Turtle Pond RV and Farm

09/08/2026

Farm and RV Park Update:

It's been a hot minute since we last posted, and that's because I (Jess) got a bit overwhelmed. We're all okay though.

Back in July, we found out that Kyle had a rare, extremely large tumor inside his spinal cord, in an especially bad location (C-3 to C7). Removal surgery was scheduled for August 17th. Since the recovery period was expected to be long and difficult, we tried to finish as many priority projects/tasks as we could before the big day.

Surgery went amazing. Kyle's results greatly exceeded his surgical teams expectations. He's able to walk and managed to retain full function of his body. However, he needs significant time to heal, and he's (at least temporarily) lost sensation, or had a change in sensation over most of his body. He's recovering at here at home with us. We're hoping that he'll regain some of the sensation back over time, but mostly we're just incredibly grateful for how well everything went, and also all the love and support from our family, friends, and community.

Other news. It's been insanely busy. I have good intentions to make more posts about all the cool stuff we've been working on, but just in case I run out of time (highly likely), here's a quick list of things from the summer (some still ongoing).

-We've almost finished irrigation systems to cover all of the garden beds between the RV park sites. That's at least 22 garden beds, each 70 ft long.

-Chickens: We culled our chicken flock earlier this spring, and also in late summer, and processed the meat. My mom canned the meat in jars- it is delicious, and surprisingly tender for older birds. Luckily, this was planned, and so we also ran 3 cycles of incubator hatches, with a goal of gradually increasing our flock size over the next few years, and managing it for both eggs and meat.

- We put shade cloth up in the nursery. Multiple times, getting a little better after each storm. I don't know how many storms, Mindy Wolsifer might though. 😬 😭🥵. It's still a work in progress, but looking good- Especially after Kyle's friend Richie came out and worked on adding more framing to support the shade cloth against heavy winds.

-The garden is still rocking along- much thanks to every one involved, but especially to Shea Quick Vickers- she's the reason we were able to donate something to our local food pantries almost every week 🥰🥳🥰🥳🤩

Kyle's friend Kevin is here today and tomorrow working on adding several much needed signs for the RV park, and upgrading the site as well.

I'm out of steam and off to bed, but thank you so much, all of you, for the prayers, the love, everything.

08/12/2026

I was blessed to meet her.

OBITUARY: Elizabeth Denijean Sandlin was welcomed into heaven on August 8, 2026, at the age of 62. She was born on April 19, 1964, to Roger Dennis Eidson and the late Betty Jean Folds Eidson.

Ms. Sandlin is preceded in death by her mother; brother, Roger Eidson, Jr.; and her grandparents, Roy and Ollie Mae Eidson, Walter and Mary Folds.

Those left to cherish the many memories made with Elizabeth include her father, Dennis Eidson (Lyndal); sons, Caleb Sandlin (Misty), Jacob Sandlin (Payton); nephew, Trey Eidson; and grandchildren, Bennett Sandlin, and Julie Sandlin.

Elizabeth’s love of life and for learning made her a source of wisdom not only for her family but for her friends and neighbors as she taught others about plants, animals, herbal remedies, and food preservation. She cherished the Father’s creation and she found peace in working the earth with her hands. Elizabeth loved rambling flowerbeds, working in the dirt, and animals and livestock. She could take something others saw as beyond saving and nurture it back to life. Elizabeth saw beauty in the broken and she salvaged forgotten things, giving them purpose again. She built things – including a log cabin for Bennett and was in the process of building a vintage greenhouse. If there was something Elizabeth didn’t know how to do, she studied and learned about it until she accomplished her goal. She was driven and passionate about life and was grateful for the opportunities and gifts given to her by the Father. Her knowledge and talents will be greatly missed.

Elizabeth enjoyed attending Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church where she worshipped her Savior alongside her family. Ms. Sandlin carried her children to church and ensured they learned to love and worship the Father with the same passion she did. She was a loving mother who poured into her boys and nephew, imparting wisdom and guidance that helped shape them into the men they are today. She taught them how to work and helped them to teach and guide her grandchildren as well. Elizabeth cherished her children, and her grandbabies brought her joy. She will be missed so very much but we rejoice in knowing she is with the Father, and we will be reunited with her again.

Friends are welcome to join the Sandlin family at Holly Pond Cemetery for graveside services on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Holly Pond Funeral Home is honored to serve the Sandlin family and our prayers are with them.

07/31/2026

The Great Southeast Pollinator Census is happening! Eagle eyes needed, and kids are AMAZING at spotting bugs! 🤩

Citizen Science at Work

07/18/2026

Check out our garden at Turtle Pond RV and Farm! Fresh green beans, completely pesticide free! You could safely eat these right off the vines.

U-Pick Pricing:
$8 for 1 gallon
$20 for 5 gallons

We-Pick Pricing:
$12 for 1 gallon
$35 for 5 gallon bucket.

*Also have squash, zucchini, okra available currently, more veg to come!

Message us with your name, contact number and when you're available to pick/ pick-up, and we'll make it happen.

Folks love these gorgeous purple-streaked Rattlesnake Green beans because they are highly productive, thrive in hot southern climates, and offer a sweet, slightly richer flavor than standard green beans. Because they are a dual-purpose heirloom, you can harvest them young as tender, stringless snap beans, or leave them to mature into meaty, nutty dried beans.

*The purple streaks WILL disappear when cooked, leaving only a rich green color.

07/16/2026

🥵🥵🥵

Summer is about to steam us like a bag of crabs.

OFFICIAL WEATHER ADVISORY: SWAMP DONKEY WATCH
ISSUED: 4:15 PM CDT — WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2026
..SIGNIFICANT AND OPPRESSIVELY HUMID SWAMPY AIR ON THE WAY FOR NEXT WEEK...

THE FORECAST
An official Swamp Donkey Watch is now in effect for all of Alabama from Monday through next Friday.

A stark, high-pressure pattern shift is headed our way. Because of our recent wet weather pattern, there is an incredible amount of residual moisture trapped in the soil. As the sun beats down next week with fewer overall afternoon storms to cool us off, all that ground moisture is going to evaporate directly into the lower atmosphere.

WHAT TO EXPECT
The "Steaming" Effect: By Wednesday and Thursday, the air will feel exactly like a freshly opened bag of steamed crabs—thick, heavy, and boiling hot.

Peak Heat Indices: Expect heat index values to skyrocket into the 105 to 110-degree range.

Instant Sweat: Stepping outside will result in immediate, heavy sweating as your body struggles to evaporate moisture in near-saturated air, leading to a high risk of rapid overheating.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
If you have outdoor plans, hay to bale, or yard work to tackle next week, prepare now:

Shift strenuous outdoor activities to the early morning hours.

Keep the water flowing and take frequent breaks in the air conditioning.

Keep a close eye on kids, pets, and the elderly as this oppressive air mass settles in.

07/11/2026

Check out changes at the shooting range! 👀😍👀

07/11/2026

It’s a long story. First there were plants, then more plants, then too many plants, then hey maybe we can sell plants.

Maybe this area is a good place to sell plants! Except it floods every time it rains, because the old drain was super clogged, and the chicken houses don’t provide much shade in summer, and surprise, it’s also a little bit of a wind tunnel at times. 😳

But hey, we’ll keep working on it, and one day it will be fantastic 😍

07/08/2026

🌻 Wanted: Nature-Loving Families Who Call Their RV “Home”! 🌻

Do you and your family roam the open road with curiosity, creativity, and a love for the simple (and slightly muddy) things in life? Well, park that RV and listen up...

Our small, sustainability-focused family farm is on the lookout for fun, kind-hearted, curious RV families who’d love to settle in for a long-term stay filled with laughter, learning, and daily wildlife sightings (and perhaps the occasional wandering chicken). 🦋 🦅 🐸 🐇 🐢 🐓

We’ve got it all:

🌱 Seasonal market garden bursting with green beans and good vibes

🍎 Poly-culture orchard with more fruit than we can juggle

🐓 Fresh eggs from our bug-chasin’ dinochicks

💧 A peaceful pond for reflection and frog concerts

🌸 Wildflowers galore — because beauty matters too

🌾 Monthly Hands-on ecology & farming fun for curious kids and grown-ups alike

If your family dreams of mixing adventure with purpose — picking your own blackberries by day and stargazing by night — we’d love to meet you!

RV hookups, good company, and a slower pace of life await. Come be part of our little patch of paradise. 💚

👉 Apply by sending a smoke signal, carrier chicken or plain old message to us below.