Two horse-lovers mobilize social media to save animals from slaughter

Colby’s Crew started with one horse and one decision from the heart. Colby, a 4-year-old chestnut stallion with white markings, had run out of options. Allison (Ally) Smith, an experienced equestrian studying nursing and training horses on the side, saw an online post about him: “Bound for slaughter. Needs experienced handler.” “He was flashy and […]

Local couple makes their eco-dream home—literally

Daniel and Meghan Edwards dreamed of building their own home. As committed environmentalists, they wanted it to be both livable and sustainable. Their budget was minimal, their commitment unwavering, and after almost 10 years, they have settled outside Stanardsville on their own little patch of land—in a home built of earth. “It’s is the first […]

Father and son are reclaiming the craftsmanship of the past

When Peter Hunter was growing up in Cismont, his father would take him out driving along the back roads in the Southwest Mountains, where the young boy felt drawn to the old derelict houses scattered through those woods and fields. Years later, Peter took his son Blake along on his drives through the Blue Ridge […]

Local women’s rugby club takes off

It’s late afternoon on a soccer field, at the tail end of summer. The sinking sun is casting long shadows, and the last of the mosquitoes are homing in on anything with blood. But the women on the field don’t notice the little buzzers; they’re concentrating on their drills.  Running, passing, tackling—but this game is […]

New shop brings Crozet all things seafood

Who says that living among the beautiful mountains means you can’t enjoy all the culinary delights of the sea: fresh shrimp, lobster, halibut, salmon, and tuna? Certainly not Jayson Johnson, and he opened Crozet Seafood Supply to prove it. As soon as you walk into the store in the Clover Lawn Shopping Center across from […]

Curl up with a good book

If you love both books and lap robes, you have likely found The Espresso Edition online. Stephanie Whitman had been blogging full-time before she moved to Charlottesville in 2021, but now her day job is social media manager, and blogging about books at theespressoedition.com is her side gig.  Ten years ago, when Whitman was diagnosed […]

Local craft

Want to have something in common with John and Patricia Kluge, The British royal family, The College of William & Mary, and “The Beverly Hillbillies” mansion? Then you should commission a mandmade item from local metalsmiths Stokes of England. Whether it’s imposing wrought-iron gates for your stately home, beautiful and long-lasting furniture for your house […]