Land and Table July gathering at Bramble Hollow Farm[/caption] Our community tour of the Lynchburg region’s local food movement continues with a summer evening in the country at Bramble Hollow Farm in Montvale (Bedford County) with our local food friends Brent and Anna Wills. A part of the Land and Table network, Bramble Hollow Farm is a small family farm with a focus on sustainable agriculture, premium heritage breeds of pastured pork, poultry and fresh eggs. They have been featured in Natural Awakenings Magazine and are members of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Virginia Association of Biological Farmers, and the Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association. In their own words:
“Bramble Hollow Farm is a small family farm owned and operated by Brent and Anna Wills. The Wills moved to Montvale in 2004 and began transforming the run-down bramble-covered property into what is now Bramble Hollow Farm. Starting with a desire to have a backyard flock of egg layers and a few meat birds, the Wills bought 25 chickens in 2005. Now, seven years later, the Wills will raise over 800 chickens, 40 turkeys, several litters of piglets, and a small herd of cattle on the farm in 2013. Heritage breeds have taken a prominent place on the farm in the past few years and the Wills are proud to raise several heritage breeds of turkeys and chickens and to breed only heritage hogs and cattle. In addition to meat and eggs, the farm also produces wild wine raspberries in July and seasonal produce all summer long. Fresh handmade artisan breads and meat dry rubs are also featured at Chicken Days and at local farmer’s markets. Bramble Hollow Farm is located on 100 acres in Bedford County. It is nestled against the Blue Ridge near Boblett’s Gap close to the Peaks of Otter”Join us as always for the region’s most amazing potluck, networking, gabbing with new and old friends alike and:
- Help the Wills build a new chicken brooder (there old one was destroyed in last year’s derecho)(we will not be completing this project but hope to get as much done as we can).
- Extreme, wild Wineberry (related to wild raspberries) picking (this is truly a “wild” edibles adventure so if you are berry picking please wear pants, boots, natural bug repellent and a container(s) to take your bounty home in.
- Potluck
- Networking and Gabbing
- Helping Build a Chicken Brooder
- Wineberry Picking (for those who choose)
- Learning about Bramble Hollow Farm
- Bring a homemade healthy dish to share (emphasis on sourcing local ingredients). Also please label your dish with your name & what you made.
- Bring your own dishware (plates, utensils, etc)
- Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on.
- If you are berry picking: wear pants, boots & natural bug repellent. Bring a container(s) to bring your berries home.