2007 Sustainable Community Innovation Projects

Funded in collaboration with the Southern Rural Development Center

Back to Why We Picked Them

CS07-052 Growing healthy markets: healthy farms, healthy food project , $10,000

CFA members will expand our institutional buying demonstration project for farmers that represents a successful marketing strategy for rural counties, builds a market for the Agricultural Education and Marketing Center in Bath County, provides fresh healthy food to Kentucky school children, and provides additional income to local farmers. By developing a diversified and stable market for Kentucky farmers this project will facilitate new entrepreneurial and value added activities.
Kentucky farmers have historically depended on the stable income provided by Burley tobacco, but that crop and the program that made it profitable now belong to a bygone era. Community Farm Alliance members responded to this crisis in 2000 by advocating for the expenditure of tobacco settlement funds for diversification, new farm enterprises and new markets and by advocating for local buying legislation. CFA has been a catalyst for instigating some of the most significant economic development strategies required by the loss of tobacco. While members have been successful on the urban front, rural counties too far away from Lexington or Louisville to do direct marketing are in dire need of successful strategies.
CFA members envisioned and helped write local buying legislation, House Bill 669, which was passed by the Kentucky Legislature in 2006, requiring state agencies to purchase local agricultural products, making the State Park's local buying program permanent and broadening the program to other state institutions as well. Especially in rural areas, State Parks can give farmers the summer market that school systems do not provide and school systems can provide the year round market that the state parks do not provide in their off season.
Bath County built a regional marketing and processing center with tobacco settlement money that includes a community kitchen and processing, cooling and storage facilities for distribution of local farm products. Four state parks participating in the State Parks 'buy local' program are within 65 miles of the center. Kentucky State Parks served over a million meals in 2007. This presents an opportunity to develop the market infrastructure necessary to assist farmers and fully utilize this facility.
The logistical challenges presented by developing a local food infrastructure for a cooperative institutional market in rural Bath County are not very different than the challenges faced in many other parts of the state. Farmers remote from urban centers need local marketing and value added options to provide a reliable income. A successful demonstration program will help farmers in Bath and Fleming counties create such a market and provide practical information for farmers in other rural areas to develop similar projects.

Nathan Brown
Community Farm Alliance
614 Shelby Street
Frankfort , KY 40601
Ph: 502-223-3655
Fax: 502-223-0804
Em: nathancfa@bellsouth.net

Why did we pick it?

• The project enhances the ability of farmers market their produce and to earn additional income. It will provide some opportunities for entrepreneurship within the target communities and expand the provision of fresh foods to school age children. In expanding the market for produce and value added product in Kentucky, the project should contribute to local community economic development, although community development is not an objective of the project.
• Effort ties sustainable ag and community together very well.
• Partners are specific as to their involvement and expectations
• Strong connection between project and farmers. Project works to create business and entrepenuerial opp's for them vial market connections and value-added ag products.

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CS07-053 Youth and Agriculture: a Bridge to the Future (YABF) for From Tree to Table (FTT) $10,000

The “From Tree to Table” (FTT) project has been designed as a first step in addressing the dangerous food security situation the US Virgin Islands (USVI) finds itself in today where 99.5% of the food consumed in the Territory is imported. The Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative (VIFC) long-term goals are to rebuild an agricultural industry in the USVI that can attract and retain young local entrepreneurs and provide quality locally produced foods to the Territory's residents. FTT is a “Bridge to the Future” that will act as an incubator for a new crop of young entrepreneurs in the agricultural and food processing sector.

FTT will build a team composed of three (3) senior MBA students from the University of the Virgin Islands and forty (40) senior high school students. This will be divided into three research/action teams who will be charged with researching and developing a business plan for a producer's cooperative that will harvest, process, and market fresh fruits and a line of value-added products. The fruit feed stock for this business will be the existing “hidden orchard” of fruit trees located in thousands of backyards on the island of St. Croix, where much of the annual production capacity is wasted because it spoils before getting into the hands of consumers and/or processors.

Dale K.K. Browne
Virgin Islands Farmers Cooperative, Inc.
1102 Est. Richmond
PO Box 3443 KINGSHILL
Kingshill, St. Croix
Virgin Islands 00851
Ph: 340-277-6046
Fax: 340-772-4004
Em: sejahfarm@unitedstates.vi

Why did we pick it?

• The potential for beneficial interaction between exising backyard ag and the development of a more sustainable community food system is demonstrated
• Tthe partnerships are evident between state, private sector, and university agencies; good mix
• T he project could contribute importantly to the development of value-added enterprises; is supported by numerous agencies; is part of a larger plan for increasing regional food security

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CS07-054 Something's Cooking in the Kitchen, $8,400

The entrepreneurs at our local farmers market are stymied by state-level requirements that do not allow them to produce value-added products in their home kitchens. Current regulations in Georgia require costly certified kitchens that make it economically unfeasible to initiate and test jams, jellies, and vegetable products on a small scale. This project proposes to start working towards grassroots change by creating a network of local entrepreneurs who will produce and market their value-added products at our local farmer's markets. After a series of workshops led by representatives of Extension, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and specialists in product design, the participants will rent space in an existing certified commercial kitchen. The culmination of the training and product development will include sales at our local farmer's markets and a Preview Party where local, regional and state food safety officials and legislators will be invited to sample the products. We envision this model to be picked up by other communities throughout Georgia, serving as the core constituency for changing state policy to allow for homebased microprocessing. In the bargain, our producers will be able to develop their value-added products, sell them legally to meet existing consumer demand, and add to their "bottom lines". The community's resources in economic development, marketing, event planning and catering will be tapped to enhance the project's success and reach.

Christine Curry
Pike Co. Agribusiness Authority
PO Box 310
Meansville , GA 30256
Ph: 770-567-3600
Fax: 770-567-3602
Em: billchrisfarm@hughes.net

Why did we pick it?

• Linkages are very explicitly stated.
• The objectives are clear, but ambitious.
• A unique and innovative project that could contribute nicely to sustainablity and community development.
• Civic engagement is a major component of the project. Participants include farmers, residents, local government officials, NGOs and other community members.
• This project will increase knowledge, build capacity and make connections among ag and community interests.

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CS07-055 Stecoah Kitchen Entrepreneurship & Agri-Tourism Project, $10,000

Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts & Educational Center is located in Graham County, North Carolina. Situated in the far western Appalachian mountains, Graham County is remote, distressed and small, with fewer than 8,000 permanent residents. The steep mountainous terrain and narrow twisting roads have hindered economic, educational and cultural growth opportunities, leaving Graham County in rural isolation. However, this same untouched environment houses a wealth of natural and cultural heritage. With over 70% of its land owned by federal agencies, the county often struggles to balance the need for economic growth with the desire to protect its natural and cultural heritage. This project addresses both the need for economic growth while simultaneously supporting our natural and cultural heritage.

Stecoah Valley Center itself is housed in the restored old rock school building that served as the center of the community from 1926 until it closed in 1994. It offers the perfect setting for an authentic cultural heritage tourism experience. Recognized as Graham County's leader in cultural arts, the Center already offers tourists the opportunity to experience Appalachian food, music, arts, and culture through its many activities including the Stecoah kitchen, Artisans Gallery, summer concert/dinner series, three annual festivals, classes and more. It has focused on supporting the agricultural community for the past two years with its shared use commercial kitchen facility. This project will take advantage of the opportunity to utilize the Center's facilities and to build on the strength of the Center's existing position in the local community and region.

The Stecoah Kitchen Entrepreneurship & Agri-tourism Project will help improve local and regional economic conditions through a variety of food-related services, activities and events. First, the existing shared-use commercial kitchen facility project (commonly known as Stecoah Valley Food Ventures) will continue to provide the tools necessary for farmers and food entrepreneurs to profitably produce value-added agricultural products. This part of the project offers the opportunity for individual entrepreneurial success while sustaining the agricultural community and heritage of the area.

Second, a new Heritage Foods series that focuses on traditional Appalachian foods and foodways will be offered as a part of this project. This series will include cooking classes taught in our commercial kitchen and other venues, as well as other food-related classes taught in both indoor and “outdoor classroom” settings.

The third part of the project includes special events such as the Appalachian Dinner Series, Country Fair and a new Wildlife Festival that will also focus on our mountain traditions and will kindle a renewed interest in local foods and foodways. Both the classes and events will be planned to help attract and keep cultural/heritage and agri-tourists in the local area. The results of the project will be an increase in local entrepreneurship, new growth in tourism as a sustainable revenue source and continued support for the agricultural community.

Beth Fields
Stecoah Valley Arts, Crafts & Educational Center, Inc.
121 Schoolhouse Road
Robbinsville , NC 28771
Ph: 828-479-3364
Fax: 828-479-1434
Em: programs@stecoahvalleycenter.com

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CS07-056   Gathering of Homestead Economic and Entrepre-neurs of Food Based, Organic Foods and Other Related Businesses, $10,000

County Extension Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Staff will identify and prioritize issues facing area homestead businesses, entrepreneurs, organic and other growers wanting to process foods in Montgomery County and 5 Tennessee and 2 Kentucky Counties that join us. The project will encourage and foster a sustainable community where individual families can benefit from economic development. Rather than duplicating efforts, we will work together as a coalition, sharing ideas and responsibilities. County Extension FCS Agent will act as the lead representative in the planning and implementation of a two year initiative, working closely with multiple partners to secure additional training for Agents, create a coalition, and increasing awareness of the issues as well as funding needs. Project Partners will include representatives from the surrounding County Extension Agriculture/Family Consumer Science/Youth staff, Tennessee State University Small Farm Agent, Five Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council, County Community Resource and Development Committee, Environmental Advisory, Austin Peay State University/Small Business Development Center, Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperation, Family and Community Education Organization, Smith Trahern Mansion, Director of Clarksville Office of Housing and Community Development, County Government representative, Chamber of Commerce and representatives from Herb, Organic and other small producers.

We will see that they have the opportunity to build close relationships with others who are working on similar or related ideas with an opportunity to create marketing for multiple products. We will educate about food safety certification, regulatory requirements, marketing, packaging, insurance, product development, requirements for organic and other issues of micro food producers. We will encourage product enhancement with the use of regionally grown and organic foods, increase opportunities for area residents to have locally grown, organic and processed food increasingly available. We will further identify the entrepreneurs that have a need to use a community kitchen facility or further develop their domestic kitchen. We will buy one commercial mixer, which is the greatest need of clients identified at this time. These first clients are women and minorities bakers who have limited resources and are not able to build their own commercial kitchens/have reasons that their home kitchen could not be certified at this time. We will keep in contact with micro businesses through group meetings, e-mail, personal contacts and “Sustainability Makes Cents,” a new joint newsletter initiative. We will offer two annual “Gathering Event Days” to showcase products (offer educational programs and where products can be sold), work with program partners to offer sites where local products can be sold and help further develop other markets. Work closely with Homestead businesses we want to increase awareness of the general public and program partners about the safe food, availability of locally grown and processed foods and other products, the economic benefits, local environment and enhancing the quality of life in the local community.
We will find a public space and create a resource library for small food and Agriculture based businesses with resources that we already have and secure more information.

Martha Pile
University of Tennessee Extension of Montgomery County
1030A Cumberland Heights Road
Clarksville , TN 37040
Ph: 931-648-5725 – 29
Fax: 931-648-5734
Em: mmpile@utk.edu

Why did we pick it?

• Very strong on community capacity building/development
• PI has a broad base of partners that appear to be very engaged in this process.
• The individuals and institutions involved in this partnership are consistant with the project objectives.
• The investigator(s) are qualified and the objectives are clearly stated. if successful, would provide beneficial revenue for the participants as well as the community.
• The idea could be used throughout rural America. This project, if successful, could serve as a model for other communities.

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CS07-057 Integrating Nature into Agri-tourism, $9,950

The Business of Birding Institute is an educational outreach effort for farmers, private landowners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and Cooperative Extension educators in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. The Institute will help participants learn about nature-based agri-tourism, and conduct outreach to their communities. As a result of this outreach effort, participants will demonstrate a better understanding of nature tourism's potential to improve farm income and rural economies while also conserving natural resources and increasing the public's appreciation of agriculture. With this understanding, participants will be equipped to determine the feasibility of beginning a nature-based agri-tourism business on their farm operation. Ideally, cooperation and collaboration among different sectors of a community will create an integrated product for tourists.

Steering and Working Committees comprised of farmers; local community leaders; and private, state, and federal agency staff, will plan, implement, and evaluate a week-long Business of Birding Institute. Visits to Arkansas' Grand Prairie and southeast Mississippi River Delta regions will highlight the benefits of integrating nature into agri-tourism, and examine nature tourism's potential for impacting rural communities and their economies.

After completing this course, graduates will:
-have a deeper understanding of nature tourism;
-be able to evaluate and make informed decisions about starting a nature-based business as an additional income source;
-be familiar with business management and service industry “best practices;”
-understand sound land management practices and how they benefit agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, natural resources, farm families, and rural communities;
-understand how resource management and economic versatility can benefit future generations;
-return home with the knowledge that building partnerships within the community develops civic pride and results in marketing strength for entrepreneurs, farmers, and landowners; and
-understand how including youth in nature tourism development will bring insight, fresh perspective, and technological skills, and provide opportunities for rural youth to remain and work in their communities.

The Institute will be a regional pilot that is built on a 2007 effort by Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas and Audubon Arkansas. This effort developed an educational course to broaden attendees' potential income base by promoting watchable wildlife and bird-related tourism. It was targeted to Arkansas delta farmers, landowners, and businesses. “The Business of Birding” series of noncredit workshops included modules on business development, marketing, bird identification, habitat development, and nature interpretation. Ten classes were offered from March through August. Twenty-one students took at least one class and four students earned a certificate by taking six or more classes. Students included hunting lodge owners, retail operators, potential tour operators, federal and state natural resource agency personnel, and retired birdwatchers.

This grant will allow us to pilot and evaluate the revised week-long format of the Business of Birding Institute. Depending on evaluation outcomes, future directions for the Institute could include expansion of curriculum to include nature interpretation certification for guide services, intensive habitat management studies, or wildlife and botany expertise training. The geographic scope of the Institute could expand to include additional southeastern states.

Katherine Radomski
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
PO Box 427
1210 Ricebelt Ave /Hwy. 165S
DeWitt , AR 72042
Ph: 870-946-3506 x 1617
Fax: 870-946-2644
Em: kradomski@pccua.edu

Why did we pick it?

• possible long term ecological and economic enhancment
• multistate project related to sustainable agriculture
• The project provides a unique framework for contributing to rural development in many forms
• A broad and detailed outreach plan is presented.

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CS07-058 Farmers Market Support Act, $2,570

This is a community development activity to build resilient farms and support the farmers market. Farmers in Marlboro County will promote collards as a profitable alternative for local farm production. This project will link various businesses, families, professionals and farmers in a collaborative problem solving effort to provide economic benefit to farmers and vendors at the farmers market. A local team including the local Government, Entomologist, Agronomists, and County Agents from Clemson University are working to promote sustainability at the Marlboro County Farmers Market.

This project will enhance the local farmers market, which was recently built. The intent is to provide opportunities for engagement of local farmers, businesses with other members of the community and provide local grown produce for consumers. The increase in the numbers of persons visiting the market will increase the sales at the market and local businesses.

Collard producers in Marlboro County will focus on developing a local market for their collard greens crops. Promoting collard greens as a profitable alternative crop will be done using the Collard Greens Festival, Healthy Heart Recipe Contest, 4H Poster Contest, Healthy Heart Cooking Demonstration and the Collard Green Cook-Off. The radio broadcasts, newsletters, newspaper articles, and fliers will be mailed as part of the publicity for these events. The Collard Greens Festival will be held at the Farmers Market. The poster contest among the 4-H clubs and the school district will be displayed at the farmers market and awards given during the Festival. The collard cooking demonstration will also take place during the Festival. The recipe contest will be done with the assistance and leadership of the Home Economist and the top five recipes will be awarded prizes and will participate in the cook-off. The collard cook-off will take place the third Monday in February as part of our Annual Collard Cooking Contest. The public is invited to participate in the Collard Cooking Contest. The recipes entered will be compiled in a cook-book and submitted for publishing. There will be educational information shared about heart healthy options for cooking collard greens both at the Cook-Off and the Festival.

The increase in activity at the farmers market will bring publicity as well as more customers to the market. The collard greens field demonstration will provide farmers with sustainable production practices which includes IPM. The farmers will provide collard greens to everyone in the recipe contest and the collard cook-off from the IPM demonstration which the farmers are involved. The ten demonstration plots will be for farmer training in IPM. The plot will have 1000 collard plants. Also, each participating farmer will receive 1000 plants, fertilizer, and insecticide for the on farm demonstration plots. These plots will help farmers to compare their crop with demo plantings. It is hoped that their success will provide enough experience for them to continue using IPM. The local community will be provided opportunities to purchase locally grown vegetable at the Festival. Also the publicity of the activities will provide information on the Farmers Market and its location.

Grady Sampson
Clemson University
PO Box 80
Bennettsville , SC 29512
Ph: 843-479-6851
Fax: 843-479-8444
Em: gsampso@clemson.edu

Why did we pick it?  

• The project will increase knowledge about sustainable crops and practices among producers. It should also increase community knowledge about the role of sustainable agriculture to community development.
• Makes case for contribution of farmer's market to sustainable community.

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CS07-059 Chicora Farmers Market, $6,300

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture says that 3 million dollars are spent each month in food stamps the South Carolina Low Country. Almost all of these resources go out of our community as they are spent at large grocery stores, often on unhealthy food. The primary goal of this grant is to get more of these resources into the hands of local farmers. Metanoia Community Development Corporation (CDC) has partnered with others to develop an innovative and model approach to helping rural towns and communities by building explicit linkages between local farmers and a community where food stamps are a primary commodity.

In the fall of 2007, a partnership was formed between Metanoia CDC, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, and local farmers to create the Chicora Farmer's market pilot. The pilot ran for two months and was judged a success by all parties involved. Thus we are seeking this grant to continue to build on the success of these two markets by creating a partnership that will create a “win-win” situation between each of the partners that generates capital and builds value for each member.

In addition, the community surrounding the Chicora Farmer's Market does not have a grocery store within a five mile radius. The market will create a healthy alternative for neighborhood residents who wish to buy fruits and vegetables with Food Stamps, cash or senior vouchers and serve as a pilot program for both rural and urban area food deserts. (a term used by scholars to denote broad community environments lacking healthy and economical food resources). The Chicora Farmers Market seeks to build sustainable partnerships between farmers, the SC Department of Agriculture, local government, community leaders, low-wealth people, and interested citizens. We will increase knowledge about healthy produce and the benefits of incorporating it into consumers' daily diets. The market will support and sustain agriculture entrepreneurship and be a site for the development of Youth Entrepreneurship within the Chicora Community.

Bill Stanfield
Metanoia Community Development Corporation
2005 Reynolds Avenue
North Charleston , SC 29405
Ph: 843-529-3014
Fax: 843-529-3639
Em: bill@pushingforward.org

Why we picked it

• This proposal presents very clear linkages to sustainable agriculture and community development. The aim of the project is to strengthen agriculture and the community by providing families the oportunity to consume fresh fruits and vegitables, improve nutrition and support community development efforts.
• The project would facilitate economic development and also improve the health of the community.
• A clear dissemination and outreach plan is included. The total community has been included.
• Targets a minority underveloped community/population and focuses on building ties to that community.
• Whole project is focused on both economic development and healthy lifestyle changes for consumers.
• Involvement is planned beyond current project and aims to build community capacity for sustaining the market
• Project serves a low-wealth, economically deprived community. It has strong supporters and will build community and agricultural sustainability

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CS07-060 Training for Sustainable Community Development: Phase III, $10,000

The proposed project is centered on sustainable development activities for a set of Southern Black agricultural communities that were created during the Great Depression, initially under the direction of the Resettlement Administration and subsequently under the Farm Security Administration. These and related agencies provided an opportunity for landless sharecroppers and tenants to own land. This opportunity allowed the "settlers" to become small independent farmers (a Jeffersonian ideal) and form independent agricultural communities (a Booker T. Washington ideal). Thirteen such all-Black communities were established, about half of which remain as viable communities--although they are "at risk." The others have faded, although both archival records and original residents remain to tell their story.

Using eight of these communities (Tillery, NC; Prairie Farms, AL, Mound Farms, LA; Mileston, MS; Flint River Farms; GA; Allendale Farms, SC; Gee's Bend Farms, AL; and Aberdeen Gardens, VA) a sustainable economic development strategy and training meeting will be convened at the host Resettlement Community of Mound Farms in Mound, LA. Community participation will ensure that this training will lead to site-specific community development plans and activities.

Results of the training will be based on the activities initiated by the participating communities. Planned activities include submission of grant applications, community meetings, organizing and community-based activities. In addition, results may be presented at professional meetings and symposia and published in local media and professional journals.

The principal cooperators are selected representatives of the participating communities and the George Washington Carver Agricultural Experiment Station at Tuskegee University. The proposed project will take approximately one year.

Robert Zabawa
Tuskegee University
100 Campbell Hall
G.W. Carver Agricultural Experiment Station
Tuskegee , AL 36088
Ph: 334-727-8114
Fax: 334-724-4451
Em: zabawar@tuskegee.edu

Why we picked it.

• very strong on community capacity building
• This proposal addresses sustainable agriculture as well as community development. The purpose of the project is to continue community directory participation training and technical assistance in selected African-American agricultural communities. This project would facilitate sustainable development.
• The participants are qualified to do the proposal task. The contribution of the institution and the individuals involved will continue the work funded in a previous proposal.
• The dissemination plan is adequate for project objectives. The plan serves to let other communities know what occured and will let those outside of the community know what was accomplished.

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