Nicholas, first cousins who work on the Sessions Farm. They showed them a variety of vegetables grown using the plasticulture system, and more traditional crops like peas, corn, collards, cabbage, and turnip greens grown the “old fashioned way.” The peaches —ready for harvest as early as May—provide the Sessions Farm with a niche market, which seems to help them achieve that next level of success. Jeremy and Blake are able to market many of their products at local farmers’ markets and have benefited from the Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign in Alabama.
Sessions Farm also grows Satsuma. James Miles, Horticultural Extension Agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System has been instru-mental in giving assistance with the Satsuma endeavor.
Joyce says, “All in all, I can tie the NOPBNRCSE and our family farm together in that we, the Sessions Family, are like their group. We may have limited resources, but we use them wisely. We work hard and we do not think that any task is too small for us or our children to endure, provided that the outcome rewards you with a sense of accomplishment or self-worth. Sessions Farm may seem large to some, but compared to the big farms in the Midwest, we are but a drop in the bucket. Those brothers of mine can produce more food on an acre of land than most people can imagine. They are good farmers, who work hard and have given the next generation the opportunity to farm for a living. The NOPBNRCSE group is also giving to the next generation through mentoring and building relationships with landowners and a diverse group of new friends.”
Art Sessions says, “We were glad to share what we have learned about the plasticulture system. Hard-earned knowledge gained from first-hand experience is something that we are glad to pass along to those who want to learn more about the procedure.”
Judy Sessions Poiroux says, “It was Philip’s and my privilege to host the NOPBNRCSE group at our home. We enjoyed sharing our farm experiences and some of our homemade seafood gumbo. Living on the Gulf Coast can be a two-edged sword. We have some drawbacks—hurricanes are a regular part of our life—but we also have the best seafood of any state or region. The Sessions clan partakes of the blessing from the ocean on a regular basis and we invite everyone to visit our area of Alabama.”
Johnny
Trayvick, an NRCS employee and past president of NOPBNRCSE states, “Joyce, you have a real nice family. They treated us just like family and like they have known us all their life.”
Mrs. Sessions says, “Joyce, your NRCS friends are nice.”
And, Joyce says, “I have to agree, NRCS folks are good people—just like family.”
As for J. P. Sessions’ dream of having something to pass on to his children, Joyce says, “I think our Daddy would be proud of the accomplishments each one of his children and grandchildren has made. We are a diverse group. We all work hard and most everyone helps out on the farm when they can.”
From one generation to the next, and from one family to another, all of these folks agree. Even with its challenges, farming is a great life!
NOTE:
After writing this article, the coast of Alabama was hit by Hurri-cane Katrina. The Sessions Farm experienced a great deal of damage. The pecan crop for this year is lost, along with many pecan trees that were totally destroyed. There is damage to the cotton crop, pasture and hay land, as well as barns and other farm buildings. Judy Poiroux said, “Many in the area have been affected as well, and we don’t want to forget our neighbors to the east and west who suffered great losses in the seafood industry.”
Typical of the attitude of the people of the land, Joyce Nicholas says, “The can do attitude prevails. The boys are going to make the best of this
situa-tion. It’s not just our family, but many families have lost so much. We’re thankful that there was no damage to our homes, and that we are all OK.”
The Sessions family says, “The financial loss will diminish with time, but the bonds that are forged with disasters such as Hurricane Katrina will last forever. Our families will plant again, build again, and laugh again, together.”
Julie A. Best is the Public Affairs Specialist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Auburn, AL. |
