Recently, I came across the idea of microadventures, and I decided that 2015 would be full of them. To start this new hobby, two friends and I made a trek out to Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was a day full of fair trade, sustainability, and conscious consumerism. And it was beautiful.
Before even leaving the city, we decided we needed to stop for coffee. So, our day officially began with a little direct trade coffee from Bourbon Coffee. By working directly with Rwandan farmers and cooperatives, this wonderful coffee shop promotes sustainability, economic development, and cultural unity.
After our coffee stop, we ventured out toward Fredericksburg where we visited and toured Maranatha Alpaca Farm. Our time with the alpacas was so fun -- not only did we get to feed and pet them, but owner Perry Darley also taught us a lot about alpacas, their fibers, and what it's like to own such a farm. We were so impressed by Maranatha, not only because the alpacas were adorable, but also because the farm does quite a bit to support people in need, contributing to organizations like Quechua Benefit and Caritas Weaving Loft.
 |  Perry Darley, owner of Maranatha Alpaca Farm |
After meeting the alpacas, we spent a little bit of time in the Darleys' shop where they sell a variety of products made from alpaca fibers.
We eventually had to say goodbye to the alpaca farm, but on Perry's advice we ventured into downtown Fredericksburg for lunch at FoodE. This little restaurant serves fresh, organic, and sustainably-sourced food, much of which is grown and harvested locally.
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After lunch, our next stop was a new fair trade store just down the street from FoodE called Latitudes.
And finally, before leaving Fredericksburg, we spent a little time wandering through some of the cute local shops. Our favorite by far was Riverby Books, an adorable used bookstore just across the street from Latitudes.
It may not have been the craziest adventure we could have chosen, but for our first microadventure of 2015, this day was pretty great. :)
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