The 2006 De Lacy Gray Medal for Conservation was awarded to Rossie Fisher. She and her family share a deeply rooted passion for the environment. As a child in Manakin-Sabot, she developed a love and care for the land from her mother, Mary Ross Scott Reid. Long before many people learned about recycling and water conservation, her household put it to practice. Conservation was always second nature to the family.
Twelve years ago, Rossie and her husband Sandy completely eliminated the use of pesticides, hormones and commercial fertilizers on their farm. They worked hard to have it named a "Certified Organic Farm " the Commonwealth of Virginia, also meeting federal standards. Organically produced beef, hens, and eggs are their main cash crops. Rossie oversees the hens, preparing and feeding them a potent mix of organic corn, chickpeas, soybeans and flax seed to produce enriched omega three eggs. The hens are kept in portable coops, which are moved over the many acres of Brookview, allowing them to eat bugs, worms and fresh grass, at the same time creating well fertilized grazing pastures.
Brookview also has the largest composting operation in Virginia. The leaves from Henrico County’s fall collection are composted there and used as the fertilizer for the crops. Brookview Farm is open to individuals and groups, demonstrating organic farming practices. The Fishers have held workshops for Public Television’s "Virginia Home Grown" series, The GCV's 2005 Conservation Workshop, and many other civic and agricultural groups.
Rossie is a member of The Center for Rural Culture, an organization which encourages local farmers, artisans and other small business people to create profitable and sustainable enterprises that enhance and preserve Goochland County's rural nature. This includes producing organically grown foods for local markets.
Rossie has served as president of the James River Garden Club and been extremely active with the Conservation Committee and has been chairman of several GCV Committees. She is a past Zone VII Representative and Director for The Garden Club of America. Her positions of leadership have afforded her a platform to be a very articulate spokesperson and ambassador for conservation. Her work in the field of organic farming and her sharing of that knowledge makes her a very deserving recipient of the De Lacy Gray Memorial Medal for Conservation.
