Appalachian Business Communities and Food Systems in the Climate Crisis

A community service and learning trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina!

Overview

On September 27th hurricane Helene hit the southeastern United States, washing away entire homes, businesses, and roads. Unprecedented rainfall led to landslides and flooding, leaving hundreds of people dead or missing, and thousands stranded without basic utilities. Communities that were already isolated or struggling economically now face a particular challenge. Meanwhile, some unique features of rural mountain communities and the small businesses within them resulted in remarkable stories of resilience and mutual aid.

As the climate emergency becomes more and more impactful globally, what can we learn from rural communities as we work alongside them to restore farms, businesses, and homes? What role do businesses play in community stability and resilience? How are local food systems interconnected with local economies, and what can we do to strengthen them?

Program Outline

Pre-Work

Weekly class meetings to study mutual aid, storytelling, Appalachian history and culture, climate emergencies, rural economic development, and local food systems.

Sample Itinerary for 2-Week Trip*- scheduled for July 18-25

• Arrive Asheville, NC
• Visit Firestorm Co-op, a keystone business in the aftermath of the hurricane. 
• Settle in at Valle Crucis Conference Center. Optional waterfall hike.
• Work day at farm cooperative in Valle Crucis. Hear from Matt Cooper, local farmer and longtime organizer of Watauga County Farmers market about the unique strengths and challenges of the local farming community.
• Visit and volunteer day at the High Country Food Hub. Learn about how a local nonprofit increases demand for local food. Free time to explore historic downtown Boone.
• Hands-on workshop with High Country Mutual Aid and/or Hollar Harm Reduction about power mapping and grassroots community building
• Workday and farm dinner at Against the Grain Farm. Hear how permaculture principles are being used to foster resilience.
• Visit the Watauga County Farmers Market and gather research from local vendors related to program themes.
• Meet with local community organizers. Learn about intersections between politics and southern community life.
• Meet with Watauga River Keeper and participate in river cleanup day while learning about stream bed ecology and the impacts of climate change and catastrophe.
• Day trip to Marshall, NC to learn from the local arts community about the importance of creativity and craft before and after the hurricane. 
• Depart Asheville, NC

*This itinerary has not been finalized or confirmed, and is only intended to give students an idea of what to expect.

Post-Trip Meetings and Reflection

Weekly class meetings to debrief, synthesize research, and develop shareable projects on chosen topics that arose during the course. Where did community show up most powerfully? Where were the biggest challenges? What needs to be communicated to the outside world? How can we build back better after a crisis?

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 - Community Organizing

4 - Climate Change and Society