Food Access Resource Map

In response to growing food insecurity in the greater Charlotte area, Rivendell Carolinas has created a map of food access resources and local farms for the 16-county area around Charlotte and the greater Piedmont of NC and SC. To use the map, click below.

Rivendell Carolinas is currently contracted with Mecklenburg County Health Department to increase the number of data points on the map with special focus on Mecklenburg County.

To help us keep information current or add new information, please use the survey below. Follow us on Facebook for updates or sign up for our Newsletter.If you have any questions regarding this effort, please email Sarah at sarah@energyenviro.org.

If you would like to support our efforts, please consider making a donation to Rivendell Carolinas.

History of Rivendell Farms of the Carolinas

Rivendell Farms of Huntersville was established in 2000 by the Hardin Family as a sustainable agriculture farm located near the headwaters of Gar Creek in North Mecklenburg County. For those who are not aware, Gar Creek flows through Latta Plantation into Mountain Island Lake — the main source of drinking water for the City of Charlotte. We bought the farm as a fun place to raise our four children and help us balance the pressures of high stress careers and a typical middle class lifestyle. Over the years Rivendell Farms became a place for our friends and neighbors to learn the benefits of growing better food and a slower/more sustainable way of life.

The Hardin Family sold its Huntersville location of Rivendell Farms to another sustainable farming family in 2017 to be able to dedicate more time to supporting other Carolina based farmers, and work smaller plots of land in several different counties.   In early 2018, Rivendell Farms of the Carolinas (RFC) was incorporate as a 501 c (3) non-profit farm and good food advocacy and field study organization.    RFC is currently engaged in several projects that promote our passion for good food, sustainable farming and clean water.

Erin Hostetler, a Charlotte native, local food advocate and fellow, part-time farmer was brought onto the team to assist with promoting the visibility of the Charlotte food and farming community and to help protect the livelihood of local farmers. Previous to working for Rivendell Farms of the Carolinas, Erin worked on two local Charlotte-area farms. She was the Farm Manager for the Friendship Gardens Urban Farm at Garinger High School and worked as the Assistant Cheesemaker at Bosky Acres Goat Dairy in Waxhaw, NC. She comes from a long line of farmers, hailing from central Ohio and the eastern shore of Maryland.

The name Rivendell comes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Rivendell was a place that was located at a divide between mountains and the lowlands where many of the counsels of men, elves and hobbits took place. It was known as a place of healing and place of decision.   The mission and vision of Rivendell Farms is now dedicated to developing common sense solution that help people decide to choose good food and a better way of life.