Local farming and food systems can help build resilient communities for the challenges we currently face and in the future. Small farmers grow healthy food and build local markets, which are more than economic exchanges. Farmers build relationships around food with local consumers and other stakeholders. Many consumers want to understand more about how their food is produced and its impact on the environment and society. They want to connect with the people who grow their food.
Many communities have helpful resources for local engagement. The Cooperative Extension Service is a resource in every state. Agents are advisors who help farmers, train Master Gardeners, youth development including 4-H, nutrition, cooking, and household management, and community advisors. Institutions, non-profit organizations that focus on farming or food pantries, and local farms can also be key resources.
For example, App State University is located in Watauga County in the mountains of Western NC and has a university farm and also campus gardens. The university has close ties to the community, which is a rural farming community. The Watauga County Extension service is very supportive of sustainable agriculture. Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture also offers various programs including a farmers market and the Food Hub, an electronic farmers market, FARM Café, local food pantries. Appalachian culture is self-reliant and resourceful. It is rich in tradition, including farm animal production.
Another example in Southern Appalachia is Veterans Healing Farm in Asheville, NC. Their program serves multiple needs of veterans. On a national basis, the National Center for Appropriate Technology operates the Armed to Farm program across the country. Farmer Veteran Coalition has local chapters in many states.
Featured Farms and Farmers
Local farms include Shipley Beef and Browns Farm Ridge (BFR) which welcome new veterans and alumni each summer for training and networking. BFR raises beef cattle on mountain pastures. They use specialty genetics and finish on grain. They have a further processing facility and sell local products at their own store. They welcome farmer veterans each year with a pig-pickin’. Shipley Beef highlights rotational grazing beef cattle with pasture finishing, uses a local butchery and dry ages, and has a farm store on the property. Shipley Farm hosts a wrap-up dinner with grassfed beef that brings alumni and new farmers together. Patriarch R.J. Shipley was known for as a veteran agricultural educator as early as the 1940s. (See Here at the Owl book.) Many local farmers assist with Frontline to Farm training; see Farmer Features for more details.