'Sang Pointers Fern Points NE

I've landed in the woods of Abingdon, VA and I've been put to work hunting for a 'Sang Pointers Fern. Local lore indicates that ginseng hunters look for this fern when hunting for ginseng. It points to the direction of the 'sang, a NE faceing slope. 'Sang Pointers Fern is a companion plant for a lot of different forest botanicals that Appalachian Sustainable Development works with- ginseng, ramps, goldenseal, black cohosh and more. Since 2010, ASD has been teaching landowners how to cultivate and profitably market these forest botanicals for added income potential and increased biodiversity in their forest understory. Continued overharvesting has drastically reduced wild populations, and ASD hopes to counteract this though their work. Today, I'm out on the Panicello Memorial Trail- a Learning Landscapes outdoor classroom- helping OSM/VISTA Katie Commender conduct site selections for ramp bulb and seed plantings that she's doing later this week with local high school students. I wish I could stay longer to see this educational work in action, but for now I'm off to the Grow Your Own garden project!

Thaddeus Visits Friends of the Cheat

Howdy from Preston County, West Virginia! I was so pleased to visit the Friends of the Cheat to learn more about their efforts to improve the economy of Appalachia. The Cheat River is a major tributary to the Monongahela River and was the site of a major mine blowout in 1994, where hundreds of gallons of severely polluted water turned the river red with sulfur and iron.

It has been 19 years since Friends of the Cheat has worked to improve the watershed, and since last year, they have expanded to improve safe recreational access to the river with the Upper Cheat Water Trail. The AmeriCorps VISTA working with Friends of the Cheat showed me how to plan a trip on the River using a map, and I got to see the famous river myself, it was so much fun, I can't wait to visit again when the Water Trail officially opens, so many people are going to visit and bring tourism dollars to the watershed. 

Spring Break!

Hi all this is Atticus Vista. I've traveled down to McDowell County, West Virginia. I was given a great tour of the southern part of the county by OSM/Vista Hans Raidel. It was impressive to see the Big Creek People in Action working in their communities with college students that were on alternative Spring Break. I thought all students volunteered on their Spring Breaks! Anyways I think Vista Hans tricked me. He made me a great dinner and told stories but then made me shovel Coal so that everyone stayed warm! I can't wait to go visit Abingdon, Va now.

More snow? Is that really necessary?

Hey All! I’m Thaddeus, an OSM/FlatVISTA and twin brother to Atticus. I’m packing my bags and going on a long road trip to the frozen tundra north...also known as everywhere northeast of the New River Gorge Bridge! I’m really looking forward to spending some time with OSM/VISTAs working on economic development projects. 

My first overnight is with OSM/VISTA Amelia Pridemore in Wayne, WV. "Mil" only started in the middle of February, but she is hard at work with the Coalfield Development Corporation. After visiting her, I’m headed to see Aubrey Harris, Tyler Poliquin, Jamie Brackman, Sara Goots, Anesa Owen, and lastly making a stop in Washington, D.C. to see Dr. T Allan Comp and his Public Administration Fellow, Kelly Kim. 

Wish me luck!

Country Roads, Take Me (away from) Home

Hey all of you out there in cyber land I’m OSM/FlatVISTA Atticus! I’ve packed my bags headed down south to the land of the pine. I am excited to be visiting some of the best people that I know, OSM/VISTAs serving in the southern coalfields working on economic development projects. 

My first stop will land me in McDowell (that’s pronounced Mac-Dowl) County, home of the Rocket Boys. I’m looking forward to visiting Hans Raidel and his supervisor Marsha Timpson at Big Creek People in Action. OSM/VISTA Leader Spencer Moss says that Hans does a fantastic job of showing people around McDowell County when they come to visit! After visiting Hans I will head to my old stomping grounds (Abingdon, VA) to visit Katie Commender, then Emily Bidgood, Corey Barbour, Jan Carrol, Carla Davis, Allison Tse, and Jessica Brown.

(pairing up the Flat VISTAs was totally Spencer)