2026 Calendar
Happy Fall!
Mark has been working diligently on ASPI's 2026 Calendar. We will have it available in the next month. Look at our sneak-peek!
Mark has been working diligently on ASPI's 2026 Calendar. We will have it available in the next month. Look at our sneak-peek!
Homesteading Series
Lee and Jennifer Ruff of End of the Road Farm (Climax, KY) will be leading four more Homesteading Series events this year. Our next one will be happening very soon! Be sure to come on out Saturday, September 27th to learn how to grow small scale grains. The two following events will cover how to grow great garlic, and process small game. Check the flyers out and our facebook for more details! Our Homesteading events are normally held on the fourth Saturday of each month, however the Ruff family is expecting, so the workshop in October will be the third Saturday (18th).
All events are free! No pre-registration is required, but if you have a facebook, we encourage you to interact with our events page so we can get a rough idea of how many to expect.
All events are free! No pre-registration is required, but if you have a facebook, we encourage you to interact with our events page so we can get a rough idea of how many to expect.
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Online Store in the Works
We’re thrilled to announce that our online store is in the works and set to launch within the next month - just in time for the holidays and the chilly season ahead! In addition to our popular calendars and notecards, the store will feature a variety of non-perishable goods from local farms, plus brand-new ASPI merchandise. To start, our merch lineup will include long-sleeve shirts, t-shirts, and hats - with the potential to expand based on your interest and feedback! Shipping costs and taxes will be included in the total at checkout. Stay tuned for updates - we can’t wait to share this with you!
Getting ready to welcome our Notre Dame Students
Our Notre Dame students will be arriving in October! We've been busy this month getting a space together for them and planning their week long service trip. Blayne, our 2025 Notre Dame Summer Intern, gave a great run down of what that week entailed for her here. The 2026 Cohort will have similar experiences but some exciting surprises!
Recent Learning Events
Trail Master Certification
ASPI sponsored the Wilderness Site Stewards, River and loki, to Join the Trail Master and Leadership course. This course was hosted by Hindman Settlement School, and led by Mike Riter of Trail Design Specialists.
 | This class taught them methods of building sustainable trails with minimal maintenance that are also engaging for all silent sport users. They plan to take what they learned and apply it to the trails at the Wilderness Site.  |
Brushy Fork Leadership Institute of Berea College
Julie Guthrie, ASPI board member and volunteer, was able to attend the Brushy Fork Leadership Institute of Berea College. She had a wonderful experience, which described briefly below:
"As a volunteer with Appalachia‑Science in the Public Interest (ASPI), an organization dedicated to service learning, sustainable living, and preserving Appalachian culture, the 2025 Leadership Gathering was exactly what I needed. It brought together people who believe in community, stewardship, and action, just like we do at ASPI. Through inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and meeting other leaders rooted in service, I gained new tools to support our mission and left more connected, more motivated, and more ready to serve.
"As a volunteer with Appalachia‑Science in the Public Interest (ASPI), an organization dedicated to service learning, sustainable living, and preserving Appalachian culture, the 2025 Leadership Gathering was exactly what I needed. It brought together people who believe in community, stewardship, and action, just like we do at ASPI. Through inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and meeting other leaders rooted in service, I gained new tools to support our mission and left more connected, more motivated, and more ready to serve.
Some September Flowers and Fungi
Thank you much for reading along,
Sincerely,
ASPI
Sincerely,
ASPI
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