What is Winter Solstice?

Did you know that yesterday marked the winter solstice for the northern hemisphere? The winter solstice, so named because it designates the beginning of astronomical winter, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. This happens because our planet rotates on a tilted axis as it orbits the Sun. The axial tilt causes the days to lengthen or shorten, depending on which hemisphere you’re in, and the seasons to change.

Astronomical winter, or solstice, usually falls around the 21st of December and lasts until the spring equinox in March. Meteorological winter, the one the weather forecasters  pay the most attention to, is different. It begins on December 1st and lasts until the end of February. Though the solstice marks the true astronomical beginning of winter, weather forecasters consider December 1st the beginning of winter because December, January and February have historically been the coldest months of the year in the northern hemisphere. As the days shorten,  the Earth loses some of its stored thermal energy from the Sun. By the time December arrives, the portion of the planet tilted away from the Sun is noticeably cooler. When the days begin to grow longer and more thermal energy is absorbed, temperatures begin to rise again.

In agricultural societies, winter solstice has traditionally been an important event marked with celebrations that usually include something that we here at Rural Resources can relate to: food. Depending on the culture, feasts lasted from days to weeks and brought together families and communities. After months of short, dark days, they looked forward to the return of the Sun, craving it's light and warmth. As the days grew longer and brighter, the cycle of planting, cultivating and harvest would continue. The land would again bear fruit, providing for their needs of  food, shelter, heat, fiber and medicine. It was a time of reflection and rejoicing but also an act of faith that spring, summer and autumn would return again, with provision for another year.

As we enter into winter, we here at Rural Resources are marking the season with an act of faith also. We are moving forward in the construction of a building, the Farm & Food Learning Center, that will provide space for our programs, community education and offices, to replace the one that was tragically lost to a fire in 2009. Since that time, we’ve persevered using the old tobacco barn, some outbuildings and a small, loaned trailer for office space. One of the things we’re most looking forward to with the new building is indoor plumbing.

The faith part comes in with a capital campaign we’ve kicked off this month to help us qualify for grant money to finish the construction. Through a generous opportunity from the Appalachian Regional Commission, we will receive $200,000 if we can raise $200,000 ourselves. We’ve seen the seeds  planted in our youth programs and community outreach bear fruit. With this building, we’re preparing for an even bigger harvest. Your help can make our faith a reality. Please consider joining our effort to change lives and strengthen our community through connecting farms, food and families by making a donation at here. Donations can also be made on our website  or by mail to: Rural Resources, 2870 Holly Creek Rd, Greeneville, TN 37745..

Thank You!!!

EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR!

Excitement is in the air – and on the ground – here at Rural Resources' Holly Creek Farm! We have an opportunity to receive a $200,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to complete the new Farm & Food Learning Center! Construction began on the project in July and, as many of you know, site grading, septic, the slab for the foundation, roughed in plumbing and the tap to the county water line are finished, and super-insulated wall panels are on the way.

“Once the walls arrive, the building will take shape very quickly,” says Executive Director Sally Causey. “We will have a sustainably built, energy efficient Learning Center.”

In order to qualify for the grant money to finish the building, we have to raise $200,000. We are launching a capital campaign this month to reach our goal by Jan. 31^st. 

  

“The teens in our Farm & Food Teen Training program will be able to prepare and preserve the food they grow on-site and be able to build sustainable farm- and food-related businesses,” said Causey. “Farm Day Campers won’t have to use the outhouse anymore and students coming for field trips will have expanded offerings. There is no doubt that this facility will be a game-changer for hands-on learning opportunities for years to come.”

The learning center will house classrooms, a commercial kitchen and office space to replace buildings lost in a devastating fire in 2009. The kitchen space will also be available to residents of Greene County and surrounding areas.

Since the fire, staff has worked out of a donated two-room trailer and programs have been conducted in the farm's tobacco barn, outbuildings and a Pavilion donated earlier this year by the Rotary Club. There is no indoor plumbing on the property.

Thank you for getting us this far! Can you help us take advantage of this generous opportunity from the Appalachian Regional Commission? Donations to the capital campaign to complete construction can be made through Generosity.com, by visiting ruralresources.net or by mailing a check to:

Rural Resources

2870 Holly Creek Rd

Greeneville, TN 37745

Rural Resources will receive $300K grant!

      Thank you to all who helped Rural Resources reach its Capital Campaign goal for the construction of a new building! 

      The June 20 deadline found the final tally at 112 percent of the matching funds needed to qualify for a $300K grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

      Work can now go forward on the construction of a new, multipurpose Farm and Food Training Center that will house a certified teaching kitchen, bathrooms, classrooms, office space and a community meeting room.

      Because of your generosity, Rural Resources will be able to serve our community more effectively and comfortably.

      "As staff, we appreciate it because we feel like we’re clowns in a clown car," said Sally Causey, Rural Resources' executive director. "You know, packed into this office trailer, which we’re absolutely grateful for. ... But just to have a space that actually has a bathroom that flushes and not having to run out to the outhouse when it’s snowing or hailing or pouring down rain. And to be more efficient all the way around."

      But although the new facility will allow staff to work more efficiently and comfortably, it's about much more than having a building. 

      "The new building is not just about bricks and mortar," Causey said. "It’s about having the programming space that we need for the kids that we work with. The teens in particular are very anxious to get into a kitchen and having a situation where they’re harvesting the food from the garden and then preparing it in a more immediate kind of way."

       Causy said one of the biggest impacts will be the freedom the children will have to explore and pursue entrepreneurial endeavors.

      "The kids, more than anybody, they are just so anxious," she said. "They have all of these ideas for businesses and things that they can do, and they just need a space." 

      It's not too late to contribute to the project. Donations can be made, online or by mailing a pledge card, that will provide the equipment, furniture and miscellaneous needs to complete the vision. 

      Check back often to see what's happening on the farm!

YOU 

can help Rural Resources receive a 

$300K 

grant to rebuild!

      

      After fire blazed through the Rural Resources primary office and programming space in 2009, the staff began working out of a tiny construction trailer with no indoor plumbing.

      Ever resourceful and committed, they have cheerfully carried on their mission to connect farms, food and families, while working to advance food security and nutrition, environmental sustainability and local food markets within the community.

      In spite of the devasting loss, they have continued and touch the lives of children with the Farm Day Camp, the Farm and Food Teen Training Program and by bringing farming and food into local classrooms.  

      

      Other Rural Resources programs to serve the community include the Four Seasons Grazing Club to encourage better forage production and grazing management, the Mobile Farmers’ Market and the Food Security Task Force.

      Imagine what could be accomplished with an adequate facility! The Rural Resources team has. In fact, they have more than imagined. With the help of an architect, they have created plans for a new, multipurpose Farm and Food Training Center that would house a certified teaching kitchen, classrooms, office space and a community meeting room.

 

      But to make this dream a reality, Rural Resources needs your help. The organization is eligible to receive a $300,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for the construction of the new facility, with the stipulation that they raise a local match of $100,000 by June

      Donations can be made on the website by clicking on the Capital Campaign link. Donations can also be made by printing and mailing the pledge card. Consider asking your employer if they will make a matching gift.

      Rural Resources has tenaciously clung to their mission and worked to make our community stronger. With your help to fund the multipurpose Farm and Food Training Center, Rural Resources can continue to serve the community even more effectively in the future.