Floyd Virginia Magazine 2020 Spring:Summer

Spring/Summer2020 2014| Volume | Volume12 7 Issue Spring/Summer Issue 11

magazine

Floyd Virginia Your FREE

Comprehensive Guide To

tain Be lla La Moun o l a ff Vita In Bu res u t n n e Adv

Celebrating the People & Businesses of Floyd!

Spring/Summer 2020

e Parkway Grill

All Things Floyd

Pho Hard enix wood s

Map of Floyd - Points of Interest - Wine - Art - Lodging Local Stories - Food - Real Estate & Land

www.Fl oyd V ir g in ia Ma g a zin e . c owww.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com m

2

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

3

4

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer Spring/Summer 2020 2020

Spring/Summer Spring/Summer 2020 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

5

magazine

Floyd Virginia Your FREE

Comprehensive Guide To

Alphabetical Listing of Advertisers Page 54 For publication information, call John Brill (540) 815-1079 For additional copies, email john@brilldesigns.org

Floyd Virginia Magazine Team John Brill - Publisher Vickie Holt - Editor © 2020 FLOYD VIRGINIA MAGAZINE, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part, without written permission from FLOYD VIRGINIA MAGAZINE is prohibited. Every attempt has been made to verify the information contained in this publication. We assume no responsibility for incorrect, omitted or outdated information contained herein. We publish ads and stories without any implied endorsement of organizations, the views they express or the products/services they offer.

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020 Volume 12 • 1st Issue

All Things Floyd

Phoenix Hardwoods Gets New Owners and a New Showroom at The Station............. 8-9 Art Classes at the Maggie............................................10 Daylilies and More at Wildwood Farms!............. 12-14 Bella la Vita Inn - A Tuscan Oasis........................ 16-18 New Treats at the Floyd Country Store!............... 20-21 New Owners at the Bread Basket......................... 22-24 Seven Springs CSA Celebrates 30 Years............... 25-26 Points of Interest ........................................................28 Directory.....................................................................30 The Eighty-Four: A Legacy and a Dream............ 32-33 Historical Society Announces 2020 Exhibit........ 35-36 AgriTourism - Visiting Farms in Floyd VA.......... 38-42 Floyd VA Spring & Summer Happenings 2020.........44 Fifth Annual Little River Poetry Festival ...................46 Reimagining Educational Design......................... 48-49 Golden Maple Homestays ..........................................50 Floyd Herb & Plant Festival.................................. 52-53

6

Celebrating the People of Floyd

On The Cover The cover photo is from in front of Reed Construction at 2694 Floyd Hwy S

Phoenix Hardwoods Phoenix Hardwoods

Handcrafted from Virginia hardwoods!

2540 Floyd Hwy N Floyd VA 24091 540-745-6403

m

co www.phoenix-hardwoods.

Parkway Grille Fine dining!

227 N Locust St Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-4770

Parkew a

y Grill e

facebook

.com/park waygrille va

Bella La Vita Inn

n ita In V a L Bella

An Extraordinary Bed and Breakfast!

540-421-0433 582 New Haven Rd, Floyd, VA

m itaInn.co BellaLaV

Buffalo Mountain Adventures Paddling, Caving, Climbing, Fly Fishing, Mountain Biking and More!

540-755-0910

Buffal o Mo Adven untain tures

www.bu ffalom

tnadv.co

m

Spring/Summer 2020

Full service restaurant with carry-out option!

We carry a full line of retail fresh and frozen bison meat!

Bison Burgers • Bison Steak Bison Hotdogs • Bison Jerky

540-381-9764 • buffaloandmore.com 4041 Riner Road • Riner, VA

Spring/Summer 2020

WHITLOCK’S GARAGE, LLC State Inspections - No Appointment Needed!

5 Bay Facility & 60+ Years Experience Mon-Fri 8AM to 5PM

540-745-3585

• Auto & Truck Repair • Farm Equipment Repair • Computer & Electrical Diagnostics • Engine & Transmission R&R • Used Oil & Battery Collection • Tires & Tire Studding • Heating & A/C Repair • Brakes & Exhaust Repair • Transmission & Coolant Flush Services

1075 Huckleberry Ridge Rd • Floyd VA • www. whitlocks.swva.net

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

7

Phoenix Hardwoods Gets New Owners and a New Showroom at The Station In the late Fall of 1987, Annie and Jeff Armistead were married and found themselves living in Check, occupying an old farmhouse that had definitely seen better days. Somehow, with the help of wonderful and generous neighbors, they survived a few winters in that old house.

During some home renovations, Bill Graefe was a particularly generous neighbor; not only having helped the Armisteads on many other occasions, but also with the renovation work. Graefe and the Armisteads continued to trade talents over the years, tackling everything from standing seam roofing to woodworking. Jeff has considered Bill a good friend ever since.

As time passed, the Armistead family grew while Jeff and Annie progressed in their careers. After two local moves, the Armisteads eventually bought a farm in Riner.

In more recent years, Annie found herself drawn once again to the wonderful Floyd community. She began driving into Floyd to work part-time at Troika Gallery, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. When Silvie Granatelli, Susan Icove, and Gibby Waitskin decided to sell Troika in 2018, Annie, along with potter Abby Reczek, decided to take a leap of faith and buy the gallery. Annie and Abby each brought individual talents to Troika. Annie excels in staging art, where Abby is wonderful with marketing and social media.

Barely one year had passed when Bill and Corinne Graefe, with six

8

www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

grown kids between them, decided to retire. For twenty years, they had built Phoenix Hardwoods into a thriving business that eventually became an integral part of Floyd. Without a buyer, however, the Graefes faced having to close up shop. They agonized over the fact that long-time staffers, Bradley, Eric, and Henry, would lose their jobs.

As most of the community knows, these young men are extremely gifted woodworkers.

One afternoon, Corinne stopped by Troika to drop off some pieces and explained to Annie about the Graefes’ plan to retire. After the initial shock, it didn’t take long for both Annie and Jeff, along with their son Ben, to begin discussing how the Armistead family could be a part of preserving the local legacy of Phoenix Hardwoods. They felt as if they were presented with the opportunity to not only continue cultivating fine local woodworkers, but to also continue producing beautiful hardwood furniture and accessories. Once again, the Armisteads found themselves back in the warm embrace of the Floyd community. This time, it was thanks to the very folks that had helped them more than thirty years earlier, when they’d first put their hands into Floyd County the soil.

When the decision was made, Annie and Abby didn’t sit still for long. While Jeff and Ben took over the Phoenix Hardwoods operation located just six miles from Floyd, Abby and Annie were busy planning

Spring/Summer 2020

Back: Bert, Ben Armistead, Henry Vangunten, Eric McDaniel, Bradley Lawson Front: Jeff & Annie Armistead, Bill & Corinne Graefe

a presence for Phoenix in town. They leased another space in The Station that will provide room to display larger pieces of furniture and accessories. The new store will be called “Troika Home”, and it will open its doors to the public in April of 2020.

Meanwhile Jeff is discovering that many of his life experiences have led him to this new, special place. He will soon finish his tenure with the Department of Forestry, which will allow both him and Ben the time to focus solely on Phoenix Hardwoods. Jeff ’s career has been in conservation for decades. First, he was Director of the Selu Conservancy. He was then Board President of the New River Land Trust, managing a family tree farm and doing research for the Virginia Department of Forestry.

Ben was born in Floyd and feels he has landed where he has always belonged. For the past twelve years, he has worked with his hands as a talented carpenter; most recently under the tutelage of Al Anderson,

Spring/Summer 2020

Photo by Chelsa Yoder

restoring timber frame structures. He plans to continue keeping his hands dirty in the shop but will also be learning the business end of what Corinne and Bill have started.

Change is difficult, yet Bill and Corinne have excitedly welcomed the changes to the old showroom, including new gallery lighting, paint, flooring, and windows. It has created a new space for Phoenix’s talented wood workers to proudly display their art.

Jeff and Ben are now working closely with Bill, Corrine, Bradley, Eric, and Henry to learn every aspect of the business. They have made a promise to Bill and Corinne that they will continue in their stead; ensuring that Phoenix Hardwoods keeps thriving for many years to come.

Phoenix Hardwoods • 2540 Floyd Hwy N, Floyd, VA Annie & Jeff Armistead • phoenix-hardwoods.com 540-745-7475 • hardwoods2020@gmail.com

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com

9

Art Classes at the Maggie, the Hydroponical Thoughts of the Instructor, and a Lesson or Two in Selling Art

by Ron Campbell

Hydroponical? Not sure if it’s a real word, but I like the sound of it.

If I were to define it, I’d say that “Hydro” has something to do with the flow of water, and “ponical” means… ponical? That’s it. So, if we put the two pieces together, it means to me “the process in which the images flow through the minds of artisans onto the medium they are currently using”. Yeah. That makes sense.

I’ve been a resident of Floyd County for eighteen years. As coowner of The Maggie Gallery, with my wife Lenny, I have come to know a great deal about the stuff that makes up the art community here. This would include the artists, the various types of art, and the methods of producing it. I’m not sure what it takes to become, or be called, an expert in the field of art, but I know it starts with watching what goes on in the community. I may or may not be an expert, but I will admit to having a copy of “Art History for Dummies” on my bookshelf, just in case.

We opened The Maggie Gallery and Custom Frame Shop twentyone months ago. Since then, we have grown to display the art of seventeen Floydian and regional artists. The personalities of these artists are as diverse as their art. Trying to nail down what appeals to the art enthusiasts perusing the displays, however, has become a bit of a challenge. I am often asked by new artists “what type of art sells?”

Well, when the customer knows you personally, it may sell your art.

It can also be the colors that you use, a subject that may connect with someone’s life history, or an emotion they may feel when seeing it. For tourists or the home-town proud, it could be a scene that conveys the spirt of Floyd. Even the size and type of framing has much to do with the sale. To pinpoint a basic, though, I think art should have life in it.

In the end, anything goes. All types of art can sell, whether abstract, impressionistic, or realistic. It’s up to the gallerist and artist to make the connection with the potential buyer.

Our mountain town of Floyd is fortunate to have several art galleries. However, it is overly-blessed with an abundant population of artists. In fact, there are so many artists that it’s difficult for all to find the opportunity to show. Even as a newcomer on the gallery circuit, The Maggie has a lengthy artist waiting list.

In addition to The Maggie, Floyd galleries which feature multiple artists include Bell Gallery and Gardens, A New Leaf Gallery, Troika, New Mountain Mercantile, and The Old Church Gallery. I should also mention Arts on 8 in Riner; a new gallery having connections to Floyd.

There is also the Floyd Center for the Arts, which is an anchor; giving both new and well-seasoned artists the opportunity to show in their facility on the hill above town. They also have an extension gallery at Hotel Floyd. All this isn’t even counting the vast number of personal studios tucked in here and there across the county.

Now about those artists, of which I am one. We are unique, for sure.

No need trying to figure us out. Our thought process is different than most, and our passions are reflected in the art we tirelessly create. We spend hours working away at what we love for maybe a dollar sum less than minimum wage, but we do it anyway. To get wealthy or famous, we’d have to mass produce so much art it would take the enjoyment out 10 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

of doing it. But, the satisfaction of seeing it on a gallery wall in a town like Floyd clearly seems to outweigh any potential financial loss. These facts are sometimes addressed as we talk to new artists who want to display at the Maggie, but enthusiasm remains in those who are true artists in the making.

Despite some of these challenges, visitors and locals alike regularly sign up for the various art classes here at the Maggie. They want to learn the basics. They want to find the “place” that fits them. Those who are interested in pen and ink want their art to look like mine, just as much as I want my guitar picking to sound like John Denver.

When potential artists come to me and say, “I don’t know a thing about art, can’t even draw a stick figure”, I tell them they are just the type of student we want to teach. They think they can’t, and we know they can. We show them the basics. We take the scary out of it, and they are usually very pleased to discover the talent they never knew they had. We then send them off to find their place, build on what they have learned, and develop their own unique skills.

As I have seen in the past twenty-one months here at the Maggie, many art classes in and around Floyd consist of painting with brushes, palette knives, and even some non-conventional items such as Q-tips and toilet paper rolls. I personally think a paint brush or an ink pen works better. Long ago, as art evolved, it was discovered by the Masters that you could draw with a pointed silver scribe if the paper was coated properly (a process called Silver Point). So, it is good that we keep exploring all possibilities of placing images on paper or canvas. After all, the only thing that matters is the end result.

As I think about the evolution of different art techniques, I find myself drawing a correlation to other life experiences that have evolved over time, and it brings to mind an event that took place in my back yard some years ago.

I started experimenting in the “art” of growing vegetables above ground using nutrients mixed into water which is then electrically pumped to the roots of the plants embedded into round porous clay balls at the bottom of plastic tanks. The process is called Hydroponics. I was proud of the results. The tomatoes were growing, and the cucumber was about four inches long. I changed the nutrients as recommended and kept the water pumping. So proud of this was I, that I showed my neighbor down the road; a young farmer who bales my hay every year. He quickly snapped me back to reality in his own very direct way, reminding me of the well-worn concept of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

He looked over my vegelistic creation and paused. He then made one comment, expressed in his southern drawl.

“What’s wrong with Dirt?” he asked. Why did I not think of this?

So, for now, I’m sticking with the paint brush and the ink pen!

For more information about the Maggie Gallery and the art classes offered, visit online at http://themaggiegallery.com.

The Maggie Gallery • 187 N Locust St, Floyd, VA Ron Campbell • 540-745-8000 • www.themaggiegallery.com

Spring/Summer 2020

Bella La Vita Inn An Extraordinary Bed and Breakfast Experience the Unexpected...

540-421-0433 •BellaLaVitaInn.com 582 New Haven Road SE, Floyd, VA

Autoville Auto Repair Chris Newman - Owner

Service On All Makes & Models Foreign & Domestic • State Inspection Certified • Oil & Lube • Brakes • Shocks & Struts • Alignments • Tires • AC Repair • Tune Ups • Fuel System Service • Check Engine Light Diagnostics • Driveline Diagnostics & Repairs • Fuel Injector Cleaning

Factory Trained Master Technicians

610 E Main St Floyd, VA 24091

(Beside Floyd Jewelry)

Over 33 Years Experience

540-745-4224 Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 11

Daylilies, Food, Music, Fun, Events, and Shopping at Wildwood Farms!

Located just five miles south of Floyd on Route 221, Wildwood Farms is not only a General Store, but also a two-acre daylily garden, entering their twentieth selling season! Wildwood’s daylily gardens have become a landmark in Floyd County, and they are very excited to have reached such a significant anniversary.

“It has been such a rewarding endeavor”, they tell us, “and we’ve made so many wonderful friends and that makes all the hard work worth it.”

Wildwood grows around one-thousand varieties of daylilies, with around sixhundred varieties listed for sale each year. They are one of the largest commercial daylily gardens in the state, and visitors are welcome to wander through the beautiful gardens.

For the most enchanting visit, however, Wildwood tells us the peak bloom usually falls within the first few weeks of July.

For those wanting to purchase daylilies, the folks at Wildwood will dig them on the spot for customers to take along. They are also happy to ship the plants, if customers prefer.

Daylilies are summer-blooming, perennial flowers that are a great addition to any landscape. They are extremely hardy and carefree. Drought tolerant, they are also not bothered by most insects or diseases. Wildwood has single flowers, miniatures, doubles, unusual forms, and flowers that bloom at different times of the season. The biggest challenge for most people is 12 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

selecting their favorite plants from the huge variety! But don’t worry. Wildwood’s knowledgeable staff are happy to assist with that. Just tell them your favorite color or colors, where you will be planting, and they will help with a plan.

In 2013, Wildwood added the General Store, offering a great selection of home and garden décor. There is also “Mama’s Pantry”, where visitors can find bulk candy, old fashioned candy, dried beans, country ham, hoop cheese, and Virginia grown peanuts.

Wildwood offers a good variety of jams, jellies, pickles, and other canned goods, canned right here in Virginia!

More recently, Wildwood opened “George’s Kitchen”, serving a variety of delicious grilled and toasted sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, and BBQ, as well as hand-dipped Hershey’s ice cream. The store and the kitchen are open seven days a week. Visit online at www.wildwoodfarmsfloyd.com for the full menu and daily hours. They can also be found on Facebook at Wildwood Farms General Store.

Wildwood Farms is a family business, owned and operated

by Bob and Judy Bowman. The Bowmans strive to create a warm and friendly atmosphere, wanting customers to feel like the store is a home away from home.

Because Judy’s mother lived in Floyd, the Bowmans began their garden nearby. It was the perfect way to share her love of Spring/Summer Spring/Summer 2020 2020

Griffith Lumber Co.

Inc.

“Call Stacy (276-692-8754) or Bud (276-692-5308) for your lumber or wood product needs. We make paneling and flooring with a rustic and unique flair.”

www.GriffithLumber.net www.GriffithLumber.net 1284 Charity Hwy, Woolwine, VA • 1399 Franklin Pike, Floyd, VA

Paddling, Caving, Climbing, Fly Fishing, Mountain Biking and More!

Guided Outdoor Adventures for: • Small groups • Corporate Retreats/Team-building • Educational Opportunities/Workshops Must be scheduled in advance Call us at 540-755-0910 or email at tours@buffalomtnadv.com to book!

www.buffalomtnadv.com

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 13

daylilies and gardening. She was a significant influence on their lives and taught them the true meaning of love and family.

Before the passing of Judy’s mother and stepfather in 2012, plans were already being discussed for the addition of the general store. They knew they wanted music to be part of it, having grown up with traditional music all their lives. They also knew it would have been important to Judy’s mother. The Bowmans feel she would have loved store and the music, as well as visiting withal the people!

When the store was being built, a stage was added so musical performances could be offered. The Bowmans also wanted a venue that could host meetings and classes. To book the stage for a musical performance, or to book the space for your meeting or class, contact 540-745-5155, or email info@ wildwoodfarmsdaylilies.com.

Wildwood Farms General Store has ample parking that can accommodate buses or visiting groups. Beside the store is a grassy area that’s used annually for Cruise-ins and the “Old Timey Fest”.

The Cruise-ins feature a great showing of classic cars, along with a regular music jam.

This year the “Old Timey Fest” will be on Saturday, October 17, featuring antique tractors, antique cars, craft and yard sale setups, woodworking, and other interesting demonstrations.

Wildwood Farms is proud to be the “neighborhood place to be,” and they are eager to assist with community events geared toward helping people locally. On Sunday, April 26th Wildwood will be hosting a fundraiser for the Roberson Mill Restoration.

The event will include gospel singing and a silent auction. Visit

online at www.wildwoodfarmsfloyd.com for details.

There will also be several special events throughout the summer, including a series of Classic Rock Nights and CruiseIns. The Friday dates for this series are June 19th, July 3rd, July 31st, and August 28th. The music will be outside on the patio, with the classic car Cruise-in happening in the parking lot.

These events are so much fun, and all the folks at Wildwood want to urge everyone to come join in!

Looking for something to do on a Saturday night? Wildwood has live bluegrass music every Saturday from 7:00pm-9:00pm, with no admission charge. Judy’s sister, Sue, is the music coordinator, performing during the break on Saturday nights.

Sue also leads the Music Jams on the first and third Sundays of every month. Visitors are guaranteed to be toe-tapping to the music of one of the great Bluegrass or Old Time Bluegrass bands that perform at Wildwood every week. The adventurous can join Judy and her sisters on the dance floor. After working hard all week, these ladies love to kick up their heels and join their friends on the dance floor! Visit online at www.wildwoodfarmsfloyd.com for the full schedule of music and events at Wildwood Farms!

Wildwood Farms General Store is a one stop shop for gardening, live music, great food, home décor, and some really unique gift items. Drop by today to shop, enjoy a delicious sandwich, and relax on the patio while enjoying the wonderful view of the garden and daylilies.

Wildwood Farms General Store • 2380 Floyd Hwy S, Floyd, VA Judy and Bob Bowman • wildwoodfarmsdaylilies.com 540-745-5155 • info@wildwoodfarmsdaylilies.com

Bob Bowman and Judy Bowman

14 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast Inc. Mailing Address P.O. Box 134 Copper Hill, VA 24079 Owned and Operated by Bonnie and Jesse Lawrence

9039 Mountain View Drive Copper Hill, VA 24079 540-651-2500 mscmom74@swva.net

Mon 10-3 • Tue, Thu, & Fri 9-6 Wed & Sat 9-5 • Closed Sun

540-745-5382 2167 Webbs Mill RD • Floyd, VA

Lodge, Pavilion and Gazebo Suites for weddings & reunions

www.BentMountainLodgeBedandBreakfast.com

Floyd County Mutual Fire Insurance Co., Inc. Established 1894

“Has anyone ever told you, you can’t get fire insurance?”

Call Us For All Your Fire Insurance Coverage!

540-745-4882

Dwelling & Contents • Farm Property • Mobile Homes • Business Property Mon - Tues - Thurs - Fri • 9am to 12 Noon • 116 W. Main Street Floyd, VA

Spencer’s Body Shop “We Take The Dents Out Of Accidents”

Voted

1st Place Body Shop 11 Annual Aw ards

by Reader ’s Ch oice

Insurance Claims Welcome!

• Complete Collision Repair - Foreign & Domestic • Modern Equipment We Carry Rental Cars • Frame machine For Your Convenience!

• Precision Measuring • Professional Refinishing • ASE Certified Technicians

“Superior Quality Workmanship”

Kenny Gardner - Owner -

540-745-5880 Fax: 540-745-5864 • Email: sbsgardners@hotmail.com 1276 Franklin Pike, Floyd, VA 24091

Spring/Summer 2020

Paints

“Locally Owned & Operated for Over 21 years”

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 15

- Bella la Vita Inn A Tuscan Oasis in Floyd, Virginia Bella la Vita Inn is an award-winning B&B with a lively local flair, à la Tuscany.

In 2010, when Matt and Lisal Roberts stumbled on the property located at 582 New Haven Road SE in Floyd, it was only a halfcompleted shell of a house, abandoned for years. But it spoke to them in a Mediterranean accent.

Though Lisal’s experience in the Bed & Breakfast industry had been accumulated while living on the Carolina coast, both she and Matt fell in love with the rich mountain ambiance and local culture of Floyd when they came to visit. After a twoyear search throughout the county, they knew the moment they saw it that the charming, derelict building was the place for them.

Here was a Tuscan beauty, waiting for them to discover her treasures.

Nestled on a country road amid farms and native Floyd families, it was distinctly unlike anything in the surrounding area. The juxtaposition inspired the Inn’s catch phrase, “Experience the Unexpected”.

They leapt into action, purchased the property, and created a business plan.

When all the paperwork was settled, they began round-the-clock efforts to renovate the beautiful bare bones of the empty structure. With family, friends, and professionals to help, they learned to tackle every job, including the landscaping and gardening. Over a surprisingly short amount of time, Bella morphed into a beautiful home full of heart. A place of simple, yet rare beauty, and an extraordinary Bed & Breakfast.

Just two days before FloydFest 2011, the initial phases of construction and renovation were complete. Bella opened and business exploded almost overnight. Matt and Lisal learned quickly how to follow the rhythms of the guests and their needs; trusting their 16 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

experience, as well as their intuitive sense of loving hospitality.

Lisal is a published author, poet, and artist with a lifetime of experience in the hospitality and travel industry. Before moving to Floyd, she had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, both as an innkeeper and an inn-sitter. During that time, both Lisal and Matt took note of all the ways in which each inn was different and all the ways they were the same. They not only learned what guests did and didn’t like, they also learned what they themselves did and didn’t like. They incorporated all these observations into the creation of Bella la Vita.

Matthew is a retired law enforcement officer who has grown into a highly skilled maintenance man. There is nothing he won’t try to tackle on his own. Matt and Lisal are both dedicated to Bella la Vita Inn, and her success, as a team. They skillfully interchange hats as the situation warrants, ready for cleaning, cooking, welcoming guests, keeping the grounds, or troubleshooting a problem.

Matt and Lisal were inspired by Frances Mayes’ “Under the Tuscan Sun.” Just as in the timeless tale, Bella had been an unpolished gem that begged care and attention. While renovating her, no surface was left untouched or uncared for.

One of the Inn’s most popular rooms is now called Bramasole (to long for the sun), in honor of the inspiration that came from Mayes’ story.

Each room is dressed in carefully chosen décor touched with whimsical accents. Each bedroom has both a private bath and balcony or deck, affording a space of intimate privacy from the rest of the Inn. Original art adorns both the interior and the grounds. Artists who have stayed at Bella la Vita have even gifted some of their artwork to the Inn! A growing, eclectic art collection in a variety of media can be found throughout.

Bella also houses an extensive library and an eight-hundred

Spring/Summer 2020

Upon the Earth Construction New Construction • Decks • Landscaping Remodeling • Roofing • Additions

Contact David Morris for your free estimate!

Garden Center & Christmas Shoppe

540-239-2362

upontheearthservices1@gmail.com

Class A #2705123178a

Proudly supporting all of Floyd County!

• Annuals, Perennials • Trees, Shrubs, Mulch • Potting Soil • Stone Decor • Starter Plants

• Top Quality & Low Prices • Farmers Finest Produce • Butchers’ Best Meats • Deli & Fresh Bakery • Great Lunch Specials

We Carry a Wide Variety of Gardening Items and Decor!!

536 Floyd Highway S - (540) 745-2908

A Business Favorite of Floyd Locals!

facebook.com/MercantileofFloyd/

540-745-4278

114 S Locust St. Floyd, Virginia Mon- Fri 11AM-5PM • Sat 10AM-5PM • Sun 12-3PM Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 17

square-foot common area, complete with a piano and fireplace. The grounds are lovingly landscaped, like a small Shangri La; alive with local wildlife and birdsong. Private corners abound, both inside and out, for writing, reflection, savoring a glass of wine, or just relaxing.

Bella’s guests can tuck away if they wish or join the camaraderie in the common room and gardens.

And what would a Bed & Breakfast be without the breakfast?

Visitors can expect a full, home-cooked breakfast every morning, and many have commented that it was the best breakfast they’d ever had! Also, delicious homemade baked goods, coffee, tea, and other beverages are available around the clock. Fresh ingredients are sourced locally with great care to support small businesses and to provide variety. Beautiful, organic eggs are delivered weekly from a lovely neighboring farm. Often during the harvest season, friends, neighbors, and guests drop by with fresh produce that is then lovingly incorporated into the next breakfast.

Lisal and Matt embrace the challenge to create unforgettable meals from classic breakfast traditions. Simple, yet full of flair and creativity, they have a developed a rich repertoire that accommodates a variety of menus and dietary needs.

“An innkeeper’s work is never done,” says Lisal. “One must love it wholly or walk away. A guest can tell instantly when someone loves what they do.” Matt and Lisal both believe that, as innkeepers, they set the tone for everything a guest might experience.

From the beginning, it was the shared vision of both Lisal and Matt to create a space of genuine hospitality and generosity of spirit.

They believed that Bella la Vita was meant to be shared with people

18 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

who would come to Floyd from all over the world.

Over the last nine years, Bella la Vita has grown more and more beautiful. The Inn is adorned with fountains, flowers, and the peace of her pastoral surroundings. There is now a labyrinth, created from lovingly gathered stones, on the grounds for public and private use.

Lisal, a Veriditas certified labyrinth facilitator and builder, has helped educate community members and guests at the Inn on labyrinth history and use. She has helped plan and build several labyrinths in Floyd County. She hopes one day to create a “labyrinth trail” for interested visitors to follow through the Floyd landscape.

Matt and Lisal have a deep and abiding love for the Floyd community, and for the home they have brought to life here. They consider themselves ambassadors for Floyd, both at home and wherever they travel. They are happy to steer their guests to the many amazing resources to be found in Floyd, and they gladly make a point of personally experiencing everything Floyd has to offer so they can give a true picture of what guests can expect.

Experience the unexpected… in beautiful Floyd, Virginia!

For more information or to book a stay, visit online at www. bellalavitainn.com. Bella can also be found on Facebook. Queries may also be emailed to bellalavitainn@live.com. Folks can also call 540.421.0433 or 540.745.2541.

Bella La Vita Inn • 582 New Haven Rd SE, Floyd, VA Lisal and Matt Roberts • www.bellalavitainn.com bellalavitainn@live.com • 540.421.0433 or 540.745.2541

Spring/Summer 2020

Chocolates • Beverages • Baked Goods

Cocoa Mia is a familyowned artisan chocolate salon. We offer an eclectic, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere in which to

Customize your own chocolate bar every Saturday, 1-3pm!

enjoy chocolate. Don’t know what you want? Let us help you find the right chocolate for you or a friend. We create handcrafted truffles, caramels, cookies, croissants, and other chocolate confections, as well as sell chocolate bars made around the world. Enjoy Rocsato Rocsato Coffee Roasters coffee or our Coffee Roasters coffee or our house-made hot chocolate.

Melt away all the stresses of day with our sipping chocolate! We have gluten free, vegan, and a small selection of sugar free items that are sure to delight!

Follow us @cocoamiachocolates

www.cocoamiachocolates.com 540-695-0224 • 109 E Main St, Floyd, VA

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 19

Stephanie Higgs

New Music, New Hours, and New Treats at the Floyd Country Store!

The Floyd Country Store is internationally renowned for its authentic Appalachian music and dance. People come from all over the world to experience the unique and time-honored culture celebrated by one of Southwest Virginia’s top tourist locations.

However, the Floyd Country Store also prides itself on being dedicated to the local community through food, locally made goods, and music.

The Store is primarily known for its thirty-five-year-old tradition, the Friday Night Jamboree. During this weekly event, three bands play on the stage; typically offering a gospel set and two dance sets, while dancers of all ages fill the dance floor.

While the scheduled fun is happening inside, the summer months will also have musicians filling the streets outside for spontaneous jam sessions. When poor or cold weather comes, they play upstairs at The Floyd Country Store, in the Soda Fountain next door, across the

20 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

street at County Sales, and even in the Floyd Barbershop. On Friday nights, the town comes alive with music, dancers, and folks enjoying the evening revelry.

In addition to dances on Fridays, as well as occasional Saturdays, the Floyd Country Store is also known to host some of the biggest names in Bluegrass and Americana. For intimate concerts in a room that seats around two hundred people, acts such as Gillian Welch, Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, and Dan Tyminski have performed just in the past few years.

The Floyd Radio Show also occurs each month, from September through May. This popular show features three musical acts, skits, interviews, jokes, and more. It harkens back the days before television became popular, when radio was king.

On Saturdays and Sundays, the Store hosts free music! And new this year, they have extended the free music fun to Tuesday

Spring/Summer Spring/Summer 2020 2020

Kayla Whitlock

and Wednesday evenings! But this isn’t just a place for music to be heard, it’s also a place for music to be learned. The Floyd Country Store is home to the Handmade Music School; offering lessons and workshops in traditional music and dance throughout the year.

The Cafe at The Floyd Country Store is well-known to the local community for providing excellent, homemade food for lunch or dinner. The menu offers made-from-scratch soups and stews, quiches, salads, and sandwiches. Other offerings include hearty favorites like the Pinto Bean Platter, which comes with homemade pinto beans, collard greens, skillet-baked cornbread, and chow-chow.

Daily specials are also available, such as savory handpies, Brunswick stew, grownup grilled cheese sandwiches, and black bean burgers with homemade pesto mayo. In early 2019, the Floyd Country Store made substantial upgrades to its kitchen and subsequently extended business hours to include dinner: Tues – Thurs: 10 am - 8 pm Friday: 10 am – 10 pm Saturday: 10 am - 9 pm Sunday: 11 am -7 pm The new dinner hours come with hearty new specials, as well as live music most evenings. This includes the new, free live music on Tuesday and Wednesday nights; featuring local bluegrass, old-time, and Americana artists.

With the installation of the new kitchen, the Store now offers a pickup catering menu!

It includes everything on the regular menu, plus party platters and desserts. These catering packages are great for parties and family gatherings, and can be made to suit any occasion.

Also new as of Fall 2019, is the Soda Fountain at The Floyd Country Store. Located right next door, this new space is a trip through time; offering classic

Spring/Summer 2020

Heather Krantz and Dylan Locke

sundaes, malts, milkshakes, soda floats, banana splits, and homemade ice cream sandwiches. The decadent ice cream comes from local Homestead Creamery, and the waffle cones are made fresh, in-house.

The Soda Fountain also makes two kinds of dessert waffles, which can be ordered with fresh bananas and real maple syrup. They can also be ordered as the base for a sundae, piled high with ice cream and toppings. The new ice cream shop itself is beautifully decorated with bright turquoise walls, local art, and furnishings by Floyd artisans.

If you’re shopping for a unique gift, The Floyd Country Store offers something for everyone. The kids’ section is stocked full of different toys, games, music makers, and art supplies. Outdoor lovers will be pleased to find a good selection of Carhartt boots and apparel, Darn Tough socks, Buck knives, and insulated drink ware.

Looking for something made locally? Check out the selection of local honey, jams, sauces, and candies, as well as an abundance of soaps. There are lavender candles and bath salts from local farms. There are hand-carved walking sticks, wooden spoons, rag rugs, corn husk wreaths, and more! The Store also stocks musical instruments and supplies, as well as instructional books, songbooks, and CDs. And if you’re interested in bluegrass, country, or Americana music, check out the newly-reopened County Sales music store across the street for recorded music, books, and vintage vinyl.

The Floyd Country Store is a one-of-a-kind stop for food, shopping, music, and of course, ice cream! Visit today to experience everything new and to see all the Store has to offer.

The Floyd Country Store 206 S Locust St, Floyd, VA floydcountrystore.com info@floydcountrystore.com 540-745-4563

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 21

New Owners of the Bread Basket Carry On the Legacy of Love Today, the Bread Basket is a landmark for locals and tourists alike from Hanover, Pennsylvania, Kathleen was the second oldest in a family in the rolling hills of Southwestern Virginia, and it’s all thanks to the nine children. She had worked in retail from the time she was sixteen, putting in hours at a bulk food store, a greenhouse, a butcher shop, hard work, sweat, and tears of founder Alice “Missy” Yoder. and a produce market. In May of 2017, she began In 1998, Missy started out by herself in a fixeddating local boy, Ben Yoder, who had gone to New up shed, but in just three short weeks, she was Ben Yoder, Kathleen Yoder, River Community College to be a machinist. After successful enough to hire her first employee. and Avery Yoder marrying Ben in February of 2018, Kathy dropped In 2000, she married Clyde Bender from to part-time at the Bread Basket. After store-front northern Virginia. Clyde moved to Floyd where manager, Nanette West, moved on to pursue health he helped Missy with her burgeoning business, care full time, however, Missy asked Kathy if she but it wasn’t long till he began a battle with cancer. would return to full time as Store Manager. After Missy had cut back her hours at the Bread Basket much deliberation, she consented. to care for him, but he lost the battle and passed Much time had passed. With the Bread Basket away in 2001. in capable hands, Alvin an Missy could think If such a dark cloud could possibly claim about the possibility of moving permanently to a silver lining, Missy was able to expand her Indiana where they could be close to Alvin’s four quickly-growing business with the money Clyde married children and their families. The couple had left her. wanted to retire where they could be part of their During 2005 and 2006, the house and store, lives, as well as the lives of the grandchildren. now located at 2167 Webbs Mill Road, N in Floyd, For six months during the spring and were built. In the years that followed, times were summer of 2018, Al and Missy advertised the lean, and times were prosperous. The one thing business for sale in “Plain News”. Unfortunately, that remained constant was that folks could rely on there was no response. seeing Missy’s smiling face whenever they visited.

On December 23, 2018, Al and Missy said goodbye to Floyd and Time passed, and in 2015, Missy found happiness once again.

Alvin Hochstetler was from Goshen Indiana, but after marrying to the Bread Basket; moving to Indiana to retire among those they Missy, he moved to Floyd where his new bride was still very involved loved. On Christmas Day, Ben and Kathy moved into the house in the day to day operations of the bakery. Alvin was happy to join in, above the bakery, having agreed to manage the business on a trial basis throughout 2019. It was new ground for the young couple. They helping with the maintenance and other odd jobs.

In October of 2015, Kathleen Dougherty joined the staff of the wanted to see if they could handle it all, along with starting a family.

From the beginning, they prayed for guidance, hoping that bakery. She caught on fast and quickly grew to enjoy her job. Originally

22 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

Bed & Breakfast

Matthew 13:44 • StoneHavenbnbfloyd.com (828) 308-5428 or (540) 745-4018 • 244 Christiansburg Pike NE, Floyd, VA

Sticks & Stones

Construction, Inc.

Distinctive Woodworking & Stone Masonry New Homes • Renovations Additions • Stone Masonry Custom Decks & Porches Timber Framing

540-763-2003 Floyd VA

Class A Licensed, Fully Insured

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 23

Floyd Jewelry

God would send a sign if they should pursue it further. The blessings started pouring forth. When one staff left to pursue other dreams, God sent another seeking a job, and that person fit right in. Then God sent Nicholas Avery Yoder, born on August 15. The entire staff did an amazing job keeping things running smoothly while Kathy became a new mother. The year was successful for the bakery, and there didn’t seem to be any roadblocks telling them to reconsider. In October, the Yoders consented to buy the business.

And it’s a commitment they don’t take lightly. Ben and Kathy are committed to continuing the quality and the atmosphere made famous by Missy over the years; being a ray of light and hope to all who enter the doors. Family to family, neighbor to neighbor, everyone is important. Ben is the handy man, Kathy is the Store Manager, and Nick’s job is to show his smile to everyone who walks in. They truly enjoy every interaction with each and every customer.

But it’s not just atmosphere and joy you’ll find at the Bread Basket! They have some of the best sandwiches in town, along with soft-serve ice cream, homemade breads, pies, and cookies!!! Follow the Bread Basket on Facebook for more information, and to keep up to date on the arrival of all the newest yummies! Drop by and say “Hi”! There is a favorite for all! God willing, the doors will be open for many years to come!

www.facebook.com/FloydJewelry 610 East Main Street • Floyd, VA 24091 (540) 745-4653 • Sarah Sowers, Owner Gas - Diesel - Propane Exchange - Hardware

WILLIS VILLAGE MART

Your LOCAL One Stop Shop • 31 Years in Floyd County

Groceries • FRESH Produce • Seasonal Plants & Fruits

The Bread Basket • 2167 Webbs Mill Rd N, Floyd, VA Kathy and Ben Yoder • breadbasketva.com 540-745-5382 • breadbasket.floydva@gmail.com

es & LOCAL Win eers!

60+ Craft B

D BOAR’S HEAes es

Meats & Che

OPEN 7 DAYS - 5602 Floyd HWY S. Willis VA - (540) 789-7241 11 SCENIC MILES SW OF THE STOP LIGHT

24 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Seafood & Fresh Cut USDA Steaks!

Spring/Summer 2020

Wildwood Farms General Store Unique Gifts, Home & Garden Decor

One of the

largest Commercial

daylily gardens in Virginia!

Live

Bluegrass

Music

every Saturday

Night!

Check our website for our complete menu, music schedule, daylily price, list, and in-store specials!

Enjoy A Delicious Meal From Our Kitchen!

www.WildwoodFarmsDaylilies.com 2380 Floyd Highway South • Floyd, VA 24091 5 minutes from the town of Floyd!

Spring/Summer 2020

540-745-5155 www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 25

Polly Hieser

Seven Springs CSA Celebrates 30 Years of Feeding Families Nestled in the gentle Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia lies a hidden treasure: Seven Springs Farm. This is a peaceful, wholesome place, cared for by seasoned, loving hands. The fertile gardens, the rolling fruit orchards, the expansive hay fields and cattle pastures, the crystal streams, and the clear, shimmering pond are all surrounded by the embrace of green forests.

In 1990, Polly Hieser and Ron Juftes, a landscaping partnership, bought the farm in Floyd County. Around that same time, they met Robyn Van En. In 1985, Robyn had created the first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Massachusetts.

Robyn had learned about community-based, organic food systems from Swiss agricultural pioneer, Jan Van der Tuin. Together, Robyn and Jan designed a business model for small farmers and the families they fed. They named it Community Supported Agriculture. Polly and Ron were so interested in this concept that they dedicated their new land purchase to creating the first CSA in Floyd County. It was also the first CSA seen in the New River region. This year, the Seven Springs Farm CSA celebrates thirty years of growing food for local families.

Seven Springs Farm adheres to strict organic and regenerative practices of enriching the soil, using cover crops, compost, organic fertilizers, and natural pest management practices, as well as biodynamic techniques and rotational grazing.

Community Supported Agriculture is a special way to relate to our food. It’s based on the understanding that when we know where the things we eat come from, and we know the farmers who grow it, we care for our health and well-being in a more direct and meaningful way. There is a big difference between going to a grocery 26 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

store and grabbing a box or a can of processed food, and biting into a juicy tomato that was picked off the vine this morning at the crack of dawn. There’s no comparison in the quality and amount of life energy in the food.

CSA is a relationship with the earth and with the people whose hands are in it every day. CSA participants know that their food is consistently fresh, local, full of vitamins and minerals, and vibrant with sunshine and rain.

One of the principles of the CSA model is that people who want good food are taking some responsibility for supporting the farmers who grow it. That’s why members make a commitment for a whole season. Most of the similar models that were developed in Europe and Japan were started by groups of consumers who wanted a source of good food and were willing to make a commitment to a farmer. The farmer, in turn, committed to growing the highest quality organic food for them.

Keeping an organic farmer in business is a decision for the long term; ensuring good food for the future as well. It’s a profound investment in ourselves, in the farmers who grow our food, and in the community where we all live.

Here’s how it works. Families or individuals sign up to receive shares of the harvest. Members join for a season, receiving a bag of fresh vegetables every week. An assortment of five to seven different types of vegetable is distributed each week, changing as the season progresses.

Spring season at Seven Springs begins with dark, leafy greens like kale, collards, rainbow chard, and salad greens, as well as scallions, radishes, and crisp, colorful varieties of lettuce. Then comes hardy

Spring/Summer 2020

Nii Anang

broccoli, cabbage, baby carrots, and beets.

Summertime brings cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, green beans, eggplant, potatoes, and summer squash.

Autumn harvests last into December and feature root crops such as carrots, beets, onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cauliflower, and a return of lettuce, greens, broccoli, and cabbage. Members can also order grass-fed beef and pastured eggs from neighboring Weathertop Farm.

In addition to the nutritious and delicious food, Seven Springs CSA also offers a unique cultural experience. The CSA is run by Polly, an experienced organic farmer, and her husband Nii Anang, a professional musician from Ghana. Polly’s love of African music and dance led her to him.

Nii Anang came to Floyd with the Kusun Ensemble, a touring West African music and dance group. They performed at the first FloydFest and taught classes, which Polly attended.

Nii Anang immediately noticed what a talented musician and good person Polly was. They married, and now he farms alongside her. Polly is also member of Nii Anang’s African style folk band, Land of Joy. Indeed, Nii Anang’s musical influence brings a special, spiritual joy to the farm. His sweet, soft voice is often heard singing traditional African or gospel songs in the fields and in the food packing barn. Next to Polly’s small, strong frame, Nii Anang is a gentle giant; friendly, outgoing, and always helpful. The members all adore him.

Another unique feature of Seven Springs CSA is a program called Working Shares. Members can pay a discounted price in exchange for coming to the farm to help. Families are encouraged to bring their children. Although the working membership involves coming to the farm just one to three times over the course of the whole growing season, this is a profound experience for CSA members. They get to learn about planting and harvesting. They might help pick green beans, wash lettuce, or transplant seedlings.

They may discover fragrant herbs, taste vegetables they have never eaten before, get wet and muddy, and feel the sunshine on their backs. Children love to help weigh, bag, and distribute the harvest.

“We love it too,” says Polly. “It’s wonderful to see a change in how people view their food. They appreciate it more when they’ve

Spring/Summer 2020

seen and experienced where it comes from. Children enjoy it, and can participate in the process. A three-year-old can pick up a sweet potato and put it in the basket, and they are so happy to help.”

Seven Springs CSA offers three sizes of memberships - small, medium, and large - to accommodate varying family sizes and dietary styles. Shares are priced on a sliding scale. Seven Springs gives a price range for each size of share, and members choose their price within that range.

“The generosity of our members gives us extra money to offer discounts to some members who want healthy food but can’t afford it,” Polly explains. “This really helps our operating budget and enables us to maintain a low-income share fund. We want anyone who wants good food to have access to it regardless of their income. We are so grateful for those who contribute at a higher rate. It’s real community spirit.”

Polly continues, “Because our CSA is relatively small (80-100 members), we can adjust bags a little at harvest distribution when we know what a family likes. Someone may ask not to receive a certain vegetable. We will happily leave it out and add some extra of something else. I really like being able to accommodate our members this way. When there is a surplus, which happens every year with at least four to five vegetables, we offer it to the members. They let me know if they want it, and then get extra in their bag.

“Some will take a basket of our blemished tomatoes and make sauce or freeze extra beans. I love seeing the food utilized, appreciated and loved. My ideal is that people pay what they can afford and get the vegetables they need.

“I love the CSA model,” Polly tells us. “It is so gratifying to do this work, get to know my members, and watch their children grow up eating our vegetables. I’ve made many friends.”

To bring the wholesome, nourishing bounty of nature’s finest gifts from the fields directly to your kitchen all season long, talk to Polly about joining Seven Springs CSA. (540) 651-3226 or pollyhieser@gmail.com. Or visit 7springscsa.com.

Seven Springs CSA • 7springscsa.com Polly Hieser • (540) 651-3226 • pollyhieser@gmail.com

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 27

Points of Interest Bent Mountain Mercantile Bent Mountain Bistro

Floyd County, Virginia

Christiansburg

AmRhein’s Wine Cellars

81

Apple Ridge Farm

Copper Hill

Sinkland Farms Aly’s Restaurant

Copper Hill Cakes & Goodies

653 Buffalo & More

Bent Mountain Lodge

Smith’s Grocery & Hardware

Riner 612 Check

Springhouse Community School

8

642 Seven Springs Farm

Check Country Store

679 Whitlock’s Garage

The Eighty Four On the Water in Floyd

The Outpost

Bread Basket

754

s Will

Indian Valley

ge

Rid

Willis Village Mart

787

to

y G’s

Micke

Buffalo Mountain Brewing Company

T&E

77

221

Willis

Chantilly Farm Griffith Lumber

Spencer’s Body Shop

Wildwood Farms General Store C.W. Harman & Son

681

e Ridg Blue way Park

Stonewall Bed & Breakfast Inn

Blue Ridge YurtsBelle La

Floyd

679

Streamline Timberframe

Ray’s Pine Tavern Restaurant Lodge

Slaughter’s Supermarket

Floyd Yoga Jam & Living Light River Studio

Phoenix Hardwoods

G.J. Ingram & Son

Wills Ridge Supply

Alum Ridge

787

221

Anahata Education Center

615

8

Vita Inn

Tuggles Gap Restaurant & Motel Stonehaven Inn

Buffalo Mountain Getaway Cottage Buffalo Mountain Ziplines

799

Griffith Lumber

Floyd Fest Grounds Chateau Morrisette Winery

Villa Appalaccia Winery & Vineyard

Green Label Organics Bell Gallery

Woolwine

Blue Ridge Parkway County Border U.S. Hwy 81

28 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

58 Country Road Realty

FC Historical Society

Floyd Center for the Arts

Jerry & Connie’s House of Collectibles

Meadows of Dan

In Meadows of Dan: • Blue Ridge Visitor’s Center • Poor Farmers Market • Jane’s Country Cafe • Poppy’s • Concord Country Store

0

Red Rooster Coffee Floyd Jewelry & AutovilleAuto Repair

The Maggie

ntile erca tore & Mt M try S New d Coun dhouse o Floy wn Roa n Tatto u to Dog er the S d n U

Roads Mabry Mill

Parkway Grille

Schoolhouse Fabics

8

Woodbury Inn

Also Roads

*In The Station • Elma’s Corners • A Little Monkey Business • A New Leaf Gallery • Troika

Th

Floyd Visitor Center & Cocoa Mia NRV Hearing

e S Hote tati l F on* loy d

June Bug Center

6 Miles

Spring/Summer 2020

Kids 10 and under eat free Mon. from 4-7 dine in kids menu only • • • • • • •

Summer Hours Monday 11-9 Tuesday Closed Wednesday 4-9 Thurs, Fri, Sat 11-9 Sunday 12-8

Monday night 2 pizzas $20 Brick oven pizza and calzones Catering on/off premises ABC on/off premise Fresh seafood Gluten free & whole wheat options availible Buffet weekdays

Chef’s Choice & Family Style dining available

www.MickeyGsBistro.com 540-745-2208

Spring/Summer 2020

Tim Telling

Office: 276-952-6582 • Cell: 540-695-0522

timtellingrealty@gmail.com • www.CountryRoadRealtyVA.com

“LET US TAKE YOU HOME” 646B JEB Stuart Highway • Meadows of Dan, VA 24120

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 29

Directory Location

Contact Info

Phone

Location

Contact Info

Phone

A Little Monkey Business

www.floydmonkeybusiness.com

Email us!

Living Light River Studio

www.LivingLightRiverStudio.com

540-745-5483

A New Leaf Gallery

www.anewleafgallery.com

540-745-7367

McHale Arborscape

facebook.com/ShaneMcHalesArborscape 540-810-1845

Amateur Raido

www.floydamateurradiosociety.org

540-745-7742

Mickey G’s Bistro

www.mickeygsbistro.com

AmRhein’s Wine Cellars

www.amrheins.com/fine-wine

540-929-4632

New Mountain Mercantile of Floyd facebook.com/MercantileofFloyd

540-745-4278

Anahata Education Center

www.anahataeducationcenter.com

540-745-5811

New River Valley Hearing

www.nrvhearing.com

540-745-8327

Apple Ridge Farm

www.appleridge.org

540-982-1322

Oak Haven Lodge

www.oakhavenlodge.com

540-745-5716

Artisan Trail

www.floydartisantrail.org

540-745-7333

On the Water in Floyd

www.OnTheWaterInFloyd.com

540-838-1877

Autoville Auto Repair

540-745-4224

Parkway Grille

facebook.com/ParkwayGrilleVA

540-745-4770

Bell Gallery and Garden

www.bellgalleryandgarden.com

540-745-2208

540-745-4494

Pine Tavern Restaurant

www.thepinetavern.com

540-745-4482

Bell’s Auto Towing

540-745-3364

Phillips Real Estate

www.phillipsrealestateva.com

540-745-3700

Bent Mountain Bistro

540-929-8013

Phoenix Hardwoods

www.phoenix-hardwoods.com

540-745-7475

540-651-2500

Ray’s Rest

540-745-2501

www.bentmountainbistro.com

Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast Inc

www.bentmountainlodgebedandbreakfast.com

Reed’s Garage

540-929-4236

Bent Mountain Mercantile

www.bentmountainmercantile.com

540-929-8046

Rorrer Well Drilling

540-745-6448

Blue Ridge Restaurant

www.floydblueridge.com

540-745-2147

SETEC

Blue Ridge Yurts

www.blueridgeyurts.com

540-745-7458

Seven Springs CSA

Bread Basket

facebook.com/breadbasket.floydva

540-745-5382

Slaughters’ Supermarket

540-745-2908

Buffalo and More

www.buffaloandmore.com

540-381-9764

Spencers Body Shop

540-745-5880

Buffalo Mountain Getaway

www.buffalomountaingetaway.com

540-789-8335

Sticks & Stones Construction

540-763-2003

Buffalo Hemp Company

www.thebuffalohempcompany.com

540-745-8242

StoneHaven Inn

540-745-4018

Buffalo Mountain Brewing Co

www.buffalomountainbrewery.com

540-745-2491

Stonewall Bed & Breakfast Inn www.stonewallbed.com

540-745-2861

Buffalo Mountain Adventures

www.buffalomtnadv.com

540-755-0910

Streamline Timberframe

www.streamlinetimberframe.com

540-230-5505

Buffalo Mountain Ziplines

www.BuffaloMountainZiplines.com

540-200-5234

Sustain Floyd

www.sustainfloyd.org

540-745-7333

C.W. Harman & Son

www.cwharmanandson.com

540-745-2252

T & E Small Engine

www.tesmallengine.com

540-745-8383

Chantilly Farm

www.chantillyfarm.com

540-808-4984

The Maggie

www.themaggiegallery.com

540-745-8000

Chateau Morrisette Winery

www.thedogs.com

540-593-3647

The Schroeder Law Firm, PC

www.schroeder-law.com

540-745-4435

Chestnut Springs Retreat

540-745-2345

The Woodshed

540-320-3057

Citizens

www.citizens.coop

800-941-0426

Thomas & Wall Real Estate

www.thomaswallre.com

540-745-8973

Cocoa Mia

facebook.com/cocoamiachocolates

540-695-0224

Tinbenders Inc

www.tinbendersinc.com

540-334-5841

Country Road Realty

www.CountryRoadRealtyVA.com

276-952-6582

Tuggles Gap Restaurant

www.tugglesgap.biz

540-745-3402

Dogtown Roadhouse

www.dogtownroadhouse.com

540-745-6836

Troika Contemporary Crafts

www.troikacrafts.com

540-745-8764

Edward Jones - David Cross

www.edwardjones.com/david-cross

540-745-6851

Tuggle’s Gap Restaurant & Motel www.tugglesgap.biz

540-745-3402

Elma’s Corners

www.elmascorners.com

540-230-8451

Turman Hardwood Flooring

www.turmanhardwoodflooring.com

276-236-9963

Farm Credit of the Virginias

www.farmcreditofvirginias.com

540-745-2071

Under the Sun Tattoo

www.underthesuntattoo.com

540-745-3080

Floyd County Historical Society

www. floydhistoricalsociety.org

540-745-3247

United Country Real Estate

www.edgallimore.com

540-230-9090

Floyd Country Store

www.floydcountrystore.com

540-745-4563

Upon the Earth Construction

facebook.com/UponTheEarthServices

540-239-2362

Floyd County Tourism Office

www.visitfloydva.com

540-239-8509

Villa Appalaccia Winery & Vineyard www.villaappalaccia.com

540-593-3100

Floyd Humane Society

www.floydhumanesociety.org

540-745-7207

Whitlock’s Garage

540-745-3585

Floyd Jewelry

facebook.com/floydjewelry

540-745-4653

Wildwood Farms General Store

540-745-5155

G.J. Ingram & Son

540-745-3201

Willis Village Mart

540-789-7241

Grifith Lumber Company

276-692-8754

Wills Ridge Supply

540-745-2044

www.GriffithLumber.net

www.rorrerdrilling.com

www.soilandenvironmentaltechnology.com 540-381-0309 www.7springscsa.com

540-651-3226

www.StoneHavenbnbfloyd.com

www.wildwoodfarmsdaylilies.com www.willsridge.com

Jerry & Connie’s House of Collectibles facebook.com/meadowsofdanantiques 276-952-1095

30 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

SETEC

SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.

(540) 381-0309 • (540) 392-8049

• Professional soil consulting and soil survey for rural land development and conservation • Evaluation, design, and inspection of conventional and alternative septic systems • Perc Testing, Environmental Consulting, soil sampling and analysis

Professional Soil Scientists since 1989

www.SoilAndEnvironmentalTechnology.com Virginia Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators (AOSE) • Member VA Association of Professional Soil Scientists

Spring/Summer 2020

540-745-3700

Doug Phillips 540-320-1515 David Phillips 540-250-6730 PhillipsRealEstate@gmail.com

Floyd’s Rural Property Specialists From 2 Ac to 600 Ac available!

HOMES PhillipsRealEstateVA.com 214 N. Locust Street

(Only 700 feet from the Red Light)

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 31

The Eighty-Four: A Legacy and a Dream For years, Derek and Allie Mannon dreamed of owning Derek’s family farm. The farm had originally belonged to Derek’s great grandfather and had operated as a dairy farm for many years. Derek’s grandfather, C.E. Mannon, was a high school guidance counselor and local preacher, but he still had several head of cattle on the farm that he tended as a hobby and pastime.

These were left after his passing.

Derek had grown up helping his grandfather on the farm. He helped with the cattle and with mending fences; all the while creating memories and establishing roots on the property.

This was long before he met Allie.

After they were married, Derek and Allie lived in the farmhouse originally built by Derek’s great grandfather, B.T. Mannon. Both being sentimental, Derek and Allie loved building their own family memories amongst so much family history. It felt truly special.

After Derek’s grandfather passed away, the farm went up for sale. From that moment, the couple knew that owning the farm was a dream they needed to make happen.

In December of 2013, The Mannons experienced a tragedy like no other.

A house fire started in the bedroom of their six-month-old daughter.

Thankfully, everyone escaped without harm, but the house they adored was a total loss. This only deepened their affection for the property.

They worked relentlessly to make the farm their own. Both already owned and operated their own separate businesses, but the dairy farm that had originally been run by Derek’s great grandfather gave the couple an opportunity to combine their talents. It also allowed them to share the love of entrepreneurship with their four children. Together, they established a new family business to which they could all contribute.

In June of 2018, the Mannons’ dreams crystallized into reality. Finally, they were able to purchase the eighty-fouracre farm and begin work on a brand-new event and wedding venue - The Eighty-Four. Derek’s craftsmanship and expertise 32 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

in construction, along with Allie’s years of experience in the wedding industry, would be the foundation of The Eighty-Four.

Promptly after completing the purchase, renovations began on the farm’s 1946 dairy barn to turn it into a wedding and event venue, serving the New River Valley. The vision was to keep the original bones of the structure, but to add modern touches throughout that would showcase Derek and Allie’s personal style. This meant adding a gorgeous, 3,500 squarefoot patio with a retaining wall on the backside of the property. They’ve also added a handcrafted, timber-frame pergola to span the entire retaining wall.

Cafe string lights will drape across the patio to provide a romantic feel as the event’s guests dance the night away.

A beautiful deck overlooking the patio provides access to the barn’s loft, and the original silos on the property have been renovated and turned into the venue’s restrooms. With timber frame features throughout, white, crisp walls, and modern industrial light fixtures, the look is timeless and unique to Floyd.

After almost two years of renovations and construction, the Mannons are already anticipating a busy inaugural season of events in 2020, and looking forward to even more bookings in 2021.

The couple has taken great pride in the sweat equity that has been invested in the property they lovingly refer to as “the farm”. They have also leveraged the project as an opportunity to teach their children about hard work and as an insight into owning a business. On many evenings, they can be found working together as a family of six, cleaning up the property or finishing up a project. Their four children, Knox, London, Mabry, and Boone prefer summer work nights that involve watering the grass with sprinklers, as opposed to the shed cleanouts of winter. Regardless of work preferences, building a legacy together with family is what’s important to Derek and Allie.

Because Allie loves the idea of The Eighty-Four being a one stop shop venue, the booking also includes a wedding Spring/Summer 2020

Before

After

coordinator, wedding timeline, and parking attendant, as well as many rental items like tables and seating. The included wedding coordinator would be present for the rehearsal and for the day of the event to make sure that all is seamless; taking worry and stress away from the family and allowing the opportunity to truly enjoy the event. The venue will accommodate many types of events with the focus being on weddings.

Ultimately, the Mannons hope that anyone who contracts them for an event will see the love that has been poured into “the farm”, as well as their desire to share it with anyone who chooses The Eighty-Four for their special day.

The Eighty-Four • 5178 Webbs Mill Rd, Floyd, VA Derek and Allie Mannon • (540) 239-2169 www.facebook.com/the84events/ theeightyfourevents@gmail.com

Spring/Summer 2020

Blue Ridge Land & Auction Co., Inc

Real Estate is Fun & Exciting in Floyd County

Ed Gallimore, Asso. Broker www.edgallimore.com

540-230-9090

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 33

Historical Society Announces 2020 Exhibit The Floyd County Historical Society has big plans for 2020: the Floyd County Historical Society 2020 Exhibit, and the ambitious Courthouse Document Conservation Project In 2019, while the Historical Society Museum featured an exhibit on the history of Floyd County churches, volunteers worked to prepare for the conservation of thousands of documents once stored in the basement of the Floyd County Courthouse.

This year, the 2020 Featured Exhibit, “Wars Hot and Cold, Floyd County 1945-1960,” will look at Floyd County during the fifteen-year period from the end of the Second World War through to the end of the Eisenhower Administration (19451960). Among the topics displayed at the museum will be the return of the troops from World War II, as well as service and the county in the immediate aftermath of the war.

There will also be displays focusing on the beginnings of the Cold War. These will include a look at the Korean Conflict and the soldiers who served in Korea. There will also be a look at the dynamics of Floyd County in the Fifties.

Floyd County had a vibrant economy in the post-war years.

Returning soldiers pushed for school improvements, increased economic opportunities, and recreational and cultural enhancements. The County also faced the challenge of serving all its citizens in the age of the Civil Rights movement. Early momentum for change led to several educational, cultural, and economic improvements.

Growth, however, slowed during the period. The county’s population began to decrease and many of the early successes could not be sustained.

While visiting the Historical Society Museum, the curious might also learn about the Courthouse Document Conservation Project which is currently in the works. These documents accumulated in the old Floyd County Courthouse for almost 34 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

a hundred years; from the formation of Floyd County in 1831 until 1906. In the years since, they have been collecting dust in the basement of the current Floyd County Courthouse.

Among these two-hundred-year-old documents are judiciary records, criminal records, deeds, land tax filings, and so much more. Most of these are folded like brochures and then bundled and tied together. Many with multiple pages were also paper clipped, stapled, or sewn together like small booklets then stored tightly in boxes. As a result, the papers they were made from have become brittle and difficult to handle. The process of opening these fragile documents and digitizing their contents has become a focal project for the Historical Society.

Each one will be undergoing a humidification, digitization, and preservation process that has been painstakingly researched and tested at the Historical Society since July of 2019. The process includes the use of large storage bins with distilled water in the bottom and shelving to support the documents above the water.

Four-inch long sections of PVC pipe support sections of light-diffusing panels to create the shelving. When bundles of documents are placed on the shelving within the bins and the lids secured, they gently absorb the moisture necessary for the sharp folds in the papers to relax. Each set of documents needs four to twelve hours of humidification before they can be partially unfolded. They need additional time, usually overnight, to finish relaxing the paper. Once the paper is supple enough to unfold completely, it can then be laid between sheets of absorbent blotting paper to dry and be pressed completely flat under a weight.

Once they are completely dried and pressed, they still must be scanned so that a digital record can be created. And finally, each document will be placed within its own protective sleeve and re-catalogued for long term preservation.

Spring/Summer 2020

Cabin Rental Step back 100 years and enjoy the Mountains as they were when things were uncomplicated.

You can stay in an original wormy chestnut log cabin home and enjoy the comforts of modern convenience in a beautiful mountain setting. The cabin has been beautifully restored and is fully furnished with a full kitchen, two bedrooms and a bath.

Relax by the fire at night and settle in comfortably.

1/2 Mile from the Stop Light in Floyd $100 per night $300 per week!

Fast, Affordable Shelters for a Variety of Uses

540-745-7458 www.BlueRidgeYurts.com

Also check out FloydYurtLodging.com

Spring/Summer 2020

Chestnut Springs Rd NW, Floyd Virginia 540-745-2345 • 540-250-1993

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 35

The old courthouse that stood from 1851 to 1951.

It is estimated that this trove contains over 40,000 documents. In order to complete the conservation of this massive collection within the current century, the Historical Society has rented a temporary annex and put together twenty-two humidification boxes to help speed up the process. Even with this added capacity, volunteers estimate that it will take over six years to complete the project, provided there is a constant flow of volunteers to keep the documents moving through the que.

Please feel free to contact the Floyd County Historical Society to find out more about this and other projects adopted by the organization. Also, stop by to visit the Museum and see the 2020 Featured Exhibit. The new exhibit opens Saturday April 18th, 2020.

Museum hours are Thursday and Friday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm and Saturdays from 11:00am to 3:00pm. There is wheelchair access to the first floor and admission is free to all.

Thurs: 11am - 9pm Fri & Sat: 11am - 10pm Sun: 11am - 9pm Closed: Mon - Wed

Floyd County Historical Society (540) 745-3247 info@floydhistoricalsociety.org www.floydhistoricalsociety.org

Everything’s Better on the Mountain!

9607 Bent Mountain Rd. Bent Mountain, Virginia

Ann Shank removing the blotting paper to show the flattened and dried document. These documents will be online as they are digitized.

36 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

www.bentmountainbistro.com 540-929-8013

Spring/Summer 2020

Delicious Craft Beers, Food Specials, Live Music, Fun For the Entire Family, and pups too!

332 Webbs Mills Rd N, Floyd VA • 540-745-2491

www.BuffaloMountainBrewery.com Visit us on FB & Instagram!

G.J. INGRAM & SON 2107 fLOYD hWY NORTH

540-745-3201

open Mon- Sat 7 am - 6 pm • Fax 540-745-2201

ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS • PET MEDS • FEED • SEED • LIME • POSTS • FENCING MATERIALS FERTILIZER • SPREADING AND SPRAYING • Lawn & Garden Supplies • Chore Boots GATES • Cattle Minerals & Feed • Priefert Equipment • Ritchie Waters & PaRts Georgia Boots • Bunk Feeders - Round Bale Feeders • Pointer Bibbed Overalls

Thank You for letting us serve you since 1945!

We support the Floyd Chapter of the FFA Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 37

- AgriTourism Visiting Farms in Floyd VA The scenic, rolling hills and farmlands of Floyd County touch both visitors and residents alike. In these modern, pre-packaged days it is a challenge, as well as true labor of love, to manage a small farm.

Floyd County is blessed to have so many incredible and diverse farms and farmers. It is equally blessed to have so many opportunities to visit farms for educational workshops, purchasing products, tours, walks, or even farm stays to experience rural farm life.

out of the typical standard fare box at Broadened Horizons’ off-grid teaching farm.

705 Laurel Creek Rd. NE Pilot, VA 24138 540-651-2775 www.sustainability-teaching-farm.com May 23-24: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. (rain date May 30-31)

Fundamentals of Plant Propagation May 10: (Mother’s Day) Mother Maize – A class on growing corn.

June 14: Gourmet Garlic – From planting to your plate August 19: Farm Tour and Community Potluck September 13: Organic Alchemy – Homemade garden sprays and fertilizers October 4: The Nitty Gritty: Using field corn to make hominy grits, masa, and more!

Specialty Produce & Grass-Fed Beef 1834 Rush Fork Road Floyd VA 24091 540-789-2347 www.fieldsedgefloyd.com

Upcoming Farm Happenings These Floyd farms welcome you!

Please remember that these sites are working farms. They require contact in advance for visits that are not scheduled public events or farm store visits.

Fields Edge Farm

Broadened Horizons Teaching Farm Innovation & Inspiration Weekend: An Open House event to showcase the farm’s innovative building designs, farm built tools, implements, and power equipment: their comprehensive rainwater collection and storage system, solar arrays, vertical axis wind turbines, solar water heaters, and much, much more. If you are looking for new ideas to become more sustainable, this is an opportunity to see the results of thinking 38 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Family farms across the country are disappearing. When that happens, farm wisdom and all the know-how will go with them. Fields Edge is a family farm that goes all the way back to 1892, thanks to a strong and determined family that values adaptation and innovation. New this year, Fields Edge is offering workshops for the community. They want to spread their farm know-how so that home gardeners can benefit by growing and enjoying local food at home.

Visitors to the farm will get a chance to be out in the field, learning alongside our farmers. With the farm as the classroom, participants will learn tricks of the trade and get their hands dirty.

They will also take home the projects they work on. To top it off, a beautiful lunch will be prepared, featuring the farm’s own produce and meats.

Upcoming workshops at Fields Edge Farm: March 29: Attack of the Clones –

Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics (JPI) JPI is a national producer and distributor of biodynamic preparation.

The JPI Bookstore is now located on the Farm! Open 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday Upcoming workshops at JPI: April 25: Biodynamic Orcharding for a Changing World May 22: Living Soil: The Foundation for Healthy Plants May 28-31: Perma-Dynamics: Session Four June 3: Biodynamic Preparation 501: Horn Silica July 12: Herbal Fusion Workshop September 22: Fall Equinox Potluck 652 Thompson Road Floyd VA 24091 540-745-7030 https://jpibiodynamics.org Spring/Summer 2020

build • New Homes GREEN • Remodeling with • Additions • Treated Lumber • Plywood • West Windows • Empire & Buck Stoves • Oil, Gas & Wood Stoves • Salt & Snow Shovels • Propane Refill & Exchange • Heat Pumps & Dehumidifiers • Plumbing, Electric & Paint

Wills Ridge Supply Building Materials • Lumber • Hardware ,Inc.

www.willsridge.com • 202 Lumber Lane, Floyd VA

540-745-2044

Home of “BIG JACK” & “BIG BEAR”

Green Building Products • Eco Friendly Stains & Glues • Kiln Dried Lumber Envirosafe Lumber • Hardie Board Siding • El Dorado Stone • Cultured Stone

The Floyd County Historical Society

Produce • Meats • Country Mercantile Goods

2020 Exhibit Wars, Hot and Cold – Floyd County, 1945 -1959 Introducing FCHS 2020 Exhibit by Gino Williams March 21 • 10:30 am Farm Bureau Basement at 335 E. Oxford St. Museum Open House April 18, 2020 • 1:00 – 3:00 pm

All programs are FREE and OPEN To The PUBLIC!

Researching Family in Floyd County - Panel May 16 • 10:30 am – noon The Floyd Center for the Arts 12 – 1 pm • Visit the Floyd County Courthouse

Traditional Folk Culture of Southwest Virginia

by Ricky Cox August 8 • 10:30 am The Floyd Center for the Arts at 220 Parkway Lane S

(540)745-3247 • 217 N. Locust Street, Floyd, VA Open April to Mid-December Museum Hours: Thurs & Fri: Noon - 4pm • Sat: 11am - 3pm

www.floydhistoricalsociety.org Spring/Summer 2020

Everything’s Better at the Merc!

We are striving to improve the lives of our mountain residents and our mountain visitors by giving them healthy local farm food options as well as a selection of items that can save a trip into town.

9513 Bent Mountain Rd. Bent Mountain, Virginia

www.bentmountainmercantile.com

540-929-8046

SEASONAL HOURS: Mon – Sat 9am to 7pm, Sun 11am to 6pm

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 39

Patchwork Family Farms Patchwork is a small, diversified organic vegetable farm producing vegetables, herbs, and small fruits year round.

September 19: 5:00pm – 8:00pm Field to Fork Dinner - tickets will be available on the website.

216 Conner Lane, SE Copper Hill, VA 24079 540-285-0211 www.idigpatchworkfarm.com

Plenty!

Community Farm Plenty!’s mission is rooted deeply in the tradition of neighbors helping neighbors by growing and sharing food. The Farm grows fresh produce for distribution through its food programs.

Intensive Small-scale growing Saturday, May 2, 11:00am1:00pm

Saturday, May 7, 11:00am-1:00pm Garden Talks at Demo Garden Tuesday, May 26, 11:00am-12:00pm

Spring & Summer Garden Tuesday, July 28, 11:00am-12:00pm

Summer Garden & Prep for Fall Seed Starting Party at the Pantry!

Monday, March 30; Tuesday March 31; Thursday, April 2; Monday, July 27; Tuesday, July 28; Thursday, July 30 Enjoy the Bounty – Free Community Lunch Each Wednesday at noon, June August, as well as the last Wednesday of months September - May Summer Solstice & Great Garlic Grab June 20, 7:00pm-10:00pm Celebrate the longest day of the year with free food, a bonfire, star-gazing, games, and a silent auction.

Wild Edibles River Walk Enjoy the serenity of Plenty’s new 0.3 mile trail along the river, showcasing edible native plants 192 Elephant Curve Road Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-3898 www.plentylocal.org

Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary is a place of healing, reflection, learning, and inspiration. You are welcome to join in the journey towards saving the honeybee.

Fridays at the Sanctuary: Beginning April 23, the Sanctuary will be open every Friday from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

If you are interested in visiting during other days and times, email: info@ spikenardfarm.org

I-TAL Acres Herbals Medicinal Herb Pharm – growing over 100 species, as well as producing farm made tinctures, oils, and other products.

Sunday, May 17: Plant ID Walk Sunday, June 14: Plant Propagation Workshop 1663 Diamond Knob Road, NE Check, VA 24072 540-553-4023 https://italacres.com 40 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Workshops: June 18-20: Spikenard Summer Festival June 21-22: Mentorship Program July 8-11: Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary/Waldorf Workshop August 13-15: Substances of Love in our Daily Life September 24-26: Understanding and Making Biodynamic Preparations 401 Hideaway Lane Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-2153 www.spikenardfarm.org Spring/Summer Spring/Summer 2020 2020

architectural design • building

StreamLine Timberframe

Inspired • Innovative • Timeless

999 Harvestwood Road Floyd VA 24091

Stop by 999 Harvestwood Road or call 540 230 5505 Steve Arthur • sarthur@streamlinetimberframe.com / StreamlineTimberframe.com ~ /StreamlineTimberframe Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 41

Farm Stores and Farm Stays Riverstone Organic Farm Working organic farm on the banks of the Little River The Farm Store is open 9:00am – 7:00pm daily, year-round, offering in-season produce, pasture-raised meats, and local goods. A walking trail is available for hikers and picnics by the river.

708 Thompson Road Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-4790 www.Riverstoneorganicfarm.com

Store offers guests the chance to purchase vegetables grown on three acres of eco-friendly farm land, just a few feet from where they are staying.

Guests are invited to visit the farm. Tours of the land and farm are available by reservation, as well as information about ongoing and upcoming environmental action that Floyd EcoVillage is taking.

Floyd EcoVillage Farm Floyd EcoVillage offers lodging at the Wilderness Cabins and Bermed Lodge, as well as creek-side camping. The Farm

Pick Your Own Twin Falls Farm Blueberrry & Blackberry in season Contact prior: Copper Hill, VA • 540-429-5155 twinfallsfarmer@gmail.com

Floyd Agritourism Farm Guide A Floyd Farm Guide, Exploring Life at Floyd County’s Farms, is available in print from the Floyd County Tourism Office. The guide provides information about the farms that welcome visitors.

The Guide is available at the Floyd Visitor Center across from the courthouse, or by contacting: tourismdirector@ floydcova.org. www.VisitFloydVA.com 109 East Main Street • 540-239-8509 tourismdirector@floydcova.org

Farm Store and Lodging 188 Eco Village Trail Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-4434 / 844-851-5963 www.floydecovillage.com floydeventcenter@gmail.com * The Farm store is open daylight hours

Mellowspring Family Farms – yurt rentals Small family homestead focused on heritage breed animals and yurt rentals.

Farm-spun crafts and gifts available. By appointment only.

788 Tuggles Gap Road, SW Floyd, VA 24091 540-745-2496 www.mellowspringfamilyfarms.com 42 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

Take a Ride on the Wild Side!

Follow us on Facebook or check out our website for specials and events!

Ages 3 and up • Weight limit 275lbs

www.BuffaloMountainZiplines.com Located on Black Ridge Rd one mile off the parkway (one mile form Chateau Morrisette) MP 171.5 on BRP

540-200-5234 • zip@buffalomountainziplines.com Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 43

Floyd Virginia Spring & Summer Happenings 2020 Located atop the magnificent Blue Ridge Plateau in southwestern Virginia, Floyd is a haven of natural beauty where the people are renowned for their hospitality. There, visitors can find a vibrant culture of music, arts, local foods and wines, and outdoor recreation. Containing nearly forty miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Spring and Summer are wonderful times to visit. For more info about below and other events, go to VisitFloydVA.com or call Visitor Center at 540-745-4407.

Wednesday – Sunday, July 22-26: Floydfest • www.floydfest.com Friday & Saturday, August 14 - 15: 4th Annual Cirque du Floyd at Chantilly Farm Thursday – Sunday, September 3 – 6: Floyd Yoga Jam • www.FloydYogaJam.net Saturday, September 12: Floyd County Fair at Chantilly Farm Saturday, September 12: Bulls, Barrels, and Mutton Bustin’ at Chantilly Farm Saturday, September 25: Blue Ridge Stakeout at Chantilly Farm

SAMPLING OF MAJOR EVENTS: WEEKLY

Saturday, April 11: Appalachian Journey - (Cycle Race) www.theappalachianjourney.com/ April 17 – 19: Floyd Herb & Plant Fest (first year!) www.FloydHerbFest.com • Chantilly Farm Saturday & Sunday, May 2 – 3: 16 Hands Spring Studio Tour • www.16hands.com Saturday & Sunday, May 2 – 3: Mayfaire at the Floy Center for the Arts Saturday, May 9: Floyd Health & Wellness Fair at the Floyd County High School Friday & Saturday, May 15 – 16: Floyd Quilt Show at the Floyd Event Center www.floydquiltguild.com/quilt-show Saturday, May 16: Tour de Floyd Cycling Event • Tourdefloyd.org Saturday & Sunday, June 13 – 14: Floyd Artisan Trail Tour • www.FloydArtisanTrail.org Saturday, June 13: Annual Gospel Jubilee at Chantilly Farm Saturday, June 27: 6th Annual Floyd House & Garden Tour www.Floydartcenter.org Saturday, July 11: Replenish Festival at the Burnett Farm Friday – Sunday, July 17 - 19 Floyd Auto Fair & Vintage Swap Meet at Chantilly Farm 44 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Music is happening in the town and county every Thursday through Sunday (Thursdays through August) Samplings: • Small Town Summers concerts: free on Thursdays - every other week in the town park and continues through August.

• Floyd Country Store: Friday Night Jamboree • Saturday afternoons: American Afternoon music 12pm – 3pm • Sunday afternoons: Music Jams - Oldtime and Bluegrass.

• Watch for Saturday and other night special concerts and dances • Wildwood Farm General Store: an affiliate site of Crooked Road.

• Saturday nights, year-round - free bluegrass music • Every first and third Sunday afternoon of the month - Sunday Music Jams

Monthly Cruise-Ins • Dogtown Roadhouse: Music Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, downtown Floyd • Floyd Farmers Market: Saturdays through November, 9:00am1:00pm, Downtown Community Market • Buffalo Mountain Brewery: hosts free music many nights, Thursday through Saturday.

Cycle Floyd Spring and Summer are perfect times to check out Floyd’s Floyd County Bike Guide /Map in print and on-line. Available at the Floyd Visitor Center and on VisitFloydVA.com.

More information is available online at www.VisitFloydVA. com. Or, you can visit or contact our Floyd Visitor Center, open and staffed seven days week by calling 540-745-4407 or emailing info@visitfloydva.com.

Spring/Summer 2020

INC

benders n i T

Call us for all your heating & cooling needs:

• Service & Maintenance

• Installation

• Gas, Oil, Wood Furnaces

540-334-5841 www.tinbendersinc.com • tinbenders@tinbendersinc.com

www.SouthernHeritageHomes.com

Spring/Summer 2020

• High Efficiency Heat Pumps

Use the earth to heat and cool your home!

Ask us about Geothermal!

540.489.7700 • Rocky Mount, VA

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 45

Fifth Annual Little River Poetry Festival Features Floyd and Mountain Poets They will be joined by Richmond poet Joanna Lee, Portsmouth For the fifth consecutive year, Daniel Sowers, owner of “On the Water Outfitters” and the Sowers family will play host at their family poet Edith Blake, Yorktown poet Brian Magill, Virginia Beach poets farm to a group of poets, musicians, and poetry lovers from around the Evangelina Poggi and Michael Link, Ohio poet/songwriter Kristi state and beyond. The farm is located on Thunderstruck Road in Floyd, Paddock, student poets Coral Kendall from Radford and Cas Horne from Pennsylvania, as well as others. and the event will take place June 12-14.

Each of the three days will feature open mics, poetry readings, During the weekend, many poets will accept the challenge of kayaking down the Little River, just across the road from the Festival workshops, and poetry excursions which will include the kayak outing location, while composing new poetry. The new poems will then be and a hike to a nearby mountain. Hikers can just enjoy the scenery, or read aloud at a natural rock amphitheater to an appreciative audience, they may choose to write a poem about their experiences on the trail. seated in chairs on the riverbank. These new poems will also be posted Having explored Buffalo Mountain in prior years, this year’s hike will head to Rocky Knob. on the Poetry Bulletin Board in the Meadow Jack Callan and Judith Stevens During the Festival, home-cooked, Tent throughout the weekend. healthy meals will be provided on-site by Little River Poetry Festival founders, donation. Primitive camping will also be Jack Callan and his wife, Judith Stevens, are available for those who wish to camp in the both poets from Norfolk, Virginia. And for meadow. While some festival-goers choose the fifth year in a row, they are bringing a to camp on-site, most opt to stay at the vibrant group of creative writers from the Floyd Hotel, Oak Haven Lodge, or any of a Hampton Roads/Tidewater area to crossnumber of excellent Bed and Breakfasts to pollinate with the superb, home-grown, be found in Floyd and the surrounding area. mountain poets of the Blue Ridge.

Music at the Festival will be provided by Jack and Judith host a quarterly “Poetry Cleveland recording artist, Kristi Paddock at the Chrysler Museum” reading and Open (keyboards and psaltery), local musician, Mic in Norfolk, as well as a bi-monthly Jim Best (hang drum), and Brian Magill “Fairmount Five” poetry reading, and a (clarinet, gamelan, and didgeridoo). New monthly “Fourth Friday Poetry Salon” at their home in Norfolk. They also conduct poetry readings, workshops, musicians join the festival each year, and some poems will be read and poetry “happenings” in libraries, schools, and colleges throughout to musical accompaniment. It is anticipated that Riner guitarist, Bill Hampton Roads. Life members of the Poetry Society of Virginia, Jack Adams, will be accompanying his wife as she reads her poetry.

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their musical instruments, is also a former Vice-President of Virginia’s Southeastern Region.

The idea for the Little River Poetry Festival was conceived in Floyd, as well as their notebooks and poetry, to share in some of the weekend’s when Judith and Jack kayaked down the Little River and noticed a rock five open mics. Since the festivities are outdoors, festival goers are also formation with an over-cropping roof which resembled an outdoor encouraged to bring lawn chairs, rain gear, flashlights, sunscreen, warm amphitheater. Intrigued, they tried reading poems they had written clothes for nighttime layering, and summer attire for sunny days.

“Yoga for Health” will be offered by certified yoga instructors each on-the-float and were gratified to hear their voices amplified by the mountain. In that moment, they envisioned a poetry festival on the morning and during breaks throughout the day. The Festival begins at 1:00 pm on Friday, June 12 and ends at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 14. banks of the river and in the field beyond.

When Jack and Judith approached their friend, Daniel Sowers, he The cost is $45 for the entire weekend, or $15 per day. Drop-ins are encouraged them to give it a try. He and his family invited them to begin welcome. Add $35 for your kayak trip down the Little River.

If you write poetry, would like to learn how to write poetry, or the next summer. That was 2016, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Finding excellent poets in Floyd and the surrounding area has been simply enjoy reading poetry or listening to poems and storytelling, this a continuing adventure. This year’s mountain poets include Colleen gathering is for you. All ages and abilities welcome.

Redman from Floyd, Chelsea Adams from Riner, Erin McCarty from Little River Poetry Fest • www.littleriverpoetryfest.com Marshall, Jim Best from the Meadows of Dan, Beth Huddleston from www.facebook.com/littleriverpoetryfest Winchester, and Floyd’s “Three Katherines:” Katherine Chantal, Katherine Sowers, and Catherine Pauley.

46 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

https://citizens.coop/fiberexpansion

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 47

Springhouse Community School has Moved to a New Building Albert Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.”

Right here in the New River Valley lives a small intergenerational learning community that is doing the mighty work of reimagining the purpose and practice of education. Springhouse Community School envisions a culture of lifelong learning, where people feel true belonging to themselves, their community, and the Earth. Springhouse is more than just a school. It is a cultural experiment, committed to personal and collective transformation, starting with redesigning education. Springhouse offers a day school program for 7th-12th graders, rites of passage programs for pre-teens and teens, and personal development programs for adults, including The Well; a nine-month residency for adults focused on creating a healthier culture.

THE CHALLENGE Springhouse is taking a bold, creative, community-based approach to educational design in order to better support adolescents. Adolescence is a relatively newly defined phase of human development that requires more attention than it is currently receiving. In the United States, teenagers are suffering, as evidenced by the rising numbers of teens addicted to various substances and technology.

Loneliness and lack of belonging is being reported at higher levels, with bullying and violence in schools increasing. Teen suicide has become the second greatest cause of death in young people. To create healthy communities, we must better support our teenagers.

48 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Too often we make teenagers the problem. We must have the courage to face, rather than turn away from, the complexity of this challenge. At Springhouse, we are facing this challenge head on by exploring how education can be part of the solution for our teenagers, rather than the problem. We need new designs for how we learn. Using the metaphor of a house in disrepair, we cannot simply rearrange the furniture and make superficial refinements to a structure that is fundamentally problematic. We must experiment with new ways to structure education to better care for our teenagers.

THE RESPONSE Springhouse’s educational approach is unique because it is intergenerational, learner-centered, and competency based.

Springhouse is a living organism that is deeply embedded and connected to the community it is part of. Over the past six years, Springhouse has served over fifty learners through the day school program, while also serving nearly thirty young adults in The Well program, and over seventy-five adults in the personal development programs. Further, over two-hundred community members have volunteered their time at Springhouse, donating nearly five thousand hours in the last year alone. Springhouse is building a strong, passionate, and engaged community of young people, as well as adults, by supporting them as they become more fully who they are.

Springhouse is a living laboratory that is designing education in such a way that it’s in alignment with life. The educational

design, starting with the pedagogical foundation and rippling through the curriculum and methodologies, supports and fosters vitality. Orienting around life-giving values, and building from the foundation of living systems principles, makes for an educational experience that is alive, creative, and sustainable.

Since this educational design is oriented around universal life-giving principles, it can be replicated anywhere.

Springhouse has visitors apprenticing regularly to learn more about the school’s example and design, and how it can be applied to their own learning environments. An educational design that cultivates and supports life is contagious.

The staff at Springhouse are finding this to be true, as interest in the learning community to be found there continues to grow. Springhouse was recently accepted into a professional education program at Harvard, where they hope to further scale the important work they have begun here in the Blue Ridge mountains.

THE GIFT Last summer, with Head of School, Jenny Finn, donors initiated the conversation about helping the school find a permanent location. The search for a permanent home began soon after this philanthropic offer. Finn recalls, “When I received the call that a permanent home was going to be bought for the school to use, I was completely astounded and so grateful. My gratitude was not only for the offer itself, but for the people who believe in the mission and vision of Springhouse deeply enough to do such an amazing thing for us.”

Spring/Summer 2020

On July 18, 2019, Springhouse Community School supporters purchased for the school’s use, a well-loved property and building just inside Floyd County. It is situated on vibrant acreage, with a barn and greenhouses.

It features a beautifully crafted building with a large, timber-frame hall in which to dance and learn. During last summer, community members helped move the school to the new location at 144 Silver Maple Lane in Pilot. The learning community is settling into the space beautifully. During this school year alone, it held at least four community-wide events, including an Open House potluck and concert with Lobo Marino. Over one hundred people were in attendance.

LOOKING FORWARD Springhouse launched in the fall of 2013, with ten learners. Six years later, twenty-three full-time students and eight committed staff members stepped into a new location for the 2019-2020 school year. Adult programming has expanded along with the school’s growth, with offerings and in-depth learning opportunities for all stages of life.

Finn shared, “Springhouse is an intergenerational learning community where teens and adults are learning and growing together. Through our programs and as a learning community, we practice the life-giving values of connection, individuality, resiliency, trust, creativity, and integrity.”

Springhouse will be holding an Informational Evening for Prospective Families on March 16 and May 18 from 6:00pm-7:30pm at our new location. We will hold a Prospective Student Visit Day on April 6, 2020 from 9:00am to 3:30pm. For more information, visit online at www.springhousecommunityschool.org, or follow Springhouse Community School on Facebook.

Springhouse Community School 144 Silver Maple Ln, Pilot, VA • 540-651-4673 www.springhousecommunityschool.org www.facebook.com/springhousecommunityschool/

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 49

- Golden Maple Homestays Your Home Away from Home in Floyd Kevin and Shalene Massie know the value of a good bed. For four years, they traveled extensively in South Sudan and Kenya, booking extended stays in guesthouses and furnished apartment rentals. Traveling the same routes frequently, they quickly developed their favorite spots. Having grown to appreciate a familiar face and comfortable accommodations, it’s now their pleasure to offer this service to visitors of Floyd through Golden Maple Homestays.

The Massies lived in Floyd for several years, getting to know the community. It wasn’t long, however, till they – as many others have done – fell in love with all the richness Floyd has to offer. Even when they moved to Christiansburg for business, they remained connected to the small town.

In 2019, they had the opportunity to operate a vacation rental in downtown. George and Rain Lipson, of Green Label Organic, were looking for renters for one of their apartments. Shalene reached out to them, asking if she and Kevin could rent one of the apartments to host short term guests. Typical of small, quaint towns like Floyd, the two involved already knew one another. Shalene had met Rain over dinner at a small businesswomen’s networking event seven years prior.

Rain remembered Shalene and was open to a meeting to discuss partnering in their new venture through Golden Maple Homestays. It’s amazing how even brief meetings can shape our journeys!

Kevin and Shalene have always had a love for the mountains, recreation, and the outdoors.

Shalene has a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Recreation and Tourism from Appalachian State University. She loves the hospitality and tourism industry, and is excited to provide a place for tourists to have a home away from home while they indulge in all the recreational opportunities abounding in the beautiful mountain town of Floyd.

Golden Maple Homestays is a lovely and spacious two-bedroom apartment in the heart of the town of Floyd. Many guests have shared how peaceful and clean the space is, and how perfect it is for a quiet retreat. “Running on Floyd time” is the motto in this charming, Blue Ridge Mountain town.

Golden Maple Homestays is just three blocks away from Floyd’s one stoplight, so guests can walk to the famous Floyd Country Store and Soda Fountain for a sweet treat, live music, and dancing. Also within walking distance are great art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. At

50 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

all times, guests are just minutes away from a bluegrass, eclectic, downhome good time!

This two-bedroom apartment features one queen bed in in the master bedroom, and two twin beds in the secondary bedroom. The living room contains a sofa bed that sleeps two, and a comfortable twin daybed, for a total sleeping capacity of seven. Every bedspread is covered with a duvet cover that ensures the comforter is clean for a cozy night’s rest.

This is a ground floor apartment that is easily accessible for guests with limited mobility, as well as for bringing in luggage. The kitchen is fully stocked so guests can enjoy cooking all the locally grown food that can be found at the Farmer’s Market, downtown. The apartment is also family friendly, with everything needed for babies and children, such as a highchair, Pack N’ Play, kids dishes and utensils, games, books, and toys!

Golden Maple Homestays is also happy to accommodate requests and special needs! Shalene recalls a guest who was traveling by air and needed a toddler hiking backpack. She made sure one was in the apartment upon their arrival. The guests were so thankful they could travel light while visiting!

They have also hosted several repeat guests, including some who needed a place to stay while shopping for homes. Golden Maple Homestays was the perfect place to stay while searching for a permanent home in Floyd.

The Massies have traveled across the world and stayed in many accommodations. They know the value of a peaceful and comfortable place to stay. They love hosting their guests and making them feel welcome while visiting.

Kevin and Shalene have been married since 2006 and have two daughters. Kevin is a licensed Engineer and owns Blue Fox Carpentry.

Shalene is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator, and owns Rhythm of Birth.

Golden Maple Homestays is a perfect place for your mountain getaway, friend’s weekend, special event, visiting family, personal retreat, writing retreat, even college graduation, football games, or parent’s weekends!

Contact Shalene and Kevin Massie at goldenmaplehomestays@gmail. com or find their listing on AirBNB or VRBO for booking information.

Spring/Summer 2020

Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 51

Immerse Yourself in the Herbal World at the Floyd Herb & Plant Festival

By Kyran Williams

As Spring comes to life along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the first In generations past, the community fire was a place of gathering, as well annual Floyd Herb & Plant Festival is scheduled to make its debut April as a hub for storytelling. Our Sacred Earth fire will burn throughout 17-19, 2020. Along with a weekend of immersion into the herbal world the event, and Fire Keepers will hold the space while hosing facilitators. through free workshops and exploring over eighty vendors, Herb Fest Saturday activities around the fire will include the DragonFly Drum offers a wide array of activities and fun for the whole family!

School leading a drum circle and sharing sacred songs. In the evening, Born out of the desire to highlight and share ancestral wisdom, visitors will be welcome to join together for a ceremony, fire spinners, Floyd Herb Fest is a wonderful, co-created event. Brought to life and may drum into the night with Cave Man Jones. through a grass-roots movement The Floyd Herb & Plant of local individuals who have a Festival invites everyone to gather deep connection to the ridges and around the fire on Sunday to get hollers of the region, Floyd Herb moving with Kyra Aulani, who Fest is a deep dive into the natural will be teaching African dance world of Appalachia. while sharing the history and A unique gathering, Floyd stories behind the steps.

Herb Fest spotlights the natural For the youth and those world of Southwestern Virginia, young at heart, the Land of the encourages healthy interactions Little Ones will be filled with with the land, and celebrates opportunities for interactive small, earth-based businesses. At learning and exploration, all the Village Market, visitors can weekend long.

Children can find a wide selection of locally plant an herb garden, take part grown plants, natural products, in nature discovery activities, and and artisan offerings. enjoy eco-friendly crafts.

Throughout the weekend, An intentional Youth Program visitors may join free, hands-on will be offered Saturday, as well. workshops and classes, enjoy the Organizers: Pictured - Maya Skopal, Gypsy Long, Stephanie Sky This program offers interactive services at the Healers Oasis, take and Laurie Quesinberry. Not picutured - Mel Kastings, Lindsey classes for each age group. Young part in the drum circle, explore Feldpausch, Laura Deneys and Jake Retting. ones will explore nature through alongside their children in the plant walks, songs, stories, a Land of the Little Ones, and much more! tea ceremony, and other fun activities. Class size will be limited, so Come for the day or stay for the weekend! Chantilly Farm will be registration is required. the venue for the event. The Farm is situated on two-hundred acres of Spring is in the air! Let’s celebrate with a Wagon Parade! Bring woodlands, hiking trails, and streams, providing the perfect backdrop your wagon and get ready for the festivities. Ancient Mother’s will have to connect with nature. supplies on hand for you to get crafty. For a five-dollar donation to Dinner and storytelling will kick off Floyd Herb Fest on Friday Floyd Herb Fest, visitors may decorate their nature-themed wagons and evening, April 17. Renowned folklorist and naturalist, Doug Elliott, will enter to win prizes. Once the wagons have been decked out, visitors be on hand for a journey into woods lore, weeds, and wildwoods wisdom, may stop by the Fairy Land tent and get a Fairy makeover. Taking place as well as stories, songs, and lore celebrating the natural world and at noon on Saturday, and led by our Grand Marshals, the Tuxedo Ducks, useful wild plants. Known for his lively tales, knowledge of Appalachian Plant Fairies from Ferrum College’s theatre group will also be joining plants, and lore of the wildwoods, Doug carries generations of wisdom the parade. and has a unique flair for sharing it. Reservations are required for In addition to the Village Market, the final day of Floyd Herb Fest Friday buffet dinner and storytelling. will offer in-depth immersions and free activities. Visitors may learn The weekend Village Market opens Saturday morning at 9:30, and about the natural world and how to incorporate herbal medicine into will feature over eighty vendors offering plants, natural products, herbal their homes through one of the many hands-on classes being offered. remedies, and artisan crafts, along with other unique items. Rain or Explore growing mushrooms, or farming and preserving ginseng. Take shine, the Village Market will be a bustling place of quality shopping and a tasting tour of Appalachian herbal medicine, or trek into the woods learning experiences. In-booth demonstrations, hands-on workshops, for wild foraging and cooking. and in-depth classes will be taking place throughout the day. Visitors Come enjoy the plant sale, take in a class, or enjoy the services may join a plant walk with Doug Elliott in the morning, or CoreyPine offered in the Healers Oasis. The weekend at Floyd Herb Fest will be a Shane in the afternoon. Folks can learn about Herbal First Aid, discover fun and informative way to connect with the herbal community and the Native Plants, explore Botanical Farming, and much more are among natural world. There will be activities for people of all ages to enjoy at the thirty-five free classes being offered. this free family-friendly event, nestled between Buffalo Mountain and Health and healing come in many forms. The Healers Oasis will the Blue Ridge Parkway. be a space to enjoy morning yoga, soak in a woods sounds bath, learn about Reiki, and explore intuitive healing. Featuring local facilitators, April 17-19th at Chantilly Farm massage, therapeutic touch, reflexology, sound healing, reiki, yoni care, 2697 Franklin Pike SE, Floyd, VA herbal consultations, and other services will be offered throughout the www.floydherbfest.com weekend. https://www.facebook.com/FloydHerbFest Connection and community are at the core of the Herb Fest weekend.

52 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020

BELL’S AUTO TOWING Sa l es &

222 East Main Street • Floyd, Virginia Most Centrally Located in Floyd County!

Breakdowns or Wrecks?

Call Day or Night!

No one thinks of having a wreck before leaving home or while on vacation. Should you have such an experience, Call Bell’s!

• Vehicle Towing • Vehicle Recovery • Weekend Access • Secure Location

540.745.3364 Bethesda “House of Mercy” Floyd, Va Wilt thou be made whole? ~John 5:6

Pastor Eddie & Debbie Gallimore 540-230-9090 208 Howard Street turn on Howard Street across from Hardee’s

Good old Southern Hymns Specializing in the love of God

through Jesus Christ right here in downtown Floyd !!

Spring/Summer 2020

Sunday School 10 AM Sunday Worship 11 AM Sun & Wed Evening Worship 7 PM

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 53

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A Little Monkey Business........................... 53 A New Leaf Galley..................................... 36 AmRhein’s Wine Cellars............................... 7 Anahata Education Center.......................... 13 Autoville Auto Repair..................................11 Bell Gallery and Garden............................. 31 Bell’s Auto Towing..................................... 53 Bella La Vita Inn............................. 1, 6, & 11 Bent Mountain Bistro.................................. 36 Bent Mountain Mercantile.......................... 39 Bent Mountain Lodge Bed and Breakfast... 15 Bethesda “House of Mercy”....................... 53 Better Sofas................................................. 37 Blue Ridge Folklife Festival......................... 3 Blue Ridge Yurts......................................... 35 Bread Basket............................................... 15 Buffalo And More......................................... 7 Buffalo Hemp Company............................. 56 Buffalo Mountain Adventures......... 1, 6, & 13 Buffalo Mountain Brewing Company ....... 37 Buffalo Mountain Ziplines.......................... 43 C.W. Harman & Son................................... 54 Chantilly Farm................................... 31 & 49 Chestnut Springs Retreat............................. 35

Citizens....................................................... 47 Cocoa Mia................................................... 19 Country Road Realty................................... 29 Dogtown Roadhouse..................................... 5 Elma’s Closet.............................................. 33 Farm Credit of the Virginias......................... 4 Floyd Country Store.................................... 29 Floyd County Economic Development Authority.................. 55 Floyd County Historical Society................. 39 Floyd County Mutual Fire Insurance Co.... 15 Floyd County Tourism Office........... 49 & 55 Floyd Fest................................................... 51 Floyd Jewelry.............................................. 24 Floyd Yoga Jam............................................. 7 G.J. Ingram & Son...................................... 37 Griffith Lumber Company, Inc................... 13 Living Light River Studio............................11 McHale Arborscape.................................... 39 Mickey G’s.................................................. 29 New Mountain Mercantile of Floyd........... 17 New River Valley Hearing.......................... 47 On The Water in Floyd.................................. 7 Parkway Grille....................................... 1 & 6

Phillips Real Estate..................................... 31 Phoenix Hardwoods........................ 1, 6, & 17 Red Rooster Coffee Roaster........................ 29 Rorrer Well Drilling.................................... 13 SETEC........................................................ 31 Slaughters’ Supermarket............................. 17 Southern Heritage Homes........................... 45 Spencers Body Shop................................... 15 Sticks & Stones Construction..................... 23 Stonehaven Inn............................................ 23 Stonewall Bed & Breakfast Inn.................. 33 Streamline Timberframe............................. 41 T & E Small Engine.................................... 45 The Maggie........................................ 17 & 35 The Schroeder Law Firm, PC............ 11 & 31 Thomas & Wall Real Estate.......................... 2 Tinbenders Inc............................................. 45 Troika Contemporary Crafts....................... 53 United Country Real Estate........................ 33 Upon the Earth Construction...................... 17 Whitlock’s Garage........................................ 7 Wildwood Farms General Store.................. 25 Willis Village Mart...................................... 24 Wills Ridge Supply..................................... 39

Friendly Home Town Service!

C.W. Harman & Son is a family owned Farm and Building Supply business located in rural Floyd, Virginia. For over thirty years, they have offered a wide variety of competitively priced farm products and building materials.

2894 Floyd Hwy S • 540.745.2252 www.cwharmanandson.com

54 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Bird Feeders, Blades, Car Batteries, Cleaning Products, Concrete, Coveralls, Doors, Drywall, Electrical, Fencing, Fertilizer, Gravel, Heaters, Ladders, Lawn and Garden, Lumber, Mulch, Paint, Plumbing, Plywood, Pumps, Purina Feeds, Roofing Supplies, Rubber Boots, Sand, Tools, Trailers, Water Heaters, Water Filters, Windows, Wood Stoves, Vinyl Siding, and much, much, more!

Spring/Summer 2020

Why just visit?

Live & Work Here!

Experience All Floyd Has to Offer!

Traditional handcraft & renowned fine art Farm-to-table dining & farm products Bike, Hike, Float

with 40 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway and our Little River

Sip the Spirits

Strong Workforce, vibrant community life Crenshaw Lighting

Space and Land Available Accomodating a wide variety of business needs

sample our wineries, distillery & brewery

Floyd Innovation Center: Memberships available for meeting space

Move to the Music

with music Thursday-Sundays weekly & festivals throughout the year

Business Support Programs Business networking, financial resources, incentive program

2018 Floyd C4 Business Winners

YesFloydVA.org 540-745-4407

540.745.9300 info@yesfloydva.org

Floyd Visitor Center 109 East Main Street (across from the Courthouse)

Entrepreneurship • Craftsmanship • Innovation

VisitFloydVA.com Spring/Summer 2020

www.FloydVirginiaMagazine.com 55

56 www.Facebook.com/FloydVirginiaMagazine

Spring/Summer 2020