Growing the Local Food Movement in Greater Richmond
Welcome to Real Local RVA’s blog! Here you will find entries from the Executive Director, Leadership Board and guest bloggers. This blog will focus on farms, farmer’s markets, restaurants, groceries, food vendors and producers. We will work to keep you informed on all the local food events and news in our community.
If you have any questions, comments or possible topics please email us . We would love to hear from you!
Sponsored by C&F Bank
What is community? Wikipedia defines it as “A small or large social unit (a group of living things) that has something in common, such as norms, religion, values, or identity. Communities often share a sense of place that is situated in a given geographical area or in virtual space through communication platforms. Durable relations that extend beyond immediate genealogical ties also define a sense of community. People tend to define those social ties as important to their identity, practice, and roles in social institutions (such as family, home, work, government, society, or humanity at-large).” We believe the key to growing the local food movement in Richmond is building connections within our community.
Our March meeting was an experiment. With the help of our friend Chris Bennett at the Spark Mill, we planned a whole meeting focused around communication, listening and growing a network. The conversations were flowing, the communication channels were open and the room was buzzing. We think it was a successful experiment and our only regret is that we didn’t have more time! [Read more…] about Real Local RVA’s March 2019 Meeting
Community Supported Agriculture creates a rewarding relationship between the growers and consumers of food. When participating in a CSA program, individuals invest in the farm at the start of the growing season and in exchange receive a share of the farm’s harvest each week throughout the season.
Getting food from a CSA is different from going to a farmers market or using a grocery delivery service. As a CSA member, you make a seasonal commitment to a small farmer in your area, and the produce is either delivered to your door or you pick it up at a local distribution center. CSA members take pleasure in knowing where and how their food is grown, and typically have an open line of communication with their farmer.
[Read more…] about It’s National CSA Day – Celebrate Community Supported Agriculture!
Our 2019 meeting series is off to a great start! Feburary’s meeting was full of new faces, local food buzz, and lots of networking. Our panelists provided great insight into the workings of each of their respective restaurants and farms, discussed local sourcing in Richmond, and all agreed that communication is the key to the success of local food making its way onto the plates of consumers. Moderated by Robey Martin with CBS6, our panelists included:
After each panelist introduced themselves and their business, Robey kicked off the discussion with a high level question about the buzz within the RVA food scene about sourcing local. All of the panelists undeniably agreed to the benefits of sourcing locally, that it builds community, supports the local economy, and most importantly creates a better dish for the customer. Susan mentioned an egg dish served at Tazza is a “totally different dish with local eggs,” and well worth the extra price they pay for the local eggs. [Read more…] about Real Local RVA’s First Meeting of 2019
By Kathi Hendrick*
Each month, C&F Bank, in partnership with Ellwood Thompson’s, hosts a breakfast program that’s designed to bring education opportunities outside the realm of banking to small business owners and community members. Just before the 2018 holiday season, the program brought together a panel of farmers, urban farming supporters, and agricultural sustainability advocates to talk about “what’s growing” in Richmond.
The morning kicked off with fresh coffee and light bites, followed by a viewing of the trailer for Farmers for America, a documentary that asks, “Who will be our next generation of farmers?” given that the average age of today’s U.S. farmer is 60 years old – a thought provoking question that launched the panelists, David L. Seward, Horticulture Program Head And Associate Professor – Reynolds Community College (JSRCC), Duron Chavis, Manager of Community Engagement – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Michael Carter, Jr., Small Farm Resource Center Coordinator – Virginia State University, and Beth Nelson, Fellowship Program Manager – Tricycle Urban Ag, into a larger conversation about how the greater RVA area is responding to the need to rethink and evolve agricultural practices in order to bring healthy, sustainable food to tables in the decades to come. [Read more…] about C&F Bank’s Business Beyond Banking: “What’s Growing in Richmond”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 2018 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM
AT VCU’S INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
An evening with wonderful sponsor support, amazing community engagement, and a talented speaker all adds up to what we consider a successful event! Sponsored by the ICA, Chickahominy Falls, Ellwood Thompson’s, C&F Bank and Keller Williams Realty | The Egan Team, “Sustainable Abundance” was an evening filled with inspiration and encouragement.
Planned in conjunction with the “Hedges, Edges, Dirt” exhibit at the ICA, the theme of the evening focused on highlighting the importance of sustainability in the future of our food system. After taking the time to tour the exhibit, Salatin’s talk began with a bit of a Virginia history lesson, remarking on the abundance that greeted European settlers when they arrived in Virginia. He discussed how our Native American ancestors lived as part of a manicured ecosystem that matched our climate. Archaeologists believe that more food was grown in this country 500 years ago than is grown today! As the Europeans arrived, they brought with them a knowledge of a very temperate climate and tillage based farming methods. As most folks tend to do, they farmed from experience, tilling the soil and disrupting a perfectly good ecosystem. This flipping of the soil and disturbance in the environment is much of what eventually led to the dust bowl years later. [Read more…] about “Sustainable Abundance: An evening with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms”
Kevin Jamison opened his first restaurant knowing what he wanted. He wanted to support the local economy by sourcing as much as possible from local food producers and farmers. While he admits it’s not easy, it’s a process they are committed to and they work hard to make it happen. For Commune, the positives far outweigh the challenges they face, and they feel good about the product they put in front of customers every day. [Read more…] about Real Local RVA’s November Meeting
