[Mills River, Jan. 21, 2025] – In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on the mountain region, organizations across NC are rallying to support their farmers and rebuild resilient food systems.
Laura Lauffer, EMFS Project Director (middle), stands with grantees Meadow Cove Farm after their pickup of grant supplies which included wooden posts, metal T posts, and mesh fencing to rebuild their goat enclosure which sustained damage during the storm.
In response to the devastation of the WNC region, EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems (EMFS), an initiative of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), awarded $100,000 of its small business grant funds to assist farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene. This award cycle was launched earlier than planned due to the hurricane and will provide crucial support to local farms struggling to recover from the catastrophic storm. This funding is part of the larger pool of funds (over 400k) planned for regional supply chain support over the next three years.
So far, the EMFS Hurricane Helene Recovery Grant has distributed 35 award letters to farmers from 10 different WNC counties, for a total of $81,085.98 worth of necessary agricultural supplies. This grant serves as a beacon of hope for the affected communities, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, collaboration can lead to remarkable recovery and a brighter future for all. EMFS will have a second round of farmer mini-grants later in the spring.
With the naturally steep terrain of the Appalachian mountains, many WNC farmers utilize the low-lying flatlands for agricultural production, including as pasture for livestock, or for fruit, vegetable, and silage fields. As the flooded rivers crested, they swept away much of the vital equipment and infrastructure these farms use everyday.
On Thursday, January 9, 2025 EMFS, in collaboration with Country Farm and Home of Pittsboro, NC, AgCare of Candler, and the facilities team at the NC State Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, distributed $6,234.39 worth of supplies to four Buncombe County farmers. This partnership provided farmers with high-quality equipment from Country Farm and Home, while the station staff generously lent their expertise and manpower to assist with the loading and transportation of heavy equipment such as wooden posts, metal fencing, barbed wire, and more to help get these farms back up and running. Find photos of the distribution here.
This collaborative effort across public and private organizations from each end of the state exemplifies the strength of community spirit and the importance of supporting local food systems. By working together with these organizations, EMFS is not only helping farmers recover from the hurricane but also strengthening the resilience of the entire mountain region.
CEFS and EMFS will continue to work in the region with Extension and Small Business Centers and other regional partners to be part of the rebuilding process through training, grants and collaborative work projects. For more information, please sign up for the EMFS newsletter here.
EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems is a Center for Environmental Farming Systems/NC State Cooperative Extension project. Funding support is generously provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Dogwood Health Trust, and the WNC Bridge Foundation.
Find more Hurricane Helene news and resources here.