<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Ironwood Policy & Risk]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ironwood Policy & Risk delivers clear policy analysis and practical risk frameworks for Southwest Virginia local governments and developers.]]></description><link>https://www.dogwoodndeathcap.com/field-notes</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:00:33 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[The Cost of Flying Blind: Why Local Intelligence is the Ultimate Risk Mitigation]]></title><description><![CDATA[In development and investment, there is a critical difference between market data  and regional intelligence . Market data tells you how many cars pass through an intersection. Regional intelligence tells you what happens when those cars stop. Too many projects are approved based on spreadsheets alone. That gap between high-level data and actual street-level reality is where financial risk hides. This is one example of how we approach risk, planning, and regional decision making. The Failure...]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-cost-of-flying-blind-why-local-intelligence-is-the-ultimate-risk-mitigation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6980fa12423a54390b97eb88</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic & Society]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:42:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_7f0d20789687425498f258fed1b59c21~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sky Watchers and Interstellar Wanderers: Reclaiming Old Magic in Appalachia]]></title><description><![CDATA[Introduction: The Enduring Imperative of Cosmic Alignment The human endeavor to construct civilization has always been intrinsically linked to the celestial sphere. Across continents and epochs, the night sky served as the original master clock, calendar, navigational grid, and spiritual compass. Our ancestors were, in the most profound sense, sky watchers whose sophisticated observations formed the bedrock of their culture, religion, and applied science. Their survival, social organization,...]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/sky-watchers-and-interstellar-wanderers-reclaiming-old-magic-in-appalachia</link><guid isPermaLink="false">693377344f0e700bce30272d</guid><category><![CDATA[Culture & Storytelling]]></category><category><![CDATA[Phenomena & Mysteries]]></category><category><![CDATA[Apothecary & Lore]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:25:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_991d3ec2885e45bea9030c3874050a70~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_828,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Our Favorite Charlottesville Stores |Weekend Adventure | Downtown Mall]]></title><description><![CDATA[We spent the afternoon in Charlottesville at the Downtown Mall, one of the best walkable retail areas in Virginia. Places like that remind you what a strong local vibe feels like: people out together, small shops thriving, community energy everywhere. As Dogwood &#38; Deathcap grows, we want a physical space that captures that same feeling, a storefront that reflects who we are, gives back to the community, and becomes a place people want  to gather. So this was a little research trip. A chance...]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/our-favorite-charlottesville-stores-weekend-adventure-downtown-mall</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6911008c2d7e1116eb74d0d5</guid><category><![CDATA[Family & Everyday Life]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 20:33:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_ad453f5a30fa40aea7b88decde731847~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why We Chose “Sales to Mission” for Dogwood &#38; Deathcap]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dogwood &#38; Deathcap is a business with a clear purpose: We’re in business to rebuild community strength, starting here at home. Every purchase helps make real improvements possible. Most places don’t fall apart all at once. They decline slowly, schools underfunded, history neglected, local culture fading into convenience. We’re not willing to just watch that happen. What We Do Dogwood &#38; Deathcap funds and organizes small but important improvements in our community. Right now, that includes:...]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/why-we-chose-sales-to-mission-for-dogwood-deathcap</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69330b88fb4241214796a619</guid><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:07:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_dd1a19d8713e48969dd73e7096893694~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_691,h_726,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The First Sale - November 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dogwood &#38; Deathcap made its first sale! Founder Cody reflects on the monumental shift from idea to reality, the power of family vision, and the brand's Appalachian pulse.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-first-sale-november-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692c6c15495848230dc2c49b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2025 17:08:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_d46e5b03e29e46db9b993b37d2285db3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Huntingdon Project]]></title><description><![CDATA[Huntingdon is one of Roanoke’s oldest surviving homes, built in 1819, older than the city itself. The city once eyed it for demolition, but a budget pause sparked a community rally. Neighbors, historians, and local groups are now working to save it. Dogwood &#38; Deathcap isn’t leading the effort, but we’re part of the coalition supporting the fight to preserve this irreplaceable piece of Appalachian history.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-huntingdon-project</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6921e91f3c5b7fc95abc78ff</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic & Society]]></category><category><![CDATA[Culture & Storytelling]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2025 16:58:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_6b73493df7cb429aa12b3b3df003962e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Living Tradition of Appalachian Storytelling]]></title><description><![CDATA[In Appalachia, storytelling is survival, memory passed from porch swings to future generations, where laughter softens the grief.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-living-tradition-of-appalachian-storytelling</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690ca79b1d01e1b5e0676594</guid><category><![CDATA[Culture & Storytelling]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:36:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_18256a92939645ecb08797d2e87d7e13~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Sky Ray: A Recent Encounter and a New Entry into the Lore of Atmospheric Beasts]]></title><description><![CDATA[A glowing, manta-like creature emerged from a cloud. Fast. Silent. Alive. We’re calling it the first documented “Sky Ray.”]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-sky-ray-atmospheric-beasts-cryptozoology</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690fc4361d01e1b5e068f9b1</guid><category><![CDATA[Phenomena & Mysteries]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:15:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_fb905090d232441f90c4dddfb8eaa763~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Working Toward Ensuring Youth Equity in Bedford County]]></title><description><![CDATA[In October 2025, Dogwood &#38; Deathcap began reviewing how Bedford County invests in its youth. After confirming no system tracks recreation or education spending by district, we drafted the Resolution for Ensuring the Equitable and Transparent Distribution of Youth Resources in Bedford County. It’s now with our District 1 Supervisor for sponsorship to promote fairness, accountability, and equal opportunity for every child.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/ensuring-youth-equity-in-bedford-county</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690b4fd096a2942ab278dbac</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic & Society]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:44:06 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_8a58f16d923d4fcabd7fc13366052651~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Cost of Transparency: Where We Stand in Bedford County]]></title><description><![CDATA[We’re digging into Bedford County data. If the numbers exist, we’ll share them, if not, we’ll make sure they’re tracked and public.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-cost-of-transparency-where-we-stand-in-bedford-county</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6900ce9d89bc37a846b77991</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic & Society]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:34:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_9477be2c776b4bdbb01cb40a094c72a3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_218,h_209,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Seeking Transparency in Bedford County’s Recreation and School Funding]]></title><description><![CDATA[What began as a frustrated post about canceled youth soccer games grew into a call for countywide transparency. After seeing neglected fields and uneven investment, I filed FOIA requests to uncover how Bedford County allocates funding for schools and recreation.]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/seeking-transparency-in-bedford-county-s-recreation-and-school-funding</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f0592d22f12a68eccec51d</guid><category><![CDATA[Civic & Society]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:10:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_7d3f54be4d0a410ba37be6bbf8339603~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_225,h_225,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The New Frontier | Authenticity in Marketing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Don't lose your authentic brand voice with AI writing. ]]></description><link>https://www.ironwoodpolicyrisk.com/post/the-new-frontier-authenticity-in-marketing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ef2b4d7e7b272d1ee7183e</guid><category><![CDATA[Culture & Storytelling]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:07:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/26a967_ac6030b702734950bc716bf932fb0be4~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cody Jones</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>