Farm to Family is a bridge from farm to city, distributing locally grown food to families in urban areas and educating people about food security. We use different methods for accomplishing our mission: a year-round indoor farmer’s market, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Programs in Richmond and Washington, DC, and a FarmBus, a mobile farmers market in a converted 1987 international diesel school bus. Our indoor market and our FarmBus both carry fresh grown seasonal and local produce, organic local meats, fresh local dairy, and other homemade products. We use the FarmBus as a mobile extension of our market so that we can visit schools, and other places to teach people about fresh foods, and how to cook it. We want people to be proactive about changing bad eating habits and we can help anyone accomplish this goal if they are willing and have the desire!
You can actively take part in the new slow food movement by shopping with us or volunteering at the Farm.
We are very excited about this venture. Please help us succeed by spreading the word/love, find us when/where you can and buy something or make a donation to our cause. This is a community based concept that will not succeed without support. Every little bit helps us stay afloat and eventually we can expand enabling us to reach more communities in need and create jobs!
ABOUT US — FARM TO FAMILY TEAM
MARK LILLY, FOUNDER
Mark Lilly founded Farm to Family/The Farm Bus as a mobile farmer’s market in a retrofitted school bus in 2009. The mission evolved to include a Farmer’s Market and USA Farm Shares (Urban Supported Agriculture) in Richmond and Washington, DC in 2010. Bus Farm, a non-profit urban farm and educational center, was formed in 2012 to teach everyone the importance of fresh, local, sustainable food and encourage people to farm and garden, support local agriculture, become health conscious and food secure.
Mark is passionate about sustainable agriculture and is an outspoken advocate for our food rights. He is a sought after speaker on food security and has spoken at the Virginia Weight of the State Conference, addressed congressional staffers at Farm Food Voices 2011 at the US Senate, a panelist and presenter at Growing Power’s International Conference 2012, presenter at University of DC 2011 International Sustainability Conference and speaker at the 2nd Virginia Food Security Summit. Along with his wife, Suzi, he leads the Richmond, VA Mayor’s Food Policy Council sub-committee on Food Security. In addition to local news, he has been featured on BBC World News, People Magazine, the Rachael Ray Show, and CBN News.
Mark has a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, 1995, and was in a Masters program at the University of Richmond studying Disaster Science and Emergency Management, 2009. He is also a military veteran, served in the US Marines and the US Army as a combat engineer, artillery and light infantry and was in the Virginia National Guard Reserve. He has traveled and lived all over the world.
SUZI MILES, CO-FOUNDER
Suzi Miles, LMT, CMT, BA co-founded Farm to Family with Mark Lilly. She is a nationally certified (NCBTMB) massage therapist licensed in NY and Virginia, a member of the AMTA, and a Reiki Master. She is a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, the Swedish Institute, NYC and did her yoga teacher training at Integral Yoga Institute in NYC.
Along with Mark, she was a presenter at University of DC 2011 International Sustainability Conference, and co-lead the now defunct Richmond, VA Mayor’s Food Policy Council sub-committee on Food Security.
She worked in the entertainment and publishing industries for many years in New York City. Suzi has provided healing services since 1996. Her healing work focuses on spirit, energy and mind as well as body, to allow natural healing to occur. Nutritional counseling is a major part of her practice and begins with whole, dense nutritious foods.
Suzi comes from farming roots in northern New York’s Adirondack Foothills and worked her family’s roadside farmstand as a child. She was a 4-Her for 9 years.