SHOP WITH THE WILD BUNCH

BHM's RENEGADE MARKET

(rain or shine)

It's that week when we feast til we burst, almost! As we prepare to grace family and friends by sharing great food and warm company, remember the Byrd House RENEGADE Market is open this week on Tuesday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm to make available the freshest, produce, meats and baked yummies for your holiday convenience. Join us!

REGULAR RENEGADE VENDORS:

• AgriBerry CSA: Some fruit available to BHM shoppers early or at the end of the market. Apples, Cider, Raspberries, Jams and (probably) Sauce

• Empress Farm: Turkeys, rabbits, turkey eggs, peach jam, green beans, apple butter, zucchini pickles & other pickles Featuring Free-Range holiday Turkey and Apple-based goodies

• Faith Farm: Anti-biotic free grass-fed beef, pastured pork, goat cheese (Garlic & Chive, Black pepper and Natural) Amish roll butter, farm fresh eggs, local honey, strawberry and blackberry jam Featuring a variety of Egg Noodles

• Bill & Joyce Heath: Nice range of fall vegetables

• Perennial Pleasures: Holiday wreaths and greens

• Pleasant Fields: Root vegetables, squashes, potatoes Featuring Broccoli, Cabbage, Greens, Beets, Turnips, Sweet Potatoes, some of the last Winter Squash, Carrots, and Honey

• Rural Virginia Market & CSA: Apples, root vegetables, honey Featuring Brussels Sprouts - Cabbage (New Jersey Wakefield & Flat Dutch varieties) - Cauliflower - Broccoli - Spinach - Kale (Red Russian, Siberian and Tuscan) - Swiss Chard - Radishes - Beets - Broccoli Raab - Locally grown apples (Granny Smith, Red or Yellow Delicious, Jonagold, & Fuji varieties)

• Thistledowne Farm: Local Apples and fresh pressed Cider, fresh Greens, Sweet potatoes, Sweet Potato Pies, Breads, Herbs, Jams & Jellies, Pickles, Apple sauce

• Sub Rosa Bread: Offers exclusive monthly subscriptions to a naturally leavened, rustic, wood fired bread every week for the period of that month

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Visits the Byrd House Market

On June 16, 2009, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine visited the William Byrd Community House Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Community Garden with an eye on their contribution to the health of Virginians.

The governor had a great time learning about all of William Byrd’s programs and how the market and garden support WBCH’s children’s programs teaching youngsters about nutrition, gardening, and green jobs.

BHM customers enjoyed meeting the governor and expressing the importance of the Byrd House Market and William Byrd in their community. Also present were Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Robert Bloxom and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry William P. Dickinson, Jr who have been great supporters of the Byrd House Market.

"Before we can solve healthcare, we have to start with the health of the individual," said Gov. Kaine in his speech at the market, "especially at risk are our children and this market goes a long way to exposing children to healthy eating habits."

Kaine whose parents both grew up on farms also noted that many small farms have been sold and turned into housing developments and said, "It is important that we support small farms and Virginia farmers."

WBCH Director, L. Robert Bolling showed his enthusiasm for the governor’s visit saying, “It is very encouraging to have the governor recognize our commitment to the health of Richmond families.”

Chipotle's Fundrasier a Phenomenal Success!

The new VCU Chipotle at 810 W Grace St. hosted an amazing fundraiser for the Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Communty Garden on June 10th which yielded $2030 in funds! The staff worked tirelessly and served over 400 guests in only 3 hours! Thank you so much to all of our supporters who came to the event, a delicious Chipotles dinner for only $5.00, where 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit the Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Community Garden's educational programs for children. And a very big thank you to Chipotle's Regional Manager, Elizabeth Gaeta, and the staff of the Grace Street Chipotles!

Sign up for a CSA at the Byrd House Market

CSA stands for Community-sustained Agriculture and is a system whereby shoppers purchase a share of a farmer's yearly produce yield.   Most farmers pre-bag their CSA shares and members pick them up at the market each week. As the growing seasons change, so does the content of your bag.  This can be a very exciting way to make sure you get the very freshest produce without competing with the crowds at stalls or breaking any speed limits on your way to the market.  Below are links to vendors at Byrd House Market who offer CSAs

Rural Virginia Market CSA, go to www.RuralVirginiaMarket.com 

Fertile Crescent CSA, go to http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M20988

Matthew Brock Makes WBCH His Eagle Scout Project

Eagle Scout, Matthew Brock, chose the William Byrd Community Center as the focus of his Eagle Scout project completed on October 17, 2008. Matthew worked with John Wise, the Grace Arents Community Garden manager, to design and construct a pathway that runs from the back of WBCH to its gym and playground. The path which creates a border alongside the Grace Arents Community Garden and Byrd House Market field, was completed with assistance from Brock's friends and volunteers from Monacan High School, the James River Juvenile Detention Center, and Boy Scout Troop 869.

Matthew first became involved with WBCH as a middle school student when he volunteered to assist the organization's youth soccer team. Now a senior and Varsity Soccer Player at Trinity Episcopal School, volunteer work has remained a major part of his life.

Matthew's dedication to his community was most likely inherited from his grandfather, William D. Brock, who on October 17 presented Mr. Bolling, Director of WBCH, with a handcrafted birdhouse that is an amazing replica of WBCH's building on S. Cherry St. He created the birdhouse from a photograph and his imagination.

Both Matthew's path and his grandfather's birdhouse are perfect additions to William Byrd Community House and both can be seen at the Byrdhouse Market on Tuesday, October 21st from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Byrd House Market Congratulates Urban Farmer Will Allen

Milwaukee urban farmer, Will Allen was honored with a $500,000 “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation this month for his work in stamping out "food deserts" in his community.  Mr. Allen is an inspiration to all of us who are striving to improve the nutritional lives of urban families.  Read about his amazing accomplishments at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/dining/01genius.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Back to School Means Back to the Basics for Your Child's Nutrition

Help your kids stay focused and healthy throughout the school year. Studies show that healthy eating not only increases a child's ability to learn but has been linked to improved behavior and better attendance.  Come to the market to load up on fruits and veggies to pack in their lunches or nosh on when they come home from school. Even better, bring your children to the market, introduce them to our farmers, tour our community garden, and use the opportunity to excite your child about healthy eating. Style Magazine called the Byrd House Market "the most child-friendly" farmers market in Richmond and it's true. We havestorytellers, face painters, children's music, and fresh tastings. 

Local Artists and College Students Help Educate Children at the Byrd House Market

Pressed flower artists and VCU student, Kelley Libby and Lookability craft artist, Robin joined forces this month to delight children from the William Byrd Community House Early Childhood Development Program. Kelley who had already planned to press flowers with the children, met Robin while at the Bizarre Market. When she saw Robin’s tiny booklets made from seed packet covers, she realized they were a perfect match for her tiny presses. After hearing about Kelley’s project, Robin generously donated her booklets for the cause. The children pressed flowers into the handmade books with very charming results.

VCU graduate, Liz Chaney worked with the William Byrd Community House teens on a fascinating project where the kids took soil samples from various parts of Oregon Hill and then with Liz’s help, the children analyzed the samples’ content.

The Grace Arents Community Garden and the Byrd House Market are often the settings for educational opportunities for children in the William Byrd Community House Programs. “I can’t tell you how valuable it is to us to have members of the community volunteer to work with the kids,” says Grace Arents Librarian, Patty Parks who oversees the department that includes the garden and the market, “the kids learn so much and having guests makes the kids feel important --- which, of course, they are.”

To learn more about Kelley Libby, visit her website at http://letstakeawalk.tumblr.com/To learn more about Robin and Lookability, visit her websites at http://lookability.blogspot.com or http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=2779

If you think you have something to teach a child or an adult in a William Byrd Community House program, please contact Patty Parks at librarian@wbch.com or call (804) 643-2717. To learn more about William Byrd and its many programs, visit our website at www.wbch.org