Perry County, Kentucky is in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. The region is known for its natural beauty and is considered an ideal destination for outdoors enthusiasts. Hiking and ATV trails are a favorite pastime for both visitors and residents. The economy has struggled with the decline of the coal industry and many families face food insecurity as a result. In the spring of 2015, the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky engaged community stakeholders in a community assessment and planning around the nexus of food, health, and the economy. Northfork Local Food was incorporated in May 2015 for the purpose of increasing “access to locally grown and produced foods within communities along and around the North Fork of the Kentucky River.

The community is predominately white and roughly 26% of families are below the poverty line. Families are tight-knit and extended family members play an important role in informal food networks. Perry County Schools are small and mirror the close bonds found in their communities. The school system offers every child free lunch and also provides summer feeding programs to ensure children have meals when school is out of session. Service members will play an important role in working with school staff and community partners in food security efforts. Flooding in 2021 and, again, in 2022 have exacerbated the housing and food security issues already faced by families. As part of Northfork’s mission, our projects will focus on empowering children and families to access and produce fresh food. Projects include school/community gardens, school garden clubs, delivering meals through our CSA program throughout the county, cooking clubs, youth farmers market programs, nature school, etc. Members can expect to learn skills in gardening, nutrition, developing and maintaining local food networks, regenerative agriculture, community building, and education.

Despite economic setbacks and natural disasters the region boasts a rich cultural heritage: music, story-telling, hiking, rock-climbing, fishing, meal sharing, gardening, and endurance are woven into the tapestry of the hills. It is of the utmost importance that members honor the strength and dignity of our community. We are very much still recovering from horrific flooding and the trauma of those events are evident in the landscape as well as the stories of our neighbors. It is also important that members respect perspectives about food instead of offering opinions; our goal is to inspire discovery and empower children with choice. Our communities are ever-changing, strong, and resourceful with complex and important networks of support, and we work to be a common thread that connects these systems.