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.
Gardener Story: The Gonsalves Family
Our family moved to the area about a year ago. That means we had to start our garden over from scratch. It also means we had to adjust to different types of garden bugs, both pests and beneficial bugs. Luckily, we learned about many of the local pests from one of the Build It Up workshops, and we had our Build It Up binder that contains so much useful information about identifying and controlling common garden pests. Despite having some losses due to pests, we now have a game plan for how to manage garden bugs starting in spring.
Gardener Story: Mary Anne and Lee Sowers
What summer vegetable tastes like no other, and is so incredibly delicious, because the real ones are grown and harvested only during the summer…the one season, out of the entire four seasons of the year, that we cannot wait until the first one ripens, and this juicy summer delicacy, finally does appear?
You guessed it…Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes.
Disaster Recovery Resources
Hurricane Helene caused a “one in 1,000 years” rainfall event, bringing our rivers to carry so much water that communities were devastated by flooding and destroyed infrastructure, and the loss of neighbors and friends. The recovery will be a long haul. ARCD stands by...
Featured Chef: Baking seasonal fruits with Maren Close, Lazy Lady Baking Co.
Note: This is the first post of a new monthly series featuring northeast Tennessee (and adjacent) chefs who source from local farmers, promote those farmers, and use seasonality of produce in their business models, making themselves an active part of the local food...
Gardener Story: Jamie Shamblin
Then our hardest battle yet came with the summer heat and dry weather. We had caught hundreds of gallons of rain water to help water the garden but it wasn’t enough for how hot and dry it was this year. Luckily we learned from the class that mulch works great to help hold moisture for the plants.
Gardener Story: Winnie Li
I felt so good when I saw our freezer filled up with vegetables from the garden, especially during the wintertime, I appreciated every bite of the food that came from the garden. I am so proud that I can share some of my food with the neighbors and friends.
Gardener Story: Amy & Zane
The sequencing of BIU’s workshops unrolled in a helpful way, specifically when it came to the two workshops on Pests & Diseases. Those have been immensely helpful and we contact the folks who led those workshops almost weekly for a “HELP! What’s this bug/disease? How do we fix it ASAP?” style check-in. Each workshop helped us recognize the importance of the season and what you can do with it.
Gardener Story: Sarah Blackburn
We have multiple food allergies that have propelled us into eating healthy, plant-forward and organic foods. This way of eating is extremely expensive so having a garden has allowed us to save exponentially.
USDA and the Appalachia Regional Food Business Center Make Available $3.32 Million to Farm and Food Businesses in First Round of Business Builder Subawards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Appalachia Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC) today announced the availability of $3.32 million in Business Builder subawards to support food and farm business development, market access, and processing, aggregation, and distribution infrastructure.
Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council to Hold 2024 Land Conservation Workshop for Women Farmers and Landowners in Hawkins County
The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD) is hosting a workshop series for women farmers and farm landowners in Hawkins County, TN entitled “Women Preserving Farmland for the Future.”