Grand Oak Farm - Dana Ensor and Family Grand Oak Farm was established on over 1,000 acres by the Hale Family on a Revolutionary War grant. Owner, Dana Ensor (married to Bob Ensor), is the 8th generation to farm the remaining 100 acres. "My grandson will be the 10th...
Meet The Chef James Allen, Executive Chef at Blackthorn Club Chef James Allen graduated top of his class from Le Cordon Bleu in Minneapolis, Minnesota and continued his training at Chez Hans, a Michelin recognized restaurant in Cashel, Ireland. He grew up in...
Why do I support local? There are better, tastier, more nutritious and more sustainable ways to purchase meat and to enjoy meat. Pasture-raised chicken is the most delicious and nutritious chicken you can find. There is simply no comparison between pasture-raised...
[Photo above: A family gets ready to take home their Creag Creek Farm Christmas Tree.]Andy and Joyce Brown of Creag Creek Farms Andy Brown was appointed Executive Director of the Appalachian RC&D Council in July, 2024. In addition to bringing decades of...
Wow - what a year! We started off 2024 knowing we had much to do - and with your partnership, program participation, financial support and good will - we have delivered, making Northeast Tennessee’s local farm to food scene more prosperous, resilient and accessible...
“We didn’t even talk about it, we knew this was how we wanted to live.” Tied together by the love for mountains and working the land, Donica and Caleb Krebs operate Old Forge Homestead, a farm in Siam/Hampton area of Carter County focused on dairy goats and...
The Appalachian RC&D Council turns 30 in 2024. Roy Settle, the founding Director (then called "Project Coordinator") until 2011, and current Board Member, provides a retrospective on his career and the ARC&D's impact and future vision. Images...
Appalachian RC&D had the opportunity to host a Fellow through the State Department and ICMA's Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative ("YSEALI") program from Sept 15-Oct 15. We ended up being matched with Saill Raikeunrang, a farmer, community organizer...and...
I have four kids, a four month old baby, a 3 year old girl and two boys, 5 and 8 years old. Part of my intention in joining this program was to learn enough about gardening so that we could start a successful garden this year and so the kids could feel more connected with the source of their food. I had no idea, but we got to learn so much more and became part of a supportive community that will be there long after we graduate.
Why do I support local? Because it reminds me of childhood and home! When most people think of comfort foods they automatically go for things like mac and cheese, or chicken noodle soup. In an Indian household, we crave different dishes. When my parents first...