Grassroots Appalachia
Connecting & Cultivating Appalachian People and Traditions
Addressing Social Issues
Grassroots Appalachia LLC is a social enterprise for-profit endeavor that relies upon the free-market approach to address social issues. Our focus is upon recognizing and addressing the challenges arising from exterior or interior poverty; and, identifying and serving vulnerable populations.
Events – ‘The People Speak: Early Lessons from the Pandemic’
A forum for citizens in southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia to share their experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic will be held at the Sweet Springs Resort Park in Sweet Springs, W.Va. on April 24 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Titled, “The People Speak: Early Lessons from the Pandemic,” the purpose of this gathering is to conduct a citizen/community review of lessons learned to date from the pandemic and publish the findings for the public and public health and emergency management agencies to add to their own reviews. Read more here.
Teaching & Training
We offer training in Sweet Springs or at your site in:
- Community Preparedness & Disaster Management
- Nonprofit Board & Executive Leadership
- Political Leadership, Ethics & Governing
- Writing Workshops
- Wild food gathering and nature knowledge; Herbal gardening & cultivating
- Food growing, preservation & water security
Peer-to-Peer Financing
Helping Appalachia’s most vulnerable people is our primary objective. Hence, interest-free Peer-to-Peer Financing (microlending), is the method we use to support Appalachians looking to jump-start their own cottage industry or those in dire circumstances that require assistance.
Consistent with our Social Enterprise model, we earmark a percentage of revenue to support Peer-to-Peer financing and micro grants.
Folkways, Arts & Music
We partner with expert farmers, artisans, herbalists and others to provide training in the traditions, skills and culture of Appalachia. In particular, we seek to partner with potters, artists, storytellers, musicians, sculptors, actors/theatres and other practitioners of Appalachian traditions.
We seek to hold concerts, provide learning opportunities, and partner with existing individuals, groups and institutions so that Appalachians can exhibit their talents and earn money.
Supporting Local Farms
Grassroots Appalachia is a member of the West Virginia chapter of Herbalists Without Borders, “A global network of herbalists & holistic practitioners.”
We are also a member of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). ASAP’s mission is ” …to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food.”
Healthy local farms providing freshly grown food is essential for consumers and our communities, as small family farms help insulate us from interruptions in the food supply chain.
Buying Appalachian hand-built goods, locally-grown food, services and products helps sustain Appalachian folk and folkways and strengthens our economy. We encourage you to buy local, buy Appalachian, and buy organic!
We also publish the Appalachian Chronicle. We cover agriculture, the environment, people, communities, the arts and other vital topics of the region.
Contact
Grassroots Appalachia LLC
P. O. Box 10
Gap Mills, W.Va. 24941
© Grassroots Appalachia, 2020-2021.
