Keeping Goochland Rural

Goochlanders love its rural character, whatever that it. Crafting a precise definition of rural is tricky, and like the comment made by former United States Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart about pornography: “I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it.”

Critics declare that residential growth and economic development in the eastern part of the county is the death knell for rural Goochland. In truth, 85 percent of the county is planned to stay rural under the 2035 comprehensive land use plan.

Folks who live on a fraction of an acre in eastern Goochland believe they are in a rural area. Those who live on acreage to the west, know they are rural. What is the common denominator?

Logo for new Ag Center

That would be agriculture. You can’t have rural without farms.  There are all sorts in Goochland, including the Alvis Dairy Farm west of Centerville, horse farms, and a wide rage of operations producing beef, artisanal pork, and other crops. Trees, whose growing season is measured in decades rather than months, are part of the ag scene as are farm breweries, wineries, and cideries.

Aside from land use taxation, calculated on a per acre rather than assessed valuation basis for property actively engaged in agriculture or forestry uses, the Extension Office, and support of the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District, the county did little to encourage and support farmers.

That changed on Tuesday, December 3,  when, before a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Goochland Ag Center, located at the Central High School Educational and Cultural Center, County Administrator John Budesky announced a new initiative dubbed A.C.R.E.S. (Accessibility, connectivity, readiness, education, and sustainability) to support the agricultural community.

Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District Director Jonathan Lyle and Nicole Shuman, 

Nicole Schuman and Jonathan Lyle (left and right of scissors) cut the ribbon on Dec.3.

Agricultural and Natural Resources agent for the Goochland Cooperative Extension office cut the ribbon for the new center. Both agencies moved to space there earlier in the year, simplifying and encouraging collaboration in their respective functions.

Agriculture is big business in Goochland, Budesky explained. About one third of the 56 thousand acres in the county are involved in activities classified as agriculture related. Statistics for 2017 indicate that we had 355 farms, ranging in size from fewer than ten acres to more than one thousand. Cropland accounted for 42 percent of the total followed by woodland at 32 percent and pastureland at 21 percent. Our top crops are hay; soy beans; corn for grain; wheat for grain; and corn for silage. Goochland’s livestock inventory includes broilers and other meat-type chickens; cattle and calves; goats; hogs and pigs; horses and ponies; layers; pullets; sheep or lambs; and turkeys. Of our 550 producers, only 45 are under the age of 35 and 234 are over 65.

(See the 2017 Census of Agriculture County Profile for Goochland https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Virginia/cp51075.pdf for a detailed look at the variety of agricultural products in Goochland and their market value.)

ACRES seeks to offer support for the agricultural community by engaging various departments including community development, animal protection, the assessor’s office, MSWCD, Parks and Rec, and the Extension office. Support will be focused on educational awareness programming; planning and zoning initiatives; streamlined policies and procedures; public safety; and economic development and tourism.

Rural economic development and agritourism are an important component in keeping Goochland rural. Farming is a tough business, indeed, the high rollers are not at Las Vegas casinos, but in every field in America where each year producers literally “bet the farm” in hopes that abundant harvests and strong markets will enable them to cover their costs and make a profit. Farm families often need someone employed elsewhere to supplement their income.  

Agritourism helps farmers add value to their products, which in turn helps their bottom line, and reduces the temptation to sell their land to developers. Farmers markets showcase and create demand for locally sourced products. Tourism may be the best sort of economic development—folks come and enjoy what you’ve got to offer; spend money; and go home.

The new center will help with marketing and social media outreach; the basics of managing a business and writing business plans; grant opportunities; and promotion of agriculturally based products. Go to http://www.goochlandva.us/1046/Agricultural-Resources for complete information.

The Ag Center is the latest addition to the Central High School complex. The Center’s new auditorium hosts a wide range of meetings and even fostered creation of the Goochland Community Theater, whose next production A Good Old-Fashioned Redneck Country Christmas will open on December 19. (See gvatheatre.org for details)

Hands On Dogtown, a space for local artisans to work and showcase their wares, is taking shape. Its first tenant is a blacksmith shop under the direction of the Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild. The kitchen of the former school has been repurposed into a forge.

“We kept the range hood and tile floors for fire safety,” explained Derek Stamey, Deputy County administrator for Operations, who has presided over the transformation of the old building from a derelict property into a valuable community resource.  “The forges are enclosed, enabling heating of metal without using an open flame.”

Derek Stamey explains blacksmith operations. The  boxlike things are enclosed forges.

In addition to the blacksmith shop, Sekou Shabaka and the Shrine of the Black Madonna will establish a community garden on the property in collaboration with offenders from the Virginia Correctional Center for Women in Courthouse Village.