keeping it local
Small Farms and Rural Enterprises Reinvigorate Local Wheat and Grain Production in Loudoun
By Amanda Geary
What does a plate of pasta have to do with preserving local , sustainable , small farms in Loudoun County ? Probably a lot more than you think .
Believe it or not , in the mid to late 1800 ’ s there was a lot of wheat grown and milled in our area . At that time , Virginia was one of the top wheat-producing states in the nation and Loudoun County was one of Virginia ’ s top wheat-producing counties . At one point there were over 140 active grain mills in Loudoun and Fauquier Counties . Wheat from small farms was a major part of the local economy .
Today it is a different story . According to the USDA , fewer than 1300 acres of land are used for wheat production in Loudoun County . The once iconic Aldie mill , with its tandem water wheels and millstones imported from France , is no longer the economic hub it once was and , while active , is a park dedicated to preserving an important part of Loudoun ’ s history . But , all is not lost . We are in the midst of a turning point for wheat farming and milling in Loudoun County . Much like how Loudoun experienced growth in small wineries a decade ago , there are an increasing number of farms and farmers growing wheat sustainably in Loudoun . Farms such as Hanging Rock Farm
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Hanging Rock Farm is working to bring back small farm wheat and grain production in Loudoun County .
and Three Monkeys Farm are working with local landowners and managers to bring more acres of sustainably farmed wheat to Loudoun each year . At the same time , people such as Wheatland Spring Brewery , Hardywood Park Craft Brewery , and Foggy Mountain Pasta are using locally and sustainably grown wheat as a core element to each of their businesses while also working to encourage other local bakeries , breweries , and restaurants to use locally grown wheat and flour in their products . All of these organizations are working to revitalize the production of wheat and grain in Loudoun County . The results are incredibly good food and drink .
This work to grow , harvest , and use sustainably grown local grains is important for many reasons . As Loudoun continues to expand economically , it loses more and more of its open agricultural land to development every year . Each purchase of locally grown grain or grain products helps to preserve and protect the history and heritage of Loudoun . At the same time , purchasing sustainably and locally grown wheat provides a direct financial reward for those people choosing to keep land available for agriculture while also managing that land sustainably . And most would agree , locally grown food tastes and looks better . Much the same as people have come to appreciate and love flavors of locally and sustainably grown produce , vegetables , meats , and cheeses found at Loudoun ’ s fantastic farmer ’ s markets and many local restaurants , grains grown in our region can help make local food taste better while also offering better nutrition .
Additionally , grains grown sustainably on smaller farms can offer other significant benefits to
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