The first supermarket . . . and our opening of a second location.

The first supermarket supposedly appeared on the American landscape in 1946. That is not very long ago. Until then, where was all the food? Dear folks, the food was in homes, gardens, local fields, and forests. It was near kitchens, near tables, near bedsides. It was in the pantry, the cellar, the backyard.
-Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms

We are the parents of four kids, living in the 21st century. So, please don’t mistake the above quote as a belief that we can and should turn the clock back to 1946—like it or not, “big ag” and supermarkets are part of the landscape, and they have their place in modern society. But small, agrarian-based farms, markets, community CSAs, and coops are also a part of this landscape. In our opinion, there is too much “unused space,” so to speak, regarding these localized/community-centric opportunities. For us, cultivating that space is important. As we gear up to launch our second location in Scott’s Addition, Liza and I have been reflecting upon where we’ve been, where we are headed, and what we are all about.

It seems like a million years have gone by since we relocated to Virginia and started planting our orchard! Time certainly does accelerate as you age! Since 2013, we’ve planted about 4.5 acres of apples and pears, cultivated gardens, built a home and cidery/tasting room, rebuilt a home, re-cultivated gardens, and now we’re just about open a second tasting room location—oh, and raising the kids, can’t forget that! Thankfully, Liza and I like the rollercoaster version of life. We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate folks, and can’t wait for the next twist or turn.

While we are never sure what the future holds, we are super excited about opening our new location in Scott’s Addition, 3300 W. Broad, Richmond (off the back alley abutting Mactavish Street). The new space is just a tasting room, and all production remains at the farm. This is important to us, as we remain committed to our Goochland County family, friends, and community at large. Scott’s Addition is an amazing, vibrant area and we are really grateful to be able to showcase what we do in a tasting room there. Indeed, it is a great opportunity to further explore our philosophy of “culterra.” But we are also rooted, literally, in Goochland.

Culterra is a term we’ve adopted as an expression of our overall philosophy. At its core, culterra embodies the notion that understanding, interacting, and interpreting one’s community, and the land it inhabits, enriches the foundation of both. From our relationships and partnerships with area nonprofits, membership in the Richmond West Beverage Trail, personal belief system, dedication to family (a term we use in the broadest sense), and beyond—we believe that the overall health of a community is inextricably tied to the land, and vice-versa. We strive to nurture both.

So, cheers to the summer time, and here’s to your good health and well being! We hope you enjoy the Scott’s Addition experience, and then come see us at the farm in Goochland! Both offer something different and unique.

Cheers,
Eric & Liza