Behind-The-Scenes

In Season 5, Episode 12: Legacy, we met some amazing people from one of the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Virginia State University. People passionate about who they are, where they’re from and more importantly where they are going.

But with so many interesting stories coming out of VSU Where The Food Comes From had to take the shoot off campus to visit Petersburg Oasis Community Garden in Petersburg, VA in. Let’s follow Host and Producer Chip Carter to this magical place.

Chip’s first interview takes place with Urban Agriculture Extension Specialist for VSU Dr. Leonard Githinji. We were already running a bit behind and I did not have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Githinji, but in my opinion he is quite a warrior when it comes to food security. Many of you may not have heard that term. Basically, food security means having access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food.

Dr. Githinji’s vision is to see more people take responsibility for growing just a little bit of their own food. His reasoning is quite simple: This will help alleviate some of the problems of not having enough nutritious food and will reduce the need to rely on the supply chain. Sounds easy enough.

He talked about how we can grow food in our backyards, side yards, raised beds or even pots and the advantages of growing food this way.

The above picture is my last year’s attempt at urban farming in pots. Looks pretty good right? Well…I did run into my share of problems and, in the end, I was not as successful as I had hoped. As it turns out – and as we say all the time on the show – it is not easy. And I now have an even greater respect for all the farmers I have met.

VSU recognizes how difficult farming is and offers a 12-week, hands-on program to teach people about urban agriculture systems. And in my opinion, you can’t beat a good hands-on experience. Dr. Githinji is a fascinating man and I am so happy you will hear more about him and his work during the interview.

When we arrived at Petersburg Oasis Community Garden, we were greeted by  Tyrone Power Cherry, Executive Director of Petersburg Is Growing Inc. First let me say I was a bit taken aback when I saw this young man. The aura emanating from him is palpable – you can feel the positive energy coming off of him. And the stone around his neck definitely got my attention. I have my own collection of stones and really wanted to ask him the story behind his but, quite frankly, I chickened out.

Just glancing around this five-acre farm, you know there is something super special going on. Small animals, reading sanctuaries, a labyrinth, hoop house, a greenhouse, food truck and all kinds of garden beds are part of the landscape and each has its own unique story.

Tyrone and Chip talked about food deserts. Okay, another new term but it goes hand-in-hand with food security.  A food desert is defined as an area that has limited access to food that is plentiful, affordable, and nutritious. And downtown Petersburg, VA falls into that category. 

Time to check out this magical place. Our first stop took us to the Mama Cherry Reading Garden. Named after Tyrone’s late mom, Deirdre Janine Cherry, Tyrone built the garden to honor her passion for literacy. His goal is for children to learn to feed their mind as well as their bodies and soul. A total holistic approach to health – I do like that.

Tyrone has a fenced-off area that houses small animals, in little coops and hutches and even a wading pool where ducklings paddle about. This area is dedicated to “reverence for life,” as he puts it. Here Tyrone teaches children about the role these chickens and rabbits, insects, and bees have in farming. Children learn about the phases of life, life’s transitions, and to treat every living thing like they would want to be treated.

After listening to Tyrone, my wish is that our world had more people like him in it. And maybe after hearing his interview more people will realize the importance of his message and step up to the plate.

Unfortunately, what happened next took us all by surprise. Humor me – I need to give you a bit of a back story. You see, I call my four children “my ducks” and seeing the little ducklings, who had lost their mother early and had come of age at Tyrone’s home, swimming in the little pool made my heart incredibly happy. I immediately texted my four a picture of them.

At one point, while Chip was speaking with Tyrone, I looked over at the ducks and well… it didn’t look so good. Three of them were floating, not swimming anymore. I had no choice and I interrupted the shoot. Tyrone stopped speaking, took one look at the ducks, and went running to the pool. It was a cool day and the water temperature had dropped quickly – and there was no mama duck to tell the little ones it was time to get out. By the time we reached the pool a few more ducks were floating. Tyrone needed to get them out of the water, dried, and warmed up if they had any chance of surviving.

A long time ago my youngest duck told me I should always have a towel in the trunk of the car, honestly for what I really had no clue. But I actually listened to him and always carry one – so I ran to get it for Tyrone. And that is the towel you see during the episode that saved five of them.

Crisis over, Tyrone continued the tour of his farm by showing us his raised garden beds – Papa Kelly’s Vegetable Garden. This type of farming is ideal for people who don’t have a lot of space. Pots and growbags are a common sight for the beginning farmer. I should know, my garden this year is even bigger than the one previously shown.

Before Chip and Tyrone finished their walk a second stop was made at the Bubba Chuck Greenhouse to check on the ducks. Happy to report the ducks were doing well and waddling around.

Now you may be asking yourself what else can be going on here? Well, I have the answer.

For starters a mobile farm stand and food truck named for the late father of Tyrone’s best friend Papa Graves. Papa Graves’ vision was to create healthy meals for those who are in need and Tyrone made it a reality.

Earlier when I looked around the farm, I noticed what appeared to be a labyrinth among the flowering plants and herbs. Well, I was right. This part of the farm is known as the Medicine Maze. Tyrone encourages the children who visit to take off their shoes and socks, and walk around the maze smelling the herbs. Another place to restore the soul and as Tryone puts it, “Eat like Willy Wonka.” In other words, anything and as much as you want.

On the opposite side of the farm was yet another farm. But this one has a special purpose. It is actually a business incubator for those who want to start their own farming ventures. Four, one-quarter-acre pieces of land utilized by four up-and-coming farmers. When their needs outgrow the space, they move on and a spot opens up for someone else. Wow, what an opportunity for farmers and farming to increase exponentially. As Chip says in the show, “Four become eight, eight become 16…”

Where to next? Back to VSU’s campus and the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Land Grant Programs Dr. Robert N. Corley, III to close out another day at VSU out here Where The Food Comes From. I’ve already told you how I feel about Dr. Corley — you can hear more from him in Season 5, Episode 12: Legacy and in my Behind-The-Scenes for that show here.