Greetings!
Welcome to the April edition of my newsletter. As you enjoy the Easter festivities this year, I hope you experience a sense of joy and peace.
Your feedback is valuable to me, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts by replying.
Additionally, feel free to visit my website waltbethel.com where you can browse my listings, search for properties, and explore my archived newsletters and stories on the history of Florida.
Walt
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Do Pine Trees Really Know When It's Easter? |
Ever seen a cross on top of a pine tree? No, not the wooden kind. Around Easter each spring, some species in certain regions start to develop shoots with a familiar shape. This sighting has led to a popular legend that pine trees "know" when it's Easter.
"If you look at the tops of the pine trees two weeks before [Easter], you will see the yellow shoots," the blog A Lighthouse recounts. " As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots."While it's true that these "crosses" appear in late March or early April for most of the country, the inspirational story linking them to the Christian holiday, some believe it just a coincidence.
Amy Enfield, Ph.D., consumer horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro says:
"The yellowish vertical shoots, known as candles, form first and then the side buds which will eventually form branches develop leading to the new growth resembling a cross . The fact that this happens around Easter in parts of the U.S. is a coincidence—in warmer areas of the U.S., the new growth starts well before the Easter holiday. The crosses are more prominent on some species of pines than others, for example, they can be prominently seen on loblolly pines (found in the Southern U.S.) and the ponderosa pine (found in the West.)"
Still, as a believer I enjoy spotting the shoots every season and interpreting them as a sign of the religious celebrations to come.
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Citrus Spotlight
Shout It From the Rooftops – Florida Citrus Creates a Healthy Florida
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As strong as the headwinds are facing the American farmer these days, it seems the Florida citrus grower has been dealing with some of the strongest. It’s a wind that’s way beyond gale force and — even as tough and resilient as Florida citrus growers are — it can be utterly overwhelming.
Fortunately we have a select group of legislators and solid industry leaders still working hard to support the industry. We often hear farmers in situations like this speak of “heritage,” or “preserving a way of life,” or “just keeping the farm alive.”
It’s times like this that I think we may be missing the big picture.
Those things are important. Those things are ingrained in the basic fiber of most farmers. But, to be brutally honest, when we’re talking about tax dollars to support an industry, most people outside of agriculture couldn’t care less about a way of life.
There are two things that are of the utmost importance to the average person: their physical and financial health. This is where Florida citrus has always shined. People seemed to have taken for granted just how important the cornucopia of health benefits citrus provides to the world, especially in these post-pandemic times.
The second part of the equation is the tremendous economic contribution the citrus industry has historically generated whether it be in the form of jobs, tax revenue, or supporting allied industries. Even in the industry’s current fragile state, this contribution is tremendous. According to a recently-published report by UF/IFAS economist Christa Court, the Florida citrus industry continues to support 32,542 jobs and approximately $7 billion dollars in economic output.
These two well-established facts should be shouted from the rooftops when requesting support for the Citrus industry. With the ever-increasing federal deficit and so much of our hard-earned tax dollars continually squandered, we should all ardently strive to demonstrate the huge return on investment — both physically and financially — the state gains from supporting the citrus industry.
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Saturday at the Grove Stand is this Saturday, April 8th
Michael Hirst Music & Smokin' Crow's BBQ. There are only 4 more Saturday's at the Grove Stand for this Season! 🎸
Joshua Creek Citrus
Arcadia, FL
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One of those "fun maps" used by newspapers as a mass advertisement for small towns that nearly everybody wants to get in on.
This is from Arcadia in 1992, over 30 years ago, and features many current businesses, as well as some that are no longer with us here in DeSoto County
Zoom in and take a fun walk down memory lane!
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52 Acres
SW Hull Ave. Arcadia, FL 34269
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52+ acres with close proximity to Hwy 17 in Ft. Ogden, zoned A-5. This property features one permitted 8” well with a quarter mile of road frontage plus an abundance of wooded area. A perfect spot to build your new estate home and still have plenty of land to graze your horses or cattle. The future land use zoning of Neighborhood Mixed Use also provides potential for residential development. Up to 3.5-5 units per acre. LOTS OF OPTIONS!! Call today for a showing!
Total Acres: 52
List Price: $777,000
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PENDING!
10 Acres! Come build your dream home
3351 SW Martin Lane Arcadia, FL 34266
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10 acres perfect to build your dream home with lots of space for horses and livestock. Come enjoy your very own private sanctuary tucked away at the end of a deeded access cul-de-sac. Property is located with convenient access to Arcadia, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte or Sarasota with shopping, dining, medical and recreation available within route of Kings Hwy, Hwy 17 or Hwy 72. Great opportunity, call today for a showing!
Total Acres: 10.08
Listing Price: $230,000
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453 Acre Farm
13505 Sugarbowl Rd. Myakka City, FL 34251
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453 acre farm currently in Watercress production. This extremely well kept property could also be utilized for limitless produce production in addition to the watercress. This property features a combined 25,000 sqft+ of packing facilities, walk-in cooler, quality control area, warehouse, barns, and office space. There are 4 pump house stations with a central 12” well. This farm is located less than 2 miles to Hwy 70 in Manatee County with easy access to I-75. Call today to hear more about this lucrative opportunity.
Total Acres: 453
List Price: $4,200,000
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Potential Housing or Industrial Opportunity Awaits!
5871 Hwy 31 #12 Arcadia, FL 34266
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POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL OR HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AWAITS! Multiple buildings with dozens of individual rooms, bathrooms, office space, and cafeteria. Located in South DeSoto County directly off Hwy 31 on approximately 17 acres.This property was previously a part of the state owned juvenile justice center. ONLY 20 -30 minutes to Babcock Ranch, Ft Myers, Punta Gorda and Interstate 75.
Total Acres: 17
List Price: $5,000,000
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PENDING!
204+/- Acres Manatee County
42055 Parks Rd. Myakka City, FL 34251
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204+ Acres of Valencia Orange grove in Manatee County. This property includes a manufactured home and two permitted 12 inch wells. Located centrally between Hwy 64 and Hwy 70 off of Wauchula Rd near Myakka City. CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Total Acres: 204.66
Listing Price: $2,000,000
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Five Parcels Ranging 6-20 Acres Charlotte County
Neal Rd. Punta Gorda, FL 33982
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Mutiple 6-20 Acres of desirable land is waiting for YOU! Offering a quiet and private setting, yet within minutes to Hwy 31 with convenient access into Arcadia, Punta Gorda or Ft. Myers. Ideal building site for your dream home with plenty of space for a barn or animals. Zoning is AG which allows for agriculture and residential and NO deed restrictions.
Listing Price: $149,000-$298,000
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223+ Acre Hamlin/Valencia Grove
9 J Whitaker Rd. Venus, FL 33960
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223.25 Acre Hamlin/Valencia Grove in Venus, Florida. This property could continue as a producing grove or be converted to farm land. A mobile home, two barns and one permitted 12” well are already in place. An additional 900+ contiguous grove acres are also available.
Total Acres: 223.25
List Price: $1,900,000
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11+ Acre Parcels
SE Rice St/ Co Rd 763 Arcadia, FL 34266
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11+ acres offering a quiet and private setting. This is the ideal building site for your dream home with plenty of space for a barn, pond, and animals. Located right off Hog Bay Extension (County Road 763) with quick access to downtown Arcadia. Just 30-40 minutes to Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Fort Myers. Seller also has additional adjoining parcels available. Survey available, parcel split/parcel ID pending DeSoto County approval.These beautiful properties won’t last long!!
Listing Price: $200,000/parcel
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Walt Bethel is a fifth generation Floridian, born and raised in Arcadia, with a vast knowledge of all areas of Florida Real Estate and an ardent appreciation for Florida history.
The purchase and development of his first orange grove when he was just sixteen years old fueled Walt's passion for real estate.
Since then, he has bought, owned, and sold a wide variety of properties throughout a successful business career. His investments have included acreage, agricultural properties, residential homes, condos, and commercial properties.
Walt's marketing and sales experience was cultivated over time at his family's business, Bethel Farms, where he marketed, managed, and sold products to "Big Box" retailers across the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.
From an early age, Walt's dad instilled in him the values to work hard and always have a goal, to look for a better way of doing things, and to constantly improve on them.
The daily implementation of these principles, coupled with his enjoyment of networking with new people and his experience in business, sales, and marketing, have contributed to Walt's success as a Realtor.
Walt has served on various boards and committees throughout the years. He has coached and actively supports local youth athletic programs and leagues.
He and his wife Jill, also a fourth generation Floridian, reside in Punta Gorda. They have two children, Peyton and Truman.
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