ARE YOU A GEAR JUNKIE?  

The City of Roanoke invites residents to a public meeting to review and comment on a proposal from Roanoke Natural Foods Co-Op to establish an urban agriculture operation on two properties located between Portland Avenue, Ranch Road, and Lewiston Street. The Countryside Master Plan designated the two city-owned properties (12.2 acres) for urban agriculture uses.

Twelve acres newly dedicated to urban agriculture is not only an important statement for supporting local foods, it is the largest example of its kind. We can find no precedent for an urban farm of this size, especially in new development. Other American urban farms are smaller and/or on land that had previously been dedicated to agriculture.

This is giant step forward for local foods, a local economy, and urban agriculture. The farm will strengthen the local food system and build community involvement not only in the Countryside neighborhood, but throughout the city as well. Plans are to produce local food and to use the farm as an educational resource where individuals can learn through experiencing urban agriculture.

• Where:  William Fleming High School Cafeteria
• When:    Thursday, September 22, 2011, 6:30pm

For more information, contact Chris Chittum, AICP, planning administrator by phone at (540-853-2356) or by email to Chris.Chittum@roanokeva.gov.

The Roanoke Outdoor Circus (aka the ROC), presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is a month away (10/21-23). This event has so many unique attributes that it wouldn't do them justice to lump them into one story.  Each week we'll profile one or two "attractions" you'll discover at the ROC.

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. Volunteers build trails and bridges, remove trash and invasive plants, plant trees and restore our water resources.  

NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September.  Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds. Last year, 170,000 volunteers worked at over 2,080 sites in every state,   

GET INVOLVED

Build A Trail at Carvins Cove
This Saturday you can help Pathfinders for Greenways build a trail at Carvins Cove.

• Saturday (9/24), 9am - 1pm (work as little or as much as you can - all is appreciated)
• Bring gloves, water, hat, shoes, and loppers if you have any. All other tools provided.
• Lunch is provided
• Win a Trek bicycle. One lucky volunteer will win a Trek hybrid bike donated by East Coasters.
• Email questions and registration RSVP to bgordge@cox.net
• Directions to Carvins Cove (Bennett Springs parking lot)

Clean Philpott Reservoir
If you prefer being close to the water, Friends of Philpott is organizing a litter clean up from the shoreline of Philpott Lake. Email Mary Lawson or call her at (276-629-2703) for details.