Janet’s words today:

Fortunately, my education was only just beginning when I graduated from college. Really, my most critical learning has occurred since commencement. Moving to the Pacific NW after college, I lived amid small scale, sustainable agriculture. I learned that I love kale and collards. I soaked up information about organic farming. I fell in love with a man that was falling in love with compost.

It was also in this community that I first heard the prompt to Speak Truth to Power.

Tuesday evening I shared the following words with the our County Planning Commission. Regardless of what county you live in, these thoughts may be appropriate to share with your local government, and/or the relevant industry leaders.

“I was born and raised in Chesterfield County, on Deer Range Road, where the landfill in question has a street address. I chose to return as an adult to live on Deer Range and start my own small business.

 

My husband and I own and operate Broadfork Farm, where we produce Certified Naturally Grown vegetables for our community. I believe our county should support and encourage local business that operates with the health of the community in mind – the economic and physical health of our community, including both the people and the environment.

I don’t believe Chesterfield County is the right place for the type of business that Skinquarter Land has proposed, and when they re-apply for an amendment to their permit, the county should not issue a permit that allows ASR and/or Fly Ash – ever.

Our farm business depends upon a clean environment to produce clean, healthy food for the area residents. Our customers count on us to do everything we can to ensure that we are improving the health of our ecosystem, which is then reflected in the health of the food we produce.

Our customers have sent me here tonight to say that the materials mentioned do not belong in the vicinity of where their food is grown. We cannot irrigate vegetables with contaminated water. We cannot support pollinators with contaminated air.

  

So I say tonight to our planning commission: Do not allow a landfill in Chesterfield to accept ASR, Fly Ash, or any other material potentially harmful to our community and our food system.”

This week’s harvest includes:

Heads of Lettuce (Red and Green), Hearty Mix, Kale (tender Red Russian, greenhouse grown), Salad Mix, Spinach, Hakurei Turnips…and Eggs, Multigrain Bread, Pepper Jelly, and Transplants (Tomatoes – multiple varieties, and Kohlrabi).

We will be at to the South of the James market this weekend. Market Share CSA members may place an order for pick up at the SOJ Market (in addition to the Brandermill/Good Health Herbs pick up option), or simply show up at our booth to spend your credit. If you wish to order, choose your selection through our Online Store.

Enjoy ~

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Spring Farm Tour: Saturday, April 27th, 4:00 pm. Learn about small-scale, sustainable agriculture as we show you around our farm. We will point out what your food looks like while growing in the ground and share our methods for growing. Family friendly. No fee. Please, no pets. We hope you will join us! Driving directions on our website.