Growing Appalachia 2014

About 190 people attended KFTC’s fifth annual Growing Appalachia conference in Prestonsburg, a record for the one-day event focused on ways people in eastern Kentucky can earn or save money or grow a business through agriculture and clean energy solutions.

“What we are seeing across eastern Kentucky is nothing short of revolutionary,” said panelist Ralph Davis who manages the Floyd County Farmer’s market. “People are returning to family farming. They are taking ownership of their lives and doing something new. Farming is an act of creation. And it is one of the ways this region can heal.”

Among the crowd were many students and teachers, including 15 middle schoolers from Letcher County, high school students from Floyd County, and college students from the University of Pikeville and Big Sandy Community and Technical College, among others. As a teacher from Letcher County explained, “We are just getting started this year with a garden at our school and have plans to build a greenhouse. We are all learning together and thought this would be a great experience.”

The conference featured 9 workshops, from which people could choose 3, plus a panel discussion about local community development efforts in Elkhorn City, Whitesburg, Prestonsburg, and Hazard. Workshop topics included organic pest control, bio-intensive gardening, farm-to-institutional marketing, ways to use wood for energy, collecting and marketing wild edibles and medicinal herbs, do-it-yourself home weatherization, on-farm renewable energy, and two workshops featuring panels of people who are farming and starting new businesses in the mountains.

In a workshop about marketing farm produce to schools, hospitals and other institutions, Terry Crist, who serves as Executive Chef at Manchester Memorial Hospital, described his definition of local food. “I don’t define local as anything grown within a 100 or 200 mile radius. To me, local food is grown by someone I know. The relationship between producers and institutions is like a marriage. You learn together over time.”

Two experienced home-builders led a workshop about do-it-yourself strategies to tighten up leaky houses and reduce home energy costs. “Our specialty is building energy efficient, affordable homes for citizens of Harlan, Leslie and Bell counties,” explained Blake Enlow, executive director of a nonprofit housing group known as COAP. He and Chris Woolery, an energy specialist who works with MACED, discussed many of the least cost, highest value energy upgrades homeowners can make. “Insulating the attic and floors is like putting a hat and socks on your house,” Woolery explained. “The important thing to keep in mind is that these investments pay for themselves.”

Several of the most well attended workshops focused on best practices for gardening and collecting wild plants. Cathy Rehmeyer described her strategies for growing food on a small lot in Pikeville. “I’m here to say that you can work full time, have a family, and still grow a tremendous amount of food,” she said. “I grew 1 ton of food on 6/100 of an acre. And I grow food all year round.” Janet Meyer described ways to minimize crop pests without using many chemicals, including crop rotation, planting a diversity of crops, creating habitats for helpful insects, and physically removing pests and diseased plants. Lastly, Cody Montgomery of Morehead was back by popular demand to share his vast knowledge of wild edible and medicinal herbs.

Among the workshops offered for the first time this year were two sessions on specific forms of renewable energy: one on various ways to use wood energy and another featuring ways to use renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce on-farm energy costs. Pete and Brenda Cashel of Terrapin Hill Farm described steps they have taken on their farm to reduce energy demand and generate more from renewables. Aaron Dourson of Powell County shared how he has built a kiln on his property to produce biochar, a form of charcoal that can be used to improve soil quality and sequester carbon dioxide.

Throughout the day, several speakers described ways they had benefited from participating in Growing Appalachia in years past. Dave Fisher, a farmer who has recently opened a store selling local produce in downtown Whitesburg, shared his experience. “Last year at this time I had a vision, but I didn’t have it crystallized,” he said. “I came here and met people who were doing the things I was dreaming about. I learned about organizations like MACED (the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development) who could help me get started. Here in eastern Kentucky and the whole Appalachian region, we’ve always had hard times. But I see a lot of opportunity. Go search out MACED, KFTC, and Community Farm Alliance. You’ll find a lot of support.”

This year’s conference featured presentations by many local entrepreneurs and community leaders. Lacy Hale, an artist from Whitesburg, described her work to develop a regional artists’ network called EpiCentre Arts. “We believe that art is vital to the health and well-being of the individual and the community. There is so much talent here: in fine arts, traditional arts, playing music and more. People are starting to see how important the arts are. We are excited to be part of that and help shape the future of our communities.”

Tim Belcher of Elkhorn City also spoke about the arts and adventure tourism as central parts of community revitalization efforts. “When you are working as a community leader or organizer, you have to find the people in your community who have passion. Some people are into the arts. Some are passionate about whitewater. You’ve just got to learn what they care about and sent them in motion. And then, once you’ve got things moving locally, we’ve all got to work together as a region.”

Jenn Noble, owner of the Treehouse Café and Bakery in Hazard, was asked about her goals as a young entrepreneur. “My goal is to inspire other young people in eastern Kentucky to follow their dreams, be creative, and make our communities better.”

This year’s Growing Appalachia conference was organized and hosted by the Big Sandy Chapter of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and co-sponsored by MACED, Community Farm Alliance, the Floyd County Farmer’s Market, and Grow Appalachia. Members of the planning team included Todd Howard, Nathan Hall, Beverly May, Kathy Curtis, Martin Richards, Valerie Horn, Will Bowling, Chris Steele, and Cody Montgomery. A locally sourced lunch featured meats, vegetables, and bread produced by Todd Howard, Berea College, Appalachian Meats, and the Bruno family of Holy Mountain Farm. Special appreciation is due to all of the workshop presenters and panelists who generously donated their time and expertise.

List of workshops

Panel Discussion

Developing Local Economies – Tim Belcher of Elkhorn City, Ralph Davis of the Floyd County Farmer’s Market, Lacy Hale of EpiCentre Arts, Allison Tse of InVision Hazard, and moderated by Regina Becknell of MACED – Eastern Kentucky’s economy is undergoing significant changes. Many people and organizations across the region are working to address those changes by creating a more diverse, sustainable, and thriving economy in the mountains. Hear from four such organizations that are doing work to revitalize their community and how they’re addressing the changing economic landscape.

Production Track

Organic Pest Control – Janet Meyer – This session will be based on Janet's experience using management techniques and certified organic products to control pests on the Berea Collge Farm. Some of the pest problems they have encountered include the Spotted Wing Drosophila, Colorado potato beetle, cabbage worms, aphids, tomato hornworms, and birds.

Collecting and Marketing Wild Edibles and Medicinals – Cody Montgomery – Back by popular demand! This workshop will focus on the identification, harvesting, and marketing of native and naturalized edible and medicinal herbs. Participants will learn about a number of species located in our area, as well as how to locate specific habitats for various plants. In addition to harvesting practices you will learn about specific uses for herbs, and how to prepare certain plants for personal use. This will include making salves, tinctures, etc., and recipes for the kitchen table. We will also discuss local, national, and global markets, as well as cropping systems that can be used in the forests around your home. Also, we will talk about utilizing native plants for home landscaping. If you are interested in raising plants like ginseng for extra income, providing your own medicine, or just want to gain a better understanding of our wonderful land this workshop is for you.

Biointensive Gardening – Cathy Rehmeyer – How do you grow a ton of organic produce each year, on a hillside garden that’s less than a tenth of an acre in size? Find out from Cathy Rehmeyer, a Pikeville mother whose path to food self-sufficiency accelerated after her family members were diagnosed with gluten intolerance. Cathy will share her methods for growing organically and intensively in challenging spaces and under adverse conditions. You’ll learn how to build soil fertility and health through composting and cover crops, how to manage pests and plant diseases through ecological approaches rather than chemicals, and how to grow food in your garden through the winter months, without expensive structures or energy inputs. If you want to grow more food, more sustainably, for your family or farm, then this workshop is for you.

Entrepreneur Track

Farm-to-Institutional Market – Tina Garland, Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Program; Bill Redwine, Morehead State University's Auxillary Services; Thomas Brown, Food Director of the Kentucky State Park System; Terry Crist, Executive Chef at Manchester Memorial Hospital – This session will focus on specific, applicable recommendations for farmers who wish to learn more about supplying institutional food markets in eastern Kentucky. Institutional purchasers include state parks, schools and universities, hospitals, and other large buyers. The discussion will include representatives from Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Farm-to-School Program, Kentucky State Parks, and other regional institutional purchasers. Farmers can attend this session to learn how to connect with these buyers to increase the amount of local foods in our area while boosting their farm income.

Mountain Farmer Panel: Lessons and challenges at making a living at farming – Kristen Smith of Faulkner Bent Farms, Dave Fisher of Letcher County, Will Bowling of Old Homeplace Farm, and moderated by Martin Richards of Community Farm Alliance – Agriculture in the mountains has its unique challenges and opportunities. In this moderated discussion workshop, you will have an opportunity to hear from Eastern Kentucky Farmers on their approach to farming and ask questions.

Mountain Entrepreneur Panel: Lessons and challenges at starting your own business – Jenn Noble of Treehouse Cafe and Bakery in Hazard, Kae Fisher of Railroad Street Mercantile in Whitesburg, Mike Slone of 23 Brewing Company in Prestonsburg, and moderated by Les Roll of MACED – Hear from three eastern Kentucky entrepreneurs who share their story about how and why they started their own business and the challenges and successes that come along with it. If you’re interested in starting your own businesses and want to know more about how others did it, including lessons learned, available resources, and why they started a business in eastern Kentucky, then this workshop is for you!

Energy Effeciency/Renewable Energy Track

Ways to use Wood for Energy: Home Heating, Electricity, and Biochar –Aaron Dourson and Nathan Hall – Humans have been using wood to heat our homes and to make charcoal for a very long time, but now that can be done more efficiently than ever with innovative new designs for woodburning stoves, charcoal retorts, and both indoor and outdoor installation methods. Energy from wood could also play a role in a more diversified economy in Appalachia. This workshop explains different types of modern stoves, different installation methods, and also how to produce and use "biochar" on a small farm scale.

DIY Energy Efficiency – Chris Woolery of MACED and Blake Enlow of COAP – Chris and Blake will explain some practical DIY tips on improving your home energy efficiency. The focus of the session will be step-by-step instruction on what you can easily do yourself, what local programs are available for assistance, and knowing when to call in the professionals. Please join us and invest in your home to lower energy consumption and save money!