Environmental Conservation
The “RC” in our acronym stands for “Resource Conservation.” Resource conservation entails land preservation, soil health, water conservation, and more. In our farming and gardening education courses we encourage organic practices and educate growers about the hazards involved with common pesticides. More broadly, our work in land preservation, soil health, and water conservation help to keep Northeast Tennessee the safe, healthy, and beautiful region that it is.
The spaces below provide an overview of our work in this sector as well as our articles related to this work.
Land Preservation
The need for a regional land conservation initiative began when Appalachian RC&D Council members working in Northeast Tennessee started to notice the accelerating disappearance of farmland in the area, and the desire for many residents to take action and protect their family landholdings before it was sold and developed. The Tennessee Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy had been active in the region for many years, but had specific missions that focused on conservation of the high mountain areas and unique and imperiled ecosystems. There was no organization working to protect the family farm.
The Appalachian RC&D Council approached the Land Trust for Tennessee to create a satellite office in Northeast Tennessee to serve land owners in Northeast Tennessee to address to disappearance of farmland and open spaces in the region. In the partnership agreement, The ARC&D staff would work on the ground with landowners and communities and raise their own operating costs, while Land Trust for Tennessee would provide the technical and legal expertise needed to complete conservation easement agreements. Read on about this project here.
Water Conservation
Twenty years of responsible fiscal management has made us a regional go-to for administration of environmental state funds that must be implemented through a nonprofit. From 2015-2018 the ARC&D is proud to have been awarded a second “319” grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and TN Dept. of Agriculture to continue eliminating E.Coli and nitrogen pollution problems in Roan Creek watershed of Johnson County.
Year 2014 marked the close of a five-year “319” grant on Roan Watershed, working closely with Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting. This project benefited many landowners by providing cost-share to stabilize stream banks, leading to less erosion and more filtration of sediment, nitrogen, and pollutants, and make healthier aquatic species habitat. The grant was also used to stabilize streams in advance of installing Doe Mountain’s Adventure Trails system. We were able to repair 15 stream sites. Read on about this project here.
Envirothon
Envirothon is a national educational program and competition that advocates for high school students to learn about conservation and various environmental subjects. Each year, Appalachian RC&D hosts the regional competition for Environthon. The first place winner from the regional competition goes on to compete at the state level. Read about the latest competition here.
Farm Profile: Lavender Dreams with Jeannie and Brian Miller
U-Pick Lavender Season in East Tennessee By guest author Jen Grant Graduates of the Field School beginning farmer training program, Jeannie and Brian Miller are entering a new season of success with Midfield Lavender Farm in Bulls Gap. Last year, during...
Featured Chef: Serenity Knoll Cooking School
David Wiley, a passionate farmer and community member, purchased in 2000 the property that now houses Serenity Knoll. With a strong belief in fostering community, he began construction on the pavilion in 2012, laying the groundwork for Serenity Knoll Farm. David...
Winnie Li: Gardener’s Story
This year, I’m excited to focus on growing more pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and corn. Last year’s harvest was incredible! There’s something so rewarding about having an abundance of food to share with neighbors and friends. I’m particularly proud of still having frozen bell and sweet peppers in my freezer.
Megan Tewell: Gardener’s Story
The Build It Up program came at the perfect time for me and my family. Equipped with new information and resources, we made our first garden plan. The program helped us create and maintain a planting schedule, and an ambitious garden layout. Factoring in watering needs, sun orientation, and soil conditions, we started to really learn more about our land. And though it required a lot of hard, consistent work, we have been rewarded each day with progress.
Tending Roots of Reciprocity: A First-Year Reflection
Each workshop begins with an invitation to connect with someone you do not yet know. We are asked to spend a few minutes learning about their experiences, challenges, and goals. These simple conversations feel like planting seeds of friendship and collaboration. They remind me that growing food and growing community are not separate things. They are the same practice.
Gonsalves Family Garden
So while we wait for our gardens to take off later in spring, we may as well go ahead and eat the wild and free greens that are so readily available all around us. Wild greens can be used to create vibrant salads, they can be juiced, given to chickens as a treat, or they can be used in a variety of other creative ways.
Farm Profile: Farming on the Nolichucky with Tabitha Dotson
Tabitha Dotson by guest author Jen Grant When Hurricane Helene hit Jonesborough and the Nolichucky River late last September, Tabitha Dotson of Dotson Farm had just sold her cattle for the year to allow the pastures time to rest. Her timing proved immensely fortunate....
Featured Chef: David Phillips at Boone St Market
David Phillips is Store Manager and Chef at Boone Street Market, the only year-round farm store, local only from a 100-mile radius, in the region. Boone Street Market is a part of Jonesborough Locally Grown, the Jonesborough Farmers Market. At Boone Street, 6 days a...
Trial & Error: Learning from Past Mistakes
By Meisha Turner As we start the third year of building a garden at our home, we’ve definitely learned a few things along the way. Some things, we got right on the first attempt. Others… well, we’re still figuring it out. But, by now we’ve had a few opportunities to...
Building a Resilient Future, One Garden at a Time: Chelsea Green
In these uncertain times, I believe the ability to grow our own food is a powerful tool for resilience—both for ourselves and those around us… Gardening is a big task, especially if you’ve never done it before. But the truth is, this program is designed for people like us — novices, dreamers, and doers who want to make a difference in their own lives and communities.