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Grassroots Appalachia

Connecting and Cultivating Appalachian People & Traditions

Based in Lenoir, North Carolina, we are a social enterprise. So, our revenue from retail sales, educational programming, and partnerships with those in the arts benefit our neighbors here and elsewhere in Appalachia.

Michael Barrick, Founder & Owner

Our Mission

Our mission is to “Connect & Cultivate Appalachian People and Traditions.” Our objective is to help Appalachian cottage industries emerge to create stable families and sustainable communities.

Art, Music, News & Novelties

We have a small space on the ground floor of The Rusty Rooster at 1223 Norwood St. SW. The Rusty Rooster sells “Antiques, Rustiques and Newtiques.”

If you’re looking for Appalachian art, music, news and novelties, I believe you’ll find a visit worth your time.

Our inventory includes folk art, watercolors, music, books, hand-crafted products and more. We also connect the people of Appalachia and beyond through our online publication, the Appalachian Chronicle, where you can learn about music, art, the environment and current events from the Blue Ridge to the Allegheny Plateau.

Closed on Monday and Tuesday, operating hours are 11-5 on Wednesday through Friday; 10-4 on Saturday; and 1 to 5 on Sunday.

“Source of Life” by Michael Barrick
“Moss Mountain” by Michael Barrick

Friends & Partners

We partner with expert musicians, artisans, herbalists and others to provide training in the traditions, skills and culture of Appalachia. One such friend is Patrick Crouch, whose recently shared the new tune below.

Patrick Crouch and friends
The Mastertone and the Mandolin
Grassroots Appalachia partner Barbara Volk of the West Virginia chapter of Herbalists without Borders teaching about the nutritional and medicinal value of “weeds” at the Sweet Springs Sustainable Living Forum in Sweet Springs, W.Va., Aug. 2019
Sycamore Bones, a band based in Lenoir, North Carolina. It’s members — Abigail Taylor, Cory Kinal and Andrew Massey (from left) — have multiple talents to contribute for the benefit of Appalachians. Here they perform at the 19th Annual Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase.

ABOUT & CONTACT

Lenoir is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains; Hibriten Mountain rises about 1,000 feet above the town at the end of the Brushy Mountains. It is a short drive from Wilson Creek, a Wild and Scenic River. The Pisgah National Forest, in the northwestern portion of the county, provides outdoor enthusiasts plenty to do.

It is also the center of traditional, Americana and bluegrass music in Western North Carolina. It is home to the annual Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase; and, the nearby annual Happy Valley Fiddler’s Convention brings thousands of music lovers into the county.

Lenoir is like many other Appalachian communities. Just a generation ago, it was a bustling, booming town of working class people who had built it with their own hands and craftsmanship. It was known as “The Furniture Capital of the South.” But then, like all other communities that rely upon a mono-economy, Lenoir experienced the inevitable economic downturn.

It is our belief that small, cottage businesses are playing a significant role in moving us into a more sustainable economy, hence our focus on working to strengthen that sector.

To learn more, write grassrootsappalachia@gmail.com

Banner photo courtesy of Barbara Volk.

© Grassroots Appalachia, 2020-2021.