King College > Appalachian Extension

Appalachian Sustainability

Wendell Berry writes that “how we eat determines, to a considerable extent, how the world is used.” The southern Appalachian highlands are extremely rich in biodiversity. The region is also a landform that actively demonstrates the limits—and possibilities—of sustainable agriculture and development.

Extension participants will explore the oft-hidden connections between seed, soil, farm, and market. Our group will compare the distances between regional farms and markets against national standards. Small-scale meat and poultry production will be observed, as well as logistics of the timber industry. Students will follow trees as they progress from forest to kiln and on into construction projects, and the impact of consumerism on the local economy and ecology will be considered.