Winter agritourism seminar, agroforesty webinar & a call for produce sales! 👏

We hope you're enjoying the wintery weather while dreaming of all that spring holds! Whether it's time for winter chores or time to rest, we can make the most of these darker days. Use your indoor time for webinars and brushing up on fun news in WNC's agriculture community! From agroforestry to agritourism to local produce increasing food security, there are plenty of happenings for you to join in on.

All the best,

EMFS team

Agroforestry for Carbon Sequestration

Empowering Mountain Food Systems commissioned Carbon Harvest to work with Temperance Farm as a pilot farm in their groundbreaking carbon sequestration project. Now, join Mari Stuart, Meredith Leigh, and Tom Krome on February 13 at 6:30 pm for a webinar class on agroforestry for carbon sequestration!

Intentional incorporation of trees and woody shrubs into agricultural systems can sequester carbon and produce carbon offsets. The integration of trees and grazing livestock is especially promising in creating resilient farming systems while sequestering CO2. Carbon Harvest, a local company that is developing a regional offset platform focused on agroforestry, has been conducting a pilot phase with four WNC farmers to design and implement agroforestry systems.

Join this webinar to hear more about the process of carbon farm planning, with a focus on one of the farms in the pilot program: Temperance Farm. Farmer Tom Krome will join the speakers from Carbon Harvest to discuss his recently completed carbon farm plan that includes the installation of riparian plantings, a multi-story agroforestry system, restoration of an old orchard, and sheep silvopasture.

Event registration is required- click here!

Mariah Mahan Enriches Our Community With Tsalagi Gawonihisdi, the Cherokee Language

Siyo nigada, Mariah dagwadoa. Hello everyone, My name is Mariah Mahan.

I am the County Extension Support Specialist for the EBCI Extension Center located in Cherokee, NC. Cherokee Language is something I am passionate about.

Not only is it part of our culture, but it is who we are. I am a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and our language is getting scarce. When my grandmother and other elders were younger, they were forced to go to boarding school and were taught to use English. If they were to speak in the Cherokee language, they were punished. My grandmother did not want us going through the same thing, so she never taught us how to speak it. I did, however, speak Cherokee until I was about 4 years old. I just picked it up from listening to my elders speak to each other. This is something I wish I never lost. I am not a fluent speaker, but I do know words and phrases. I am still learning today. I feel that it is my duty as an enrolled member to learn it and use it. I try to incorporate the language every day and teach what I know. One of the ways I chose to use it is to do words or phrases in the workplace. I will send out words, or phrases in the Cherokee Language in hopes that others will use it too. Even though not all staff are Cherokee, they still work with our tribe and I feel it will be beneficial for

them. Cherokee is the only Native American tribe known to have a written language, which is called the Cherokee syllabary. This way we can also read and write in our language, and it is my favorite thing to do. My hope is that everyone will at least learn one word a day, so our language will not be lost. I am open to helping anyone willing to learn.

Sgi, Thank you,

Mariah Mahan

mlmahan@ncsu.edu

828-359-6939

Agritourism Ramping Up in SWNC

Upcoming Agritourism Panels Aim to Share Findings on Growing WNC’s Agritourism Potential

EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems (EMFS) announces two in-person Agritourism Panels to share the recommendations from an extensive assessment of WNC’s potential for economic opportunities in agriculture and tourism, free and open to the public. Local agritourism operators and researchers will share tips on how to establish initiatives and businesses that capitalize on existing resources and create opportunities to expand agritourism experiences in the region. Haywood Community College and Southwestern Community College Small Business Centers are hosting the series.

The two-year research project was conducted in partnership with Dr. Whitney Knollenberg, Carla Barbieri and students from the NC State University Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management department. It shares helpful anecdotes from interviews and seven specific key suggestions to maximize economic growth in the food and farm businesses of Western North Carolina. Along with recommendations for short-, medium- and long-term action steps our communities can make, the findings identify marketing and infrastructure resources Western NC needs to help its agritourism operations thrive.

Farmers are encouraged to cultivate and share their rich heritage and stories along with the beautiful farmland that WNC is known for, while increasing farm income to sustain family farms! Come to these sessions and learn about this growing opportunity to maintain the region's cultural agriculture heritage, inform consumers while learning about local resources to support your farm dreams.

Agritourism Panel

Thursday, February 09, 2023 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern

Location: Southwestern Community College Small Business Center Founders room #125

- Join us for a farm tour afterward at JAAR Farms- must pre-register for full session

Agritourism Panel

Thursday, February 16, 2023 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Eastern

Location: Macon Campus, Groves Center Room 110

Facilitated by Southwestern Community College Small Business Center

- Join us for a farm tour afterward at Windingstair Farm, must pre-register for the full session

Seeking Local Farmers With Produce to Sell!

Want to participate in providing local food for a community health program? Farmers with produce to sell are welcome to reach out to Jess Mrugala at Email: jmrugal@ncsu.edu

Harvest Health is a produce prescription program that delivers fresh local food, along with education and cooking classes, to folks in need. Read more below!

Harvest Health Produce Prescription Project Expands in 2023

Harvest Health is a community-based project launched by EMFS local foods agent, Jessica Mrugala with support from MountainWise, Western Carolina University, and Vecinos. EMFS is partnering with The Dogwood Association to continue this project in partnership with Vecinos, supplying Latinx families and farmworkers with fresh local produce for the next two years. The Swain County Health Department will also be adding a project working with their families beginning in the spring of 2023!

This project is designed to educate consumers about healthy, seasonal eating and engage regional farmers. Produce Rx programs also connect physicians and dieticians to people with diet-related health risks or conditions, or food access challenges.

Why has Harvest Health been so successful?

“...we took the time to talk to Cherokee folks about what they wanted to see, I think that’s why it was successful. We took time to listen and ask questions. That’s when folks brought up that transportation is going to be an issue. How do you make sure that people can come and get to these boxes? That’s why we were able to write gas cards into the budget. We learned that internet was going to be a problem. Not everyone was going to be able to access these videos. So, we were able to pivot and stream them from the extension classroom during pickup.” Jessica Mrugala, local food agent

CEFS is a partnership of North Carolina State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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All funds raised through CEFS’ fundraising initiatives are collected and managed by The North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID# 56-6049304). You will receive a receipt for your donation.