I was born and reared in Concordia Parish in Ferriday. I retired from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in 1999 and Ducks Unlimited in 2006.

I have always loved the outdoors and the beauty of nature. Having the experience to hear an expert from Southern Living, James Farmer, in our own back yard will be a real opportunity.

Gardening, admiring beautiful landscapes, enjoying the pleasures of outdoor activities and leisure living in the Miss-Lou have always been a delight for me and my family. This event should attract and bring many guests to enjoy this special program funded by Concordia Parish Library.

The Library is excited to host Farmer, Southern Living Editor-at-Large, author and lifestyle expert.

The Vidalia Conference and Convention Center will be the site of this special program. Farmer will provide great ideas on gardening, landscape design, cooking and lifestyle tips on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Concordia Parish Library’s co-sponsors for this event are the Comfort Suites Riverfront and Spa, the Ferriday Garden Club, LSU Ag Center, the Vidalia Garden Club, along with the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center.

Farmer, hailing from rural Kathleen, Georgia, got his love of southern food from his grandmother and this love has put him in the forefront of the garden-to-table lifestyle.

Graduating with a degree in gardening design from Auburn, Farmer opened his own business right out of school. While that may seem daunting, he made enough connections while in school to have an immediate steady business. He has built a client list that covers from Alabama to the southern coast of South Carolina and up into North Carolina.

Farmer is the author of six books that have been on the Wall Street Journal bestselling list. His first book “A Time to Plant: Southern-Style Garden Living” was published in 2011. With more than 250 photographs, this book is a must for your coffee-table and a how-to manual for Southerners.

It offers proven gardening wisdom that he learned from his family’s garden and garden-to-table recipes he memorized from his grandmother. He also provides innovative design, decorating and entertaining concepts built around what’s locally available at the time. From there he later wrote “Porch Living,” “Sip and Savor: Drink for Party and Porch,” “Wreath for All Seasons,” “A Time to Cook” and “Dinner on the Grounds – Southern Suppers and Soirees.” He has expanded his interest into other areas such as floral arrangements and consulting on food for weddings and private parties. Mr. Farmer states that he is all about weaving the garden and the healthful goodness of the garden into your daily outdoor and indoor life.

The big break for James Farmer occurred when he was featured in both Southern Living and Traditional Home magazines. His instrumental work in the redesigning of a historic Macon, Georgia, home is “what put me on the map,” as Farmer put it. The lady who he did these renovations for was a family friend and looking for someone who was both a designer and a gardener. He believes his mission is to teach a new generation of Southerners how to enjoy gardening and make it a bigger part of their lives.

He is also the national spokesperson for The American Camellia Society and has been featured on NBC Today, HGTV Gardens, Paula’s Home Cooking, Harper’s Bazaar, Good Housekeeping Magazine, Woman’s Day, Traditional Home and The Local Palate.

During this program, James Farmer will smoothly guide you through the art of elegant garden living with true Southern flair! You can also go onto his website, jamesfarmer.com, to learn more information. This event is free and open to the public on at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center. Concordia Parish Library, and its co-sponsors welcome you!

Hugh “Butch” Bateman is a retired wildlife management professional and lives with his wife Lena on Lake Concordia.