Farmer’s Market coming to the area?
The idea was circulating amongst the neighborhood associations, but now the T-D has picked it up: Preliminary efforts are underway to start a possible farmer’s market in the general area.
Some Fourth District residents have suggested locations including Forest Hill Park, possibly in the paved parking area adjacent to 42nd Street, or near the intersection of Westover Hills Boulevard and Forest Hill Avenue. Several told Hathcock they like the idea of a weekend market that would offer organic produce or locally grown produce.
With the equipment rental place now vacant, there’s a prime starter spot just sitting on Westover Hills…
What a great idea for our neighborhood. For it to be successful, it needs to be in a highly visible area, like the elementary school. I don’t picture it doing so well if it is off the beaten path at Forest Hill Park.
In regards to the equipment rental place on WH Blvd, I’m hoping we can get another restaurant running! Do the rest of you think our neighborhood can support another? What type of restaurant would you desire?
The problem with farmer’s markets is this: each grower is subjected to paying sales tax on all sales, they must pay fees to the state board of weights and measures, it’s a huge amount of legal state paperwork to sell items, not to mention the tax paperwork for the small amount of produce or whatever the grower is selling, etc. It’s a serious hassle for the small-time grower, and really defeats the purpose of a local neighborhood farmer’s market. Not to mention that growers usually have to have their own liability insurance, too.
Good idea, but the devil is in the details.
Speaking of a restaurant… I would love to see a noodle bar/sushi bar go in somewhere nearby. I thought a great funky spot would be the old dry cleaner next to the Ukrops center, but Rental Works would be closer!
That old Dry Cleaner was only up for sale for a hot minute. I pictured a cool place going in there… Hopefully someone had a similar idea.
Someone would have to put a lot of work into Rental Works to turn it from a garage to a usable building. It’s obviously been done before, but has it’s value now risen too much to make that type of transformation worthwhile?
I hear the Dilligaf’s (tattoo and piercing) will be moving into the old dry cleaner on FH avenue.
Anyone ever googled ‘dilligaf’? You’ll chuckle at what it means…
you really want a tattoo from that kinda attitude?
i’ve seen the dilligaf guys at the seven eleven near their shop. mildly nazi, not the type of tattoo shop i’d want as a neighbor.
still, to each their own.
If anyone’s interested in promoting the growth of locally produced food items at farmer’s markets, they should write to their state legislator about approving SB 272:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=sb272&Submit2=Go
Information about the bill:
1. Local/home-based food production and consumption supports earned income
in neighborhoods and communities.
2. The demand for local artisanal cottage-based food is growing
exponentially. People want alternatives to mass produced food.
3. This growing desire for local food is stifled by laws requiring inspected home kitchens. People want to eat locally grown and produced food. They are being denied access because of the misapplication of this law. Church sales and farmers markets have been severely hurt.
4. Seasonal food production overages, including home garden surpluses, can
be used to bring in extra money by allowing neighbors to provide for
neighbors.
5. Labeling the product “Not for resale—processed and prepared without
state inspection” informs the consumer that is not inspected and not to be
resold.
6. Rural Virginians on low or fixed incomes historically counted on these
type items to bring in a little extra money. This bill is simply the
reasonable, right thing to do.
Find your legislator:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform
I live in Forest Hill, here is mine:
McEachin, A. Donald
District 9, D
district09@sov.state.va.us
(804) 698-7509
Ahhh, judging on appearance alone is a wonderful thing…………..
i guess calling their shop d.o i. l.ook l.ike i. g.ive a. f.*ck might make you pause to use some of that judgement.
death’s head belt buckle might, too.
sure, they may only espouse the sense of style the nazi’s had, but that’s enough to send me to another place to get tattooed. but that’s just me.
a farmer’s market would be great, too! but i aint buying eggs from anybody that reminds me of mengele. i’m just saying.
The farmers market would be a great Idea and I work with migrant farm workers for the state. I would be willing to help with anything to help make this work. The problem is there are only so many famrers in the area and most of them go to lucrative Northern Virginia Markets on the weekends. Weekday markets bring less people and less cash to the grower and are difficult to sustain. That being said I am 100% behind it and maybe we could pull this thing off!
I am just becoming acquainted with Hills and Heights website. I love it! I’ve been living in and around Forest Hill most of my life. I love the Farmer’s Market Idea. I saw the word “pool” pertaining to the pictures, and thought hey where’s the info for the pool? Wouldn’t that be nice to have in the Hills and Heights.