Description
Our approach is two-fold - 1) we meet immediate need by making fresh produce available at low or no cost to people with limited food access, and 2) we work for long-term transformation of the food system by providing educational opportunities in diet, health, and agriculture.
In 2016 we grew over 125,000 pounds of fresh produce with the help of 1,200 youth and 1,700 adult volunteers at our Farm in Goochland County.
We grow about twenty basic vegetable and fruit crops, all chosen for their widespread appeal and accessibility in the communities we serve. We also cultivate a quarter-acre blackberry and raspberry orchard and maintain a small-scale egg operation with 20 chickens.
While not certified organic, we use organic methods, emphasizing soil care through composting, mulching, cover cropping and other practices that enhance microbial life. We do not use any synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
Our produce is typically distributed to FeedMore, the central Virginia foodbank, to our partner organizations, and to our own programming. We operate three programs in the city of Richmond, including our Prescription Produce Program, our Youth Run Farm Stands, and our Healthy Corner Store Initiative.
For more information about our Farm or City Programs, please visit our website ShalomFarms.org, or find us on Facebook or Instagram @Shalomfarms.
