From the category archives:

Local Food Movement

Charlottesville City School GardensThe Charlottesville city schools are in the process of making a garden available to every elementary school child in the district.  The project began … and was successful… at Buford Middle School, so now educators want every child to know the benefits and details of raising a garden.  Buford’s participants have a blog you can check out.  A long-term goal is to have gardens at the high school level too.

The students plan the garden in the classroom, from seed selection to layout.  Then they take the garden plans outdoors, where they plant and tend the garden with the help of their instructors.  Some classes are actually taught in the gardens and students are taught about marketing, science, and agriculture.

The ultimate goal is to have all Charlottesville schools participate with gardens of their own and then to develop a farmer’s market for their produce.   We commend the schools for recognizing such a wonderful way to connect kids to the life around them.

 

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Apple Cider Study

by Staff on May 9, 2012

Pippin Apples in VANelson County has received a USDA grant for the study of the apple cider market.  In particular, the study investigates the market  feasibility of different varieties of hard cider.  Nelson County expects to work with Albemarle County on the project. 

Although THE STUDY won’t be complete for several months, participants anticipate that the results will indicate a clear demand for hard cider of many varieties which will help bolster the production of local apples such as the Albemarle Pippin (aka Newtown Pippin) to create the cider. 

The Albemarle Pippin is the most well known of Virginia’s apples, light green in color,  and it was one of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite apples.    (Our favorite is Ginger Gold).  Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc.

The study will also look at benefits such as agri-tourism that cider mills would provide for the area in general.

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Culpeper VA Gets New Natural Foods Store

by Staff February 17, 2012

A Culpeper VA couple has opened a brand new store named Natural Harvest, in the Duke Street shopping center of Culpeper.  They intend to feature a sort of year-round farmer’s market of organic natural food choices.   One of their goals is to be a connector between the farmers and growers who are already producing wholesome local products, [...]

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Free Heirloom Seeds For Twice The Price

by Staff January 29, 2012

The Chesterfield Historical Society has launched an innovative program for Virginians who are interested in growing and preserving heirloom fruits and vegetables.  They have 2300 packets of heirloom seeds which they’ll give away – – free – – so that people can grow them this year.  Free?   The catch is:  people must agree to return [...]

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A Virginia Papaya Was Born

by Staff January 22, 2012

One of the ways that small farmers are extending their growing season in Virginia, is with the use of what are called  ‘high tunnels’.   For those unfamiliar with the term, a high tunnel is plastic covered tubular steel structure (similar to a greenhouse) that can protect plants from extreme temperatures or pests. Not only can farmers more closely [...]

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Girl Scouts Promote Local

by Gayle December 17, 2011

The Girl Scouts have come a long ways from the days when I was a scout. They have recently created a new badge to help the senior scouts learn more about local farming and the locavore movement general. Each step involves specific tasks like speaking to a local chef about how our food system works. [...]

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