Downtown Kingsport to get Quilted
Downtown Kingsport to get Quilted Thanks to a grant from the Kingsport Community Foundation, folks will soon be able to Follow the Quilt Trail into...
Fostering communities
THROUGH LOCAL FARMS & FOODS
Our mission is to connect farmers, gardeners, food entrepreneurs – and those who want to be – with resources to foster healthy, thriving and
resilient communities.
About us
ABOUT APPALACHIAN RC&D COUNCIL
Established in 1994, the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization serving Northeast Tennessee and beyond. ARCD provides training to farmers and backyard gardeners, lends support to farm markets, works to increase local food access, and strives to improve the local food system as a whole by bridging the gaps between producers, buyers, distributors, restaurants, and consumers.
Our mission is to connect farmers, gardeners, food entrepreneurs – and those who want to be – with resources to foster healthy, thriving and resilient communities.
How does it all
connect?
Training farmers & gardeners to produce local foods
Connecting consumers to these farmers & gardeners through a local farm & food hub
Providing programming to increase food access and nutrition for all
Increasing knowledge in the importance of our farms & foods promoting conservation for future use of these resources
Our Programs
Core Areas of Programming
Farmland Conservation
Supporting local farms and foods is not possible without the farmland to do it on. All ARCD programming is weaved around the importance of preserving this vital farmland through sustainable agriculture practices.
Farmer and Gardener Training
From gardeners who have never sown seed before to seasoned farmers expanding their operation, ARCD provides training and resources to expand local food knowledge & production.
Nutrition & Food Access
ARCD promotes nutrition and food access for everyone by providing programming open to underserved populations in our community. These incentive programs aid participants in their purchasing and knowledge of how to prepare locally grown, nutritious foods that may have otherwise been out of their reach.
Local Farm & Food Hub
Not a farmer or gardener? No worries!
ARCD provides a channel through which the community can learn and connect with local farmers, food producers, and farmers markets supporting local infrastructure and providing healthy and nutritious options.
Farmland Conservation
Supporting local farms and foods is not possible without the farmland to do it on. All ARCD programming is weaved around the importance of preserving this vital farmland through sustainable agriculture practices.
Farmer and Gardener Training
From gardeners who have never sown seed before to seasoned farmers expanding their operation, ARCD provides training and resources to expand local food knowledge & production.
Nutrition & Food Access
ARCD promotes nutrition and food access for everyone by providing programming open to underserved populations in our community. These incentive programs aid participants in their purchasing and knowledge of how to prepare locally grown, nutritious foods that may have otherwise been out of their reach.
Local Farm & Food Hub
Not a farmer or gardener? No worries!
ARCD provides a channel through which the community can learn and connect with local farmers, food producers, and farmers markets supporting local infrastructure and providing healthy and nutritious options.
Help us SUPPORT
Local farms & food in Northeast Tennessee and beyond
Your support of ARCD’s work is integral in ensuring the continuation of our programming. Make a tax-deductible contribution by clicking below.
INSIGHTS
Latest Announcements
Enjoy Fall to its fullest when you visit the Quilt Trail
Enjoy Fall to its fullest when you visit the Quilt Trail East Tennessee farms are celebrating fall harvest in full swing. Let the Quilt Trail...
Meet Emily
Erin Jasenak: A Gardener’s Story Emily Bidgood, a native of the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, is the Executive Director for the Appalachian RC&D Council. If...
Oldest Business in Tennessee Looks Ahead
Oldest Business in Tennessee Looks Ahead This has been an unusual year for St. John Mill. For the first time in over two centuries the...
Greene up your Quilts
Greene up your Quilts We got our stitches in a bunch over Greeneville’s love for quilts. Just finishing up is the Nathanael Greene Museum Quilt Show...
Kingsport Celebrates Traditions
Kingsport Celebrates Traditions The Renaissance Center is host to a new exhibit, open and free to the public, on the traditions Tennessee. Featured is the...