Farm Pathways
Farm Pathways: Integrating Farmer Training with Land Access
Farm Pathways is a whole-farm training and innovative land access program for beginning farmers in the Southern Appalachians. The Farm Pathways team consists of proud and committed allies to our local farmers. Together, our organizations are providing training, farmer-to- farmer networking and farmland access to help beginning farmers overcome obstacles to create successful agricultural enterprises. The US Dept. of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program recently awarded a $600,000 grant over three years to continue development of this program.
Organic Growers School is offering Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training, a year-long course, new to the Southeast, to promote practical, whole-farm business, financial, and marketing planning. They provide long-term, targeted mentorship & technical assistance for beginning famers through the Organic Farm Finder (OFF) and Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) programs.
Stewardship
Our volunteers and staff have worked to remove trash and accumulated debris from properties which are now protected – including the stunning Lost Cove site, an in-holding in the Pisgah National Forest which we purchased in 2012. In 2014, our Corporate Partner USA Raft teamed up to help us remove over a ton of garbage from the Lost Cove. It was a creative endeavor that enabled us to “Raft Out the Trash.”
We Can't Do It Without You
Together, we can protect Appalachia’s lands and secure a healthier future for generations to come.