March is Homesteading Month at the Buchanan County Public Library
The library is partnering with Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District to offer four classes on various homesteading topics. Classes will be held each Friday in March beginning at 2 P.M. and are offered free of charge.
Composting for a Better Future will kick off the series on March 7th. The class is part of a community initiative from the Friends of the Buchanan County Public Library to improve soil quality and reduce waste.
“Composting and vermicomposting (a method of composting that uses worms to break down food scraps and other organic materials into compost) offer residents a chance to recycle their organic waste into a beneficial soil additive,” said Brian F. Shortridge, who will be conducting the class. “With better soil, we hope that local gardeners and homesteaders will be able to increase their crop production.”
In June of 2024, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, the Nature Conservancy, the Cumberland Forest Limited Partnership, and the Anne and Gene Worrell Foundation announced they would lend their support to Composting for a Better Future. This support has allowed the library to provide tumbling composters to many of those who will be attending the class and give them a chance to start composting at home.
“We are very proud to have been awarded a grant from the Cumberland Forest Community Fund,” said Shortridge. “In addition to providing composters to the public, the grant has allowed us to expand the educational opportunities for our children’s classes and will enable us to purchase additional books about composting and organic gardening for the library’s collection.”
Shortridge went on to explain that besides providing a benefit to gardening, composting can reduce the cost taxpayers pay for disposing of waste. According to the EPA, around 30% of a typical household’s waste is considered compostable.
“Our citizens are very lucky to have the services of the Buchanan County Sanitation Department but we should remember that all of our household waste is being sent to Tennessee for disposal,” Shortridge points out. “If we can capture the nutrients in part of our kitchen scraps and yard waste to create compost from it, then we should most certainly do that. Why should we spend our limited resources disposing of materials that we can use?”
The next class in the series will be March 14th. Jeanne Presley, District Manager and Education Specialist for the Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District, will be presenting “How to Make Mozzarella Cheese.” Those attending will be able to see the process in person and learn how they can make cheese at home.
“Jeanne and Anthony Justus (The Conservation Specialist for Big Sandy Soil and Water Conservation District) have been wonderful partners in helping to arrange programs,” said Teresa L. Matney, founder and organizer of Homesteading Month. “We are so excited that Jeanne will be teaching a class this year. Her talent and creativity are such a benefit to our community.”
How to Weave a Rag Rug will be the focus of the March 21st class. A rag rug is made from scraps of cloth and is considered a form of upcycling.
“Taking something and finding another usage is a big part of the homesteading movement,” said Matney. “I’m so looking forward to seeing how the rugs are made.”
The March 28th class will focus on apple tree grafting. Brad Mullins with Virginia Cooperative Extension will lead the class and will be available to answer questions.
“Mr. Mullins is very knowledgeable about apple trees, both how to start them and how to care for them,” said Matney. “Also, thanks to the Big Sandy Soil and Water District, each person attending will be able to take apple trees home with them for free.”
Registration will be required for the apple tree grafting class. Call the library at 276-935-5721 to reserve your supplies for the class.
“This is our fourth year offering the classes and each year has been better than the previous,” said Matney. “Our library is focused on empowering citizens by helping them learn new skills and seeing new possibilities. I believe in a better future for Buchanan County but I know just like building a homestead, it will take a lot of hard work to get us there.”