BRWIA is dedicated to empowering women and their families with resources, education and skills related to farming to overcome economic and social disparities that create barriers and make their children a population at-risk.
Based in Boone, North Carolina, BRWIA serves members across the High Country of the state.
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture began as a grassroots project of Watauga County Extension by women tired of hearing "that can't be done." We are seeking to create working partnerships with groups who have related goals in agricultural endeavors, present entrepreneurial and sustainable agriculture workshops, and organize planning and research for a Community Food Assessment.
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High Country Community Food Assessment
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture would like to thank all who attended and participated in The High Country Local Food Summit on Saturday, November 18th. We were happy to have 70 community members join in the discussions on the High Country food system. At the end of the day, 31 participants signed up to continue work on a High Country community food assessment. Fifteen of those want to be a part of a local food taskforce that will design and plan the community food assessment.
Below are notes from the Summit.
"I came here today because..." 
Word Doc PDF
"What is a just and local food system?" Word Doc PDF
Community Food Assessment Case Studies
"Western North Carolina" Word Doc PDF
"Tri-Ciities, Tennessee" Word Doc PDF
Small Group Discussions on the High Country Food System
"Affordability, Access, and Nutrition" Word Doc PDF
"Crop Diversity & Sustainable Growing and Grazing" Word Doc PDF
"Farmland and Preservation" Word Doc PDF
Cratis D. Williams/James Brown Service Award
A wonderful thing happened this weekend. I wanted to let you know that at the annual Appalachian Studies Association Conference (attended by more than 800 members this year), Pat Beaver received the ASA's highest honor, the Cratis D. Williams/James Brown Service Award. This award is given to an individual who has made exemplary contributions to Appalachia. That the award itself is named for Cratis Williams makes it an especially high honor for Pat and for ASU.
It's not the first time an ASU faculty member has received this award: Howard Dorgan was the recipient in 2000, and Jerry Williamson, in 2001.
Thoughts on the Agritourism Workshop
If the folks who attended this workshop with much larger and more serious concerns to address than those I am faced with came away with half the inspiration I did, the future of family farming in our part of the country has grown immeasurably brighter today.
Although the problems faced by family farms are not going to resolve themselves, or magically disappear, this gathering of people gave strong evidence that dedicated, intelligent people are addressing the issues from many directions, and on many levels.
In our area, tourism is a highly important factor in the economic health of many communities. With the major changes in the face of agriculture, particularly here in North Carolina, it is increasingly necessary for our family farms to find better ways to connect with the existing tourist industry. The blending of the farm with appealing marketing not only of the farm produce, but of the farm environment, and the farm experience, is an industry now known as agritourism.
Agritourism is a viable answer to keeping our farm families on their land, and giving the tourist a chance to experience a very basic part of the real world. In the comments and questions of the audience, as well as those of the speaker, it was readily apparent that many of today's visitors to our area are looking for a sense of connection. It was equally apparent that, tho the farmers and small land holders want to earn, or supplement, their livelihood from their land, they are willing, and even eager, to give a lot in return to their communities, and to the visitors in those communities.
We were given several worksheets, and the speaker, Mr. James A. Maetzold, conducted a lively and interesting guidance session on how these worksheets can, and will,
help us evaluate our land. Perhaps more excitingly, the work sheets can direct our vision of what we can achieve with our farm in entirely new directions. To balance the excitement of possibility, and keep it firmly rooted in probability, we also had a Farm and Ranch Livestock/Poultry Resource Worksheet to help reach sensible conclusions as to exactly what our resources will, or will not, support.
One benefit of agritourism that I found most appealing is that it moves farm families back to diversified farming. This a much more sustainable approach to living on the land. It creates a richer family environment, and is far healthier for every community that is fortunate enough to have these forward looking, dedicated, hard working people numbered among their citizens.
For the tourist that finds his way to such a farm, and such a community, the reward will be a relaxing, revitalizing experience that will be long remembered, and often repeated.
I am convinced that 10 is a magic number. In the Tips for Getting Started and Staying on Track number ten tip is this-----Start small, learn from your experience, and expand your business.
I would add a number 10 for the tourist as well. Start NOW, learn from your experience, and expand your interest in agritourism.
-Lillian Osborne
