Blog Post

Recently, Woodside Farms, a naturally grown produce farm that anchors Cornerstone’s Chickahominy Falls community, located in Hanover County, was honored to be part of Richmond’s 4th Annual Farm Tour sponsored by Real Local RVA. This annual event is held to showcase and highlight some of the area’s best farms and to introduce consumers to how their food is grown and encourage mindful food choices. Woodside Farms was delighted to be a part of this unique event.  

Guests toured two farms and ended the event for a post-tour party at Oakdale with dinner and a presentation by Joel Salatin, well known farmer at Polyface Farms and champion of the sustainable agriculture movement.

The well attended event with over 50 participants,  began at Woodside Farms with  our very own Bryan Aycock, Farm Manager, and Kara Siewers, Volunteer/Intern Manager, leading tours through the vegetable gardens and  orchards explaining our growing techniques. Everyone then toured the uniquely designed event Barn and demonstration kitchen and enjoyed snacks from the Woodside gardens freshly picked and prepared by Chef Jenny Tremblay West of Mise en Place.   

Guests then traveled to Harlow Ridge Farm for a tour of a working livestock farm specializing in pasture raised pork, beef, goat and lamb raised on NON-GMO grains.

The post-tour party took place at Oakdale, a beautiful event venue in Hanover County situated on 100 acres owned by Harlow Ridge Farm. The dinner featured local food from Woodside Farms as well as other local farms prepared by Ashland Meat Company Catering. Beverage highlights included beer from Hardywood and local Virginia wines. Guests also enjoyed a presentation by Joel Salatin, well known farmer at Polyface Farms and champion of the sustainable agriculture movement. Featured in the New York Times bestseller Omnivore’s Dilemma and the award-winning documentary Food Inc., Salatin speaks to audiences across the world providing inspiration, faith and practical solutions on healing our world one bite at a time.   

This spectacular event definitely left all of us with “food for thought!” And I’ll end with one last thought – a quote from Joel.  

This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb, has a story to tell. It has a journey. It leaves a footprint. It leaves a legacy. To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this ain't normal.” ― Joel Salatin, Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World