Organization
Virginia Tech Dining Services Gardens at Kentland Farms is a six acre dining services farm under the leadership of the Sustainable Food Systems Production Director at Virginia Tech (VT).
Location
5250 Whitethorne Rd, Blacksburg, VA 24060
Contact
(540) 731-9353
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday from 7am – 3:30pm
Community Partners & Programs
There are partnerships with faculty throughout the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, including a spotlight on horticulture, entomology, crop and soils environmental sciences, civic agriculture & food systems, etc. Kentland Farm works with a few different gleaning groups who harvest excess produce and distribute it to area food banks including Fieldstone Pantry, Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, and the Interfaith Food Pantry. There is also a class offered to Virginia Tech students, The Sustainable Agriculture Practicum—HORT 4984. This class not only provides hands-on experience managing a small-scale sustainable farm, it also allows the students to grow produce and transport it directly to dining services at VT.
Produce
Kentland Farm has donated fresh produce including: apples, bell peppers, sweet corn, summer squash, tomatoes, and pumpkins to local food pantries from August through October. The farm also donated harvested apples during the winter months to the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry.
Staff
Although run by workers and staff, volunteering opportunities are available.
