ChicknEGG Productions, who brings us My Manakin Market in central Virginia, will offer a workshop for aspiring or beginning farmers featuring essential resources and tools that will help make your start-up farm enterprise a success. The all-day workshop kicks off on February 9th at the Holiday Inn Kroger Center South Conference Center in Richmond, Virginia and is followed by a farm tour on February 10th.

In Search of Chickens?

Don’t miss the upcoming Master Chicken Keepers Workshop on February 25th. Learn how to integrate chickens into your yard and garden in ways that will benefit you, your neighborhood and community. Learn how the little chicken can empower urban agriculture and help save on local tax payer dollars. Time to think outside the coop and inside your garden.

So you miss the farmer’s market? Not to worry, check out My Manakin Market’s new indoor winter market. Saturday, February 4th at Enzo’s Italian Chophouse on the new heated indoor patio in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia.

For information on the Farm Enterprise Workshop, the Master Chicken Keeper Workshop and the Indoor Market, please visit www.chiknegg.com

Tanglewood Ordinary

“String “in the new year with nationally-known bluegrass band Anderson-Strickland at the historic Tanglewood Ordinary Restaurant in Goochland County along the 35 Mile Drive.

Hailing from Troutdale, Virginia, Gerald Anderson and Spencer Strickland are renowned as makers of “Crooked Road” guitars. Their handcrafted mandolins and guitars are sought after by musicians all over the county. The best in class, 5 member bluegrass band has twice entertained audiences on “Song of the Mountains” at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia.  With searing instrumentation and soaring harmonies, Anderson and Strickland play with an exuberance and joy that is infectious. Whether jamming in the sawdust of their instrument shop, on stage or in the studio, they bring it every time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enIKBdb1JCo

Spend an evening in the country, go west and get your grass on!

Within thirty minutes from Richmond, Tanglewood is a destination in an of itself. Family-style dining. Dinner served up to 7:30. Steamed spriced shrimp among their famous sides and additional entrees. Advance reservations for whole tables (4 and up) available at $40 per person which includes dinner, music, regular beverages, dessert, tax and tip. Beer and wine available, champagne by request.

Music only tickets also available.

804-556-3284 or www.ordinary.com

Tanglewood Ordinary is a member of 35 Mile Drive (www35miledrive.com)

]]> http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/grassn-new-years-eve-at-tanglewood-ordinary-with-anderson-strickland/feed/ 0 35miledrive Exterior- Tanglewood Ordinary 024 http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/the-great-pumpkin-2/ http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/09/30/the-great-pumpkin-2/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:26:30 +0000 Aynsley Fisher http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/?p=350 Continue reading →]]>

Just as Gus Portokalos declares in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, “give me a word, any word, and I show you how the root of that word is Greek.”  So it is true for our favorite fall squash-like fruit- the pumpkin! The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon which is Greek for “large melon!” The French later changed it to pompon which was later changed by the British to pumpion and finally arrived in North America with the colonists and became widely known as the pumpkin!

With the rains of recent weeks, the pumpkin harvest is plentiful this year. Be sure to check out My Manakin Market this Saturday for locally sourced pumpkins (of course,) apples, pears, butternut squash, winter squash…the produce goes on and on! See the list below.

And what a harvest we are having (if the farmers can manage to get out there and pick in-between storms)!  We were fortunate here in Virginia not to have lost all of our pumpkins in the hurricane…  Speaking of pumpkins – we have baking pumpkins!  This week, we also have butternut squash and lots of other lovely winter squashes, fresh parsley and cilantro, green beans, beets, radishes, Arugula, peppers (including specialty varieties), a few tomatoes (slicing, cherries), zucchini, cabbage, sweet potatoes, potatoes, eggplant,  fresh herbs, heritage apples, fall raspberries. 

We have one producer who will be bringing in some apples from other Virginia farms, as it is extremely difficult to produce applies in this area.  They will also have Asian pears and plums from the Appalachian Valley.  We have a great selection of meats, including grass-fed beef, pastured pork, lamb and poultry.

We’ll have cheese this week from Night Sky Farm – come and try a sample! Our selection of baked goods includes breads, muffins, specialty cookies, focaccia, pies, quiches, and even pizza crusts!

We also have honey, candy, homemade spices, specialty nuts, jams, jellies, local wines and lots of other delicious Virginia Grown items available at My Manakin Market!

Live music this week is the Willow Creek Band, featuring a variety of bluegrass, gospel and Americana.

Special health fair this week only! Visit the website for more information www.mymanakinmarket.com

My Manakin Market is a member of the 35 Mile Drive Association- www.35miledrive.com

See ya at the market!

Pickin' Party Fireside at the Harvest Festival

Who doesn’t love a good music festival? Particularly when it’s at a winery, less than 30 minutes from Richmond, with optional camping, bonfires and pickin’ parties after hours! The Harvest Bluegrass Festival at Grayhaven Winery in Gum Spring fits the bill.

 Saturday (9/24) and Sunday (9/25) from 11 to 6

 Single Day Pass- $15. pp, $20 at the door. Two Day Pass- $25. pp, $30 at the door. Kids 17 and under attend free with parent!

Featuring a fantastic lineup of Virginia’s finest, including:

 The Ridge Runners, Maidens Crossing, Heavy Duty, The Spenser Boys, Harper & Co., Rattlesnake Creek, Liza Bance Band

Great Food,, Handcrafted Virginia Wines & Sangria by Grayhaven Winery, Local Artisans, Kids’ Activities

Mandolin, fiddle & guitar Workshops

Plenty of Space for Pickin’ With Friends

Stuff You Can Bring:

RV’s (With reservation)

Dogs (Well behaved – on leash)

Lawn Chairs

Picnic Blankets

Coolers (Subject to security check)

Instruments

Please Don’t Bring:

Alcohol of Any Kind

 Tickets on sale!

Call Grayhaven Winery for RV Reservations and Info:

(804) 556-3917

Grayhaven is located in Gum Spring, VA

___________________________________

Friday Night Pickin’ Party

For Registered Campers

Friday September 23th

4pm-8pm

www.grayhavenwinery.com and www.35miledrive.com

Your Kind of Love is #19 on the hot singles chart

Brand New City  is #5 on the Powergrass Gospel top ten.

Here are a few ways to help our hometown girl stay on the charts:

Call XM Radio/BlueGrass Junction @ 1877-982-2656 to request or email them! or www.xmradio.com or bluegrassjunction@siriusxm.com

Visit www.worldwidebluegrass.com -click tune in…then choose a DJ and make your request (reporting DJ’s to make request too: Gracie Muldoon, Jay, Geoff, Debbie & Ernie Evans, Uncle Billy Dunbar.

Other DJ’s that stream: The Bo Man @ theboman@theboman.com

Buddy Micheals @ hometownfestival@bellsouth.net (live show on Mondays from Roxboro NC wkrx 96.7 fm, streams on Sat. mornings @ life103.1.com )

Cindy Baucom @ www.kneedeepinbluegrass.com

Charlie Hansen @ cwhansen@islandtelecom.com  (station is CFCY Bluegrass Island on Sunday evening)

Brenda Lawson @ lawsonentertain@aol.com (station is WBBC on wed. nights, streams)

Katy Daley, Lisa Kay Howard, Gary Henderson & Lee Michael Dempsy @ www.bluegrasscountry.org

Jay Allen @ Blue Ridge Country 98.1 – jay@blueridgecountry98.com

Join Michelle and Drive to celebrate the release of their CD!

Saturday, October 29

GOOCHLAND COUNTY’S FALL FESTIVAL

Old High School Football Field

2:00 p.m.

FREE

Michelle Nixon is a friend of 35 Mile Drive. www.35miledrive.com

The veteran singer, who has been a perennial winner in the bluegrass world for her work on the award-winning project, Daughters of Bluegrass and as the top Female Vocalist for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America in 2006 took a break after the devastating loss of her father to cancer.

Nobody’s singing the blues now…Nixon and her band Drive are back with a new album, A Place I Belong, already ranked #3 on Airplay Direct’s Top 50 albums. She returns to the spotlight with a new lineup including husband Nick Nixon on guitar and vocals, Patrick Robertson on guitar and vocals, Tim Newcomb on banjo, Mike Sharp on dobro, Jonathan Dillon on mandolin and Tracy Burcham on bass. Six of the thirteen tracks were co-written by the husband-wife duo.

When Tom T. Hall was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Nixon was invited to perform his legendary song “Harper Valley PTA” at the Grand Ol’ Opry. In honor of that special musical highpoint, Nixon includes her own rendition of the song on the new album, released by Mountain Fever Records. For tour dates and information visit www.michellenixon.com or www.mountainfever.com.

Track Listing:

1.  Your Kind Of Love Listen Now!

2.  Small Town Way Listen Now!

3.  Last Road Listen Now!

4.  Too Blue Listen Now!

5.  Making Memories Without You Listen Now!

6.  Brand New City Listen Now!

7.  Top Of The World Listen Now!

8.  A Place I Belong Listen Now!

9.  Better Days Listen Now!

10. Is It Still Over Listen Now!

11. Muddy Waters Listen Now!

12. Where do we go from here Listen Now!

13. Harper Valley P.T.A. Listen Now!

A friend of 35-Mile Drive, and Goochland native, Nixon makes special appearances at select venues in Goochland County including White Hawk Music Cafe and Rassawek Spring Jubilee Heritage Show & Wine Festival.

]]> http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/michelle-nixon-a-place-i-belong-just-released/feed/ 0 35miledrive http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/goochland-receives-tourism-marketing-grant-funds/ http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/2011/08/06/goochland-receives-tourism-marketing-grant-funds/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:42:12 +0000 Aynsley Fisher http://35miledrive.wordpress.com/?p=306 Continue reading →]]> Governor McDonnell Announces $800,000 in Grant Funds to Increase Tourism in Virginia’s Localities

~40 local tourism projects will receive marketing dollars to increase visitation and revenue~

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced today nearly $800,000 in tourism marketing grant funds for more than 40 local tourism initiatives across the state.  The Virginia Tourism Corporation awards the grants.  Each grant is matched by funds from a minimum of three local organizations and used to support marketing initiatives including advertising, Web development, online marketing and brochures.  The three to one matching funds provided by local partner organizations leverages the $800,000 in grant funds into more than $2 million invested in tourism marketing.  In total, more than 180 public and private partner organizations will work together as a result of the grant program. Governor McDonnell recently increased funding for the program as part of his efforts to increase economic development through tourism.

“Tourism is an integral part of the Virginia economy – providing nearly $18 billion in revenue and employing more than 204,000 people,” said Governor McDonnell.  “These grant funds are designed to spur economic development through tourism.  The state’s investment maximizes local marketing funds – allowing for localities to double and sometimes triple their marketing power to attract more visitors to local destinations.”

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) Marketing Leverage Program is designed to stimulate new tourism marketing through partnerships and to extend the Virginia is for Lovers brand.  The objective of this program is to leverage limited marketing dollars, resulting in increased visitor spending.  A minimum of three entities must partner financially to apply.  Partners may consist of Virginia towns, cities, counties, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, other local or regional destination marketing organizations, private businesses, museums, attractions, cultural events, and other entities.

“Virginia’s tourism marketing has a proven 5:1 return on investment, meaning that every dollar the state invests in marketing provides $5 back in tax revenue alone,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the VTC.  “These grants are a tremendous resource for localities that helps get attention for local destinations and generate the revenue and jobs that tourism creates.”

Details on grant awards are below. The next round of the Tourism Marketing Leverage Program will open August 8, 2011.  Localities interested in applying should visit www.vatc.org for more information.

VTC Marketing Leverage Grant Awards

Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia that generates nearly $18 billion in revenue, supports more than 204,000 jobs and provides $1.24 billion in state and local taxes.

Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation.  Visit www.Virginia.org to learn more about vacation destinations in Virginia or call 1-800-VISITVA to receive a free, Virginia is for Lovers travel guide.

Sandy and Rossie Fisher

Join Sandy Fisher for a special booksigning at the New Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville Thursday, August 4th at 5:30 p.m. Sandy’s book Colombia: Pictures and Stories is a pictorial narrative, compiled from his time in the Peace Corps in Colombia during the 1960′s and coincides with the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary.

Sandy will talk about his journey- both in the Peace Corps and in the creative process of writing his book.

During his time in Colombia, Sandy worked in community development in Tenjo, outside of Bogota. After a year there, he became a volunteer leader based in Barranquilla on the Caribbean coast overseeing 20 different sites.

Colombia: Pictures and Stories by Sandy Fisher

After finishing his Peace Corps tour, he graduated from Columbia University and then returned to Colombia, South America to run an
experimental cattle ranch in Los Llanos for eight years with his wife Rossie.  He then came back to the United States to become one of the first executive directors of a camp in Virginia for medically handicapped kids.

Sandy and Rossie returned to their farming roots which began in the Peace Corps and founded Brookview Farm in Manakin-Sabot which became one of central Virginia’s first certified organic farms. They raise grass-fed and grass-finished beef which can be purchased through Lulu’s Local Food

For more information, email bviewfarm@gmail.com or visit www.brookviewfarm.com .

New Dominion Bookshop
404 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA  22902
(434)295-2552