LENOIR, N.C. – We are in a season of what author Paul Hawken called “Blessed Unrest” in his 2007 best seller. The subtitle, “How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice and Beauty to the World,” is even more relevant now. Referring to the people of the movement, he asked, “Rather than a movement in the conventional sense, could it be an instinctive, collective response to threat?”

The answer to that question is “Yes!” as the threats only increase. He wondered also, “Can it successfully address the issues that governments are failing to: energy, jobs, conservation, poverty and global warming?”

The answer to that question is, “We must!” And we will. As we announced yesterday, the Appalachian Chronicle will be moving to a building in Lenoir.

Appalachia’s greatest abundance is her people. Our people are abundantly talented and resourceful. It is only a matter of cultivating and gathering the talent.

That’s only part of the story. We are committed to helping established and emerging artists move towards establishing their own cottage industries. So, sharing space with the Appalachian Chronicle at 458-B Harper Ave. is the Lenoir Artist Fellowship (LAF). This is because teachers, musicians, artists, poets, actors, directors, potters, sculptors and others involved in the creative and fine arts are essential for a vibrant, energetic community.

Practitioners of Appalachian traditions preserve our stories by preserving our priceless folkways – ways that will sustain communities and help individuals and families provide their own sustenance. So, also at our location, as part of LAF, we are creating ample space for an Appalachian Fair Trade Creative & Learning Initiative and small studio and learning spaces for artists and teachers. We also have Fair Trade Arts & Crafts retail space set to open soon.

We are partnering with expert musicians, artisans, herbalists and others to provide training in the traditions, skills and culture of Appalachia. As the center of traditional music in Western North Carolina, music is rebounding and finding many additional venues in the city, county and region. So, there are many reasons to be hopeful.

Working with small, cottage businesses is just one way of tapping into Appalachia’s abundance and reducing our dependence upon mono-economies. “Main Street” will be back and play a significant role in moving us into a more sustainable economy. Just as Hawken identified, it is a grassroots movement. Hence, our focus is on working to support and strengthen that sector. We are confident that many others stand ready to do the same.

Many share our concern and want to help ensure that Appalachian folkways are preserved and cherished as people learn that they can help sustain themselves through their own creative efforts – whether such creativity is demonstrated in song on the fiddle, on wood with acrylic paint or in the soil with seeds. This method of matching experts with apprentices is ancient, proven, and a lovely use of talented people often overlooked.

Education & Community Engagement

We partner with experts to provide hands-on training and workshops for people of all ages on the traditions, skills and culture of Appalachia. These include, but are not limited to:

• Music, arts and drama
• Small farm-based foods, goods and herbs
• Folk Art and hand-crafted jewelry
• Handcrafted furniture and wood products
• Wild food gathering and nature knowledge
• Food growing, preservation and security
• Water Security
• Herbal Gardening & Cultivating for Personal and Community Health

Appalachia’s greatest abundance is her people. Our people are abundantly talented and resourceful. It is only a matter of cultivating and gathering the talent. That is the purpose of LAF.

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026. Photo by Júlia Assis on Unsplash