The Mom Farmer

Elizabeth VanDeventer, Davis Creek Farm
What She Does: Manages 50 head of Red Poll cattle, plus 4,000 Cornish Cross chickens and 30 mixed-breed laying hens
Where You’ll Find Her: In Lovingston, about 40 minutes from Charlottesville; www.daviscreekfarm.com
Specialty: Grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken
Where To Get It: Nelson Farmers Market in Nellysford on Saturdays, or at the farm. Go online for directions, and call ahead.
How She Got Started: “My husband, Tim DiChiara, and I met while working on an agriculture project in the Peace Corps. Later, we started the farm as a way to do something meaningful and have a lifestyle that incorporated our children.”
Why She Loves It: “We have such a high quality of life. I get to spend so much time with my three sons because I can include them in the work. They’re comfortable with the land because they spend so much time exploring the pastures, forests, and creeks,” Elizabeth says. “Plus, they’ve learned that food is connected to place--plants, animals, and people. Sometimes when Tim and I work an 18-hour day, we may feel like we’re crazy, but the quality of life is the kind of payback you can’t put a price tag on.”