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Martin County site anchors $2M land restoration training grant
FRANKFORT — Martin County will serve as a hands-on training site for a new $2 million Appalachian Regional Commission POWER grant that will expand Kentucky State University’s education, workforce training and Cooperative Extension work in Eastern Kentucky. The four-year project will use land in Martin County provided by Renew Appalachia for on-site restoration training and…
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Barefoot Festival returns Oct. 4 with music, culture, focus on land restoration
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — The Barefoot Festival will return to the mountaintops of Lovely on Oct. 4, transforming a reclaimed strip mine into a stage for Appalachian music, artisan craft and community connection. Now in its second year, the free one-day festival will continue its mission of showcasing regional talent and celebrating…
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Decode ‘Alphabet Soup’ of government programs
LOVELY — Navigating the complexities of government programs should not stand in the way of securing the resources you need. That is the message behind an upcoming virtual workshop led by Spencer Guinn of the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD). The workshop is designed to demystify the so-called “alphabet soup” of agriculture…
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From mine to mushrooms: Agroforestry seeding hope, opportunity in Lovely
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — At a reclaimed mine site on North Wolf Creek Road, a new chapter in Appalachian opportunity is sprouting. With support from a USDA RBDG-funded series of free workshops, residents eager to launch or grow their ventures are learning hands-on techniques in agroforestry. The yearlong program began Friday with…
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Agroforestry workshop on tap in Lovely
LOVELY — Learn, network and contribute to sustainable farming practices at Renew Appalachia’s free agroforestry workshop Dec. 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Lovely. This event is open to all, especially those interested in forest farming, mineland restoration and regenerative agriculture. The hands-on workshop offers participants the chance to plant trees, inoculate mushroom logs…
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Festival brings community together on reclaimed strip mine
BY BUGS DIXON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — Over the past weekend, the Barefoot Festival transformed a reclaimed strip mine off North Wolf Creek in Lovely into a lively celebration of music, horses and mountain culture. Organized by Renew Appalachia, the event drew attendees from across the region, many of whom camped on the mountaintop to…
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Barefoot Festival to debut in Lovely
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — Get ready for the Barefoot Festival to debut in Martin County on Nov. 1 and 2, bringing music, community and culture together on a reclaimed strip mine on North Wolf Creek Road in Lovely. The two-day event promises to be like nothing you have experienced. With live performances…
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Community discussion to focus on ecological restoration at The Wilds of Emily Creek
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — On June 3, the Martin County Extension Office will host a public discussion dedicated to exploring the ecological restoration efforts at The Wilds of Emily Creek. Scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the event will feature representatives from The Wilds of Emily Creek, Renew Appalachia, Appalachian Legacy Initiative, and…
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EDA withdraws from Smith’s project
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Economic Development Authority will not pursue a grant renewal for Clifford Smith’s study of “novel value-added biomass products.” In a special meeting Monday, EDA board members unanimously agreed to withdraw from the project as the deadline passed last fall. The $48,030 Appalachian Regional Commission grant…
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Caney Shaft project begins this month
BY RACHEL DOVEMOUNTAIN CITIZEN LOVELY — Appalachian Renewal Project announced its plan to break ground this month on the county-owned Caney Shaft property, the site of a future community campground and recreational destination. Clifford Smith of ARP says a crew is in place to begin phase 1 of the project, starting with site cleanup, debris…
