Agricultural activist brings music to AC&T June 16
By DAN SHERRIER

Singer-songwriter Adrienne Young will be returning to Ashland Coffee & Tea June 16 to put on a concert in promotion of her latest album, "Room to Grow."

Through her partnership with the Food Routes Network and the American Community Garden Association, Young will donate a portion of the CD's sales to the Save a Seed Fund.

The fund is intended to benefit sustainable agriculture, as it provides non-genetically modified seeds to community gardens throughout America in hopes of promoting local food systems and local farms.

Young developed a passion for agriculture back when she was a teenager and had spent some time with a family on their farm. She recalled that for the first time in her life, she was able to witness people working "closely and harmoniously with the land" and to observe the "sacred exchange tending that land, nurturing that growth, harvesting the food, and nourishing the family on that food."

It didn't take long for Young to realize that agriculture represented "more than physical sustenance," and she has also noted that within the past half-century, the United States has been losing its once-deep connection with the land.

Even in urban areas, according to Young, people do not need to be entirely separated from agriculture. Community gardens can serve multiple purposes, not the least of which is providing individuals with "a place to connect," not only with the land but with each other as well.

For children especially, gardens can provide a venue "to witness firsthand the process of life." Sales from Young's CD will help grant children and adults such an opportunity.

Having spent some time living nearby in Charlottesville, Va., Young has become familiar with Hanover County. When asked what she liked about the area, Young had to rephrase the question.

"What don't I like about it?" she said, describing the county as "an exceptionally pastoral place" that is very "lush" and "open."

The band members joining Young at AC&T June 16 will be Charlottesville residents Andy Thacker on the mandolin, Landon Fishburne on lead guitar, and Oliver Craven on the fiddle. They will be performing songs from the new album as well as older material.

Young described her style of music as "Americana with a conscience." Her songs incorporate varying degrees of folk, country, and pop, both contemporary and old-fashioned.

On the whole, Young does not try to stick to any particular style but instead allows each song to develop as it needs to. However, she does have at least one aim in her songwriting, and that is to create "music that my grandparents wouldn't mind listening to."

Down the line, Young intends to put together a sustainable agriculture tour to further benefit her cause. Being a small, independent label, Young does not yet have the resources to develop such a tour, but she eagerly awaits the day when it does become a reality.

Young's performance at Ashland Coffee & Tea will be Saturday, June 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance, or $21 at the door. Ashland Coffee & Tea can be reached at (804) 798-1702.

For more information on the Food Routes Network, please visit their Web site at www.FoodRoutes.org. The American Community Garden Association can be found at www.acga.org. More information on Adrienne Young is available at www.AdrienneYoung.com.

Through her partnership with the Food Routes Network and the American Community Garden Association, Young will donate a portion of the CD's sales to the Save a Seed Fund.

The fund is intended to benefit sustainable agriculture, as it provides non-genetically modified seeds to community gardens throughout America in hopes of promoting local food systems and local farms.

Young developed a passion for agriculture back when she was a teenager and had spent some time with a family on their farm. She recalled that for the first time in her life, she was able to witness people working "closely and harmoniously with the land" and to observe the "sacred exchange tending that land, nurturing that growth, harvesting the food, and nourishing the family on that food."

It didn't take long for Young to realize that agriculture represented "more than physical sustenance," and she has also noted that within the past half-century, the United States has been losing its once-deep connection with the land.

Even in urban areas, according to Young, people do not need to be entirely separated from agriculture. Community gardens can serve multiple purposes, not the least of which is providing individuals with "a place to connect," not only with the land but with each other as well.

For children especially, gardens can provide a venue "to witness firsthand the process of life." Sales from Young's CD will help grant children and adults such an opportunity.

Having spent some time living nearby in Charlottesville, Va., Young has become familiar with Hanover County. When asked what she liked about the area, Young had to rephrase the question.

"What don't I like about it?" she said, describing the county as "an exceptionally pastoral place" that is very "lush" and "open."

The band members joining Young at AC&T June 16 will be Charlottesville residents Andy Thacker on the mandolin, Landon Fishburne on lead guitar, and Oliver Craven on the fiddle. They will be performing songs from the new album as well as older material.

Young described her style of music as "Americana with a conscience." Her songs incorporate varying degrees of folk, country, and pop, both contemporary and old-fashioned.

On the whole, Young does not try to stick to any particular style but instead allows each song to develop as it needs to. However, she does have at least one aim in her songwriting, and that is to create "music that my grandparents wouldn't mind listening to."

Down the line, Young intends to put together a sustainable agriculture tour to further benefit her cause. Being a small, independent label, Young does not yet have the resources to develop such a tour, but she eagerly awaits the day when it does become a reality.

Young's performance at Ashland Coffee & Tea will be Saturday, June 16, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance, or $21 at the door. Ashland Coffee & Tea can be reached at (804) 798-1702.

For more information on the Food Routes Network, please visit their Web site at www.FoodRoutes.org. The American Community Garden Association can be found at www.acga.org. More information on Adrienne Young is available at www.AdrienneYoung.com.

The fund is intended to benefit sustainable agriculture, as it provides non-genetically modified seeds to community gardens throughout America in hopes of promoting local food systems and local farms.

Young developed a passion for agriculture back when she was a teenager and had spent some time with a family on their farm. She recalled that for the first time in her life, she was able to witness people working "closely and harmoniously with the land" and to observe the "sacred exchange tending that land, nurturing that growth, harvesting the food, and nourishing the family on that food."

It didn't take long for Young to realize that agriculture represented "more than physical sustenance," and she has also noted that within the past half-century, the United States has been losing its once-deep connection with the land.

Even in urban areas, according to Young, people do not need to be entirely separated from agriculture. Community gardens can serve multiple purposes, not the least of which is providing individuals with "a place to connect," not only with the land but with each other as well.