We are sad to hear that Emily Bidgood will be retiring as Director of ARC this June.
Emily has worked closely with John Campbell Director of AccelNow on a number of programs;
“Emily has always been very helpful working cooperatively with AccelNow to create new entrepreneurial events in the region and share the success story of the Field School”
Emily came to the RC&D through AmeriCorps VISTA, a national volunteer service program that matches eager-to-service citizens with nonprofit host sites that need capacity building. Having an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the RC&D is made possible through a collaboration between AmeriCorps and the Office of Surface Mining (OSM). Even though coal mining is not a mainstay in Tricities, upper east Tennessee falls under the interest of the AmeriCorps VISTA/OSM Appalachian Coal Country Team, which fights poverty and builds community in areas that are influenced by mining. Before moving to Johnson City, Emily worked as an AmeriCorps at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, a land trust that works with landowners to conserve land in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
“Emily has been tremendously passionate about creating opportunities for individuals in the region to take advantage of their natural creativity and highlighting our regional talents and finding ways to maximize the value of their land.”
Emily has worked extensively with the following programs:
- The Quilt Trail
- Local Food and Farm programs
- Youth Education
- Water Quality
Further Reading:
The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is 501(c) (3) non-profit organization chartered in 1994 as a volunteer-based agency. We currently have a 20-member Board with trustees from each of the six counties we serve: Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington.
The Field School is a monthly series of workshops (November 2017 through August 2018) that provides you with an overview of small-scale farming in East Tennessee’s mountains and valleys, taught by 20+ farmers and agricultural professionals. It is arranged by the Appalachian RC&D Council, Green Earth Connection, and many area partners with major support from USDA. Pre-Registration is required.
Field School students attend classroom and on-farm sessions to build the knowledge, networks, and confidence for planning out a farm operation to fit their land and business needs. (REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR 2018)
AccelNow 