Local Food
Websites
- The West Virginia Agricultural Extension Service, a program of West Virginia University, offers a variety of gardening classes each season for new and experienced gardeners. Contact Emily Morrow at 304 728-7413 x 2 or [email protected]
- Learn how to succeed as a straw bale gardener with How-To-Videos, written articles & advice from enthusiastic Straw Bale gardeners in a community forum. You’ll be surprised at what you can grow!
- Heather Jo Flores, who wrote a book called Grow Food Not Lawns, offers free permaculture book, classes and ongoing forums. Her (free) book is here. On this website you will also find articles and videos linked, and a gallery of “before and after” lawn photos. A link to her (free) permaculture course is here. She is truly a gift to permaculture.
- A Buyer’s Guide to Regenerative Food From Rodale Institute.
Books
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, by Barbara Kingsolver. Harper Perennial: 2007. A memoir and journalist investigation following the author’s family for a year, during which they resolved to eat only what they grew on their farm in southern Appalachia or bought locally.
- Edible Landscaping with a Permaculture Twist by Michael Judd. A fun-filled how-to manual for the budding gardener and experienced green thumb alike. Full of creative and easy-to-follow designs that guide you to having your yard and eating it too!
- The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk. An innovative permaculture and whole systems design approach. with practical information on landshaping, water security, perennial crops, soil fertility, nutrient dense food and more.
- Integrated Forest Gardening by Wayne Weiseman, Daniel Halsey and Bryce Ruddock. The Complete Guide to Polycultures and plant guilds in permaculture systems.
- Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway, a guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, with attention to building and maintaining soil fertility and structure.
- The Carbon Farming Solution by Eric Toensmeier. A Global Toolkit of Perennial Crops and Regenerative Agriculture Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Food Security
- Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018.
- Food Fix: how to save our health, our economy, our communities, and our planet-one bite at a time, by Mark Hyman, M.D. Little, Brown and Company: 2020. A hard-hitting manifesto that will change the way you think about -- and eat -- food forever, and will provide solutions for citizens, businesses, and policy makers to create a healthier world, society, and planet.
- The Local Food Revolution: How Humanity Will Feed Itself in Uncertain Times, by Michael Brownlee, North Atlantic Books, 2016. Based on the hands-on work of the author in working to create a local foodshed, this is a candid look at the possibilities and challenges as well as practical advice to engage in such a project.
Movies and Audio
- The Doctor's Farmacy with Mark Hyman, M.D. Zack Bush and Mark Hyman see an ever-increasing burden of chronic disease, primarily driven by our food and food system. In these podcasts they consider radical ways of fixing the health care and food systems. Especially important episodes:
Food Producers and Markets
- Shepherdstown Farmers Market, typically open on Sundays from 9 - 1. Winter hours from 11 - 1 and biweekly instead of weekly.
- Charles Town Farmers Market, WV - Home. A seasonal, weekly gathering of farmers, consumers, bakers, kids, musicians, artists, athletes, non-profits, business owners, city and town representatives and interested citizens. (304 579-0924) [email protected]
- Community Garden Market, 207 S. Princess Street, Shepherdstown, WV 304 870-4230 Organic and natural grocery store with fresh seasonal organic and natural fruits and veggies. Chef owned, deli delicatessens daily.
- Bushel and Peck Food Market, 100 W. Washington Street, Charles Town WV 304-885-8133. Fresh locally grown or produced products.
- Thread in the Web Find many more local food and gardening resources on this extensive community directory.