Tapping Into Tradition

Could maple syrup become an income generating crop in the hills of Appalachia? Seth Long, who operates a small farm in Letcher County, KY, thinks so as do others in the region. New technologies are making what used to be a traditionally harvested product for home use possible on a larger scale. OVR/WMMT reporter Sydney […]

CANE in Action

Across Appalachia, communities are experimenting with ways to develop sustainable agriculture as a business sector and to increase access to nutritious foods. WMMT recently reported on the opening of the CANE (Community Agriculture and Nutritional Enterprises) industrial kitchen in Letcher County which is designed to do just that. In the months since its opening, CANE […]

Raising CANE For Local Foods

Individuals and organizations in Eastern Kentucky’s Letcher County came together to develop the former Whitesburg High School cafeteria into a community kitchen. Calling the project Community Agricultural and Nutritional Enterprises (CANE), they see the commercial kitchen providing an avenue for farmers to take the necessary risks involved with scaling up the area food system to […]

Ronni Lundy: Listen to the People

Ronni Lundy, whose recent book “Victuals” won the prestigious James Beard Award, was guest speaker at the 2018 East Kentucky Leadership Conference. She spoke about Appalachia’s natural abundance and her people’s deep knowledge of how to use it sustainably. She concluded by encouraging those who want to help Appalachia “to listen to the people” and […]