When you drive on North Main Street in Harrisonburg you may notice a house with a yard that doesn’t quite fit into our U.S. ideal of what a well-manicured yard should be. But learn a little about the property with the Vine & Fig sign and you’ll find that it is inspired by exquisitely scientific ecological systems, uses natural resources in an incredibly wise way, and is kept by people who live radically in a remarkably unassuming way.

I had the privilege of spending a short time at Vine & Fig, site of the New Community Project in Harrisonburg, to talk with Tom Benevento and others who work and live on the site. I was awed by the knowledge and intelligence of these people, inspired by their commitment to live uncompromisingly on their principles, and humbled by the selfless way they provide resources for and care about those in need.

Even if I could represent them accurately, I wouldn’t have time in this blog to talk about all the fascinating projects and experiments that Tom told me about as we wandered through the gardens, walked through the neighborhood, and peeked into the greenhouses. While happily sampling anything that Tom plucked off the plants for me to try, I was floored both by how much he knew about plants, natural resources, and clean energy and how little I knew – I think it’s safe to say that anyone would benefit by visiting the site or one of the many projects they have started around town (volunteer hours are 8am-4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays). But in the meantime, read on to see what Tom and others are saying about Vine & Fig…