A PIONEERING PARTNERSHIP P hotograph B y S cott D ean
This fall, three Young Harris College students got their hands dirty while working at The Pioneer Project in Brasstown, N.C., a new community partner for the Bonner Leaders Program and Center for Appalachian Studies and Community Engagement (CASCE). Christa Hamill, a freshman English and religious studies major from Hiawassee, Alec Housholder, a junior business and public policy major from Athens, Ga., and Chris Yenney, a freshman outdoor leadership major from Lilburn, learned about seasonal planting and harvesting at Pioneer, a unique gap-year program that focuses on practical homesteading, craft and wilderness expedition skills. “Bonners get to work with all aspects of life, from people to nature,” said Housholder. “I really enjoyed working with individuals who are truly passionate about the bond between us and the environment.” Partnering with Pioneer is a natural fit for the Bonners and CASCE, as all three groups are committed to agricultural and environmental sustainability, place-based education, and highlighting the region’s enriching culture. “The Pioneer Project shares our common values and gives our students an excellent context in which to learn about and engage those ideals,” said CASCE Director and Bonner Leaders Program
Coordinator Rob Campbell. Hamill and Housholder worked on Pioneer’s web and social media initiatives. In between updating content, blogging and posting Instagram photos, they gravitated to the garden. Part of the “coolest work,” according to Hamill, was planting a vegetable and tending to it until it was primed for picking. “It’s very rewarding—but it is a process,” she said. Yenney harvested many plants—tomatoes, lemon balm, basil, catnip—and a variety of cover crops to help nourish the soil. The work inspired him to help establish a garden at YHC. “I have the knowledge and skills to maintain it and hopefully benefit the school by growing organic food that can be used in the dining hall or elsewhere,” he said. Pioneer works with a plethora of locals who aim to keep Appalachian arts and crafts alive, such as blacksmithing, printmaking and pottery. The CASCE aims to host lectures, workshops and demonstrations featuring some of these craftspeople, and to incorporate visits to Pioneer into courses offered through the College’s new minor in Appalachian studies and community engagement. “Being there reminded us that we can leave the world a healthier place for our children than the one we were born into,” said Housholder. “The people have a hopeful patience for everything they invest into, from student development to the tasty tomatoes they put on the table,” added Hamill. “I hope I can bring some of that back to YHC and start to enjoy the slow processes in the midst of our fast-paced society.”
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This fall, the CASCE developed a “Swap Shop” that allows students, faculty and staff to donate and take a variety of items in an effort to reduce waste and educate the campus community about reusing and repurposing things.
Housholder and Hamill worked in the garden at The Pioneer Project in Brasstown, N.C.
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