Photo by Amanda Montgomery
Hummingbird Gardens: Richmond, hbgrva.com
History: Hummingbird Gardens owner Amanda Montgomery began cultivating her love of the land while volunteering at Richmond’s Tricycle Gardens. Fascinated by agriculture and food production, Montgomery landed in a food studies graduate program, and later worked as the garden education coordinator at the Weinstein JCC, which led to her business: providing restaurants with herbs and edible flowers.
Production Methods: Now in its first year of business, Montgomery’s farm contains two branches: One provides garden-based education to kids, and the other sells goods to local businesses. She and her husband, Michael, grow these products on a half-acre of land at their home near Bon Air. Hummingbird Gardens doesn’t use synthetic materials, and only utilizes natural methods of growing, which Montgomery believes is “meaningful and really gratifying.”
Specialties: The farm currently grows 12 varieties of basil and edible flowers such as anise hyssop and wild bergamot.
Where to get it in RVA: Montgomery has seven Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) deals with local businesses: Hutch Bar & Eatery, Toast, Talley’s Meat & Three, Perk! Coffee + Lunchbox, The Savory Grain, Roaring Pines and Däl-kohm bakery. You can also catch her monthly at the Scott’s Addition Farmers Market.
