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Marcus Gray, owner of Gray's LAMBscaping has his sheep on several of Dominion Energy's solar...

Grown Here at Home: Pittsylvania County farmer expands farm operation with solar grazing

Updated: May. 29, 2023 at 7:23 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Two years ago, Gray’s LAMBscaping started out with 25 adult females, and now they have nearly 800 sheep.

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Seventh-grade Benjamin Franklin Middle School math teacher Jennifer Hatch and students...

Benjamin Franklin Middle School cuts ribbon on Math Garden

Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 5:47 PM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The math garden is part of an ongoing project by seventh-grade math teacher Jennifer Hatch.

Grown Here at Home

A flock of sheep on one of Dominion Energy's solar farms. The sheep help to maintain the...

Grown Here at Home: Dominion Energy, Carilion Clinic see success with solar grazing

Updated: May. 22, 2023 at 7:39 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Dominion Energy and Carilion Clinic are using solar grazing to maintain the land where they have solar arrays.

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Benjamin Franklin Middle School teacher Jennifer Hatch.

Franklin County teacher uses experience to teach perseverance in classroom

Updated: May. 8, 2023 at 7:42 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Jennifer Hatch has received several awards this year for her work in the classroom. Most recently, she was honored with the 2024 Regional Teacher of the Year award.

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Blacksburg Bagels is one of the many vendors that participates in LEAP's West End Farmers...

Grown Here at Home: LEAP’s West End Farmers’ Market in Roanoke re-opening in new location

Updated: May. 1, 2023 at 7:35 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The farmers market is moving to a new location right beside LEAP’s Food Hub.

Grown Here at Home

The Seed Library at the Salem Library has several varieties of seeds to help you start gardening.

Grown Here at Home: Salem Library program has seeds and tools you can check out to get you gardening

Updated: Apr. 10, 2023 at 9:44 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Whether you’re a beginner or expert gardener, the Seed Library inside the Salem Public Library has everything you need to help you learn and grow.

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Lick Run Farm in Southeast Roanoke is hosting a Spring Social on Saturday, April 8, from 10...

Grown Here at Home: Lick Run Farm hosting Spring Social to raise funds to acquire land

Updated: Apr. 3, 2023 at 4:45 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Lick Run Farm is hosting a Spring Social on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,

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Benjamin Franklin Middle School math teacher, Jennifer Hatch, is using agriculture to help...

Grown Here at Home: Franklin County teacher uses agriculture to teach students math

Updated: Mar. 27, 2023 at 9:31 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Benjamin Franklin Middle School teacher Jennifer Hatch is a recipient of the 2023 National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award.

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Workers for LEAP get ready to pack Farm Share subscriptions.

Grown Here at Home: Support local farmers with subscription to LEAP’s Farm Share program

Updated: Mar. 20, 2023 at 7:28 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

It’s different from a traditional Community Supported Agriculture program. Instead of buying food from one farmer, you get to enjoy food from several.

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You can nominate someone you think is an Ag Superhero. The deadline to submit nominations is...

Grown Here at Home: Nominate an Ag Superhero to be on a trading card

Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 6:14 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

You can nominate someone you think is an Ag Superhero. The deadline to submit nominations is March 8, 2023.

Local Radar

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Grown Here at Home: AgriStress is crisis helpline for farmers dealing with suicidal thoughts

Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 7:33 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched the AgriStress Helpline in 2022 to give farmers mental health support.

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Grown Here at Home: Garden plots available for rent at LEAP’s Morningside Community Garden in Roanoke

Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 7:37 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

The LEAP Community Gardens are in three locations in Roanoke – Hurt Park, Mountain View, and Morningside.

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Grown Here at Home: The impact of inflation on greenhouse growers

Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 7:44 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

Normally, at this time of year, the crew at Woods Farms in Franklin County would be filling up every greenhouse, but that’ll have to happen a little later.

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Fundraising efforts for SWVA Agrarian Commons to acquire Lick Run Farm in Roanoke going strong

Updated: Jan. 30, 2023 at 6:17 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

This land acquisition project will give people who live in the northwest part of the city access to healthy, nutritional food.

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Grown Here at Home: LEAP Kitchen ensuring ‘ugly produce’ doesn’t go to waste

Updated: Jan. 23, 2023 at 7:55 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

LEAP called on volunteers to help process 300 to 400 pounds of butternut squash.

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Grown Here at Home: Lynchburg meat processing company finds solution to keeping cattle hides out of landfills

Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 7:37 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

A Lynchburg meat processing plant is creating a sustainable solution to keeping cattle hides out of landfills.

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Grown Here at Home: Governor Youngkin hopes to increase AFID grant funding in budget proposal

Updated: Dec. 14, 2022 at 7:28 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

A grant program put in place 10 years ago, continues to help both large and small businesses in the ag and forestry industries.

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VDACS celebrates 10th anniversary of AFID program; more than $12M awarded since inception

Updated: Dec. 6, 2022 at 4:55 PM EST

By Neesey Payne

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services held an event at Homestead Creamery to mark the 10th anniversary of the AFID program.

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Grown Here at Home: Many holiday finds at Woods Farms

Updated: Dec. 6, 2022 at 7:34 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

It’s Christmas time at Woods Farms in Franklin County and the crew is still hard at work.

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Grown Here at Home: Homestead Creamery needs you to return quart-sized bottles

Updated: Nov. 21, 2022 at 7:43 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

Homestead Creamery needs your help to keep their milk on store shelves.

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Grown Here at Home: Smoke In Chimneys competing for chance to win $10,000 in Bull Pen competition

Updated: Nov. 7, 2022 at 5:17 AM EST

By Neesey Payne

Smoke In Chimneys is competing for a chance to win $10,000 in the Virginia FAIRS Bull Pen competition.

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Grown Here at Home: Virginia Department of Forestry holds annual online seedling sale

Updated: Oct. 31, 2022 at 7:31 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Virginia Department of Forestry’s online seedling store is now open.

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Grown Here at Home: Bland County farmer with cerebral palsy gets help from AgrAbility Virginia

Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 7:32 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

As farmers age in Virginia, an organization is focused on keeping those farmers healthy, active, and able.

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Grown Here at Home: Workshop to give tips to help farmers and gardeners prevent injuries

Updated: Oct. 17, 2022 at 6:09 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Roanoke Foodshed Network is hosting a workshop called “Feeling Good on the Farm & in the Garden.”

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Grown Here at Home: Teachers, Virginia Ag in the Classroom $500 grant deadline approaching

Updated: Oct. 10, 2022 at 8:20 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom is giving teachers a chance to win a grant for their classroom.

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Nelson County High School FFA gearing up for Drive Your Tractor to School Day

Updated: Oct. 6, 2022 at 10:11 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Traffic in Lovingston will make way for a parade of tractors Monday.

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Grown Here at Home: Nelson County FFA raising money to get to national convention

Updated: Oct. 3, 2022 at 7:39 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Nelson County FFA has a great opportunity ahead, heading to the national stage at the end of October, but needs some help to make it possible.

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Grown Here at Home: Couple discovers huge hornet nest on farm in Wythe County

Updated: Sep. 26, 2022 at 7:37 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Sherry Shaverdi and her husband live on a 60-acre sheep farm in Wythe County. In July, they noticed a hornet nest on their dog’s house.

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Grown Here at Home: Teachers, enter to win a hydroponics system through Virginia Ag in the Classroom

Updated: Sep. 19, 2022 at 7:29 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom is celebrating 30 years with a nice giveaway teachers can enter to win.

Agriculture

Check out the latest research, technology in agriculture at Kentland Farm Field Day

Updated: Sep. 2, 2022 at 11:04 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

You can get a look at the latest research and tools in agriculture during Kentland Farm Field Day.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: Busy summer season for Homestead Creamery

Updated: Aug. 1, 2022 at 7:31 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Ice cream is good any time of year, but it surely fits the bill on these hot summer days.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: Family farm becomes safe place for daughter battling rare disease

Updated: Jul. 25, 2022 at 7:46 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

As a family in Catawba is navigating their daughter’s unexpected diagnosis of a rare disease, their alpaca farm has become quite the special place for them.

Health

Grown Here at Home: Alpaca farm becomes safe haven for family navigating daughter’s rare disease

Updated: Jul. 18, 2022 at 7:35 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Schneiders' alpaca farm has become a safe haven for them as they navigate an unexpected challenge.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: Woods Farms ready for a busy summer season

Updated: Jul. 4, 2022 at 10:17 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

At Woods Farms in Franklin County, they’re busy stocking the farm stand for all your summer get-togethers.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: Southwest Virginia Agrarian Commons working to give farmers more access to land

Updated: Jun. 27, 2022 at 9:16 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Agrarian Trust is an organization that started in 2013 – formed by a group of people who experienced the challenges new farmers have in accessing land.

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Grown Here at Home: NCHS ag program receives Creating Excellence Award

Updated: Jun. 20, 2022 at 7:43 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

The Virginia Department of Education awarded Nelson County High School the Creating Excellence Award.

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Grown Here at Home: VDCR holding Agricultural Nutrient Management Training; become a certified plan writer

Updated: Jun. 13, 2022 at 6:31 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

A training program is equipping people to write nutrient management plans to help farmers.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: Roanoke urban farmer says land access is a challenge for new farmers

Updated: Jun. 6, 2022 at 6:49 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Cam Terry moved from Colorado to Virginia in 2017 to start an urban farming business.

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Grown Here at Home: Virginia Grown gets new look; upgrades to program

Updated: May. 30, 2022 at 7:29 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

Changes made to the Virginia Grown program are hoping to get more people to buy from their local farmers.

Grown Here at Home

Grown Here at Home: The basics of caring for orchids

Updated: May. 23, 2022 at 7:34 AM EDT

By Neesey Payne

If you love orchids and are just now becoming familiar with the plant, there are some basic things you should establish so your orchid will bloom year after year.

Grown Here at Home