Real Local RVA Announces its 5th Annual Farm Tour

Real Local RVA’s Farm Tour is back for it’s 5th year, y’all, and we want to share the news! Read a message from Real Local RVA’s Executive Director Beth Ferguson highlighting the featured farms and activities for this year’s Farm Tour:

For Immediate Release

Aug 12, 2021

Real Local RVA announces its 5th Annual Farm Tour, on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 from 3-7 p.m.  The event aims to highlight local farmers, encourage local food purchasing and educate on the importance of sustainable food growing practices.  The tour will be held at Charlotte Acres in Mechanicsville, VA.  Charlotte Acres is the home to three separate minority owned farms, Shine Farms, Real Roots Food Systems and Hazel Witch Farm.  Guests will receive a tour of each farm and learn about their growing practices and business models.  Following the tour guests will enjoy dinner from Leek & Thistle with dishes that include ingredients from the farms.  Local musician Rachel Leyco will provide the entertainment.  

• Shine Farms is a womxn powered, diversified vegetable farm serving RVA. Owners Jess Car and Nicole Broder practice regenerative, organic agriculture with a focus on environmental values.  Jess and Nicole are graduates of Tricycle Urban Ag, and in addition to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program they sell their produce on Tuesdays at the Birdhouse Farmers Market, Wednesdays at their farmstand on site, Thursdays at Pizza Bones pop up market, and in many local stores and restaurants.

• Hazel Witch Farm is a woman-owned farm growing medicinal herbs, specialty cut flowers, and heirloom seed run by Ash Hobson Carr.  Hazel Witch Farm uses low/no-till soil management, human powered tools, and plant positive pest management with a focus on bioregionally adapted and open pollinated varieties. A graduate of Tricycle’s Urban Ag program, Ash also holds a BFA from VCU’s School of the Arts and owns her own photography business.  Meet Ash here: https://www.hazelwitchfarm.com/about-1

• Real Roots Food Systems is owned by Mark Davis and is an entity founded with the mission to increase participation in the food system, by implementing and supporting original agricultural practices both locally and regionally.  Real Roots centers around three main functions: Local food production, waste diversion and the creation of high quality compost products.  Also a graduate of Tricycle Urban Ag, farming sustainably permeates every daily function of Real Roots.  Learn more about Real Roots here: https://foodcap.org/real-roots

• Event details: Sat, September 18th, 2021 – 3-7 p.m, Tickets $45-55: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/real-local-rva-farm-tour-and-party-tickets-165801074477

Real Local RVA is A grassroots group of independent, small grocery stores, farmers, farmer’s markets, value added producers, restaurants, and supporters working to build a more collaborative local food system in RVA. Their mission is to educate, support and raise awareness of the local food movement and choices in the Greater Richmond area. They hold monthly meetings with engaging speakers relevant to the local food community as well as consumer focused events. Learn more: https://reallocalrva.com‘
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Beth Furgurson (she/her)
Executive Director
Real Local RVA