Farmers from a certified-organic commercial farm in Alexandria will give answers Saturday to the most frequently asked questions they get from customers. The 4,000-acre Inglewood Plantation is holding workshops throughout the day that will help people learn about how to raise backyard chickens and build raised beds, among other topics. The 2,000-acre Inglewood Farm is all organic, and operating manager Lee Weeks gets lots of questions about how they do things on the farm.
“We have close to 1,000 chickens that we collect eggs from. They’ll say, I’ve always wanted to have a chicken or two, but I just don’t know what to do? These [workshops] will give people an opportunity to learn how to do it at home," Weeks said.
This is Inglewood’s first “lunch and learn” event. Programs on canning, juicing, and organic garden management will give attendees a starting point. Nearly 300 people have registered for the workshops so far, according to Weeks.
“It will give them a chance to say, Well, no, that’s not something I want to do. Or, yes, this is definitely something I can handle in my own kitchen," Weeks said.
Inglewood will host a plate lunch pig roast alongside the workshops. Purebred, pasture-raised hogs are part of the farming operation. The events run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Inglewood Harvest Barn.