ASD Holds Preview for Planned Agriculture Campus

On June 13, ASD welcomed about 60 guests to our future agriculture campus, set on 17+ acres at 17444 Singingwood Lane in Bristol, VA.

Guests speakers included ASD CEO Kathlyn Terry Baker, USDA State Director of Rural Development for Virginia Perry Hickman, and ARC Federal Co-chair Gayle Manchin.

In her speech, Manchin talked about the power of partnerships that connect people and ideas, and the strength of our shared heritage and culture. After the speeches, attendees walked down to our Alley Cropping Demonstration Site for a quick tour.

The campus will serve as ASD's headquarters, but will also serve the community with a 10k square-foot Business Development Hub, an 8k square-foot Food Hub similar to our existing Food Hub in Duffield, a Workforce Development Hub, a greenhouse, and a number of research and demonstration gardens.

Despite the heat, it was an absolutely fantastic afternoon with a lot of excitement for the campus and the impacts it will make on the food and agriculture economy in our region.

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Barbara Kingsolver and Steven Hopp Kickoff ASD's Capital Campaign with $100k Donation

We are so incredibly excited and humbled to announce that our first major individual donation to the capital campaign is from Barbara Kingsolver, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Demon Copperhead, and her husband Dr. Steven Hopp, who teaches at Emory and Henry College and also sits on ASD’s board. Barbara and Steven have long been champions of Central Appalachia, contributing their knowledge and talents to support social and environmental justice. Barbara and Steven, thank you for helping ASD take this first $100,000 step in our $12m capital campaign! Your donation has poured fuel on our fire for building this campus, and your kindness will impact our region for generations.

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New Grant Opportunity!

American Farmland Trust is excited to announce that applications for the Brighter Future Fund's National Grant for Historically Undeserved Farmer's & Ranchers will open July 1st at 8 am EST. Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 dollars. Click the link under their logo to find out more. Good luck!

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CALLING ALL LICENSED CONTRACTORS!

ASD is seeking estimates from qualified bidders to build a covered wash station at the Appalachian Harvest Food and Herb Hub in Duffield, Virginia. Bids should include all labor, materials, equipment, tools, supplies, and incidentals required to complete the construction. Please reach out to Shannon Joyce at sjoyce@asdevelop.org or call (276) 623-1121 for more information or to submit a proposal.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

Do you want to help out at ASD? We have so many volunteer opportunities! Email Rob Kahn at morningsun7@gmail.com for more information.