"A beef farmer and two Farm Bureau employees invite an HSUS employee on a conference call...." It sounds like the start of a bad joke. Comical thought, but that would never happen and if it did, it wouldn't end well. Right? That was the exact situation Brantley, Stefanie, and I found ourselves in during our… Continue reading What Do We Have In Common?
Our March seminar to Northern Virginia and Washington, DC gave me the opportunity to gain fresh perspectives on urban agriculture, food distribution, and food policy. It also provided a chance to develop a deeper understanding with the familiar through history and a meeting at National Milk Producers Federation headquarters. Visiting with Mary Ellen Taylor at… Continue reading Fresh Perspectives
While Class IV has already traveled quite a bit, for me, the Northern Virginia/D.C. session was the biggest reminder that agriculture does not look the same everywhere. However, two common threads across the industry are creativity and ingenuity. These characteristics were on full display throughout our stops. At the Heritage Museum, we saw firsthand how… Continue reading
Even though NOVA is home, the northern Virginia and DC seminar gave me a lot to think about. For me, the visits highlighted conflicting priorities. Making money and feeding people They are not mutually exclusive, but they are sometimes in conflict. Endless Summer Harvest served us the best lettuce I've ever eaten. Wegman's has a… Continue reading Conflicting Priorities
The Seminar IV trip to Northern Virginia/DC was a unique experience. We learned about the challenges that come with urban agriculture and some of the unexpected benefits of serving an affluent population. We saw both ends of the spectrum in terms of accessibility to nutritious food. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting… Continue reading What are Microgreens?
When I think of Loudoun County Virginia huge mansions, suburbia, and D.C. commuters come to mind. Session IV started off by visiting a place that stuck out like a barn in the city, especially because that's what it was. We started off Seminar IV at the Loudoun Farm and Heritage Museum with a delicious lunch… Continue reading “Preserving and Promoting”
Last fall I taught a class on climate change and urban development which focused on climate change impacts and adaptation in urban settings. Emphasis on urban agriculture was among the various adaptation practices employed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and assure food security. Urban agriculture entails the growing of food in an urban… Continue reading Urban Agriculture – Up Top Acres
I truly enjoyed my visit to Washington D.C. and was proud to know many of the efforts going on to improve our Nation and the community of Washington DC. Visiting the US Capitol was an amazing experience especially getting to see all the wonderful statues of our great leaders. One near and dear to my… Continue reading Ms. Fannon goes to Washington!
Each time I go to Washington D.C., I am reminded of everything our nation has been through in our relatively short history. I sometimes get overwhelmed with a sense of patriotism when standing in the very locations pivotal to United States history. Seeing our nation's capital in March, right when the cherry trees are beginning… Continue reading Our Nation’s Capitol
Last month our VALOR group explored agriculture in Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. It was an educational and eye-opening seminar covering many businesses and policy issues I did not know much about. Our meetings and discussions re-emphasized how important it is for us to tell our stories and be relatable. Although I am technically considered… Continue reading VALOR Blog #4: Washington DC & NoVA
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