Food Waste in Central Virginia

What is accepted?

• Grains: Bread, cereal, cooked grains, nuts, oatmeal, pasta, popcorn, and seeds
• Proteins: Cooked meat scraps, eggs, fish, etc
• Starches: Cooked, raw, or dried corn, beans and peas
• Vegetables: Most cooked or raw vegetables (see exceptions below)
• Fruits: canned or raw
• Leafy greens
• Herbs
• Dairy such as cheese, yogurt, and cottage cheese (please note: no moldy items will be accepted)

What is NOT accepted?

• Moldy or spoiled goods
• Potatoes and onions (please avoid these items, small quantities used in a recipe are okay if cooked)
• Anything with a high salt content

Drop Off Locations:

We accept donations at our farm or through public meet ups in Stanardsville, VA.

Not located in Central VA but still want to take part?

Check out the Food Recovery Network here.

Here at Ravens Ridge, we are committed to helping curb food waste in our community. By donating your food waste to our micro farm, you’re helping provide food and resources for your community.

Why donate food waste?

Closing the Loop: Food waste is a valuable resource that often ends up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation. By donating your food scraps to our farm, you’re helping to complete the cycle of sustainability. Those leftovers, peels, and scraps you might discard find new purpose as nourishment for our animals and as compost to enrich our soil.

Feeding Our Animals: Your food waste becomes a delicious and nutritious treat for our kune kune pigs, coturnix quail and chickens. It’s fulfilling to know that what might have gone to waste now plays a role in ensuring the health and happiness of our animals. As they thrive on this nutritious diet, they, in turn, provide us with wholesome eggs and meat.

Fresh Produce and Eggs: As a token of our appreciation for your contribution, we’re delighted to share some of our farm’s bounty in return. Participants in our Food Waste Program will have access to fresh organic produce, along with farm-fresh eggs. It’s a cycle of reciprocity where everyone benefits.

Organic Fertilizer: Your food waste doesn’t just feed our animals; it also contributes to the creation of nutrient-rich organic compost and fertilizer. This fertilizer goes back into our fields, enhancing the vitality of the soil and helping us cultivate even more wholesome produce.

Strengthening Community: Our Food Waste Program is about more than just waste reduction. It’s about building connections within our community. By coming together to support this initiative, we create a network of individuals who share a common goal: to reduce waste, promote sustainability, and ensure that no resource goes untapped.