Our next Land and Table gathering will feature the Bennett family from Auburnlea Farms casting the vision for their upcoming local foods grocery store.[/caption] Last Month: Recap Our last monthly Land and Table gathering was our first Saturday meeting and we had a great turn out with around 40 adults, a whole bunch of kids, great food and a lively discussion about the Ag Board’s push to expand opportunities for chicken and hog factory farms/CAFOs in Bedford county. Lot’s of important angles were addressed and it is my hope that any of us who are concerned will take time to talk with the Ag Board, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors – as well as attend their meetings and take a stand for the health of our land and community. Our Upcoming Gathering Our next Land and Table potluck/gathering is coming up Saturday, May 10 (4-7pm) at Mountain Run Farm and we are looking forward to seeing you’all there! We will be featuring Rick and Becky Bennett of Auburnlea Farms who will be discussing their plans to open a specialty grocery store/butchery/cafe/ice-cream shop in Lynchburg. Their goal is to to provide the surrounding community with access to LOCAL, clean, sustainable and organic foods. These kind of retail spaces can have huge implications for local, sustainable farmers and our regional foodshed as they serve to connect local producers with local consumers in a way that builds community and the regional economy. From Auburnlea Farms’ announcement on Facebook:
“Wouldn’t it be great to have a small organic grocery that featured lots of local products; a fresh meat market that cut-to-order local, organically produced meats; an old-fashioned soda shop that served ice cream made in-house from grass-fed Jersey cow milk; a full-service cafe that served delicious organic meals, and offered take-out, good-for-you family meals?” Weeelll…. After lots of prayer, lots of figuring, lots of sleepless nights… it’s coming! Introducing: Auburnlea Farms Corner Market, Inc. It will be located at Cornerstone on Greenview Drive, Lynchburg, VA. We have a target opening date of November 1st!..”From WSET:
An organic grocery market is coming to Lynchburg’s Cornerstone development. The owners of Auburnlea Farms in Gladys hope to open Auburnlea Farms Corner Market by November 1. The market will have its own butcher shop, ice cream shop, and 50-seat cafe. The groceries inside will come from farms located close to Lynchburg, primarily from Campbell and Bedford Counties. The hope is that you’ll find anything you can get at a regular grocery store, from a local source. If you live at Cornerstone, you can call in orders, or place them online and have your groceries delivered free to your door.
DETAILS:
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?- (4-5pm) Networking and informal Market
- (5-6pm) Community Potluck
- (6-7pm) Special presentation: Rick and Becky Bennett discussing their upcoming retail space for local foods in Lynchburg.
- Bring a lawn chair or folding chair (weather permitting we will meet outside).
- Bring a homemade healthy dish to share. Also, if you can, please label your dish with your name and what you made that would be helpful.
- Bring your own dishware (plates, cups, utensils, etc) (help us keep unnecessary trash out of the landfill) (A dishwashing area will be provided).
- Bring some money and a cooler to purchase some grassfed beef or other local, sustainably raised/grown farm products – also local arts and crafts!
Click on the image to download the event flyer (PDF)[/caption]]]>