Appalachian Roots: Connecting Recreation, Agriculture, and Public Lands

Blue Ridge Mountains, an overlook near the NC/ TN border.

Outdoor recreation and agriculture are intertwined throughout rural communities all across the Appalachian region. From Northern Mississippi to Southern New York, the Appalachian region spans 13 states with forests of the Appalachian Mountains stretching from Alabama and Georgia through Central New York.

Outdoor Recreation

Roan Mountain, right off the Appalachian Trail.

Appalachian Outdoors Collective was founded in East Tennessee. This subregion of the Appalachians is a melting pot of outdoor recreation, which remains a huge economic driver for both locals and visitors of the state.

Approximately, there are 75 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee with approx. 220 additional miles that straddle the Tennessee/ North Carolina border. Hikers and backpackers trek over the Roan Mountain Balds, many passing through in the springtime after beginning their journey in early March along the full 2,190+ mile long trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia~ Northbound. The Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club is a great resource for local outings and volunteer opportunities.

East Tennessee is also a mecca for mountain, road, and gravel bikers. Dirt surfers find heavenly cross country and high elevation mountain biking throughout the Cherokee National Forest, which often meets with Pisgah National Forest, a bucket list biking destination for visitors of North Carolina. Locals enjoy an abundance of biking trails all throughout Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Western North Carolina. This trifecta of states has a treasure trove filled with endless biking adventures, from the avid bikepacking trip planner to the day time gravel rider. And, not to mention, there are endless miles of back country roads with Blue Ridge Mountain views all around. We are thankful to SORBA Tri-Cities for growing our mtb trails around Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

The Appalachians around East Tennessee are also well known for accessibility to rivers. However, after damage caused by Hurricane Helene, caution, research, planning, and extra planning is advised to paddlers, as our beloved rivers have been altered with many access points now changed or temporarily unavailable. We are here to learn with and support our local outfitters, as our communities in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina recover and adapt to large-scale changes in our rivers after this natural disaster.

Bouldering is growing across the Tri-State region, with Bristol, TN welcoming its first indoor bouldering gym~ Appalachian Bouldering Center, giving climbers a place to grow their skills all year long.

Agriculture

A local East Tennessee farm, pre-devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

Farming is abundant in our rural communities across East Tennessee. The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is a local organization connecting farmers, gardeners, and food entrepreneurs in Northeast Tennessee communities and beyond. Find them at local farmers markets throughout the season, as well as offering programming that extends from classroom initiatives and into the community, like the Build It Up gardener training and Appalachian Farmacy.

You can donate to the Resilient Farmer Fund here through Appalachian RC&D to help farms that were impacted by Hurricane Helene (an estimated 1,000 small family farms impacted).

Education

When we think of the symbiosis between outdoor recreation and agriculture, the foundation of nature and our public lands comes to mind. Walking barefoot through the soft wet grass at a local nature school in Jonesborough, Fauna Forest Farm’s “The Earth School,” the importance of relationship to the land is not only taught to students through stewardship, it is lived. With educational programming from ages 3- 14, Earth School families boast about their children’s’ experiences in an outdoor school setting. Many speak of the “connections” their children are forming with the natural world.

Educating future generations is essential to ensuring the continued protection of these lands. By teaching our youth about the relationship between recreation, agriculture, and land stewardship, we prepare them to become informed and responsible caretakers of public lands. Instilling a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of nature and human activity helps foster a culture of environmental responsibility, ensuring that future generations are equipped to safeguard Appalachian public lands.

Public Lands

Public lands in Appalachia are essential for the intersection of outdoor recreation and agriculture, offering a space where these two sectors can coexist and thrive. Outdoor recreation activities like hiking, fishing, and camping allow individuals to connect with the land, fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability toward its protection. These lands also provide examples of sustainable agricultural practices, showcasing how healthy ecosystems support both recreation and farming. By using public lands as a model, a foundation for growth, communities can learn how to balance human activity with environmental preservation, ensuring these areas remain accessible for future generations.