To view in full panorama, I suggest clicking here. Scroll down to read the story about this Food Stamp Challenge. Vuvox allows for embeds within the collage.  So there are hotspots that add important details to the story, and the icons look like these:

This Vuvox was created for my Converged Media Application class at VCU. It is one of four elements in my beat coverage of food, specifically lower-income access to healthy, cheap food.

For this project, I spent a week following Alison Stokes, a hairdresser at Red Organics Salon, as she took the Food Stamp Challenge (FSC). The FSC was started by members of Congress in 2007, to increase awareness of the obstacles that complicate access to healthy food for millions of low-income Americans. Since 2007, several things have changed.

Food prices have gone up, the increase happening during the worst time possible–a recession. The amount of food stamp recipients has also increased, by 20% in Richmond, Virginia. That figure also matches a national trend. Due to unemployment, 7 million more Americans now rely on foodstamps.

Although the Recovery Act of 2009 increased the food stamp allotment, the monthly benefits nationwide, on average, are $124. In Virginia, the average monthly benefits are $118.

While the FSC started as a challenge to live on just $21 a week, Stokes changed the amount to $29, to better reflect the current monthly benefits in Virginia.

Stokes was able to complete the FSC, but she noted that purchasing cheaper food meant consuming food with more additives, as well as eliminating some of the fresh fruits and vegetables that she normally consumes.

The biggest takeaway for Stokes was an awareness of her consumption patterns. As a cook, Stokes had no problem buying items to be used in multiple dishes, or with the time spent preparing the meals.

“It definitely changed the way I eat,” said Stokes.

“I’ve never lived off of $29 a week,” added Stokes, with pride that she has learned how to better budget her food expenses.

I am including her interviews here, because Vuvox has way too many bugs, and often makes these sound bytes unavailable. I left a recorder with Stokes, who kept a daily audio journal of the experience. I also interviewed her on the last day. These are not actually “videos” rather they are mp.3′s with a photo.

How Stokes usually eats:

The simplicity of her meals:

Almost giving in on Day 6, because the temptation for an iced-latte was so overwhelming:

Final thoughts about the 7 days:

In partnership with the Central Virginia Food Bank (CVFB), Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens created the Community Kitchen Garden.  This is the second season Lewis Ginter has grown vegetables for the CVFB. Lewis Ginter makes weekly deliveries of produce to the CVFB, and the annual goal is to deliver 10,000 lbs. of produce. CVFB uses the vegetables for its Meals on Wheels and Kids Cafe programs. The partnership will save the CVFB around $18,000, while providing citizens with a local source of fresh, healthy food.

Click to view the slideshow of The ROSMY 40K,  a month long fundraising campaign done primarily online, with the exception of the final homestretch. Two public events rallied support for the ROSMY 40K, which generated funds and fostered community. “Perfect 10,” a date auction, was held at Babes. “Eat out for ROSMY,” was held at the Galaxy Diner. Both locations are in Carytown. ROSMY headquarters are at 2311 Westwood Avenue, in Richmond, Virginia. ROSMY will reach their $40,000 total and qualify for a match grant from the local Mary Morton Parsons foundation.

While most of the city was enshrouded by a cold, gray, drizzly atmosphere, Virginia Gay PRIDE festival offered a brightly colored alternative.  The 25th annual event was well attended, although afternoon rains had volunteers scrambling to move the event inside. Click on the photo (and click captions) to view a slideshow of the event, with captions.

Watch historical interpreters reenact the colonial experience that paved the way for life as we know it now. The Citie of Henricus, now an outdoor living museum, was established in 1611 and recreated with the help of Ron Blackburn in 2000. Henricus was our nation’s second settlement, founded by Thomas Dale and home to many historical events. It was the first Commonwealth in our nation; the first place where settlers owned private property and farmed tobacco for money. Henricus was also home to the first hospital and college in the New World.

Click on picture to start slideshow. Don’t forget to select captions to learn more!

This is a multimedia component within a package that features the work of master carpenter Ron Blackburn and a podcast with historical reenactor Dennis Strawderman.

The South of the James Market, soon to be in its third year, was an instant success and remains the most popular farmer’s market in Richmond. Watch the slideshow to see why!