Through the Blue Ridge Plateau Initiative, we’re creating new vehicles, for-profit businesses, contributing to regional financial viability, and addressing emerging social needs of education, health, and security while protecting our precious natural resources. The effort is profit-based because only with capital investment do people have the power to vote with their dollars. We must work together in ways that enhance capital flow while living secure and comfortable lives.
In organizing the community and maintaining a sense of responsibility that we all share, we coordinate a myriad of activities in protecting our natural resources while addressing a food system and its needs.
We are a learning organization incorporating the experiences and wisdom of those with whom we work to create shared understanding of present circumstances. These shared understandings make possible joining together in creating solutions that serve locally while effectively participating in a larger economy. We learn from each step taken opening new doors of opportunity while recognizing and not repeating activities not serving intended ends. In monitoring our health and contentment, we serve as a feedback loop aware of our impact on the land and water and make needed corrections.
In engaging with people active in agriculture, forestry, and natural resource care whether in the private, public, or non-profit sectors; a synthesis from multiple perspective of present circumstances is created making possible collaborative ventures. The emergent for-profit businesses are based upon an in-depth appreciation of our natural resources and the capabilities and capacities of the people in our communities. This is placed based development, not external exploitation taking advantage of our labor and resources without regards to consequences, individually, socially, or environmentally.
With both public and private support, we conduct on-farm research and survey the needs of farmers, food packagers, processors and distributors, and markets to design management systems, create business plans, and solicit investments.
We’re in search of investments and technologies that best serve our communities and the valued lands upon which we live. Please join with us in finding new and profitable means to best use our resources while protecting them for those who follow the paths we create.
