Food hub works with the next generation of local eaters

Youth from the Orange County Boys & Girls Club spent Wednesday morning building scarecrows, one of several events the Local Food Hub has planned to inspire the next generation of local food consumers and farmers.
“We want to develop fun ways to engage the youth around our agricultural heritage,” said Marisa Vrooman, who is in charge of farm services and development for the Local Food Hub.

The food hub, a nonprofit that aims to increase the availability of locally grown food, has developed an educational farm in Louisa County, which creators say will be used to teach locals about farming. Other events scheduled at the farm include a seed-spitting contest — in which contestants see how far they can spit watermelon seeds — along with a class about how to identify and catch garden bugs and a Halloween festival.
Lori Kennedy, an administrative assistant for the Orange Boys & Girls Club, said that Wednesday’s event gave about a dozen young members an opportunity to learn more about gardening.
“There were actually a few vegetables that our kids didn’t really know about,” Kennedy said.
The youth also helped to preserve crops by building scarecrows, stuffed with hay in the shape of a man and topped with hats. Old silverware was hung from the scarecrows’ arms, to make noise that keeps predators away from the garden.

“A scarecrow is a deterrent for deer and also for crows and other rodents,” Vrooman said.
The Local Food Hub serves Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Louisa, Greene, Nelson and Fluvanna. Its goals include connecting farmers to consumers and professionals in the industry and helping small farmers to develop successful business models.
For more information about the Local Food Hub and upcoming community outreach programs, visit http://www.localfoodhub.org or call 244-3276.