In rural areas, there aren’t as many homeless people as there are peopleless homes. So, ACW has gotten involved with land trusts that connect humans with wild and wonderful tracts of land.
Participating in grassroots community projects like these gives ACW opportunities to offer a unique perspective and a prophetic voice, and allows us to work with others locally and regionally. Each one listed here has a mission that reflects aims similar to the Catholic Worker.
Mission Statement: APPAL is an alliance of people protecting Appalachian lands from extractive industries or for specific community purposes.
Vision: To offer solidarity and support to groups of people stewarding land, and to be available to assist them in planning for the protection of their land in perpetuity.
APPAL is an informal network of like-minded people wanting to save land from exploitation. Membership in APPAL is not legally binding, has no liabilities, and there are no dues to belong. If you have any questions or are interested in becoming a member, contact Jeannie Kirkhope at jeannie@acwfarm.com
Functions of APPAL:
To connect people on different tracts of land — The Facilitator will publish an updated roster of APPAL members, and maintain an online forum, so boards and intentional communities can keep in touch, network, support one another, and encourage new members.
To act as a safety net — When a Board or Intentional Community lacks succession planning, or their particular tract of land is in danger of becoming unprotected for whatever reason, the Facilitator will alert fellow APPAL members, and invite their assistance in securing the land for its intended purpose, in accordance with the charter of the Trust or Community.
APPAL Members
Regional Land Trust of West Virginia - (RLTWV)
Spencer, WV
President of the Board: Mary Wildfire
Sunny Bank Farm Charitable Trust
Spencer, WV
Trustee: Tom Whittier
Woodland Community Land Trust
Clairfield, TN
Marie Cirillo
Curtis Pike Community
Richmond, KY
Rob Weise
JASMER
Kermit, WV
Sr. Gretchen Shaffer, Sr. Kathy O’Hagen