FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1/12/2021
Contact: Chelsea Goulding
Agriculture Education Program Manager
276-494-3669
cgoulding@asdevelop.org
Appalachian Sustainable Development offers resources for residents of Buchanan and Tazewell Counties in Virginia
BRISTOL, Va. – Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), has received funding from the Thompson Charitable Foundation to serve families in Tazewell and Buchanan Counties, Virginia through the Grow Your Own food access program. Experience is not necessary. Residents of these counties should apply by 5pm, 2/1/2021 at: https://asdevelop.org/growyourown or contact Lindsey Felty: lfelty@asdevelop.org.
ASD’s Grow Your Own program empowers families to grow their own food in home, community gardens and earn income from produce sales. Since 2012, program participants have grown over 160,500 pounds of produce. Following strict CDC guidelines, ASD will provide seasonally appropriate training, technical support, seeds, plants, tools and tilling services to program participants. Virtual workshops will teach families how to plan, plant, grow, cook and preserve home-grown produce for their households. Participants are encouraged to supplement their income through sales of their harvests or share their bounty with neighbors and local food banks.
Chelsea Goulding, ASD’s Agriculture Education Program Manager explains, “Because of the generosity of the Thompson Charitable Foundation, we are able to expand the Grow Your Own program further into Tazewell and Buchanan Counties. Families in the program will be able to take control over their food sovereignty at a time when many are stretched too thin and local pantries are seeing drastically increased need. New families will see how they can fit into the local food system and take an active role in the fight to end food insecurity. Moving forward, our food access programs will focus on ‘a lifetime of healthy eating’. We meet folks where they are and provide them with effective tools for health, wellness and financial success.”
Grow Your Own participants often struggle with finding, consuming, and being able to afford fresh, nutritious produce. In its 8th year, the Grow Your Own program offers foundational agriculture education designed to provide participants increased food security, access to entrepreneurial opportunities, increased networking opportunities and bridges to employment in the agriculture field.
About the Thompson Charitable Foundation
Established in 1987 by B. Ray Thompson, Sr., the Thompson Charitable Foundation works to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. Learn more at: https://fdnweb.org/thompson.
About Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD)
Nationally known and respected for its commitment to local farmers, Appalachian Sustainable Development celebrated its 25th year in 2020. 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.
Since 1995, Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) has been working in 15 counties in Central Appalachia. ASD’s reach has since expanded to include partners in eastern WV and KY and southeast Ohio. ASD uses six strategies to accomplish its work: education, increasing local food production, developing markets, increasing distribution of local agriculture products, engaging strategic partners, and researching/consulting and advising. ASD runs several programs, all focused on the food and ag sectors, including programs that help feed hungry people and programs in economic and workforce development that build opportunities for farmers to succeed. Learn more: https://asdevelop.org, Facebook, Instagram,YouTube and Twitter.
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