“I liked learning about the greenhouses and how they work. It was really interesting to see how asparagus grows and how it takes almost three years for it to get to fruition. I did like the massage, too,” says David, another Culpeper resident.
“It was great to see the people’s emphasis on health,” says Joseph, who lives in Culpeper. “I want to have something like the greenhouses here for myself, but I think I’ll come here once a week, or every couple weeks, to get my fresh green vegetables. I know they’ll be healthy for me.”
On November 3, 2013, Hartland Natural Farm welcomed people from the surrounding communities this time to our fall festival. The visitors received a farm tour, and the Health Outreach class gave free chair massages and blood pressure checks. They also checked body mass index and health age.
Delicious food samples were given to the guests. The college cafeteria served potato salad, and Karine Sanchez served her tasty kale tomato soup with lentil “meatballs.” Students preparing to venture to the Bahamas and India sold cookies and cupcakes to finance their mission trips.
Last but not least, the visitors were able to buy fresh homegrown produce—beets, collard greens, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, and winter onions.
“I liked learning about the greenhouses and how they work. It was really interesting to see how asparagus grows and how it takes almost three years for it to get to fruition. I did like the massage, too,” says David, another Culpeper resident.
Mary, David’s wife, adds, “I enjoyed learning about how the vegetables are grown, cared for, harvested, and the importance of their nutrient value. I learned that you can go grocery shopping out here for healthier food choices. And the massages and the taste testing were great.”
Joseph concludes, “It’s good to see people learning to use the land to raise their own food as God intended. The fact that they’re eating a vegetarian diet like Daniel did is good, as well. I hope a lot of these good health habits will rub off on me—that I’ll pick up on them myself.”