PHOTO BY MONA BOTWICK
It’s no secret that the local food movement has picked up momentum in Virginia’s Piedmont. Yet, there are still a number of challenges local food producers and distributors face as they try to create a sustainable local food economy. The Piedmont Environmental Council’s “Buy Fresh Buy Local” work session in January allowed local food producers and distributors to come together and tackle tough issues. The PEC decided to try something new, hosting its first-ever event for the “Buy Fresh Buy Local” chapters in Loudoun, the Northern Piedmont and the Charlottesville area. The goal was to provide a space in which local food providers could bring up a topic of interest, meet others interested in a similar issue and then take part in constructive conversations and strategic planning centered around a plan of action. “Going into the workshop, we didn’t know what to expect,” said Jessica Palmer, PEC’s “Buy Fresh Buy Local” coordinator. “We wanted to facilitate these important conversations but were aware of how difficult it could be to tackle some of the topics. But it went really well. It was great to see our partners come together and really take on some of the challenges. Everyone was engaged—leaning in and focused on developing a plan.” The nine action groups at the workshop each centered around a different topic, ranging from coordinated feed buying to social media marketing. Each group then generated an action plan to guide its work together over the next twelve months. One group wanted to make non-GMO livestock feed more accessible for their operations. Non-GMO feed is often expensive and can be hard to find locally. With the help of the Culpeper CFC Home and Farm Store, the group is now successfully buying non-GMO feed collectively. Their next challenge is encouraging local farms to grow non-GMO grains that could be used in local livestock feed. Another group focused on educating consumers about the local food system in their region. Rebecca’s Natural Food (Charlottesville) is teaming up with Wolf Creek Farm and Brightwood Vineyard & Farm to organize a seminar series at Rebecca’s, starting this month. In their “Restoring Local Food Systems” series, a large variety of local producers and distributors will share their experiences in preserving and rebuilding the local food system. The group hopes that the series will help consumers better understand how the parts of their community fit together, and how they can feasibly make local food a part of their life. For more information, go to www.pecva.org/farmsandfood
Congratulates
Alex Rossi
2013 Jefferson Scholar University of Virginia Middleburg Academy senior Alex Rossi is a recipient of the highly coveted Jefferson Scholarship from the University of Virginia.
Mother’s Day M AY 1 2
The Jefferson Scholar Program invites over 3,700 secondary schools in 57 geographic regions to participate in the annual undergraduate competition. Rossi is the only 2013 Jefferson Scholar to emerge from the 41-school Piedmont Region. A Jefferson Scholarship covers the entire cost of attending the University of Virginia over the course of four years, provides an extensive enrichment program and an invaluable welcome into a unique community of scholars, graduate fellows, staff and alumni.
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“When we selected Middleburg Academy for our kids, it was because we believed it was the exact environment that would allow the best of each of them to shine. So many people look for the shiny school when they should be looking for the school that will nurture what is good and true in their children. So, while Alex earned the scholarship on her own, we know that the support she received from teachers and staff at Middleburg was a huge part of her success." Stephanie and Mark Rossi, parents (Leesburg)
M i d d l e b u r g L i f e
PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local Work Session: More Than Just Talk
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