Todd Niemeier, operations director for the Urban Agricultural Collective of Charlottesville. Photo by Ryan M. Kelly.

DP -Niemeier is operations director for the Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville. His job includes overseeing the community gardens at Friendship Court, Sixth Street and West Street.

During the past growing season, these well-tended plots yielded 17,000 pounds of fresh vegetables. And every tomato, potato, cucumber and leafy green was given away free to community members.

“We believe that working together to grow and share healthy food helps to cultivate healthy communities,” said Niemeier, who is affectionately called Farmer Todd. “The food is a vehicle for bringing people together across racial and social barriers. READ MORE...