The good news is that spring is coming! You can see it in the buds on the trees and the bulbs poking their shoots above the ground!

The bad news is that the economy is likely to make it a rough spring and summer for a lot of people locally and around the country. 

The good new is: you can help!

Fauquier County is going to participate in the Plant a Row campaign. This is a nationwide effort started about a dozen years ago. Local gardeners are asked to plant one extra row to feed local hungry families.

I'll be coordinating the local effort here in Fauquier. Most gardeners produce more than they can eat in a good year. Why not do it deliberately this year and help your hungry neighbors?

The guidelines are simple. Clean off the excess soil on vegetables but don't wash them. This helps them stay fresh longer. Keep in mind that these vegetables will need to stand up to some local travel and handling. The fresher they are, the better. Please don't donate the damaged, rotting fruit and vegetables.

Signing up to help is simple! Just send me an e-mail at Julie@JulieEmery.com and let me know you're participating. I'll add you to the e-mail distribution list and get you some information on where to drop off the fruits and vegetables. 

Once you drop the produce off it gets delivered to local food banks, pantries and distribution centers.

If you don't garden we can still use your help! You can help us get the word out! We'd be happy to give you flyers you can distribute or post in places where lots of people can see them. We'll also need volunteers to help transport and sort produce during the growing season. Let me know how you'd like to help and we'll put you to work!

We can't fix the entire economy. But maybe we can make sure no one in Rappahannock goes hungry this year!

One of the things I love about real estate is that I'm working to fulfill a basic human need - shelter. It's something I feel good about! About the only more basic human need I can think of is food. And I've recently had a chance to get more involved with an organization that's working on that.

Fauquier County Food Distribution Coalition is an organization working to feed their hungry neighbors. It is truly amazing what they do using almost entirely volunteer labor and donated food and monies.

In the month of December, 2006 they served almost 200 families. I'm guessing there are an awful lot of people in the county who didn't even know there were 200 hungry families here. And they're sure they're not even reaching everyone who needs their services.

The food is distributed once a month on the third Saturday. Volunteers not only provide almost all the food, but also man the operation. They set up tables, sort food, fill boxes and help the families with getting the food to their cars. Considering it's only once a month it's not all that much food. Most of us wouldn't want to try and live on it! But you'll see people waiting for hours for this.

I believe we are our brother's keeper and let's face it, most of us have so much more than we need in terms of material goods. If you can spare time or money or food, there's a way for you to help feed your neighbors. And I'll bet it's hard to think of something that feels better than that!

You can find out more at their web site: http://www.fauquierfood.org

Or contact them directly at info@fauquierfood.org