Our most recent VALOR excursion landed us in the Northern Neck region of Virginia. The Northern Neck is an area full of history, fertile soils, and plenty of water. The roads are lined with historic markers, the homeplaces or many of the founding fathers of the United States, and historic homes of yesterday. It is… Continue reading Leadership, A Committment Beyond What Most Can See
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DdR--F21Vk The ecological thriller, based upon the television series of the same name, explores the deep philosophical questions about how does life on the mainland impact coastal islands. Do we take for granted the environment we live in? Should our actions be taken with a thought to those who live offshore? Should we make the… Continue reading It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel peckish.
We had the pleasure of visiting Omega Proteins in the Northern Neck. The intricacy of the operation, and the specificity of the machinery was a sight to behold. What was just as important was the impact that one business can have on a community. From pilots, to fishermen and engineer, in one way or another… Continue reading Big Business, Little Fish
Stuck indoors on yet another incredibly soggy, rainy Fall day, trying not to worry about the soaked and un-harvested cotton and soybeans in the waterlogged fields makes me want to focus on something else. My mind turns to worry instead about the watermen and farmers we met on our recent VALOR trip to Tangier Island in… Continue reading Food and Fiber -culture
The Northern Neck of Virginia offers a distinct view of the Commonwealth, a region unlike any other with its rural life, “rivah” sauce, national history, and all things seafood. The VALOR program through Virginia Tech does many things well, but in particular the culture immersion that comes with each regional session is truly the icing… Continue reading Saltwater Seminar
Visiting Farms and touring Loudoun and DC seemed a little ironic since I live in Purcellville, work in Leesburg and have the opportunity to go to the City on an afternoon visit. But to take the time to visit local farms, hear from our farmers about the decisions they are making to be successful in… Continue reading Seeing Things Through a Different Lens
Our VALOR group traveled to Richmond during the General Assembly session this winter to see decision making in action, learn to voice our opinions on pertinent issues and gain a better perspective on just what it takes to keep our State and Country running smoothly. My past trips to view the General Assembly in action… Continue reading Gettin’ it Done!
Our recent experience in the Shenandoah Valley was certainly an eye opener for me. I grew up a "farmer's daughter" in Loudoun County. I drove tractors, rode in the combine with my Dad, made hay, brought in straw, bush hogged fields and helped to fix fence, but I never had the opportunity to go inside… Continue reading View from the “Farmers Daughter”
One of the exciting things about Virginia Agriculture is the diversity that abounds across the state. Our recent trip to Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore was just another testiment to this statement. I hail from from Northern Virginia where we still have some traditional crops of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay; and where our… Continue reading Exploring the Diversity of Virginia Agriculture
As the only aggie in a high school graduating class of 330, urban-edge agriculture resonates very strongly with me. Outside observers may dub it a curious novelty and question your sanity (who would *want* to cultivate crops when there are houses aplenty to grow), but there’s nothing especially peculiar about agriculture on the fringes of… Continue reading Southwest Virginia: An Exercise in Contrasts
valeadersor.com 