By Lynn R. Mitchell
Get ready, Staunton … Innovate LIVE is heading our way this weekend, April 24-26. Staunton is stunning this time of year — spring flowers and blossoming trees, soft warm breezes, and the historic downtown area just waiting for visitors while the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains surround the Shenandoah Valley.
A full agenda will begin Friday morning and last through Sunday.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
The Washington Post’s Andrew Jenner asks the question many who know local farmer Joel Salatin have asked: How can he appeal to the left, right, and middle in his sustainable farming endeavors (see How America’s most famous farmer can appeal to left, right, and center)?
Joel, who lives in Augusta County southwest of Staunton on his Polyface Farm, has built a reputation on his practice of farming and raising livestock without pesticides or other invasive methods freely used in today’s agriculture. He is known far and wide because of his lectures, books, and news articles such as this one in the Washington Post that have introduced him to those looking for a cleaner way to raise their food.
Somehow along the way Joel has garnered the attention of those on all sides of the political aisle:
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Get ready, Staunton … Innovate LIVE is heading our way the weekend of April 24-26. Staunton is stunning that time of year — spring flowers and blossoming trees, soft warm breezes, and the historic downtown area just waiting for visitors. Surrounding it all are the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains. A full agenda will begin Friday morning and last through Sunday.
Organizers are excited:
Innovate LIVE is a crowd-sourced, energy-packed, festive convergence of Local Innovators, Visionaries, and Entrepreneurs.
Over three days, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, and artistic creators will converge in coffee shops, patios, and classrooms to explore the next wave of innovative ideas that are transforming our local communities. Sustainability, cooperation, the new economy, arts and music will be the lenses through which we explore local opportunities for change and evolution. Together, we will develop and share the tools to build more vibrant communities and more creative lives.
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By Lynn R. Mitchell
February 24, 2015. Our drive along the back roads of Swoope in western Augusta County along the foot of the Appalachian Mountains took us past North Mountain Outfitters where one of their longhorns posed as I took photos.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
February 24, 2015. It was an overcast, cold winter day as we headed out to drive the back roads of western Augusta County along the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. Clouds were moving in and the temperature was 23 degrees with a stiff breeze that plunged the wind chills into the teens. I snapped this pic from our neighborhood as we began our journey.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Who knew backyard chickens would be such a controversial idea in rural Augusta County? I am not an expert on the policies nor have I read much on either side. However, for someone who is pretty plugged into the news, the chicken issue was under my radar until arriving at the supervisor meeting Wednesday night and seeing the partition open and extra seating set up for an overflow crowd.
Hmm.
By Lynn R. Mitchell
Today at LynnRMitchell.com, we are looking at the Atlantic Coast Pipeline issue that has stirred opinions both for and against in Augusta County and elsewhere. Posts from guest writers and regular contributors include Augusta County supervisors, citizens, information from Dominion, and an editorial cartoon.
Here is the list of articles in today’s Special Pipeline Issue:
Previous articles on the pipeline:
By Joel Salatin
Owner, Polyface Farm
Guest Post
This is acute for people in our locality, but has broad applications for similar tensions around the country. Dominion (sounds ominous, no?) is a large energy development company in Virginia (Old Dominion) proposing to install a 42-inch high pressure gas line from West Virginia fracking fields down to North Carolina and out to Yorktown (a major seaport).
By Lynn R. Mitchell
This weekend, September 5-6, 2014, Staunton will become the home of the Food Freedom Fest featuring Augusta County’s own Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm and Martha Boneta of Liberty Farm in Paris, Virginia. Centered around the historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, the weekend will also feature tours of Polyface Farm.
Friday evening, the Food Freedom Fest is throwing a street party and inviting the public to join in. Featuring local vendors and live entertainment, the “Local Food Street Fair” in beautiful downtown Staunton runs from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Hometown hero Joel Salatin will be honored with ceremonial “Keys to the City” and Staunton officials will read a resolution in support of food freedom.
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