Introducing Good Roots: BRC’s New Community Initiative
The Shenandoah Valley has a rich agricultural heritage. Good soil makes for good roots. And good roots make for good food, good health, and a thriving community.
At Bridgewater Retirement Community, we want our dining program to reflect that truth. Food should do more than fill a plate. Food should connect us—to our home in the Valley, to the people who grow and raise it, and to the neighbors we share it with. That’s why we created Good Roots, our initiative celebrating locally sourced foods and the community that produces them.
We’ve had local foods on the menu for a while. The dining team, led by Ben and others, has been working with vendors like Cavalier Produce to bring in Virginia-grown fruits and vegetables. Good Roots builds on that foundation and takes it a step further.
What’s new is that we’re now able to source directly from farmers and producers right here in our own backyard. This is no small thing. It required a whole new level of collaboration with our dining partners to make sure we could safely bring independent local products into our kitchens.
Of course, not every ingredient on every plate will be local, but we’ve made a strong start and will continue to grow. With a little persistence and a lot of partnership, we can push the boundaries of what dining on our campus can be.
So, when you see the Good Roots icon, it means the lettuce in your salad came from a nearby farm, or the honey on your biscuit was harvested by a local beekeeper. It means you are part of a story that begins just a few miles away and ends with friends and loved ones gathered around a table here at BRC.
We’ll be sharing those stories with you, too. “Meet the Farmer” events will bring growers onto campus. Seasonal menus will highlight the best of what’s in the fields right now. And we’ll celebrate the Valley’s harvest together, not just as diners, but as neighbors.
And Good Roots isn’t stopping with sourcing! The next phase of our community garden project will be an actual production farm. Before long, some of the food on your plate will be grown right here on campus. (We’re even thinking about naming it the Good Roots Garden 😉)
Why “Good Roots”? Roots hold things steady. They nourish. They make growth possible. The name reminds us that this effort is about more than menus. It’s about being deeply rooted in this Valley, honoring its heritage, and enjoying delicious, wholesome meals along the way.