BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Real Local RVA - ECPv5.9.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Real Local RVA X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://reallocalrva.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Real Local RVA BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20180311T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20181104T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20190310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20191103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20200308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20201101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20210314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20211107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210422T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210422T164500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20210408T004501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210408T004501Z UID:9469-1619105400-1619109900@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:“Understanding Your Finances” - A virtual workshop DESCRIPTION:Running a small business requires a diverse skill set to be successful. Keeping up with everything from marketing and inventory to sales and finances can be a tough job. In this virtual workshop\, the experts from C&F Bank will cover the basics of financial literacy to help you keep your business moving ahead.\n\n\nDo you understand cash flow and how money moves in and out of your business? We will discuss the ability to manage business finance matters in an efficient manner\, making appropriate decisions about investing\, and budgeting. To get your small business to the next level you must be able to read and understand the numbers on your financial statement. Know what your numbers are telling you and be proactive to the areas that require attention. \nNatalee Bolton\, C&F Financial Center Manager\, and Yitzy Klestzick\, Assistant Vice President\, will talk us through understanding key financial principles including:\n\nUnderstanding credit\nImportance of keeping good books/records (the why behind it in regards to lending)\nBanking products that will benefit your business\n\nWe will then hear from Michael Reilly\, Executive Director of Foodshed Capital to learn about the concept of “Nurture Capital.” Foodshed Capital is an organization with a mission to provide financial stewardship to farms and businesses fostering an equitable and regenerative local food economy. This is achieved through patient\, flexible\, low-cost financing\, including a 0% revolving loan fund called SOIL. This financing provides equitable\, patient\, and risk-tolerant capital for farmers and food entrepreneurs who have difficulty obtaining traditional capital\, especially women\, people of color\, low-income individuals\, and new/beginning farmers. \nWe hope you’ll join us for an afternoon discussing finances – we promise to keep it light and informative. \nThe workshop will be held via Zoom\, participants will be sent a link after registering. This workshop is free for members of Real Local RVA – Non-members – $10 \n**RSVP HERE!**\n\n\n— \nAbout our speakers:\nNatalee Bolton has been with C&F Bank since 2016. With over 15 years in the banking industry and a bachelor’s degree in business management\, she serves as Assistant Vice President and Financial Center Manager in Downtown Richmond. Natalee’s focus is to collaborate with business partners to provide customers with a comprehensive financial experience that exceeds their expectations and gives them a map to success. She is able to do this by working alongside a group of service-minded professionals who keep customer’s best interests at heart. \n— \nYitzy Klestzick is a Business Banking Relationship Manager at C&F Bank. He has 8+ years of experience working in banking and investment lending and has been with C&F as business credit analyst for the last 4 years. Surrounded by the Bank’s talented senior credit staff\, he was able to strengthen his skills in comprehensive underwriting and proper deal structuring and has recently transitioned to become a Business Banking Relationship Manager. Yitzy’s focus is trying to understand the customer’s goals\, and deepening the personal and banking relationship. His lending expertise and focus includes loan amounts of $1\,000\,000 or less\, and financing for owner occupied commercial real estate\, investment properties\, equipment loans\, operating lines of credits and more. He has a clear approach to lending with an emphasis on expedient communication of loan decisions. \n— \nMichael Reilly is a co-founder of Foodshed Capital\, and oversees the day-to-day operations as Executive Director. Under his leadership the organization grew from a local slow money program with a few hundred dollars in donations to a multi-state nonprofit with more than $1.5 million in capital raised within the first 30 months. Michael also led Foodshed Capital toward certification as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in 2020. Michael has developed strong relationships with dozens of farmers around the region and has been involved in making more than 45 microloans within the first two and a half years. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/understanding-your-finances-a-virtual-workshop/ LOCATION:Online END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210330T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210330T164500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20210315T182432Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210315T211118Z UID:9445-1617118200-1617122700@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:“Creating Value Through Selling” - A virtual workshop DESCRIPTION:Creating value today in nearly every organization involves sales – whether you’re selling a consumable product\, a service\, or a mission\, everyone should understand the basics of “selling.” As we work to climb out of one of the toughest years in recent history\, we want to help our businesses and organizations close sales and keep clients. In partnership with Hatch and the Apple Cart Co. we hope you’ll join us for this virtual workshop on Creating Value Through Selling.\n— \nWe’re excited to welcome Rachael Goodrich of the Alternative Foodie as our featured speaker. The Alternative Foodie offers food and beverage consulting for young businesses designed to support early stage brands and food and beverage start-ups looking to scale into alternative channels\, foodservice\, and non-traditional spaces. Rachael has a deep love for foodservice\, specifically with growing emerging brands. With over 20 years’ experience\, she has worked on some of the world’s leading brands as well as start-up food & beverage companies. Her passion lies in crafting the sales strategy and executing against the priorities to bring a brand to life. Rachael will discuss important salesperson traits\, creating value with your sale\, and using technology to your advantage. \n— \nWe’ll then hear from Sam Dortch\, co-owner of Libbie Market who will discuss sales from a buyers perspective. Sam’s career in the retail grocery business has spanned 25 years and includes invaluable work experience with local food brokerage companies and well known industry leaders like Ukrops Supermarkets and Supervalu Corporation. Libbie Market was founded in 2010 after the Ukrop’s grocery store chain was purchased by Ahold/Martin’s and the small specialty store known as Joe’s Market was set to close. As it approaches it’s 11 year anniversary\, Libbie Market remains a favorite spot for customers to shop\, dine and enjoy all the offerings of a large grocery store with the convenience of an upscale neighborhood market. \n— \nTo wrap up our workshop we’ll hear from Joye and Eric Moore from Joyebells Sweet Potato Pies to discuss sales from a seller’s perspective. In the spring of 2019 Joye B. Moore (aka Joyebell) founded Joyebells Sweet Potato Pies\, a heavenly North Carolina styled dessert bursting with flavor. Joyebells Sweet Potato Pies make Joye the 6th-generation of women in her family to bake their family’s sweet potato pie and the 1st-generation to turn this family tradition into a business. A thriving survivor of an untreated mentally ill mother\, Joye is also an advocate for mental health wellness making Joyebells a business with a mission! Working out of Hatch Kitchen\, Joye’s business has grown exponentially during the pandemic\, with her product now sold in many local grocery stores in the Richmond area. \nThe workshop will be held via Zoom\, participants will be sent a link after registering. This workshop is free for members/clients of Real Local RVA\, Hatch\, and the Apple Cart Co. Non-members/clients – $10 \n**RSVP HERE!** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/creating-value-through-selling-a-virtual-workshop/ LOCATION:Online END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210225T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210225T160000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20210211T164926Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210211T164926Z UID:9429-1614265200-1614268800@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Digital Marketing Essentials DESCRIPTION:with\nThe Richmond Experience and Campfire & Co.\nCo-Hosted by Real Local RVA\, Hatch\, and the Apple Cart Co.\nDigital marketing is constantly evolving\, and keeping up with the basics can seem daunting as a small business owner. But have no fear: The Richmond Experience and Campfire & Co. have rounded up some of their favorite practical tips and real life examples to help you achieve digital marketing success. These two local organizations share a wealth of knowledge between them\, and we’re excited to offer this workshop to our members! \nWe’ll explore four key areas of digital marketing including: Branding\, Website\, Social Media and Email Marketing\, and we’ll discuss the best practices for getting the most out of each. Save your spot now and be sure to come with questions\, as we aim for this to be an interactive dialogue. \nDETAILS: \n\n2/25 @ 3:00 p.m. via Crowdcast\nThis workshop is for members of Real Local RVA and Hatch\, and clients of the Apple Cart Co. ONLY\nThis workshop will be recorded and sent out for those of you who are unable to attend.\nCrowdcast is different from Zoom\, wherein you will not be visible on video or speaking through the microphone. There is a chat feature to the right of the screen where you will be able to interact with the hosts of the workshop who will be the only ones on video and speaking through the microphone.\n\nRSVP HERE URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/digital-marketing-essentials/ LOCATION:Virtual END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210210T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210210T163000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20210211T155925Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210211T155925Z UID:9422-1612969200-1612974600@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Virtual Discussion with Ellen Polishuk DESCRIPTION:Please join us for an open and interactive discussion on efficiency and profitability with farming consultant Ellen Polishuk of Plant to Profit\n\nEllen will present briefly on efficiency and profitability on the farm\, however this is meant to be an open and interactive discussion with input and questions from participants. Ellen is a wealth of knowledge\, and this is your chance to pick her brain! \nEllen Polishuk is a biological farm consultant and teacher who helps growers around the country improve their soils\, their labor management practices and their businesses so that they can increase farm profits and achieve a joyful balanced life. Ellen has 35 years of farming experience under her belt and now devotes herself full time to teaching and consulting other growers. Raised in the suburbs of Washington DC\, Ellen discovered farming at an early age\, and took that passion to Virginia Tech where she earned a BS in Horticulture. After 4 years in vegetable seed research in California and serving as an active member of the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture\, Ellen returned to Virginia to become one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms\, where she worked for 25 years. Now a full time farmer coach\, Ellen works with farmers on production practices\, labor management\, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations\, and marketing. She also speaks at conferences and meetings around the country on numerous agricultural topics. Ellen’s book\, Start Your Farm\, that she co-wrote with Virginia farmer Forrest Pritchard is available for purchase. \nLearn more about Ellen here: https://www.planttoprofit.com/ \nThis event is FREE for Real Local RVA Members and $10 for Non-Members. \n URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/virtual-discussion-with-ellen-polishuk/ LOCATION:Virtual END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201026T094500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201026T113000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20201120T002426Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201120T005536Z UID:9367-1603705500-1603711800@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's October 2020 Meeting DESCRIPTION:“New Consumer Behaviors and How to Capitalize”\nwith Strategist Rebecca Thomas and Kevin Clay from Big Spoon Co.\nThe pandemic will change our world for years to come\, and with these changes come new consumer behaviors and buying trends. We’ve asked two experts to join us to discuss this important topic and help our members think ahead and plan for the future of their business. Accepting the reality of new consumer behaviors is an important strategic step for any local business. \nRebecca Thomas is a lifelong entrepreneur with fifteen years in food. She has a particular talent for seeing what’s ahead\, making important connections and explaining complexities with simplicity. Her company – clearbusinesswriting.com – helps business owners understand and articulate what’s uniquely valuable about what they do.\nKevin Clay is the President and Founding Partner of Big Spoon Co.\, a PR and marketing firm specializing in food\, beverage\, and hospitality. Kevin is a Richmond-native\, founder of GayRVA.com and the Richmond LGBTQ Chamber\, co-founder of the RVA Dine & Drink Facebook Group and member of Real Local RVA.\nWe will have the garage doors open\, chairs spaced apart in the shade\, and hand sanitizer available. Remember this is an outdoor meeting! Blue Bee will have cider available for purchase so plan to enjoy some there or take a bottle to go (think ahead for the holidays!) \n**PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN ENTERING\, EXITING\, AND MOVING AROUND THE PREMISES. THE MEETING WILL BE LIMITED TO 30 GUESTS. \n**Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! Due to the size of this meeting\, if you find you cannot attend as the date approaches\, please release your ticket. \n\n\nThis meeting will look different than past meetings due to social distancing requirements. We ask that you please come in\, get your beverage of choice and take your seat. We will not encourage networking for this meeting\, so please do not linger afterwards. We will continue to monitor Virginia’s numbers and adjust if necessary as the date approaches. We appreciate your cooperation!\n\n\nThanks to our hosts at Blue Bee Cider and our sponsor\, C&F Bank.\n**This is a weather dependent event. Rain date is Monday\, November 9th** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-october-2020-meeting/ LOCATION:Blue Bee Cider\, 1320 Summit Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23230\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200922T171500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200922T183000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20201120T002137Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201120T002137Z UID:9360-1600794900-1600799400@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's September 2020 Meeting DESCRIPTION:“A LIVE PODCAST RECORDING”\nwith EAT IT Virginia! AND HARDYWOOD\nEat It\, Virginia! is a podcast that offers a deep dive into the food\, restaurants\, and dining trends of Richmond and beyond. Hosted by CBS6’s Robey Martin and Scott Wise\, Eat It\, Virginia keeps its listeners up to date on hot spots in dining\, local chefs\, and businesses that support local food. Scott and Robey will talk it up with some of the staff from Hardywood\, we’ll learn their story\, talk brews and hops and hear how they’ve operated during the pandemic.\nThis is an outdoor event\, under a tent. Chairs will be spaced apart and we ask that members respect social distancing. Hardywood will be open for business so feel free to arrive early and purchase a beverage to enjoy. The podcast recording will begin at 5:30 p.m.\n**PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN ENTERING\, EXITING\, AND MOVING AROUND THE PREMISES. THE MEETING WILL BE LIMITED TO 25 GUESTS. THIS WILL BE A MEMBER ONLY MEETING.\n**Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! Due to the size of this meeting\, if you find you cannot attend as the date approaches\, please release your ticket. \n\n\nThis meeting will look different than past meetings due to social distancing requirements. We ask that you please come in\, get your beverage of choice and take your seat. We will not encourage networking during the meeting. We will continue to monitor Virginia’s numbers and adjust if necessary as the date approaches. We appreciate your cooperation!\n\n\nThanks to our hosts at Hardywood West Creek and our sponsor\, Karen Stephens with Joyner Fine Properties.\n**This is a weather dependent event.** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-september-2020-meeting/ LOCATION:Hardywood West Creek\, 820 Sanctuary Trail Drive\, Richmond\, Virginia\, 23238 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200810T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200810T103000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20201120T001732Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201120T001732Z UID:9341-1597050000-1597055400@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's August 2020 Meeting DESCRIPTION:“What has COVID Taught us About Local Food and Beverage?”\nwith Libbie Market\, The Apple Cart\, Blue Bee Cider and Bow Tide Farms\nWe have missed our members so much over the last few months. We are ready to try a socially distanced indoor/outdoor meeting at Blue Bee Cider and hope you will join us! We’ll hear from four members of the local food scene who will discuss what the last four months has looked like in their businesses. Joining us will be:\n\n\nSam Dortch from Libbie Market\n\n\nBarb Upchurch from The Apple Cart Co.\n\n\nMackenzie Smith from Blue Bee Cider\n\n\nJoe Jenkins from Bow Tide Farms\n\n\nWe will have the garage doors open\, chairs spaced apart in the shade\, and hand sanitizer available. Blue Bee will have cold cider available for purchase and King of Clubs Brewing will be sampling cold brew coffee and kombucha. \n**PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK WHEN ENTERING\, EXITING\, AND MOVING AROUND THE PREMISES. THE MEETING WILL BE LIMITED TO 30 GUESTS. THIS WILL BE A MEMBER ONLY MEETING.\n**Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! Due to the size of this meeting\, if you find you cannot attend as the date approaches\, please release your ticket.\n\n\nThis meeting will look different than past meetings due to social distancing requirements. We ask that you please come in\, get your beverage of choice and take your seat. We will not encourage networking for this meeting\, so please do not linger afterwards. We will continue to monitor Virginia’s numbers and adjust if necessary as the date approaches. We appreciate your cooperation!\n\n\nThanks to our hosts at Blue Bee Cider and our sponsor\, King of Clubs Brewing.\n**This is a weather dependent event.** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-august-2020-meeting/ LOCATION:Blue Bee Cider\, 1320 Summit Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23230\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200406T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200406T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20200305T145718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200328T013651Z UID:9099-1586169000-1586173500@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:POSTPONED - Real Local RVA's April Meeting DESCRIPTION:Please join us on Monday\, April 6th!\n“Demystifying Marketing” \nwith The Apple Cart Co. and CreativeMktGroup\nCreativeMktGroup and The Apple Cart Company join forces to help you set up a strategy plan to move your business forward in 2020. Learn how to better utilize the tools at your disposal\, where to spend your marketing dollars\, and practical solutions to grow your business with a small budget in mind. Marketing tools should be considered a valuable employee\, working on your behalf. Whether you are a farmer\, grocer\, restaurateur\, specialty food business\, or non-profit thinking about the direction you are going and how you will get there is time well spent! \nThanks to NOPE (Natural Organic Processes Enterprises) for sponsoring our meeting. We’ll sample a surprise collaboration between AR’s Hot Southern Honey and jiji Frozen Custard and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. \n \nAbout The Apple Cart Company\nIn 2010\, Barb Upchurch and Stephanie Ganz met at a Richmond-based non-profit dedicated to helping people start small businesses. There\, Barb was the Director of the Women’s Business Center\, and Stephanie managed the Breadwinners program–a grant-funded initiative designed to help women create food-based businesses. The two were an instant match\, sharing a love of food\, travel\, and enterprise development; and from there The Apple Cart was born. In 2019\, Barb purchased the company from Stephanie as she expanded her writing career. The agency continues to grow with a team of strategic partners who can provide solutions at all stages of business development. Follow them @applecartco \nAbout CreativeMktGroup\nCreativeMktGroup began as a start-up business on $0 capital in January 2016 and has since continued to grow organically. Founder\, Natalie Toalson McNamara\, determined a gap in the marketplace for small businesses\, providing the quality\, simple marketing support they so very well deserve. Furthermore\, it seemed the only options available were top marketing agencies which are certainly stellar in quality\, yet not typically affordable to small businesses. As the CMG client base has grown\, so has the team. And along the way\, it has been challenging\, but important to remain lean and process driven\, in an effort to be most efficient and to\, again\, provide a simple marketing resource to clients. Today and continually moving forward\, CreativeMktGroup commits to finding a way to support start-up and small businesses with a team of 10 staff members. Follow them @creativemktgroup \n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register. \nRSVP HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-april-2020-meeting/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200310T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200310T163000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20200130T210213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200130T211642Z UID:3935-1583852400-1583857800@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Workshop Series: Branding through Photography DESCRIPTION:Our workshop series in partnership with the Apple Cart Co. and Hatch Kitchen continues on Tuesday\, March 10th.\n\n\n\n“Branding through Photography”\nTaking shots for social and hiring professionals for showcase images to move your business forward. Learn what works on your phone\, and when it is time to hire someone to make your brand shine. Bring food samples\, you will be staging and taking shots of your food in this workshop! Props will be provided. \nOur experts for this session are Fred + Elliott Photography. \n$20 General Public \n\n\n\nFREE to Hatch Kitchen Members and Real Local Members! \nRSVP HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/workshop-series-branding-through-photography/ LOCATION:Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market\, 4 N. Thompson St.\, Richmond\, 23221\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="The%20Apple%20Cart":MAILTO:info@theapplecartcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200302T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200302T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20200205T184526Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200206T175623Z UID:3939-1583145000-1583149500@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's March 2020 Meeting DESCRIPTION:Please join us on Monday\, March 2nd!\n“The Perils & Promise of Building a Regenerative Supply Chain” \nwith Sara Harper from Grounded Growth\nSara Harper\, founder of Grounded Growth\, LLC in Petersburg\, VA has been working in and around the regenerative agriculture space for the last 20 years. In the last 2 years\, she has put that experience to the test launching an online platform that is striving to bridge the gap between regeneratively grown crops and the products it can be turned into. Hear about the hard-won progress of this network that will bring regenerative products to market over the next year — and in doing so\, create a market opportunity for local farmers\, restaurants and food brands alike. Learn about the opportunities to connect your local brand to emerging top trends in the natural food space. We’ll talk about trends and buzz words in “natural food” and hear more about the ups and downs this local organization has faced bringing a value-added stream to market.\n \nThanks to Karen Stephens with Joyner Fine Properties for sponsoring our meeting. We’ll sample delicious vegan cookies from our member and 1st ever Help to the Shelf winner – Favour Cookie Co. and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. \n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \nRSVP HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-march-2020-meeting/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200211T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200211T163000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20200130T195816Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200130T205820Z UID:3923-1581433200-1581438600@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Workshop Series: Selling to the Shelf DESCRIPTION:Our workshop series in partnership with the Apple Cart Co. and Hatch Kitchen continues on Tuesday\, February 11th.\n\n\n\nBuild your sales confidence by learning from industry leaders tips and techniques to sell your products to wholesale accounts locally and regionally. We will start by defining the language to use to open the door\, overcoming objections\, negotiating price\, and closing the sale. From there we will touch on reorders and in-store sampling. \nJoining us to share their expertise are Ames Russell of AR’s Southern Hot Honey and Erin Wright from Little House Green Grocery. \n$20 General Public \nFree to Hatch Kitchen Members and Real Local Members \nRSVP HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/workshop-series-selling-to-the-shelf/ LOCATION:Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market\, 4 N. Thompson St.\, Richmond\, 23221\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="The%20Apple%20Cart":MAILTO:info@theapplecartcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200203T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200203T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20200108T155959Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200109T161039Z UID:3868-1580725800-1580730300@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's February 2020 Meeting - Farm to Table Panel Discussion DESCRIPTION:Please join us for our first meeting of 2020 on Monday\, February 3rd!\nWe are thrilled to bring these five participants in the local food movement together for a discussion on restaurant life\, farming life\, and local sourcing in RVA. Moderated by Robey Martin\, Richmond’s go-to journalist for everything edible\, the restaurants will share their approach to local sourcing\, and the farmers will discuss their business plans for selling wholesale. You will hear how some of these restaurants and farmers have already worked together and what they see for the future of “Farm to Table” dining in Richmond. Thanks to C&F Bank for sponsoring our meeting. We’ll sample culinary sauces from our member Clark & Hopkins and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. \n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!**\nAbout the Panelists:\nEmmanuel Baiden – private chef – Manny Eats\n\nEmmanuel’s culinary journey began at 12 years old. Growing up in Ghana\, it was uncommon to see boys in the kitchen\, a place often known for women\, but he constantly found himself there next to his mother learning all she had to teach him about food.​ In 2014 he left Ghana to pursue a degree in Business Management at James Madison University. After quickly finding his passion for cooking\, Emmanuel shifted paths and pursued a degree in hospitality.\n \nEmmanuel worked his way through kitchens in college and eventually landed an internship in Hospitality Management at Keswick Hall and Golf Club in Charlottesville\, a Five Star Forbes rated establishment. After learning the ins and outs of both the front and back of house and gaining a thorough knowledge of the holistic operations of the industry\, Emmanuel returned to Keswick Hall after graduation as a chef. Emmanuel is now embarking on an entrepreneurial journey of his own in the private side of the culinary industry in Richmond. \n\nBarbara Hollingsworth – co-owner – Village Garden RVA\nBarbara Hollingsworth started the Village Garden RVA farm\, located on 10 acres in Hanover County\, in 2011 along with her partner David Hunsaker. The area under cultivation only occupies about an acre\, but produces thousands of pounds of field grown heirloom tomatoes during the season\, and exotic chilies/tropicals year-round in their large\, geodesic dome greenhouse.\n\n\nBarbara grew up in Chesterfield County\, helping her grandfather during each summer to grow a wide array of produce in their large garden. Village Garden RVA is known for its varieties of heirloom tomatoes and chile peppers\, as well as herbs for its six culinary blends. They also offer artisanal kimchi\, small plantings of greenhouse exotics such as makrut\, calamondin and lemongrass\, and an occasional bounty of foraged fungi. The farm’s customers include many of RVAs finest chefs\, local market shoppers\, and area breweries including Lemaire\, Saison\, Acacia\, Heritage\, Roosevelt\, Shagbark\, Perch\, Brenner Pass and Metzger\, Alewife\, Maple and Pine\, L’Opossum\, Comfort\, The Daily Kitchen and Bar\, and Nota Bene. In 2018 Village Garden RVA was honored to be nominated by its peers in the area dining community and selected as “Producer of the Year” for the Elbys central Virginia food awards\, presented annually by Richmond Magazine.\n\n\n\nCaleb Shriver – chef/owner – Dutch & Company\nFor Chef Caleb Shriver\, food has always been a means of gathering\, a way to bring family and friends together. An Oklahoma native\, Shriver has fond memories of his mother’s southwest cooking\, comfort foods often comprised of family caught and hunted fish and game. Growing up he often helped out in the kitchen\, and it wasn’t long before a fascination with food began to form. After completing a unique culinary apprentice program with Chef Kurt Flieschfresser at The Coach House in Oklahoma City\, Shriver wanted to increase his culinary knowledge and experience and made his way to Chicago\, landing at Otom\, and then Sugar Toad in Naperville\, Illinois. In 2010\, Shriver moved south to Richmond and began working at Aziza’s\, developing a relationship with the Richmond community\, all the while garnering multiple local awards. \nIn 2012\, with a hunger to make his own mark in the food community of Richmond\, Caleb & his wife Michelle opened Dutch & Company. Now celebrating the six year anniversary of Dutch & Company\, Chef/Owner Caleb Shriver & Michelle Shriver continue to focus on their community in Richmond. They work daily alongside their staff sharing their knowledge and provide unique and delicious food experiences to their guests\, through relationships cultivated with local farmers to offer seasonal\, regional items that highlight Virginia products. \nBrittanny Anderson – chef/co-owner – Brenner Pass\, Chairlift and Metzger Bar and Butchery\nBrittanny Anderson is a James Beard nominated chef and owner of 3 restaurants in Richmond: Brenner Pass\, Chairlift and Metzger Bar and Butchery. Trained professionally as a chef at the French Culinary Institute in New York City under Master Chefs Jacques Pepin\, Andre Soltner and Alain Sailhac\, Brittanny has worked for 15 years in the restaurant industry. After graduating at the top of her class at FCI\, Brittanny worked in some of the best kitchens in New York City\, most notably Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Northern Spy Food Company. \nBrittanny eventually decided to bring all her culinary experiences back to her hometown of Richmond where has quickly become one of the city’s most progressive restaurateurs. She is one of a generation of young women who are stepping into restaurant leadership\, hiring other women\, and creating a whole new culinary culture. She loves cooking regional European cuisine while highlighting local Virginia ingredients and merging traditional recipes with modern American spirit. \nDominic Carpin – owner – delli Carpini Farm\ndelli Carpini Farm is a biodynamic farm located on a 12-acre property near the Beaverdam district northwest of Richmond\, about 30 miles from downtown. Dominic started the farm in 2015\, pursuing a passion he’d had for decades while working in other careers\, mostly in the financial sector. \nThe farm grows a wide variety of legumes\, leafy greens\, root vegetables\, and fruiting crops\, specializing in hard to find GMO-free\, open-pollinated heirlooms from all over the world. Dominic strives to follow all the rules of organic farming and aspires to a closed system with minimal external inputs. The farm does not use any chemical fertilizer\, pesticide\, herbicide\, or fungicide. Dominic keeps the land in cover crops as much as possible and strives for biodiversity by nurturing native perennials\, wildflowers\, and wild forage. Dominic plants by the moon and follows the almanac. He does not bring in third-party compost and relies on cover cropping and fish emulsion\, along with rock powders\, to build soil fertility\, which he protects with minimal tillage. \nOver the years\, the farm has sold its produce at local farmers markets in the Richmond area and has also developed a strong wholesale businesses with numerous Richmond restaurants including Alewife\, Adarra\, Brenner Pass\, Gersi\, Shagbark\, Nota Bene\, Heritage\, Southbound\, Broken Tulip\, The Caboose\, and West Coast Provisions. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-february-2020-meeting-farm-to-table-panel-discussion/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191104T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191104T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20191009T145854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191009T191945Z UID:3693-1572863400-1572867900@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's November Meeting DESCRIPTION:Please join us for our last meeting of the year to hear the story of Autumn Olive Farms!\n\n\nWe know that this amazing family needs little to no introduction in the Richmond food scene. Autumn Olive Farms is an award winning small livestock farm owned by Clay and Linda Trainum located just north of Waynesboro in the central Shenandoah Valley. Autumn Olive Farms was born from humble beginnings. In 2008 Clay and Linda moved their family to the Virginia farm where Clay grew up after discovering their family was sick from toxic mold exposure in their home in North Carolina. The farm had been neglected for years\, and the Trainum’s had a big job ahead of them. Their adventure began with goat farming and eventually they made the transition into pork farming. \nWith a farrow to finish operation that continues to grow every year\, their meat is sought out by the best chefs and butcher shops all over the region. Autumn Olive’s goal is not to farm a variety of mediocrity\, but rather specialize in raising and providing the finest heritage bred meats possible that evoke creativity and restore passion in culinary art. Their heritage breed animals are chosen for their long established history of unmatched qualities in taste\, marbling\, fat\, nutrition\, and yields that have been lost due to conformity to commodity farming. Come hear more about the story of their quest to heal with good quality food. \n AOF has graciously donated pork to be prepared by Cardinal State Butchers for guests to sample! We’ll also have coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to Woodside Farms for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-november-meeting-3/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191015T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191015T200000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20191007T194603Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191007T195023Z UID:3682-1571162400-1571169600@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Pitch Competition Finals @ Hatch Kitchen! DESCRIPTION:(Help to the Shelf logo by Riddle Design co.)\nPlease join us to sample some delicious local products and hear the pitches from the 5 finalists!\n\n\nRichmond’s food and beverage scene is alive and well in the River City. We have partnered with Hatch Kitchen and the Apple Cart Co. to bring an exciting pitch competition to RVA aimed at helping businesses launch a product and gain recognition with a larger audience. Our goal is to bring excitement and awareness to the many amazing food and beverage products produced locally. We’ve narrowed down the pool to the 5 finalists. Join us on Tuesday\, October 15th from 6-8 p.m. at Hatch Kitchen. \nMeet the 5 finalists! \n\nChaotic Good Tempeh\nCobra Pickles\nFavour Cookie Company LLC\nLil’ Sprouts Microgreens Wheatgrass Juice\nZesto Pesto\n\n**Learn more about the event and RSVP HERE.**\nSpecial thanks to our event sponsors:\n\n\n\nThis event is free\, we just ask that you register! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/pitch-competition-finals-hatch-kitchen/ LOCATION:Hatch Kitchen\, 2601 Maury St.\, Building 2\, Richmond\, VA\, 23224\, United States ORGANIZER;CN="The%20Apple%20Cart":MAILTO:info@theapplecartcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191007T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191007T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190910T162854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190930T182020Z UID:3608-1570444200-1570448700@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's October Meeting DESCRIPTION:(Help to the Shelf logo by Riddle Design co.)\nPlease join us to sample some delicious local products and send one to the Finals!\n\n\nRichmond’s food and beverage scene is alive and well in the River City. We have partnered with Hatch Kitchen and the Apple Cart Co. to bring an exciting pitch competition to RVA aimed at helping businesses launch a product and gain recognition with a larger audience. Our goal is to bring excitement and awareness to the many amazing food and beverage products produced locally. Join us to sample the featured products\, learn their stories\, and vote on a “People’s Choice” to send through to the final event at Hatch Kitchen on Tuesday\, October 15th. \nMeet the 15 finalists! \n\nBrekkie Waffles\nChaotic Good Tempeh\nCobra Pickles\nCrow Cookies\nDel Sauce\, LLC\nDrink Gammy’s/Drink Bouys\nFavour Cookie Company LLC\nFruitfinity\nGratisfied Empower Bar\nLil’ Sprouts Microgreens Wheatgrass Juice\nPro-Chi™ Lentil Crunch\nRichlands Creamery Ice Cream\nRooted Delights\nTempered Coffee\nZesto Pesto\n\nLearn more about the competition HERE. \nSpecial thanks to our event sponsors:\n\nOur meetings are a great way to meet other local small businesses\, network and enjoy some delicious product samples. We’ll have coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s and many thanks to Woodside Farms for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-october-meeting-2/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190928T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190928T213000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190813T020813Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190909T205631Z UID:3548-1569682800-1569706200@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:4th Annual Farm Tour DESCRIPTION:**PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!**\nWe are excited to host our 4th Annual Farm Tour on Saturday\, September 28th. The event is truly a unique way to experience some of the area’s best farms. We hold this event yearly with the goals of introducing consumers to how their food is grown and encouraging mindful food choices. Guests will tour two farms and enjoy dinner at Oakdale\, a brand new event venue in Ashland. \nResident Farmer at Woodside Farms\, Bryan Aycock with wife\, Meredith Aycock\, Director of Events at Woodside Farms.\nThe event will begin at 3:00 p.m. with a tour of the property and barn at Woodside Farms\, a naturally grown produce farm that anchors the Chickahominy Falls community. Guests will also enjoy a locally sourced snack from Chef Jenny Tremblay West of Mise en Place. Guests will then travel to Harlow Ridge Farm for a tour of a working livestock farm specializing in pasture raised pork\, beef\, goat and lamb raised on NON-GMO grains. \nChris Stem\, owner of Harlow Ridge Farm\, Oakdale\, and co-owner of Ashland Meat Co.\nThe post-tour party takes place at Oakdale\, a beautiful event venue in Hanover County situated on 100 acres owned by Harlow Ridge Farm. The dinner will feature local food from the featured farms as well as other local farms prepared by Ashland Meat Company Catering. Beverage highlights will include beer from Hardywood and local Virginia wines. Guests will also enjoy a presentation by Joel Salatin\, well known farmer at Polyface Farms and champion of the sustainable agriculture movement. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food Inc.\, Salatin speaks to audiences across the world providing inspiration\, faith and practical solutions on healing our world one bite at a time. Thank you to our sponsors: Oakdale\, Ellwood Thompson’s\, Chickahominy Falls\, C&F Bank\, Manry Rawls Insurance\, Keller Williams|The Egan Team\, and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. We hope you will join us for this exciting event! \nJoel Salatin of Polyface Farms\nEvent details:\n\nThe tour will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Woodside Farms located at 10455 Cedar Lane Glen Allen\, VA 23059\nGuests will then be responsible for their own travel to Harlow Ridge Farm located at 13497 Ashland Road\, Ashland\, VA 23005\nGuests will have the option to remain on the property and enjoy a locally sourced dinner at 6:00 p.m. at Oakdale with a presentation to follow by Joel Salatin.\nTicket Prices:\n\nWhole Tour Price: $75\nWhole Tour Price for Real Local RVA Members: $65\nDinner and Presentation ONLY: $50\nDinner and Presentation for Real Local RVA Members: $45\nTour ONLY: $25\n\n\n\n*This is a rain or shine event. In the event of inclement weather adjustments may be made to the schedule\, and the dinner will continue as planned indoors at Oakdale. \n**PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!**\nWant to volunteer?! Click here! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/4th-annual-farm-tour/ LOCATION:Woodside Farms\, 10455 Cedar Lane\, Glen Allen\, VA\, 23059\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190909T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190909T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190806T195815Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190830T175923Z UID:3525-1568025000-1568029500@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's September Meeting DESCRIPTION:Please join us to hear the story of Rappahannock Oyster Co!\n\n\nWith a deep family history in the oyster business dating back to the 1890’s\, cousins Travis and Ryan Croxton’s story is nothing short of amazing. When Travis and Ryan (the company’s fourth generation) got a phone call in 2001 from their dads asking if they had any interest in the family’s 200-odd acres of oyster leases\, the industry had all but collapsed. There was talk of moratoriums – even threats to place the Bay oyster on the Endangered Species List. The family’s contract with the state was expiring and their fathers simply saw it as the last bit of business to tie up. The cousins\, however\, saw it as the last tangible scrap of a rich family history. Oyster leases were cheap and not hard to come by\, but this was all they had left. Though firmly entrenched in careers of their own\, the temptation was too hard to resist. They began to learn about the oyster’s critical role as a filter for excess nutrients in the cycle of the Chesapeake Bay\, and how the oyster’s health was inextricably tied with the health of the Bay. \nThey now own 6 restaurants and have grown to be one of the most well respected oyster companies in the business. Join us to hear more of this story\, and what the future looks like for them. Travis and Ryan will be interviewed by Karri Peifer\, features and dining editor of the Richmond Times Dispatch. \n\nKim Baker Foods and Gammy’s will be sampling their products\, and we’ll have coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to Woodside Farms for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-september-meeting-3/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190805T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190805T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190627T191548Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190725T181049Z UID:3400-1565001000-1565005500@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's August Meeting with Eat It\, Virginia and VA Foodie DESCRIPTION:Join us for this special LIVE PODCAST recording!\n\nEat It\, Virginia! is a podcast that offers a deep dive into the food\, restaurants\, and dining trends of Richmond and beyond. Hosted by CBS6’s Robey Martin and Scott Wise\, Eat It\, Virginia keeps its listeners up to date on hot spots in dining\, local chefs\, and business that support local food. \n\nThe live podcast recording will feature founder of Virginia Foodie Georgiana Dearing. George is the Owner of Water Street\, a collaborative studio that creates strategic marketing tools for manufacturers of trusted brands. As part of their commitment to assisting regional\, locally-sourced food brands succeed\, the Water Street team launched vafoodie.com\, a digital brand devoted to “yummy advocacy\,” promoting the Good Food\, Good People\, and Good Brands in and around Virginia. Join us to hear more about how this brand was born\, and where it’s headed in the future. \n\nBack Pocket Provisions and Peg’s Salt will be sampling their products\, and as always we’ll have coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to Riddle Design Co. for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-august-meeting-with-eat-it-virginia-and-va-foodie/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190721T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190721T170000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190625T143848Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190625T143930Z UID:3387-1563696000-1563728400@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:5% Day at Ellwood Thompson's Local Market DESCRIPTION: \n\nWe need your help! Real Local RVA is honored to be the beneficiary of an Ellwood Thompson’s 5% Day. 5% Day is an effort to recognize and give back to small organizations that create the backbone of our local community. During 5% days\, Ellwoods donates 5% of that day’s sales directly to the chosen organization. In order to participate members of the organization are asked to volunteer as grocery baggers for the day. The money earned will assist Real Local in continuing our mission to support the local food movement! \nDETAILS: \n \n\nIf you are able to volunteer for a 4 hour time slot you may choose TWO of the following:\n\nA ticket to our 4th Annual Farm Tour on Saturday\, 9/28 touring two farms and a dinner afterwards with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms.\nA Real Local RVA T-shirt\n10% off a 2020 membership to Real Local RVA\n\n\nIf you are able to volunteer for a 2 hour time slot you may choose ONE of the following:\n\nA ticket to the Farm Tour/Joel Salatin event\nA Real Local RVA t-shirt\n10% OFF a 2020 membership to Real Local RVA\n\n\n\nSIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR 5% DAY! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/5-day-at-ellwood-thompsons-local-market-2/ LOCATION:Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market\, 4 N. Thompson St.\, Richmond\, 23221\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190708T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190708T120000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190602T193649Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190708T125547Z UID:3297-1562581800-1562587200@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's July Meeting with Gelati Celesti DESCRIPTION:Co-owner Steve Rosser with daughter Suzy.\nPlease join us to hear from Steve Rosser\, co-owner of Gelati Celesti\n\n“Building a Successful Workplace”\n\nPlease join us to learn the Gelati Celesti Story from co-owner Steve Rosser. Steve will take us through the details of company growth\, how they’ve built a successful ice cream empire in RVA\, and the importance of hiring (and keeping) the right people when it comes to building a successful workplace. \n\nGelati Celesti began in 1984 as a collaboration between father and son\, Peter and John Edmonds. The two opened the business with one location in Richmond with a shared vision and a single goal—to bring joy to others by making the very best ice cream possible\, scooped up with the very best service. Ice creams were prepared fresh daily in the back of the store and sold by the cone\, the cup\, or hand-packed for taking home. Steve purchased the single store company in 2010 and since that time has expanded the company from an employee base of 9 to over 130 full and part time employees. Gelati Celesti currently has 6 retail stores; 5 in Richmond and a recently opened store in Virginia Beach. Additionally\, the company operates a food truck often seen at local festivals and events. Each store sells anywhere from about 500 to 800 servings of ice cream a day in the summer. The company also supplies ice cream to some of Richmond’s most distinctive restaurants. Through the years Gelati Celesti has stayed true to its roots\, with their unique recipe and philosophy remaining unchanged. They still make ice cream the way they did when the company started in 1984 — with a small freezer\, one batch at a time. Prior to his entrepreneurial journey\, Steve spent 25 years in the corporate world with roles in sales\, marketing and general management. \n\nGelati Celesti will be sampling their delicious ice cream and we’ll enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to Riddle Design Co. for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \nRSVP HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-july-meeting-with-gelati-celesti/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190603T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190603T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190430T211442Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190523T142505Z UID:3229-1559557800-1559562300@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's June Meeting - "Women in Food" DESCRIPTION:Please join us to to celebrate some amazing females from the RVA food scene!\n\nThis month\, in collaboration with Rebelle Con\, we are excited to bring you a panel of RVA Women in Food. The women will discuss their very different day to day responsibilities\, the ups and downs of working in local food/drink\, and what it’s like to be a part of Richmond’s food and beverage scene. Moderated by Robey Martin\, a food\, spirits and culture writer for CBS 6 and host of the podcast “Eat It Virginia\,” the panel features four exciting women leaders. We’ve partnered with Rebelle Con to extend our celebration of women in food with a second panel event on Thursday evening\, June 6th at ZZQ along with a few other events going on that week. For a full line-up visit the Apple Cart’s Blog. A limited number of tickets are available for the second panel to Real Local RVA members. Click here for more details and tickets for that event! \nRSVP HERE!\n\nSally Schwitters – President and CEO\, Tricycle Urban Ag – Sally comes from a long line of family gardeners\, farmers and cooks. She loves the process of growing seed to harvest\, and sharing the preparation and celebration of good food with friends and family. For several years she ran programs and events for nonprofits in Northern California\, including educational programming for the Real Goods Solar Living Institute. Since returning to her birthplace of Richmond\, Va\, she has been involved in nonprofit advancement and has raised over $22 million for nonprofits in the region. Under her leadership with Tricycle\, she helped develop a collaborative\, private public partnership and launched Richmond’s City-Wide Healthy Corner Store Initiative – Corner Farm. Sally has forged partnership with several organizations bringing food producing gardens to Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center and Richmond Community Hospital\, the Visual Arts Center\, Independence Golf Club\, and 31st Street Baptist Church in Richmond’s East End. She also developed a dynamic collaboration with Bon Secours and USDA/NRCS to create the Certificate in Urban Agriculture that is recognized and supported by the USDA. During her tenure with Tricycle\, the organization has been recognized as “Game Changer” and “Best in Sustainability” by Richmond Magazine\, named a “Good Food” Organization by the James Beard Foundation and Food Tank\, and was honored as a “Catalyst for Change” finalist by Partnership for a Healthier America.\nKelli Lemon – Social Entrepreneur\, Radio Personality\, Owner – Urban Hang Suite – Kelli Lemon is a “Social Entrepreneur/Consultant” that is passionate about changing how people “LIVE” Richmond\, Virginia. Formerly the Business Manager of Mama J’s restaurant\, Kelli is now working for herself (Like The Fruit\, LLC) to socially connect people through food\, sports\, arts and education. She is an on air personality for Radio One Richmond’s Kiss FM and iPower Richmond and hosts a weekly podcast and web series called “Coffee with Strangers.” Kelli hosts various social events including The Richmond Jazz Festival\, After Hours at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts\, Family Day at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and Dinner En Blanc Richmond. She’s also assisted in creating unique urban events in RVA including RVA Pop Up Parties\, Hip Hop BINGO\, Ready 2 Give Charity Events\, Dinner and a DJ\, HeART & Soul Brew Fest\, Richmond Black Restaurant Week and The Art of Noise. In 2018\, Kelli opened Urban Hang Suite – a collective cafe and lounge geared toward “creatives” and community-oriented people\, named after the debut album of R&B artist Maxwell in downtown Richmond. She adores RVA and makes sure she does her part in exposing the city! She is a change agent and cheerleader for Richmond and is excited to see the city progress and become more inclusive.\nShola Walker – Owner\, Mahogany Sweets – Shola is a trained actor and dancer and always thought it would be the way in which she would change the world. Yet while in undergrad at University of Hartford as a music theater major she collected funds each week from her classmates and hosted a communal Sunday dinner. Little did she know she would get a chance to work as a performance artist first and then have a second career in the food industry. After leaving the stage she began working in bakeries and professional kitchens in Richmond such as WPA Bakery\, Julep’s New Southern Cuisine and Nettie’s Naturally to name a few. She finally planted her feet firmly at Mahogany Sweets a bakery she owns with her two sisters. The bakery’s focus is on dietary options and wellness. So you can catch her hanging out in Jackson Ward at the bakery where she turns cauliflower into chocolate goodness or at local farmer’s markets.\nKate Lee – VP of Operations and Quality\, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – Kate is a trained scientist who spent more than a decade working for Anheuser-Busch\, a business famously known for its focus on consistency and quality from batch to batch. Since 2014\, she’s helped lead a quality program for Richmond\, Virginia’s Hardywood Park Craft Brewery\, building on an existing foundation to take Hardywood’s focus on quality to the next level. As director of quality assurance and director of operations\, her job at the brewery has consistently evolved as production levels and brewer ambitions have grown. It’s not just about running tests\, but collaborating with staff to ensure the right ingredients are producing the right beer every step of the way.\n\nWe’ll taste samples from Mother Shrub and Gratisfied and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to Riddle Design Co. for sponsoring this meeting! \n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register!\n \nRSVP HERE!\nAbout Rebelle Con: \nRebelle Con was founded by a pair of women entrepreneurs who were sick of the “go hard or go home” messaging that was causing so many to burn out\, get discouraged\, or confirm their feeling that they are not enough. Rebelle is a community and boutique conference dedicated to inspiring you to create a life you love. Bringing voices to the stage from women who are doing it differently\, workshops that teach new ways approaching our challenges\, and mentors who are walking their talk\, they believe that each and every woman has the power to define\, design\, and create her own version of success. Exploring topics that will nurture your ability to create the life and career you want no matter what stage you’re in\, their events are built by a community of people to educate and inspire one another. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-june-meeting-women-in-food/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190506T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190506T234500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190402T182635Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190402T184115Z UID:3161-1557138600-1557186300@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's May Meeting - "Mitigating the Crazy" DESCRIPTION:Please join us to hear from farming consultant Ellen Polishuk\n\n“Mitigating the Crazy”\n\nFacing a competitive landscape ranging from Uber Eats to in-store meal kits\, from global organic imports to cheap chain restaurants in every town\, how can local farmers not only survive\, but thrive in the coming decade? Farming consultant Ellen Polishuk will offer some answers to the questions we all struggle with: What the heck kind of business are we in\, and how can we navigate ever-changing trends? Moreover\, why is it so hard to make a profit in farming\, and how can we do our best to ensure our success? \nEllen Polishuk is a biological farm consultant and teacher who helps growers around the country improve their soils\, their labor management practices and their businesses so that they can increase farm profits and achieve a joyful balanced life. Ellen has 35 years of farming experience under her belt and now devotes herself full time to teaching and consulting other growers. Raised in the suburbs of Washington DC\, Ellen discovered farming at an early age\, and took that passion to Virginia Tech where she earned a BS in Horticulture. After 4 years in vegetable seed research in California and active member of the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture\, Ellen returned to Virginia to become one of three owners of Potomac Vegetable Farms\, where she worked for 25 years. Now a full time farmer coach\, Ellen works with farmers on production practices\, labor management\, soil testing and fertilizer recommendations\, and marketing. She also speaks at conferences and meetings around the country on numerous agricultural topics. Ellen will have copies of her new book\, Start Your Farm\, that she co-wrote with Virginia farmer Forrest Pritchard available at the meeting. \n \nWe’ll taste samples of delicious salsa from Salsas don Sebastian and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to C&F Bank for being our meeting sponsor! \n\n**Ellen will be in town for the afternoon of May 6th if you are interested in her consulting services please contact her directly through her website: https://www.planttoprofit.com/\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-may-meeting-mitigating-the-crazy/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190401T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190401T120000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190226T163624Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190305T172515Z UID:3060-1554114600-1554120000@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's April Meeting - "Local Foods\, Climate Change\, and the Green New Deal" DESCRIPTION:Please join us to hear from local foods expert Anthony Flaccavento of SCALE\n\n“Local Foods\, Climate Change and the Green New Deal”\n The local foods movement has created new and better markets for farmers\, encouraged the adoption of organic and sustainable farming practices\, and helped millions of Americans eat better while reducing the environmental impact of their eating habits. Nevertheless\, many farmers and rural communities continue to struggle and the economy as a whole remains tethered to excess consumption\, emissions and waste. In the midst of this long-term crisis\, a “Green New Deal” has been proposed\, nationally and in Virginia. Can the ‘bottom up’ approach that has propelled the rise of local foods shape the development of the Green New Deal\, to the benefit of farmers\, eaters\, small businesses and local communities? Join farmer\, entrepreneur and author\, Anthony Flaccavento\, for a lively discussion of these critically important issues. \nAnthony Flaccavento lives just outside of Abingdon\, in far southwest Virginia\, where he has operated a small commercial organic farm for 25 years. Anthony helped launch the Abingdon Farmers Market\, one of the best in the Appalachian region\, as well as Appalachian Harvest\, a regional food hub selling produce to grocers and supermarkets across Virginia and neighboring states. His consulting business\, SCALE\, Inc – Sequestering Carbon\, Accelerating Local Economies – works with communities across the US and overseas to build more diverse\, healthy economies and local food systems. Anthony is the author of Building a Healthy Economy from the Bottom Up: Harnessing Real World Experience for Transformative Change (University Press of Kentucky\, 2016)\, as well as scores of articles\, op-eds and other publications. He was the Ninth District Democratic Candidate for Congress in 2018. \nWe’ll taste samples of cookies by The Spelt Gourmet and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to C&F Bank for being our meeting sponsor! \n\n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-april-meeting-local-foods-climate-change-and-the-green-new-deal/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190304T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190304T120000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190207T192214Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190207T204414Z UID:2996-1551695400-1551700800@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's March Meeting - "Community Building with the Spark Mill" DESCRIPTION:Please join us for a special meeting focused on networking and community building!\n“Community Building with The Spark Mill“\nWe’ve all heard the adage\, its not what you know\, but who you know that matters. How does this translate to the RVA food community? Too often we hear that saying through the lens of how it benefits us as individuals – what if we looked at it differently? What if in every network interaction we tried to think of who we could connect them to that would in turn add value to THEIR network? Come meet members of our local food community\, share the story of your business with other members of the community\, and add value to your own network. The local food community is a place for collaboration and connection. Join us to learn some basic steps to strengthen your network and ultimately the local food community as a whole. We’ll taste samples of UnMoo’s plant-based cheeses and enjoy coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. Thanks to C&F Bank for being our meeting sponsor!\n\n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!**\nAbout Chris:\nChris Bennett is a consultant and facilitator with The Spark Mill\, a Richmond-based strategic planning & consulting firm. Prior to The Spark Mill\, Chris spent 15 years in faith-based nonprofit leadership with small medium and large congregations of the United Methodist Church. Chris is passionate about big ideas that create lasting positive impact. When he’s not working with groups to develop creative solutions\, Chris\, his wife (Jill)\, and their two boys (Henry and Nicholas) are attempting to visit or camp at all the state parks in Virginia. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-march-2019-meeting-community-building-with-the-spark-mill/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190204T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190204T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20190108T154557Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190108T210210Z UID:2959-1549276200-1549280700@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's February 2019 Meeting - Farm to Table Panel Discussion DESCRIPTION:Please join us for our first meeting of 2019!\nWe are thrilled to bring these five participants in the local food movement together for a discussion on local sourcing in RVA. Moderated by Robey Martin\, Richmond’s go-to journalist for everything edible\, the restaurants will share their approach to local sourcing\, and the farmers will discuss their business plans for selling wholesale. You will hear how some of these restaurants and farmers have already worked together\, and what they see for the future of “Farm to Table” dining in Richmond. We’ll look forward to sampling Birdie’s Pimento Cheese and enjoying coffee from the Cafe at St. Stephen’s. \n**Real Local RVA meetings are open to both members and those interested in supporting the local food system. Meetings are free\, we just ask that you register! \n**RSVP HERE!**\nAbout the Panelists:\nDavid Crabtree-Logan – chef – The Broken Tulip \nDavid co-owns The Broken Tulip with his wife Sariann Lehrer. David first stepped foot into a kitchen 17 years ago after a high school friend passed the baton of a Saturday dish washing job at the legendary Susie’s Wholefood Diner in Edinburgh\, Scotland. He was hooked and went on to train in some of Scotland’s top kitchens including the Michelin-starred The Kitchin and The Plumed Horse. David to spent his twenties as a journeyman cook in the truest sense of the world\, working in Ireland\, Oregon\, Yorkshire and Bristol and traveling in Southeast Asia\, the Indian subcontinent and Western Europe\, all the while delighting in the endless capacity for humans to create deliciousness from what they have available to them and becoming certain that the learning of a cook can never be complete. As head chef of Iglu Ethical Eatery and Helen Browning’s Royal Oak\, David worked directly with some of the United Kingdom’s foremost organic farmers and came to understand the value of direct relationships with the people who produce our food. David is committed to working in collaboration with food producers to create interesting\, delicious and heartfelt menus which reflect the time and place in which they are served. \nSusan Davenport – co-owner – Tazza Kitchen \nSusan Davenport is one of four owners of Big Kitchen Hospitality which operates six Tazza Kitchen restaurants throughout Virginia and the Carolinas. Overseeing HR and customer engagement\, Susan has her hands in all aspects of the business including sourcing and branding. Tazza centers on made from scratch wood fired cooking\, thoughtfully sourced ingredients\, and craft beverages. Based in Richmond\, the group is getting ready to launch a new to-go food brand titled The Big Kitchen in Scott’s Addition. The entirely new concept complements the restaurants\, but involves fully prepared meals that consumers order and pay for online\, then either pick up at The Big Kitchen or have delivered. Tazza is known for its attention to fresh seasonal foods and ingredients from local purveyors\, and plans to carry this concept over to The Big Kitchen. \nJoe Jenkins – co-owner – Bow Tide Farms \nJoe owns Bow Tide Farms\, a ¾ acre urban farm in Richmond’s Northside\, with his business partner Josh Dziegiel. Joe jumped into gardening in after having a dietary need for his wife to have natural foods. After being introduced to the work of a few modern pioneers in low-tech\, high-output urban farming\, he began the business in 2017. Josh has experience working on an organic vegetable farm in Hanover\, VA\, for three seasons. Josh also he lived on a renowned farm in southern Quebec as an intern\, immersing himself in the techniques\, skills\, and market gardening lifestyle. Joe and Josh have combined forces to grow and sell tomatoes\, root vegetables\, and salad mixes to local restaurants. After years of working in the restaurant industry\, both Joe and Josh have an interesting background of resources as they are very familiar with the ins and outs of running a restaurant. They have recently developed a strong partnership with Tazza kitchen and are selling to them on a regular basis. \nChris Stem – owner – Harlow Ridge Farm \nAlong with his family\, Chris owns Harlow Ridge Farm in Montpelier\, VA. Harlow Ridge Farm raises Berkshire and Tamworth Pigs\, Black Angus Cattle\, Red Sex Link Hens and a variety of meat goats and sheep. With the desire to do something he was passionate about\, while also bringing in money and creating a sustainable business\, Chris turned roughly 22 acres of his land in Montpelier and property rented from his neighbor into a sustainable and completely organic produce and dairy farm that serves the local community. In 2018 he partnered with fellow farmer Bruce Johnson of Dragonfly Farms and 3 local businessmen to re-open the former Cross Bros. Grocery in Ashland under the name “Ashland Meat Co.” The store offers fresh local food\, including a full-service butcher\, a carryout deli menu\, and a host of locally-produced pantry items. \nMike Ledesma – chef – Perch \nFrom Baltimore to Oahu to Richmond\, Mike Ledesma’s culinary travels and Filipino heritage continue to inspire his cooking. Once a financial advisor\, he made a career change in 2002 when he enrolled in culinary school in Hawaii. Since moving from desk to kitchen\, he’s worked under “Iron Chef” Roy Yamaguchi and has brought his passion for food back to the East Coast. Most recently he led operations\, training\, and menu development for six restaurants as corporate chef for Richmond Restaurant Group. He opened his first restaurant\, Perch\, in Richmond in 2018. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-february-2019-meeting-farm-to-table-panel-discussion/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20181212T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20181212T093000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20181203T144942Z LAST-MODIFIED:20181203T145258Z UID:2862-1544601600-1544607000@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Business Beyond Banking at Ellwood Thompson's DESCRIPTION:Richmond has a lot of things growing…\n\nJoin Beth Furgurson\, Executive Director of Real Local RVA\, as she moderates a panel of farmers\, urban farming supporters\, and agricultural sustainability advocates in the Richmond area. Go beyond the soil and vegetables to learn about the programs these leaders are establishing — everything from facilitating urban greening to connecting small farmers with the much needed resources to mentoring urban agriculture certificate fellows. You’ll leave with a greater understanding of the ‘what’s growing’ in Richmond\, its impact on our community’s health\, and how you can support these initiatives! \n\n\n\n\nAbout the Panelists\n\n\nDavid L. Seward\nHorticulture Program Head And Associate Professor – Reynolds Community College (JSRCC)\n\nDavid Seward is the Program Head for the Horticulture program at Reynolds Community College. A native Richmonder\, David graduated from Virginia Tech with a masters in Horticulture. After many years working in landscaping and design\, David joined the staff JSRCC in 2006 as the head of the Horticulture Program and is a Certified Landscape Designer and a Certified Horticulturist. The Horticulture program at JSRCC focuses on Landscape Design\, Plant Production\, Floral Design\, Landscape and Turf Management and Sustainable Agriculture. David lives what he teaches on 25 acres in Montpelier\, VA with his wife Susan\, where he manages his own garden. \n\n\n\nDuron Chavis\nManager of Community Engagement – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden\n\nDuron Chavis\, a native of Richmond\, joined the staff at Lewis Ginter in 2016. He is chiefly responsible for the Garden’s outreach and relationship-building across a diverse community\, expressly to foster greater collaboration and facilitate neighborhood-based urban greening and beautiful place-making initiatives. A graduate of Virginia State University\, Duron previously served as project director of the Harding Street Urban Ag Center\, an indoor farming incubator funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chavis is known nationally for his leadership in urban agriculture and is an advocate for community-designed solutions to local challenges. He is a graduate of Hope in the Cities’ Community Trustbuilding Fellowship program (2015) and Leadership Metro Richmond (2011); and is a certified Alternatives to Violence Project conflict resolution trainer. He has served on numerous public advisory councils\, including the Citizens Advisory Board to the Maggie L. Walker Initiative for Expanding Opportunity and Fighting Poverty (2013-14); the Capital Region Collaborative Social Stability committee; and the Richmond Food Policy Task Force. He is the founder of the McDonough Community Garden\, and has served as project coordinator for Renew Richmond’s community garden start-ups. \n\n\n\nMichael Carter\, Jr.\nSmall Farm Resource Center Coordinator – Virginia State University\n\nMichael Carter Jr. is an agronomist/ agricultural consultant\, husband\, father\, vegan\, part time comic\, and spent 5 years learning and sharing organic agriculture in West Africa. After graduating from NC Agricultural & Technical State University\, Michael moved to Washington\, DC. An immersion in the African Hebrew Israelite Community of Jerusalem led him to invest in and manage several vegan restaurants in the Washington DC area\, and spend a great amount of time in Israel studying desert agriculture\, organic ‘divine’ agriculture and drip irrigation. He has worked with African Hebrew Development Agency (AHDA) in Israel\, where he worked on a development project in Asikuma\, Ghana to establish an organic demonstration farm plot along with the Ministry of Health of Ghana. He co founded an alternative energy company\, Plantroleum\, which converted diesel vehicles to run on vegetable oil. In addition to his work with VSU’s Small Farm Outreach Program he sits on the board of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming (VABF) and is working to reestablish his family farm in Orange\, Va. \n\n\n\nBeth Nelson\nTricycle Urban Ag – Fellowship Program Manager\n\nBeth Nelson is the Urban Agriculture Fellowship Program Manager for Tricycle\, a non-profit organization in Richmond that is on a mission to grow a healthy future through urban agriculture. Beth joined Tricycle in 2016 to design the curriculum and program for Tricycle’s Certificate in Urban Agriculture that is offered in partnership with USDA-NRCS and Bon Secours – Richmond. Upon completing the program\, Certified Urban Agriculturalists enter the field of urban agriculture by way of starting small scale commercial farms\, community gardens\, or by other activities that facilitate the connection of people and food. Beth holds a Master of Arts in Education\, with a focus on adult education\, from Central Michigan University. Her 25 year career in education\, training\, and program development is a reflection of her belief in the power of lifelong learning and her enjoyment of facilitating meaningful learning experiences and community engagement. \n\n\n\n\nAbout Business Beyond Banking\n\nC&F Bank’s ‘Business Beyond Banking’ Speaker Series is a monthly breakfast program designed to provide small business owners access to information and education outside of the realm of banking. Each month will feature a different expert from various fields including branding\, succession planning\, organization\, and now through their partnership with Ellwood Thompson’s\, health and wellness! \nBreakfasts will take place monthly and are free for anyone to attend. Registration and breakfast start at 8:00am\, and the speaker runs until 9:15am. \n\n\n\nPlease register here:\nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-beyond-banking-farming-programs-in-richmond-tickets-53024143641 \nQuestions?\n\nPlease email Neil Morrissette at NMorrissette@CFFC.com. URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/business-beyond-banking-at-ellwood-thompsons/ LOCATION:Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market\, 4 N. Thompson St.\, Richmond\, 23221\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20181128T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20181128T210000 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20180901T013110Z LAST-MODIFIED:20181102T150916Z UID:2525-1543429800-1543438800@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Sustainable Abundance with Joel Salatin at the ICA DESCRIPTION: \nThe ICA and Real Local RVA Present:\n“Sustainable Abundance: An evening with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms”\nWEDNESDAY\, NOVEMBER 28 | 6:30 – 9:00 PM \nAT VCU’S INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART \nReal Local RVA and VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art are proud to bring Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms to Richmond. Arguably\, the most famous farmer in the world\, Mr. Salatin is America’s most celebrated pioneer of chemical-free farming. \nJoel will dive head first into the topic of “Sustainable Abundance.” Many people in our culture fear the future’s resource scarcity and political unrest. Veering off this orthodox paranoia\, Salatin offers a different possibility with a template that is both attractive and pragmatic. A fundamentally solar-driven\, participatory\, historically-normal localized\, integrated foodscape can bless the whole world with sustainable abundance. The earth is not a reluctant partner that must be wrestled into production\, but a benevolent friend rewarding humble human massage. After this performance\, you’ll never look at farmland or policy solutions the same way. In fact\, you’ll look at the future with inspiration and faith\, healing the land one bite at a time. \nWe would like to thank our sponsors: Chickahomniy Falls\, Ellwood Thompson’s\, Keller Williams|The Egan Team\, and C&F Bank. \nWhat to expect for the evening:\n \n\nGuests are invited to arrive early to attend a new exhibit at the museum entitled “Hedges\, Edges\, Dirt.” Admission to the ICA is always free\, and while advanced tickets are not required to access exhibition galleries\, visitors are encouraged to check in at the Welcome Desk upon arrival. For more details on the exhibit please click here.\nThe Ellwood Thompson’s Cafe located within the building will be open for business prior to the lecture. Guests are welcome to enjoy a snack or beverage before the event begins.\nThe program will begin in the auditorium at 6:30 p.m. Guests will check in separately for the lecture outside of the auditorium.\nFollowing the lecture\, ticketed guests are invited to stay for a reception from 8-9 p.m. with light food and drink.\n\nJoel’s Bio: \nJoel co-owns\, with his family\, Polyface Farms in Swoope\, Virginia. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food Inc.\, the farm services more than 5\,000 families\, 50 restaurants\, 10 retail outlets\, and a farmers’ market. When he’s not on the road speaking\, he’s at home on the farm\, keeping the calluses on his hands and dirt under his fingernails\, mentoring young people\, inspiring visitors\, and promoting local\, regenerative food and farming systems. With 12 published books\, and a thriving multi-generational family farm\, he draws on a lifetime of food\, farming and fantasy to entertain and inspire audiences around the world. \nWe hope you’ll join us for this special event! \nBUY TICKETS HERE! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/sustainable-abundance-with-joel-salatin-at-the-ica/ LOCATION:VCU’s Institue for Contemporary Art\, 601 West Broad Street\, Richmond\, VA\, 23220\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20181105T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20181105T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20180901T012541Z LAST-MODIFIED:20181103T162723Z UID:2522-1541413800-1541418300@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's November Membership Meeting DESCRIPTION:***Please note – we have had a last minute location change – we will meet at Vasen Brewing***\nThe Reality of Sourcing Local with Kevin Jamison\nKevin Jamison is the founder of two bustling cafes in Virginia Beach and Norfolk serving local\, seasonal and sustainable fare. Commune was founded on the philosophy that the best tasting food just also happens to be the freshest and healthiest food both for the eater and our environment. Prior to opening Commune\, Kevin gained experience as a local sustainable farmer who worked directly with chefs and restaurant owners for years. \nKevin also owns New Earth Farm\, a 21 acre\, all natural\, working and educational farm located in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach. New Earth supplies his restaurants in addition to a few others in the area\, runs a CSA program and houses an on-site market. Kevin will discuss the realities of local sourcing\, the challenges they face\, and why it’s important. \nWe will enjoy samples from Albion Tea Co. and Orange Dot Baking Company. \n*Real Local meetings are open to both members and those interested in a more sustainable food system. We just ask that you register in advance. \n**RSVP HERE** URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-november-membership-meeting/ LOCATION:Vasen\, 3331 West Moore Street\, Richmond\, VA\, 23230 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20181021 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20181022 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20181014T165200Z LAST-MODIFIED:20181018T171539Z UID:2643-1540080000-1540166399@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:5% Day at Ellwood Thompson's Local Market DESCRIPTION:Real Local RVA is honored to be the beneficiary of an Ellwood Thompson’s 5% Day. 5% Day is an effort to recognize and give back to small organizations that create the backbone of our local community. During 5% days\, Ellwoods donates 5% of that day’s sales directly to the chosen organization. In order to participate members of the organization are asked to volunteer as grocery baggers for the day. The money earned will go back into providing programs and benefits to our members. \nIf you are interested in helping\, here are the details! \nDETAILS: \n \n\nIf you are able to volunteer for a 4 hour time slot you will receive:\n\nA ticket to our upcoming event at VCU’s new Institute for Contemporary Art with Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms on Wednesday\, November 28th\nAND EITHER a Real Local RVA T-shirt OR 10% off a 2019 membership to Real Local RVA\n\n\nIf you are able to volunteer for a 2 hour time slot you may choose one of the following:\n\nA ticket to the Joel Salatin event\nA Real Local RVA t-shirt\n10% OFF a 2019 membership to Real Local RVA\n\n\n\nSIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER FOR 5% DAY! URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/5-day-at-ellwood-thompsons-local-market/ LOCATION:Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market\, 4 N. Thompson St.\, Richmond\, 23221\, United States END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20181001T103000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20181001T114500 DTSTAMP:20210926T090839 CREATED:20180901T011333Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180914T010933Z UID:2518-1538389800-1538394300@reallocalrva.com SUMMARY:Real Local RVA's October Membership Meeting DESCRIPTION:Economic Development with Dr. Jewel Bronaugh of VDACS\n\nIn October we welcome Dr. Jewel Bronaugh\, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS). Dr. Bronaugh will provide insight into the current issues impacting agriculture and VDACS role to help expand economic development and environmental stewardship. She will also provide an update on the Farm Bill. \nEstablished in 1877\, VDACS promotes the economic growth and development of Virginia agriculture\, provides consumer protection and encourages environmental stewardship. Governor Ralph Northam appointed Dr. Bronaugh as the 16th Commissioner of the VDACS in April 2018. Dr. Bronaugh most recently served as the Executive Director of the Center of Agriculture Research\, Engagement and Outreach (CAREO) at Virginia State University. She previously served as the Virginia State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)\, where she was appointed by Governor Terry McAuliffe and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture\, Tom Vilsack\, in July 2015. \nWe will enjoy samples from O’MY Dairy Free Gelato\, and coffee from the Cafe @ St. Stephen’s. \n*Real Local meetings are open to both members and those interested in a more sustainable food system. We just ask that you register in advance. \n***RSVP HERE!***\n URL:https://reallocalrva.com/event/real-local-rvas-october-membership-meeting/ LOCATION:Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 6000 Grove Avenue\, Richmond\, VA\, 23226\, United States END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR