Take the Local Food Challenge!
Spend just $10 per week on locally-grown foods and beverages and be a part of the 'local movement.' The Virginia Food System Council, along with other food and agriculture organizations, challenges all Virginia households to help grow Virginia's economy. According to research by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, spending just $10 a week on locally produced foods can generate over $1.65 billion dollars annually that stays in our state.
Top 3 reasons for eating and buying local 1. Buying locally creates jobs and keeps more money circulating within the local economy. 2. Locally grown foods don't have to endure long storage or travel resulting in more flavorful, fresher foods. 3. Shopping at farmer's markets, roadside stands or farms creates a sense of community with local farmers growing our food.
Are you up for the challenge? * Take the pledge at VirginiaFood.org
* When shopping, look for store labels indicating locally-grown produce, fish, seafood and meats, as well as locally-produced milk, eggs, honey, cheese, and specialty items * Choose restaurants that feature local products on their menus * Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm and buy a subscription for weekly delivery of seasonal foods |
Go Kayaking at Stumpy Lake Community Day
Saturday, May 5 | 2-5 pm | Stumpy Lake Natural Area (4797 Indian River Road)
Join us for a Community Day at the new Stumpy Lake Canoe/Kayak Launch. Single and double kayaks will be available free of charge to paddle this beautiful 278-acre lake. Located just after the causeway from Indian River Road near the entrance to the Stumpy Lake Golf Course, the launch opened in November 2011 and provides first time-ever water access to Stumpy Lake. Kayaks will be accessible for 20-minute excursions; no experience necessary.
Also take the opportunity to explore the shared-use trail at Stumpy Lake Natural Area before or after hitting the water, or bring a lawn chair to relax and take in the scenery. This canoe/kayak launch is fully ADA compliant, and citizens of all abilities are invited to join the activities on the water. |
Get to Know the Turkey Vulture
What's up there in the sky, soaring in a circle? Is it a falcon or a hawk? Most likely what you are seeing is a turkey vulture. Turkey vultures are large birds that are dark brown in color with a red featherless head and small ivory beak. Adults have a wing span of about six feet, and males and females are nearly identical in appearance.
Turkey vultures are unique due to their highly developed sense of smell, which is atypical in birds. They use this heightened sense of smell to locate their primary food source, carrion (dead animals). Their highly acidic stomach is able to kill most of the bacteria on the deceased animals, helping to prevent the spread of disease. Also, having a bald head means that no meat can get stuck in their feathers, thus improving their hygiene. Turkey vultures very rarely prey on live animals and are very non-confrontational and unaggressive.
Learn more about these animals by visiting Wikipedia or the Turkey Vulture Society. |