A new Agroforestry project, FARM and GYO recruitment is open, and Winter Farm to Table Supper tickets are going fast

In this issue:

We need your feedback on the menu for our new food trailer - fill out the brief survey
Recruitment has opened for our FARM Mentors and Grow Your Own programs for 2024
Tickets are going quickly for our first Winter Farm to Table Supper - get your tickets now
New Agroforestry project alert - Get Shade, Get Paid! - learn more
Help us continue to make an impact in 2024 - your end-of-year donation makes such a big difference!

Our "Menu with a Mission" Food Trailer Launches in the Spring; We Need your Feedback!

Our Menu with a Mission food trailer supports ASD's mission in several ways:

1. It serves as the work site for our Groundwork workforce development program, providing paid, on-the-job training in food and agriculture-related industries for people with barriers;

2. We'll be getting as much of our ingredients as possible from area producers, providing them with another outlet of support;

3. The food trailer's income will go back into the Groundwork program, to pay trainee wages, but will also support ASD's food access work - taking fresh, healthy food to food deserts and low income neighborhoods

We're in the planning stages with the menu, and would love your feedback on what we have planned so far. The survey only has six questions, but your input will go a long way to helping us make some important decisions.

Thanks in advance!

Complete the Survey

FARM Mentor and Grow Your Own Recruitments are Open

Our Farmer and Rancher Mentor (FARM) program is now accepting applications for mentors. This program is the region's first on-farm internship for beginning farmers. If you - or someone you know - would like to mentor a beginning farmer, please click the link below. What does it mean to be a mentor? It means sharing your story and best practices, providing guidance and knowledge, and working together to develop individualized learning goals intended to inform lessons learned on the farm.

Our Grow Your Own program provides seeds, tools, soil, tilling, and education for new backyard gardeners in the Washington County/Bristol and Tazewell areas. Participants will get loads of education, support, and encouragement, learning how to successfully prep, plant, harvest, and preserve food they grow in their own backyards - whether it's in a container, a raised bed, or in the ground. Space is limited, so sign up today!

Our Winter Farm to Table Supper Tickets are Going Fast

Our friends at Bloom are closing the restaurant for this very special, first ever Winter Farm to Table Fundraising Supper, where a limited number of guests will experience a winter Prix Fixe like no other. Keeping with the mission of at least 70% locally-sourced ingredients, this risk-taking culinary team has carefully crafted a menu of creative dishes that are sure to please the palate. We started sales with 100 tickets and only about 30 tickets remain, so get yours now!

Each course will be perfectly paired with the exquisite flavor profiles of Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s fresh and clean ciders. Served in the elegant ambiance of Bloom, this will be an unforgettable experience.

The courses are as follows, with options for vegetarian and gluten free guests:

1st Course:

Sweet potato pave (creme fraiche, chive, JQD Salt)

2nd Course:

Acorn Squash Risotto (parsnip, lardon, local mushrooms)

3rd Course:

“Chicken + Dumplings” (ricotta gnocchi “dumplings”, local hen, briciole)

4th Course:

Filet of Beef (red wine jus, truffled cauliflower purée)

5th Course:

Rosemary Honey Almond Tart (local honey, almond frangipane, blood orange)

100% of all proceeds benefit Appalachian Sustainable Development. Your ticket purchases support local and regional farmers and help Appalachian Sustainable Development strengthen the local food system.

Purchase Tickets

Get Shade, Get Paid!

Here's a new agroforestry project alert: Get Shade, Get Paid helps farmers in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina make money by planting trees in an effort to accelerate silvopasture adoption and carbon sequestration.

Benefits include:

Receive up to $1,500 per acre upfront
Earn up to $90 per acre annually from carbon credit sales
Save up to $100 per acre annually on feed
Harness the power of shade to shield your livestock from high temperatures
Grow trees with edible leaves and mast to reduce your hay expenses
Improve soil health and reap higher yields for seasons to come
Pave the way for the future of farming that supports the next generation

Click the button below to learn more and complete the form for a personal consultation and FREE analysis of your farm's potential.

Learn More

Help us make a difference

There is still time to support ASD in 2023!

Your donation is behind much of what we’ve accomplished to date: $33 million in produce, meat, and value-added products sold and distributed for regional farmers; 7 million pounds of nutritious food donated to rural food pantries; 150,000+ pounds of food grown by our backyard gardeners; 80+ raised beds installed and managed at regional school gardens and clubs; almost 5,000 acres of forestland preserved; 300+ new farm startups, supported through training and resources.

Your year end donation today will help us expand our work. All donations are tax deductible and remain in Appalachia. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Donate Today

ASD’s mission is to build a thriving regional food and agriculture system that creates healthy communities, respects the planet, and cultivates profitable opportunities for Appalachians.

ASD is committed to ensuring an equitable, inclusive, and respectful culture and environment for ASD staff, board, program participants, and stakeholders.