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WEDNESDAY, MAY 17,2000
Our View
New ventures
Open space preservation can
have many faces.
Two new agricultural ventures in the county,
RappahannockOrganic and Waterpenny Farm,
provide us with some interesting alternatives and, perhaps, some new models by which to preserve and better utilize our cherished open spaces and agricultural land.
RappahannockOrganic is described as an “agricultural marketing cooperative” and its goals are to promote and encourage the establishment of new niche growers by marketing their products within and outside of the county. Their ultimate objective is the preservation of agricultural land by helping to enhance the return on investment in it and thus reduce the landowner’s need to sell or subdivide. In addition to growing, cooperatively marketing locallygrown flowers, herbs and vegetables, RappahannockOrganic is serving to match landowners with available space for growers and growers who need space.
Waterpenny Farm in Sperryville offers a different approach to beneficial land use, but another model for county preservation nonetheless. They have established a 12 acre farm on which they employ organic and sustainable farming methods, and they make their products available through community supported agriculture (CSA) shares to county residents and nonresidents.
Both of these new ventures bear watching and warrant our support.
RappahannockOrganic is currently marketing its products through Mountainside Market, and plans to open other outlets at F. T. Valley Grocery and the Mercantile Center in Washington. For information, call 987-3311. For more information on Waterpenny Farm, call 987-8567.
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