The Wood Family Farm is a working farm in Cherokee County. Visible from Nantahala National Forest lands in the Snowbird and Valley River mountains, more than 81% of the soil is considered Prime Farmland Soil. The conservation project consisted of three separate easements funded through North Carolina ADFP Trust fund grants, as well as the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, The Conservation Trust for North Carolina, one private donor, and other unrestricted donations.

The Long Farm is an organic operation that specializes in heirloom and heritage varieties of produce and livestock. Owned and operated by Harold Long, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and his wife, Nancy, the farm includes a forest canopy for specialty crops, like ginseng and goldenseal, and bottomland that includes Grape Creek stream frontage and excellent soil for planting. Located just off the historic Unicoi Turnpike, the 32 acres sits on an old trading path that was part of the Trail of Tears route.

The Long Farm was conserved as a result of the 2014 Farm Bill, which awarded funds for the conservation of important farmland in western North Carolina. In addition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, partners in the project include the North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, Brad and Shelli Stanback, the Community Foundation of North Carolina, Conservation Trust for North Carolina and Harrah’s Casino.

This inholding is now part of the Nantahala National Forest and offers access to the popular Fires Creek Rim Trail.  More than 85% of the property is in the Fires Creek watershed and extends across the Valley River Mountains into Cherokee County. Fires Creek is designated as an Outstanding Resource Water, the highest designation available in North Carolina.

Read more about the project and the now-successful campaign to raise funds to acquire it here, and the acquisition by the USFS here.

In spring 2011, Mainspring acquired the 101-acre Welch Farm on the Valley River.  Located a mile-and-a-half west of the Andrews airport, the Welch Farm contains exceptional surface waters, productive farmland, rich cultural history, and scenic beauty.  In addition to nearly a mile of river frontage, the farm contains three creeks as well as 3,000 linear feet of oxbow wetlands, which provide outstanding waterfowl habitat. While an incredible conservation opportunity, the Welch Farm property is not pristine land. Mainspring, with partners including the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, the Cherokee County government, and volunteers, has stepped forward to restore ecological health to the property. Mainspring is also working with Cherokee partners to propagate rivercane, butternut, and other native plant resources useful to Native artisans for basketry and blowgun making.

Learn more about visiting Welch Farm.

Enjoy this video of Mainspring staff working with with a neighboring private landowner to conduct non-invasive Ground Penetrating Radar research, funded by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, on the Welch’s Town Cemetery.

In December 2006, LTLT acquired a conservation easement on Ridgefield Farms (producer of Brasstown Beef). The 695.80 acre farm is located in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Ridgefield Farm is a fully-integrated system from breeding to feeding and supplying all natural, premium, locally-raised beef to fine restaurants and retail meat markets. For more information on the farm visit their website. Whole Foods Market now sells Brasstown Beef, they made a short video on Ridgefield Farms, click here to watch.

In late 2011 Mainspring requested bids on 44 acres of its 101-acre Welch Farm property in Cherokee County and recommended that farm management plans be included with the bids. After reviewing the bids and plans received, Mainspring’s Board accepted the offer from the Davis siblings, and in April 2012, the sale to Davis Farms was finalized. Almost before the ink was dry on the paperwork the rich land was planted in collards, turnips and mustard greens, favorite crops for brothers Tim and Mike Davis. The Davis family is one of the oldest farm families in Cherokee County, and in fact can trace their roots to Native American ancestry. Davis Brothers Farms of Culberson is one of the major growers in southwestern North Carolina, supplying Ingles and other supermarkets with produce.