Last week, Daron Joffe a.k.a. "Farmer D" joined us for the Conservancy's First Friday Lecture. He tackled the topic of organic farming, and had some fun telling us how he came to be "Farmer D." Believe it or not, it all started with a sandwich. Check out the clips below. And, stay tuned for more information on Farmer D and the Palmetto Bluff Community Garden ...

Farmer D Breaks Down Organic Farming from Courtney Hampson on Vimeo.

How to Grow a Sandwich from Courtney Hampson on Vimeo.

Turkey hunting is an affliction, so say the proselytes of this ancient sport. And the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy's Wildlife Guru, Jay Walea, is one of the most afflicted. Jay introduced members and guests to the fascinating world of turkeys, turkey calls and the lure of this particular sport on the eve of turkey hunting season. This "First Friday" lecture was followed by a three-course wine dinner (part of the Music to Your Mouth series) featuring French whites and a superb turkey dish courtesy of Chef Kirk Gilbert.

"Talkin' Turkey" from Courtney Hampson on Vimeo.

More than 100 dogs sniffed out the Village Green on Saturday ... some came for the river views, others the opportunity to compete in "American Fido," Palmetto Bluff's canine talent competition. Perhaps most rewarding was presenting Palmetto Animal League with a $900 check from funds raised through the event.

Check out the highlight reel...

Palmetto Bluff Goes to the Dogs! from Courtney Hampson on Vimeo.

Palmetto Bluff is going to the dogs, again. Our annual Dog Weekend is scheduled for February 26-28 and will feature fun activities for you and your pup -- "Yappy Hour" at the firepits, a "Hike With Your Hound," our own version of American Idol, aptly dubbed "American Fido," and the ever-popular trips to the May River sandbar.  For more on the weekend festivities, and accommodations at the Inn at Palmetto Bluff view the full schedule of Dog Weekend Events.

Also, this year, we’ll open up our Village Festivities to the public, with a $20 donation per car (with a pooch riding shotgun) going directly to the Palmetto Animal League. Check out the Village Festivities schedule.

Palmetto Bluff's 2010 Music to Your Mouth website is live! The site features details on our First Friday Wine Dinner Series, our monthly Wine Pairing Weekends (with juicy details on winemakers and guest chefs), updates on the November Music to Your Mouth Festival, and a blog dedicated to musings on wine, food, culture, and a look behind the scenes at what it takes to make the year-long Music to Your Mouth series come alive. 

Let us know what you think.

Palmetto Bluff kicks off the BUFFALO'S First Friday Wine Series on February 5. The dinner themed "The West Coast Trail meets the Southern Shore" will feature the wines of Adelsheim Vineyards and the culinary traditions of the Lowcountry. Winemaker Dave Adelsheim will also host a wine pairing dinner on Saturday night as we explore the history of Lowcountry Cuisine paired with the new world wines of the Willamette Valley.

Click here for more details on the 2010 Wine Dinner Series

The Palmetto Bluff Arts Commission will feature the work of three Lowcountry artists - Johnson Hagood, Dave Ryden and Sara Amos next weekend at “A Showcase of Light and Texture.” The three artists will display their work at 9 North Drayton Street (in the Village), January 15th - 17th from 10:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m. each day. The Showcase is open to the public.

Download Details on a Showcase of Light and Texture

Southern food, perhaps more than any other regional cuisine in America, has long been recognized for its diversity and history and for the stew pot of cultural influences that have been inherited from unique and authentic African cultures. The style of food originated in the early Colonial period, beginning with the rum and sugarcane plantations of the West Indies and the Creole  French and Spanish inhabitants of the Deep South. They harvested the fields, cleaned the game, ground the spices and created the meals that set the standard for southern cooking as we know it today.

We honor that culinary culture by using the freshest of ingredients harvested from the surrounding waters, woods and local farms to create a one of a kind epicurean experience. This noble fare is further accentuated by gathering diverse people sharing the finest wines in picturesque settings thus creating a complete sensory experience.

The 2010 Music to Your Mouth series features pairings of the region’s most prominent chefs, recognized for their Southern fare, with producers of well-crafted, artisanal beverages. We’d like to think that we’ve put together an array of some of the finest nibbles and nectars to ever tickle a taste bud. For more, visit www.musictoyourmouth.com.

Palmetto Bluff donated a portion of the ticket sales from their 3rd annual Tyler Florence’s Lowcountry Celebration to Second Helpings, a local nonprofit organization. On Saturday, November 21, 2009, Second Helpings Executive Director Peggy Warnke was presented with a check for $10,000, which will help feed more than 250,000 local residents from Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties in Southeastern, South Carolina.

“We are thrilled to be able to help this worthy cause that gives back so much to the local community,” said Bill Peacher, President of Palmetto Bluff Real Estate. “Our annual Celebration attracted more than 600 people to celebrate Lowcountry cuisine and it’s our honor to partner with a charity that helps to ensure that thousands of Lowcountry residents do not go hungry.”

Second Helpings, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable food distribution project that began on Hilton Head Island in 1992. The organization is committed to eliminating hunger and developing collaborative strategies that encourage self-reliance. They distribute more than one million pounds of food and grocery products each year to various local child development centers, senior citizen centers, homes for the mentally challenged, churches and other charitable organizations.

“We would like to thank Palmetto Bluff for their generosity to Second Helpings,” said Peggy Warnke. “The check that we received will put fuel in one of our four trucks for 50 weeks. During those weeks our volunteers will collect and distribute 500,000 pounds of food to hungry families in the Lowcountry.”

Tyler Florence’s Lowcountry Celebration was held from November 19 – 22, 2009 at Palmetto Bluff. The four-day event brought together the region’s most prominent chefs that are recognized for their Southern fare, six of which are James Beard award-winning/nominated chefs. Guests enjoyed an array of intimate events from progressive dinners and collaborative cooking demonstrations to wine tastings and introductions to local purveyors. Other weekend highlights included an old-fashioned house party, culinary symposium, and an authentic oyster roast.

For more information on Second Helpings, Inc., please visit www.secondhelpingshhi.org or call 843.689.3689.