The Farm at VMRC
Farm to Table From the Farm at Willow Run
We believe that Aging Well begins with eating well. VMRC latched onto the farm-to-table philosophy to accomplish that. In 2008, VMRC purchased a 40-acre property that today is known as The Farm at Willow Run. From that parcel, VMRC farms locally grown produce – growing nearly 70 percent of the produce used in dining production.
Farm staff, along with VMRC residents, community volunteers and Eastern Mennonite University’s Sustainable Food Initiative, provide the labor across four seasons to grow and harvest produce. Our harvest has included leaf lettuce, salad mix, spinach, squash, beets, collard greens, chard, Irish and sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, peppers, turnips, tomatoes, watermelon and sweet corn, as well as a variety of herbs.
This farm operation is no small potato. Solar panels on the barn roof provide the majority of electric power for farm operations. Four all-season greenhouses allow for year-round food production.
Locally Grown Produce
Residents and employees at VMRC enjoy a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that includes weekly produce deliveries from the Farm at Willow Run. Each week in season, boxes of freshly harvested produce go out to CSA subscribers. Recipients receive a variety of colors, vegetables, greens and herbs.
Dishes served in the dining venues across campus are denoted as being prepared from locally grown produce from the Farm at Willow Run. The proximity of the Farm from campus means vegetables picked in the morning arrive fresh for use or to be sold in the Main Street Store. And, with the Farm being less than a mile from campus, the carbon footprint is extremely small.
A History Rooted in Locally Grown Foods
Farm-to-table growing is important in the Shenandoah Valley and to the generations of Mennonite farmers in this area. Honoring our Mennonite origins, we steward the land for which we are responsible by using sustainable, low-till, low-spray farming practices. Consistent with our mission, we donate excess produce to local food pantries. In 2024, we became certified USDA Organic.
The Farm at Willow Run showcases VMRC’s innovative approach to a farm-to-table food system across its campus.
Farm to Table For Campus Dining
In-season, quality ingredients are incorporated into our menus for the ultimate in freshness, flavor and nutritional value, including vegetables and herbs from VMRC’s Farm.
Hilltop Reflections
Hilltop Reflections are seasonal, outdoor contemplative gatherings on VMRC’s Farm at Willow Run.
Blogs
Join Our Volunteer Team
Today, our volunteer team is one of the most robust in the Shenandoah Valley. More than 300 individuals actively volunteer in our program both here at VMRC and off-campus, through a variety of community partnerships.