On Valentine’s Day, we are given the opportunity to reflect on love, and express appreciation to the people we love. We often think of love as a special connection between two people, probably something private, maybe ineffable. But love can mean something much more public. Khalil Gibran observed that “work is love made visible.” When I co-founded Working Landscapes in 2010, I did so out of a love for my home community. As the organization has grown and evolved, I have been able to welcome staff, partners, and community members who share a commitment to working together to make positive, prosocial change in the world. This love is made visible through increased access to healthy food, improved soil health, relationships built on trust, revitalized buildings, job creation in our small town and across the state, and much more.
As the forces of disruption increase–whether political, climatic, or economic–acting out of love for each other, our communities, and the natural environment will become more important, not less. Love may feel inadequate or even frivolous in the face of some of the challenges we are confronting, but I know that love is much stronger than fear, hate or indifference. While I do not know exactly what the work we are called to do in the next few months or years will look like, I do know that I will be proud to put my shoulder to the wheel alongside my team. I invite you to join us as we build the world we want and need.
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Maeve Broyles is the food hub manager at ByWay Foods, having joined the team in early 2023. Maeve is orginally from Western North Carolina, but now calls Warren County home. Maeve shared, “My favorite part about working for Working Landscapes and my specific role are the people that I get to work with every day. My coworkers, our suppliers, community partners and customers are all invested in a mission to make our food systems more resilient, equitable and sustainable, and that keeps the Sunday Scaries at bay.” A fun fact about Maeve is her passion for collecting unusual and oddly shaped vegetables, ranging from tiny potatoes to uniquely shaped tomatoes. One of her favorite recipes using local ingredients is Ina Garten’s Cauliflower Gratin (see the recipe below). Maeve enjoys making her own breadcrumbs for this recipe. Maeve is an essential part of ByWay Foods, and we are fortunate to have her!
Working Landscape’s Food Hub was established in 2011 in downtown Warrenton in response to community feedback that highlighted a desire to revitalize agriculture in Warren County. It became the first food hub in North Carolina.
In 2013, the food hub expanded by launching a fresh cuts program to process vegetables, which allowed us to serve a wider audience. During this period, we relocated to an old cotton gin nearby, renting space thanks to funding from the BCBS Foundation.
In 2015, Working Landscapes was able to purchase the property and began constructing a new facility, which was completed in 2021. In 2019, we began using the brand name ByWay Foods to distinguish the food hub from the rest of Working Landscapes.
ByWay Food Hub manager, Maeve, shared that there is no “average day” at the food hub, as activities vary significantly with the seasons and the availability of produce. At this time of year, the hub primarily handles storage crops like sweet potatoes and cabbage. On any given day, Maeve might be found managing the crew, overseeing shipping and receiving, addressing food safety concerns, and communicating with partners, customers, and suppliers.
A typical processing day may begin with some team members arriving at 6 a.m. to prepare the machines, sort vegetables, chop them, and conduct food safety tests. A few hours later, the rest of the team arrives to process and package the vegetables for delivery. Recipients include K-12 schools, thanks to the NCDA Farm to School program, along with other school districts. ByWay Foods also produces fresh and frozen meals in their certified kitchen to be distributed to the Warren County Senior Center, in addition to offering produce boxes to the public.
Cauliflower Gratin
By: Ina Garten
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Cook the cauliflower florets in a large pot of boiling salted water for 5 to 6 minutes, until tender but still firm. Drain.
- Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture and stir until it comes to a boil. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until thickened. Off the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper, nutmeg, 1/2 cup of the Gruyere, and the Parmesan.
- Pour 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of an 8 by 11 by 2-inch baking dish. Place the drained cauliflower on top and then spread the rest of the sauce evenly on top. Combine the bread crumbs with the remaining 1/4 cup of Gruyere and sprinkle on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over the gratin. Sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the top is browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.
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Fowl Play Poultry Farm is a 33-acre farm run by two childhood friends, John Alston and Victor Hunt, who are dedicated to giving back to their community. We have worked closely with John and Victor for years, and they were engaged in some of the earliest conversations that led to the establishment of our Food Hub in 2011. The two have both been farming for much of their lives – Victor was once the Warren County High School ag teacher – but have enjoyed working with chickens through this joint-venture. Working Landscapes has consistently bought eggs and chicken from Fowl Play since 2021, totaling to almost $65,000 in sales. Thank you John and Victor for providing quality food to our community!
Did you know that Working Landscapes has a beautiful community space in downtown Warrenton? The Hive is located at 108 S. Main St., Warrenton. We and other local groups host public events in this space each month. Here’s some that are coming up, along with other programs from our food hub partners across North Carolina!
Hive Open Hours
Starting this week on February 18, the Hive will be open from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday! Stop by to enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and espresso drinks; free Internet; access to books, art supplies, and coloring sheets; and a cozy place to work or catch up with friends!
Climate Conversations
Working Landscapes invites you to join us for our Climate Conversations workshop series, happening in the Hive monthly from January – June 2025. These workshops are an opportunity to learn about how climate change is affecting Warren County and how you can be part of local solutions. We’ll follow up each workshop with helpful resources for individuals and homeowners and technical assistance for faith groups, small businesses, and other organizations. Feel free to come to all of our workshops or those that interest you most. February’s workshops will be about Agriculture and Food, with identical workshops held on Saturday February 22 from 12:30-1:30p.m. and Tuesday February 25 from 5:30-6:30p.m.: come to whichever time works best for you! Click here to RSVP, preferably by this Wednesday (2/19).
Warrenton Repair Cafe Interest Form
Want to help build a more creative, resourceful, and resilient community? Consider joining our forthcoming repair cafe! See flyer for more info, fill out our interest form here, and please share with friends and neighbors.
First Friday Poetry Night
Join the Warren Artist Market on First Fridays to hear local poets, storytellers, artists, and musicians! This event happens every first Friday of the month from 7-9:30p.m in the Hive, with the next event taking place March 7.
Soil Rebuilding Strategies – on Zoom
Join Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, Organic Growers School and Working Landscapes as we will discuss ways to rebuild damaged soils, highlighting two methods that make use of woody debris on farms. Alex Grey will present the basics of biochar creation and use, and Chris Parker will present how mushrooms can be used in a variety of ways to improve soil tilth and microbiome balance, with broader discussion on soil rebuilding to follow. Click here to register.
Grant Writing for Farmers – on Zoom
Join Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and Stephen Ussery, founder of Stewards Unlimited for a Farmer Focused Grant Writing Workshop! With expert advice tailored to agricultural needs, farmers will learn practical strategies for crafting compelling proposals, maximizing funding potential, and overcoming common application challenges. Whether you’re new to grants or seeking to enhance your skills, this workshop will empower you to confidently secure funding for your farm projects. To learn more and sign up, click here.
WNC Biochar Loan Program
The WNC Biochar Loan Program provides FREE kilns for farmers to borrow in the Asheville, Spruce Pine and Boone regions. With so much woody debris leftover from Helene and the need to rebuild soil, biochar offers a great opportunity for farmers and we are looking forward to being able to provide more kilns to more farmers. See the attached flyer for more information and feel free to reach out to Rachel@workinglandscapesnc.org with any questions!
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