Smoky Mountains Native Plants Association

The Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association (SMNPA), a multi-county association based in Graham County, started meeting in the fall of 2000 with the goals of:

Over the past two and half years SMNPA has had many accomplishments, including: establishing the Graham County farmers market, developing local native plants gardens, conducting on-site native plant research, creating a micro-loan program to assist SMNPA members with the cost of equipment and seeds, hosting numerous educational events and speakers, and supporting youth from Robbinsville High school as they learn about Appalachian native plants, heritage and culture.

The Center for Participatory Change has provided support to SMNPA since its inception and continues to assist the group on organizational development issues such as planning and fundraising. SMNPA also receives support from the Graham County Cooperative Extension, the NC Cooperative Extension Research Center in Fletcher, NC Department of Agriculture, and the Stecoah Valley Center. SMNPA's work has been funded in part by the Civic Ventures Fund of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Graham County Community Foundation, and CPC's Self Development Fund.

An interview with SMNPA about value-added products

In June, 2003, CPC's Thomas Watson interviewed the members of SMNPA about one of their recent accomplishments, the development of a value-added product called "rampmeal" -- cornmeal made with added ramps.

Thomas (CPC): What has SMNPA accomplished over the last six months?

Ransom: The main thing we have accomplished in the last six months was creating our value-added product, rampmeal. Ramps are native to this area and taste like a very strong onion - sort of a cross between garlic and onions. Value-added means adding something to a raw product to make it worth more. We could have just sold the ramps but by adding them to cornmeal we created a new product worth ten times as much as the raw ramps. People in this area have often sold our raw products to someone else who adds value and makes all the money. We don't want to do that anymore.

Eve: We formed a smaller group within SMNPA who was interested in making a product to sell. We used all the skills of the group - some of us have business skills, others have plant knowledge, and all us are hard workers. Ramps are in season only in the early spring, so we had a window of one month to make the rampmeal project happen, and we did it.

Beverly: We didn't have a certified kitchen in Graham County, so our first step was to make that happen. We ended up getting two kitchens in the county certified by the USDA. We were able to produce the entire product at the Stecoah Valley Center.

Eve: Actually, it's more like the people at the Stecoah Valley Center were good enough to suffer through the production (lots of laughter). The whole place smelled like ramps for a month solid.

Beverly: In addition to producing the rampmeal, we have worked hard to find ways to market our product. Smithson Mills from the NC Department of Agriculture recently connected us to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC who invited us to sell our rampmeal at their Folkways Festival over the July 4th weekend.

Eve: As it turns out, they (the Smithsonian) told us we would have the only certified cornmeal product for sale at the festival.

Perry: Another thing that we think will help sale the rampmeal is our name and our packaging. An Appalachian Culinary Experience is what we say on each bag.

Beverly: We aren't just sending the rampmeal to the Smithsonian and hoping that it sells. We have done our research and have conducted test markets all around the area - our product really sells.

Thomas (CPC): What has been the hardest part of creating the rampmeal?

Perry: Cleaning ramps wound up being the hardest part.

Beverly: All the ramps come in at one time and must be cleaned and processed all at one time. We were spending 13 to 16 hours a day cleaning and processing ramps.

Eve: Keeping everything clean is a big job - we had to sterilize the kitchen each and every time. We wore hair nets - the guys even wore a hair nets over their beards. This is not an easy process for the faint of heart.

Thomas (CPC): Do ramps come in it at different times?

Bill: Yes, depending on the elevation. You also have to be very careful when picking ramps - Lilly of the Valley comes in the same time as ramps and looks a lot like ramps but it is poison. All our ramps were legally and sustainably harvested - it is part of what we believe in as a group.

Beverly: Bill played a critical role by bringing in ramps before most folks even knew they were ready for picking - without his knowledge we could not have produced the product in time for the ramp festivals.

Eve: Our wildcrafters are very knowledgeable. They taught the rest of the group what to look for when cleaning the ramps - we were extra careful to toss out anything that we were not certain was ramps. You can tell by the texture of the plants - the ramps had to pass everyone's inspection before they wound up in our product. If we weren't positive it was a ramp it did not go in the final product.

Bill: Something I have not mentioned about the ramp product is that it took a variety of skills to make this happen. You could have a truck load of ramps but if you don't know how to process them or market them then they are worthless.

Beverly: The special thing about this group is that everyone had a role to play and no one supervised anyone - we had a common understanding of what had to be done and we each did our part.

Eve: If someone had tried to be the supervisor or the one, I don't think it could have worked. We had to depend on each other. I could not climb the mountain to pick ramps but Perry, John, Bill, and the Loopers could. I don't want to try to market the product but Beverly and Carol made dozens of calls and no one wants to ship it out faster than Tracy (lots of laughter).

Tracy: I have 2000 bags of rampmeal stored in my basement - you can imagine the smell.

Ransom: The main thing is that we all had fun.

Tracy: We even had kids as young as seven stamping dates on the bottom of the bags.

Thomas (CPC): Sounds like a lot of work - why is it important for this type of work to happen in Graham County?

Eve: We are trying to come up with a product that will help local folks make some money. Also, we want to learn how make money from what we have here in the County.

Perry: We have been picking, growing, and eating ramps for generations and finally decided do something with them.

Ransom: We need to take control of our own resources and economic future.

Beverly: We want to create a business that is based on the native plants that only grow here - we are creating a niche product that no one can take away from us. By working together, we can be in control of our own future.

Thomas (CPC): What advice do you have for others who are working to improve their community?

Eve: I don't care what kind of project people are working on, learning to work together is the key to making it successful. Everybody brings different skills and abilities to the group - so figure out what people have to offer - sometimes people themselves don't even know what they have to offer, so you've got to help them realize their skills and talents. Then put them to work (laughter).

Beverly: Be respectful to each other and practice love and kindness and acknowledge each others' values to the group - this is critical. When there is an upset or problem in the group you have to talk it out. It is about figuring out how to work together for a common goal.

Perry: I agree, my advice is to listen to each other before you go to grabbing hair (lots of laughter).

Other Projects

After two years of work, SMNPA has more than fifty paid members, and several community projects, including:

Native Plants Test Plots create opportunites for members to grow different herbs and plants. Each member obtains a site visit and soil test, creates a plan for what plants they want to grow, and keeps records about planting conditions and cultivation techniques. The Association and the Extension Service help provide seeds or rootstock for planting, as well as information on growing methods. The Extension Service and the Association will use the information gathered to create detailed recommendations on native plant cultivation and harvest techniques.

The Graham County Farmers Market, now in its second year, offers farmers and other growers a chance to earn supplemental income through the sale of fruits and vegetables, native plants, herbs and herb products, ornamental trees and shrubs, and handmade furniture. Located in Robbinsville, every Saturday morning from June through September.

The SMNPA Micro-Loan Program, which provides members with start-up funding for agricultural projects. Members may request up to $500 to start or expand projects, which can then be repaid through materials, cash, labor, plants, seeds or products. Funding for the Micro-Loan program comes from the Golden LEAF Foundation and the Rural Center Civic Ventures program, through partnership applications with CPC.

Community education and community service projects, including presenting programs on using native plants in landscaping, and planting a Tree of Strength at the Stecoah Valley Center to honor the firefighters, police, rescue workers and others who lost their lives on September 11.

CPC staff have supported SMNPA through conducting the initial outreach, organizing and facilitating meetings, and distributing the notes. As the organization has grown, CPC has provided leadership and facilitation training, and assistance in incorporating as a nonprofit organization. CPC has also providing training in grantwriting, and has awarded SMNPA a $1000 organizational development grant from the Self Development Fund. Through partnership applications to the Golden LEAF Foundation and the North Carolina Rural Center's Civic Ventures Program, CPC has also helped provide an additional $15,000 in grant funding for SMNPA projects.

Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association Holds Awards Dinner
(Press Release, April 2002)

The Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association (SMNPA) held its first annual awards celebration on Thursday, March 21. Over 40 people attended the potluck dinner, which included fresh deer, wild boar, and a variety of side dishes and desserts. The dinner celebrated the founding of Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association 15 months ago and the group's hard work to date. SMNPA is a multi-county association based in Graham County dedicated to: helping local people earn extra income through growing, collecting, processing, and marketing of Appalachian plants; preserving Appalachian native plants for future generations; and providing education about Appalachian native plants species.

Beverly Whitehead and Eve Miranda of SMNPA presented the evenings awards including certificates of appreciation to Bobbie Ammons for serving as secretary; Rob Jordan for his work as treasure; Jim Lowe of the Stecoah Valley Center for support; Taylor's Nursery for a their donation of a maple tree; Perry Jenkins and family for invaluable support; Scott Boxberger for invaluable support, First Citizens Bank in Robbinsville for use of their lot for the Farmer's Market; Waynesville K-mart for donations; and the Center for Participatory Change (CPC) for their essential organizational skills and support. Another group of awards was presented to those who made the Farmer's Market possible including John and Priscilla Carswell, Kent Sheffey, Eve Miranda, and Danny Buchanan. Special awards for outstanding contributions were given to John Carswell, president of SMNPA; Thomas Watson of CPC; Randy Collins of Graham County Cooperative Extension Service; Jeanine Davis of the NC Cooperative Extension research station in Fletcher; Tony Hays of Ridge Runner; Beverly Whitehead Chair-woman of the SMNPA grant committee; Ralph Jenkins for invaluable knowledge of native plants; Danny Buchanan for invaluable support; and Joanne Parrot, vice president of SMNPA. Special spouse support awards were also presented to Priscilla Carswell and Ranson Cornett.

Thomas Watson of the Center for Participatory Change (CPC), an organization that has helped support the group, led a discussion on the accomplishments over the last 15 months which includes starting the Graham County Farmer's Market, partnering with Graham County Cooperative Extension on growing test plots of ramps, ginseng and goldenseal, having a membership of over 50 people, writing several grants that has brought the group approximately $20,000 to support their efforts. Watson also presented the group with a $5,000 check from The Golden LEAF Foundation for micro-loans to help members with agricultural related projects.

"We've built a solid foundation over the past 15 months. SMNPA is a great way to strengthen the economy and the community of Graham County," said John Carswell, President of SMNPA.

SMNPA Opens Tailgate Market; Gets Visit from Golden LEAF
(Mountain Views, Summer 2001)

The Smoky Mountain Native Plants Association (SMNPA) was organized last fall as a small farmer’s group with the goals of helping local people earn extra income through cultivating, processing and marketing native plants; preserving native plants and herbs for future generations; and providing education about native plant species.

The association now boasts over 35 members and has raised about $5,000 in grants and in-kind support. Specialty crop test plots of goldenseal are underway and additional test plots of ramps, a wild relative of garlic, will be planted this fall. SMNPA will also hold farm tours this fall, letting both members and the public get a firsthand look at native herb cultivation.

Most recently, SMNPA opened the Graham County Farmer’s Market. The market provides a new income opportunity for local people, many of whom are producing and growing vegetables, plants, jellies or handcrafted furniture, but who have not had ready access to a market.

“I think the farmer’s market will be great for the community, both for people who want to buy fresh produce and for people who are making and growing things at home. It will help generate income and preserve our agricultural way of life here in Graham County,” said Priscilla Carswell, a founding member of SMNPA.

In June, SMNPA and CPC together hosted a site visit for Mark Sorrells, Vice President of Golden LEAF (a North Carolina foundation created to support new economic opportunities with some of the state's tobacco settlement funds). Golden LEAF has an interest in new agricultural markets and the creation of new and alternative crops. Mark spent a day visiting SMNPA members, including:

• Stony Hollow Farm, where Scott Boxberger grows organic fruits and vegetables, as well as berries and cut flowers. Scott also grows native plants, like ginseng, goldenseal and trillium.

• John and Priscilla Carswell, who planted test plots of the medicinal herb goldenseal, and who doubled the size of their vegetable garden this year so they’d have produce to sell at the farmers market.

• Dannie Buchanan’s ornamental plant nursery, where he’s growing several thousand boxwoods, as well as rhododendrons, laurels, azaleas and other native plants.

CPC’s support for SMNPA includes the facilitation of meetings, distributing notes, strategic planning, organizing, helping the group connect to other resources, and helping to promote the group’s work.

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