What is the Rural Center?

Two Kentucky farmers, Chris and Christy Korrow, founded the Rural Center for Responsible Living in 1999. After receiving 501(c) 3 status in May of 2000, the Korrows proceeded to work to heighten the awareness of organic and biodynamic food and farming in Kentucky and Tennessee with their focused outreach programs, an educational web site, development of a web based Kentucky CSA directory, and on farm gardening classes. In December of 2003, the Korrows passed the directorship of the organization to Robin Verson and the home of the now named The Rural Center, Inc. moved to Metcalfe County and Hill and Hollow Farm.

In its first year at Hill and Hollow, The Rural Center worked with farmers Paul Bela and Robin Verson to further develop its already successful school group farm visit program, set up an informational booth at the Nashville Earth Day event, hosted families for educational farm stays, and initiated the Kentucky CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) program. Four schools brought groups to the farm for both one day and overnight total immersion farm educational experiences in spring 2004. Children aged 8 to 17 enjoyed our flexible curriculum and time spent on a biodynamic farm. Along with other local organic farmers, The Rural Center set up a booth at the Earth Day event in Nashville, TN. Our group worked together to disseminate information about local organic and biodynamic farms, CSAs. and the importance of being attached to your food supply. We gave out packets of seeds for interested people to start their own home gardens. Three families took advantage of our farm stay programs and we hosted them for multiple day visits and integrated the adults and children into our farm schedule. The Kentucky CRAFT program brought together five Kentucky organic and biodynamic farms, their farmers, interns, and apprentices for four monthly workshops during the 2004 growing season. Designed to help aspiring farmers find a peer group and work with Kentucky farmers to further enhance their ability to educate and distribute information about sustainable farming practices and local food economies, the program was a great success.