Blog

In spite of the chaos the end of the year brings, with all the family gatherings and deadlines at work, I always look forward to the holiday season for the promise of wholesome food. I know that I am not alone. What are some of your personal favorites? Grandma’s apple pie? Dad’s smoked ham? Personally, I have more of a savory tooth than a sweet tooth, but there is a meal that satisfies a combination ...

Holiday Bundles are available for order by December 1st. ORDER HERE for pick up on December 15th. Every year, producers of homemade foods and crafts from our community combine their efforts, skills and resources, making their unique contributions to the Chesterhill Produce Auction’s annual sale and distribution of holiday bundles. These wonderful gift sets come in three sizes, as well as a shipping bundle, and include a selection of goods from Integration Acres, Shagbark Seed ...

The Chesterhill Produce Auction has been a place to congregate and support farmers for many years. During my three-month summer term with Rural Action, it has become apparent that the auction holds a place in many people’s hearts whether it be the regulars who attend each week or people from out of the area. On a sunny Thursday afternoon in June, there was an unfamiliar van parked in the CPA lot. A woman named Luci ...

During the summer months there is an abundance of zucchini to be bid on at the produce auction. This zucchini bread recipe makes two loaves of a perfect baked good to snack on and impress. Ingredients (* = optional) 3 eggs 1 cup of white sugar 1 cup of brown sugar 1 cup of cooking oil 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups of grated or blended zucchini (around 2½ zucchinis) 3 cups of flour 3 tsp. ...

“Follow the Food” highlights the journey that produce takes from the auction floor to homes, restaurants, healthcare providers, colleges, and hungry mouths across the region. Since April, one of the Auction’s newest customers has been Firehouse, officially named the Student Cooperative Organization (SCO). Located in Athens, OH, Firehouse is a housing cooperative, meaning residents run the house and property democratically, without a landlord. While there are five residents as of June 2022, occupancy tops out ...

You’ll be seeing some new faces around Chesterhill! Two weeks ago, three AmeriCorps members serving with the Appalachian Ohio Restore Corps (AORC) joined the Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture team. Serving through August 16, they will help Rural Action handle the growing season uptick in Auction sales and event programming. We’re excited to have them on board! NATALIE JOHNSON What have you been up to the past few years and what brings you to Rural Action? ...

On Monday, February 7th, growers, Rural Action staff, AmeriCorps members, and other interested parties all gathered together at the Triple Nickel Diner in Chesterhill for a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training. The training session, hosted by Tiffany Harvey of Ohio University, included information on food safety as well as the requirements and documentation necessary for a farm to attain GAP certification. This certification ensures that a farm is sticking to food safety standards aimed at ...

Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture is once again welcoming new members to our team! As AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTAs), these members have a focus on alleviating poverty and building capacity in Appalachian Ohio through service in farm to school programs, the Chesterhill Produce Auction, and more. Join us in giving a warm welcome to Community Resources VISTA Ciaran Lyons and Farm to School VISTA Dora Rodriguez! Meet our new Community Resource VISTA, Ciaran ...

“Follow the Food” highlights the journey that produce takes from the auction floor to homes, restaurants, healthcare providers, colleges, and hungry mouths across the region. From the ornate main bar and the relaxed atmosphere of the red brick patio out back, West End Ciderhouse has been serving locally crafted hard ciders and cocktails since opening in 2014. The brainchild of Kelly Sauber, owner of Fifth Element Distillery in Meigs County, and his partner Deanna Schwartz, ...

“Grower Spotlight” gives customers and consumers of the Chesterhill Produce Auction (CPA) a chance to get to know the farmers that sell their products at the auction. On an unusually warm afternoon in early October, I found myself bouncing around in the passenger seat of a utility vehicle making its way around Wagner’s Fruit Farm in Waterford, Ohio. I had been working with the farm’s owner, Eric Wagner, for the past month in preparation for ...