Green Options

Since moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia, I have been pleasantly surprised–okay, stunned–by the many green and community-oriented groups working to make this place a better place. Shortly after moving here and starting my new job, I was introduced by colleagues to a remarkable project in its formative stages: The Friendly City Food Co-op.

Bringing together community members, local farmers, and everything necessary for healthy, green living, the Friendly City Food Co-op is on its way to giving everyone in the Shenandoah Valley a chance to support sustainability at all levels. As the website explains, “The guiding principles are equality among owners, the enrichment of the community, and the support of local sustainable products.”1

Interestingly enough, the Co-op got its start after The Little Grill Collective, a local employee-owned restaurant and landmark, made a failed attempt at starting a natural foods/goods store in 2005. Alas, The Little Grill’s store never came to fruition, but after six months of trying the owners/staff contacted interested community members about the possibility of making the vision a reality.

Starting in 2006, 25 interested folks met repeatedly to discuss, plan, and gather resources to water that little seed so that it might sprout and grow. And, by the end of 2007, their work brought some impressive results: over $11,000 in raised capital, hiring of outside consultants (legal, business, marketing, etc.), and established the various boards and teams. All the while plans were taking shape and that vision of the Friendly City Food Co-op store kept growing clearer, firmer, and more realistic.

Since moving to Harrisonburg, Virginia in October, I have had the pleasure and privilege of patronizing The Little Grill Collective, a historic landmark right in the heart of “The Friendly City.” These have been unusual privileges, too, as I typically shun eating out for several reasons: nearly all restaurants are perilous places for vegans, do not serve organic foods, are egregiously wasteful in many ways, and are equally egregiously overpriced.

The Little Grill, however, is a remarkable exception nearly every one of these and the many other reasons you might prefer to cook at home and brown bag it to work. From its early days in the 1940s to the time it became an employee-owned collective in 2003, The Little Grill has offered a wide variety of fare to please every palette. Whether you are a carnivore, an omnivore, or an herbivore, you will definitely find something to fill your tummy and make you smile at this joint.

The unique dishes on the menu range from appetite-stoking appetizers like the Black Beans and Rice or hummus and a pita with fresh veggies for dippin’. The entrees are even more diverse, from the whopping Ron’s Mexi-Plate to “Go Ask Alyce,” a falafel wrap with hummus, tahini, and a salad. You can also get burgers and other sandwiches, plus interesting desserts (including a yummy vegan cookie!) or smoothies. Their breakfast menu is famously full of to-die-for delights, from tofu rancheros to vegan flaxjacks. Be sure to get a big tall stack of those!

After recently going through and surviving (albeit not unscathed) the ordeal of moving from Harrisonburg to Charlottesville, Virginia, I have been reflecting a bit on the various ways I made this new place into my homeplace. In turn, making this place my home also entailed making it another sacred place for me. And, in turn, I find some strong parallels to how animals make some habitat their home in various ways–thus linking me and all humans to “wildlife” in every clime and time.

First and foremost, of course, was actually finding a home –a physical building to use for shelter. Now some of my fellow humans are pack animals and need many other warm bodies nearby. But I am a lone wolf, a forest solitaire, so this meant finding a place unto itself (rather than, say, a den in an apartment complex).

Like all animals, the surroundings helped determine my choice in this regard. Instead of settling in the hearty of the busy (ha ha) city, I settled down outside of town in a more rural, naturally stimulating locale. I had to have ample trees close by, along with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains; anything less simply would not do! And there just had to be thriving bird life, since my primary means of “planting my flag” and marking my territory is putting up at least one birdfeeder ASAP.