Help plant the seeds for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s new food forest

Learn how you can participate in this exciting agroforestry project.

Birds eye view of a field with contour lines.

The contour lines prevent erosion and keep water quality in check.

Photo via Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

It’s time to get your hands dirty. Tomorrow, April 12, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will sow the seeds of an exciting new project during its Community Farm Volunteer Workday.

The land trust is inviting you to help plant 250 fruit trees in its new food forest — the second agroforestry project the farm has started in the past two years. See: 2023’s Silvopasture Project, which incorporated trees into agriculture to improve carbon sequestration and land health across eight acres of the farm.

Twelve varieties of apple tree will be planted tomorrow. And with some patience (these trees take several years to grow), you can see the fruits of your labor come to life through plans for a U-pick orchard and community food programs.

Register for the volunteer workday by 12 p.m. this afternoon, April 11. But if you can’t make it, don’t worry — there are plenty of ways you can support the nonprofit’s conservation mission at upcoming events.

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