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SHECP Talks: Expertise in the Field with Jim Kvach

  • 2 days ago
  • 4 min read

On this episode of SHECP Talks, Emily Scaff, a student at Washington and Lee University, is joined by Jim Kvach, a farmer and engaged community member in Lexington, VA. Emily is pursuing a degree in Journalism with minors in Poverty and Human Capabilities Studies and Law, Justice, and Society. She is a member of W&L’s Campus Kitchen Leadership Team, a group that works to address food insecurity in the area. Jim Kvach is a local farmer, Master Gardener, and board member of the Rockbridge Area Relief Association. For the past 18 years, Jim has grown and donated many tons of fresh fruit and produce to the local food assistance network, and he is now working on community-wide efforts to help neighbors nourish neighbors.



Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors by Emmy Richey


When Jim Kvach and his wife set out to find a place to call home, they weren’t just looking for a change of scenery, they were searching for a community and a purpose. After eight years of looking for the perfect place to retire, they arrived in Rockbridge County in 2006 and made what Jim describes as an “instantaneous decision.” The combination of natural beauty, a vibrant community, and the nearby universities made Lexington feel like exactly the right place. For Jim, the move was also a return to something more personal. Raised in part on his grandparents’ farm in northern Ohio, he carried with him a long-standing desire to reconnect with the land. After four years in the Air Force, work in university leprosy research, and a 20-year career with the Department of Defense, he was ready for something different, something grounded. Jim Kvach’s involvement with the Rockbridge Area Relief Association began with donations of surplus produce and has grown over 19 years into a deep and lasting commitment.


That vision took shape on a 23-acre farm just a few miles outside of town. As Jim puts it, “My wife wanted neighbors, I wanted a farm.” His personal pursuit quickly grew into something much larger. “At first, altruism was not in my mind when it came to farming,” Jim admits. “I went into it because I wanted the satisfaction.” In 2007, Jim donated for the first time to the Rockbridge Area Relief Association (RARA). Since he has donated every single year. But over time, the scale of his efforts expanded beyond what he had anticipated. “There was more garden than me, and it got to be too much.” This realization led Jim to give a plot of land to a group of local master gardeners. Their success with this land encouraged Jim to expand their plot into what eventually became known as the Giving Garden. This garden now produces and donates thousands of pounds of fresh food annually. After a couple of years of steady donations, RARA offered him a way to get more involved, a seat on their Board of Directors. This role led Kvach to a much greater understanding of Rockbridge County’s food needs.


Kvach explains that the idea of the Giving Garden is not just about food, it’s about people. At its core, the project reflects a simple but powerful idea: neighbors helping neighbors.

Volunteers, including a dedicated group of master gardeners ranging in age from their mid-60s to 80, have played a critical role in its growth. What began with a single 30-by-50-foot plot has expanded into a fully collaborative effort. “We have a good time,” Jim says. “There’s lots of laughing and goofing around, but the job gets done.”


That dedicated and collaborative spirit extends to how the food is grown and distributed. Jim emphasizes the importance of growing what people actually want to eat, not just what the gardener prefers. That need is especially urgent in a region where access is limited; roughly two-thirds of Rockbridge County is considered a food desert. In some outlying areas, such as Glasgow and Goshen, a Dollar General may be the most accessible place to buy food, and fresh produce is often scarce or unavailable altogether. The value of fresh produce is often overlooked, Jim explains, “The difference between fresh produce and some produce you get in grocery stores can be tremendous, not just in taste and flavor, but in nutrient content.” Access to food, he points out, is about more than quantity: “You can have a lot of food and still be malnourished.”


His continued involvement with RARA has inspired him to become an advocate not just for food access, but for dignity in how it is provided. “The word ‘food pantry’ has a certain stigma,” he explains. By contrast, the concept of a “neighborhood grocery” helps create a more welcoming and respectful experience. Presentation matters, and shaping the environment to feel familiar and empowering can make a significant difference for those receiving assistance.


Today, Jim continues to dedicate his time, land, and resources to the effort. His motivation is straightforward but compelling: “Do something useful with your time.” Jim Kvach’s story is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with a personal passion. What started as a desire to work the land has grown into a thriving example of community collaboration, one that nourishes the community in Rockbridge County.


Credits: This episode was recorded and edited by Emily Scaff. Emmy Richey wrote the blog post and show notes. Photos were taken in the Kvach garden in 2019.


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