McCoy Farm & Gardens Newsletter

Volume Eight: Issue EightxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAugust 2023

Introducing New Docent Program

Would you like to learn more about the history of McCoy Farm & Gardens and the families who lived here? Would you like to be able to share your knowledge with others? You can do both if you volunteer as a Docent to lead guided tours of the McCoy home.

A team of three ladies, Caroline Alley, Ginny Gaines, and Leah Connor, have already led two inaugural tours. The first was during the highly popular Memorial Day picnic where they helped many interested folks explore the house. The second was on June 6 when they led twenty members of the Philanthropy Education Organization, a group dedicated to advancing women's education.

Volunteer Chair Anne Hayes Pearce is working with the current docents as they sort through many bits and pieces of history and interesting stories. From this information they are assembling a guide for new volunteer docents. In September they plan to hold a training session for new helpers.

Pearce says of the group, “I am very impressed with the level of their enthusiasm for the Bachman McCoy history and what it means to the mountain. This is a team effort, and I am proud of what these women have accomplished.”

Their goal now is to recruit at least fifteen docents. This working group will then begin planning to open the McCoy house to visitors. A full team is needed to implement this idea. We receive many requests for a peek inside the house. With your help, we will soon be able to fulfil the dream of showing the interior to some of the visitors who enjoy the grounds.

To learn more and to volunteer, contact Anne Hayes Pearce, Volunteers, 706-575-1620, annehayespearce@yahoo.com or click the Volunteer button at the bottom of the site.

Caroline Alley explains a historical map of Signal Mountain drawn by Jean Catino, daughter of Emma Bell Miles

Anne Hayes Pearce tells the interesting story of how Nathan Bachman called his apple orchard "Scratchmore."

Elizabeth Hamilton helps the docents by talking about the gardens with the Philanthropy Education Organization

Local Business Support

McCoy Farm & Gardens receives support in many forms, including local businesses that heavily discount, and in some cases donate, their services. Over the next few months, we will be highlighting some of these friends of McCoy. Please join us in thanking them for their contributions.

You'll find the Langscapes crew, including Robbie Nolan, Ethan Patrick, and Brandon Bordelon, pictured above, at McCoy every Thursday making sure the lawn

looks its best.

Thom Mills, above, of Mills Construction, has delivered

untold tons of gravel and rock to maintain the driveway and trails, among other deeds of service.

Successful Summer Intern Program

Thanks to the generosity of a local foundation, six college students participated in a successful summer intern program at McCoy Farm & Gardens. This is the third year of working with such fine young people. Below are pictures of some of their projects.

Intern Lottie Miller opening hive to assist in harvesting honey.

Interns working on new boardwalk along trails.

Update on the Bluebird Trail

Our Bluebird Trail is one of the many of the Chattanooga Bluebird Society, a branch of the North American Bluebird Society. Six volunteers monitor the bluebird nests each week for nests, eggs, and babies. We report the information to the TN Bluebird Society, and it becomes part of a national database at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Nestwatch Program to further conservation, scientific data collection, and to teach the next generation.

The interns have also participated in monitoring the trail this summer. Reported are eight boxes, three with no activity and five with a total of 28 birds that fledged. Photos by Sallie Ford.

Local Spring Honey Selling Fast

Sales have been brisk of the almost 70 pounds

of local (Glenway Avenue) honey that was generously donated by Beekeeper Mary Aho. Hurry if you want to purchase a one-pint jar for yourself or a friend.

This question is asked frequently, "Is this honey from McCoy?"

The answer is, "Not yet."

We are studying the possibility of placing some hives in a safe, strategic location on the grounds. Our gardens are full of plants that attract pollinators with beautiful flowers, and native trees and plants fill much of the 38 acre campus. Honey bees already love McCoy Farm & Gardens, and they will surely be happy with safe shelter here. Honey bees are not aggressive with people, and the prospective hives will be tucked away far from traffic areas. When the bees begin to give back, we can say, "Yes, this honey comes from McCoy Farm & Gardens."

Other McCoy branded merchandise including tee shirts, water bottles, cards featuring the artwork of Emma Bell Miles, and special bluebird houses crafted by Terry Knox are also available.

Local spring honey is still available for purchase. For this and other products, contact Melissa at melissa@mccoywalden.org or 

423-598-1658.

Experiencing A Healthy Apple Orchard

Do you enjoy seeing the apple tree blossoms and the emergence of tiny apples? We hope so, and we invite you to help maintain the orchard's health.

The Apple Orchard Committee began a rehabilitation project in January 2022 and is striving to preserve and protect the orchard. They seek to maintain its historic character by identifying varieties, pruning, mowing, pest management, planting, mapping, and grafting. As soon as the fruit begins to ripen this fall, they will begin identifying the older tree varieties. Watch the newsletter for these sessions, so you can come and learn more about fruit culture.

Restoration involves much-needed orchard re-planting to maintain the quality and character of the area. Six young trees were planted in October 2022, and more heirloom tree varieties will be added in the future. Heirloom fruit trees are generally less resistant to drought and disease compared with contemporary varieties.

Since Martha McCoy’s death in 2004, we have lost over 20 apple trees due to age, disease, and neglect. Properly preparing the soil as we replant is expected to improve conditions. This will enable young fruit trees to establish vigorous root systems enhancing survival and longevity.

Preserving a healthy orchard remains a central goal for McCoy Farm & Gardens. You can do your part as you play, party, and walk your dogs on a leash among the fruit trees which are fragile and easily damaged.

• Please do not allow climbing of these historic trees.
• Please do not use hammocks or swings.
• Please do not pick unripe fruit. Fruit is ripe if it comes off the tree easily.
• Help by picking up fallen, rotting fruit and putting it in a designated location.
• Volunteer to monitor trees, rake, prune, water, weed, etc.

To learn more or join the Apple Orchard Committee, contact Karen Stone 423-886-4568 or newsletter@mccoywalden.org

Fourth of July Celebration

Several members of the McCoy Board and of the Walden's Ridge Guild enjoyed decorating and riding on a float in the Signal Mountain 4th of July parade. Here are a couple of pictures in case you missed the celebration and the fun.

Decorating the float are, left to right, Margha Davis, Annette Wildman, Michele DeMonia, and Brian DeMonia.

Driving the antique Ford 601Workmaster tractor loaned by McCoy friend Dave Evans, is board member, Fred Wildman. Seen riding are: Anne Leonard, Leanne Jones, Anne Hayes Pearce, Annette Wildman, and Larry Mick.

Explore the new McCoy Farm & Gardens website

www.mccoyfarmandgardens.org.

and discover

• Maps of the trail, arboretum, and gardens
• History of the property and former residents
• Event Venues illustrated by photographs
• Rental information for weddings and other occasions
• Passes for Professional photographers
• Tours of the McCoy home
• Archives of monthly Newsletters beginning in 2015

Contact McCoy Farm & Gardens Event Director Cynthia Pennington

at cynthia@mccoywalden.org

to learn more about renting space at McCoy for your next event.

Or mail your check to McCoy Farm & Gardens, P.O. Box 443, Signal Mountain, TN 37377

McCoy Farm & Gardens covers thirty-eight acres and features the Bachman-McCoy home, gardens, and several outbuildings including the Pavilion, Carriage House, Barn, and Blacksmith Workshop. The perimeter walking trail is 1.1 miles.