One of the best things about having 10 years under our belt as a foundation is the ability to go back to projects and check in with people that we have known for 10 years now — to see how their lives have changed and gotten better throughout our partnership. We, of course, have changed and improved as we learn from our partners over the last decade. Our longest relationship, with Grow Appalachia, has shaped our investments and what we believe is possible in food security. John Paul actually created the program in partnership with Berea College eleven years ago, before the foundation started, with a phone call and a personal check, to help people in Appalachia grow their own food.
Last week our director, Constance Dykhuizen, went to Kentucky to visit with the Grow Appalachia team and honor the retirement of Grow Appalachia’s founding director, David Cooke. We are so grateful for David’s leadership, integrity, and dedication to this program. It is the only program of its kind in the U.S. that assists people in growing food and scaling up to be a commercial grow if they so chose. We visited Seth and Sheryl Long’s Southdown Farm in Letcher County — an impressive organic garden, CSA producer and maple syrup-harvesting operation that has long been a part of Grow Appalachia. We visited more backyard gardens, Cowan County Community Center’s programs and farmers’ market and Pine Mountain Settlement School. All of these community partners have been instrumental in providing support and creating a more sustainable food system in the region.
Grow Appalachia’s new director, Candace Mullins, is sticking to the core tenets of the program while also moving in some exciting directions. You can read about the program’s impact on the region below and see more about what they have in store in their three-year strategic plan.
Since 2010, Grow Appalachia has:
Partnered with 6000 families through 60 nonprofits across 6 states.
Harvested 4.4 million pounds of food worth an estimated $13.3 million.
Created and hosted programs for people in 60 counties of central Appalachia.
Installed 138 high tunnels to help produce more food while generating revenue.
Supported 146 farmers with business development.
