Here’s a great list by local group Sustainable Blacksburg on ways to reduce food waste, which is a leading contributor to our carbon footprint as humans.

Share the Spare is a program begun by local Master Gardener and Mosaic for Earth panelist Lynn Brammer to connect extra food from local farmer’s markets to food pantries that can distribute it to people in need. Click here to visit their Facebook page.

This massive collection of resources was begun during the COVID pandemic as a way for citizens in the NRV to help each other with everything from sharing food and housing to legal help, cash assistance, and mental health support. This link connects directly to their current list of food-related resources.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is best known as a subscription-based food service where members buy a “share” of the farmer’s produce, thereby assuming some of the risk along with the farmer of producing food. Many CSAs also require members to contribute labor or volunteer time to the food production process. LocalHarvest.org contains a list of these organizations by area. This link connects to the list for the NRV.

Often there is edible food right under our noses if we know to look for it. Sometimes it’s perceived to be a waste or nuisance, and owners may be grateful to have it removed! This link contains eleven of the best sources of crowd-sourced foraging maps that provide locations for in-season edible foods available in public areas.