What we do and why
“Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest has been working for healthy land and sustainable communities in Kentucky and Central Appalachia for 49 years. We are a nonprofit resource center advocating for sustainable development, responsible resource management, and informed personal choices.”
What we’re working toward
We envision communities across Central Appalachia empowered to make informed choices — for their land, their livelihoods, and the generations that follow.
What guides the work
The practical beliefs that have shaped every program, partnership, and publication since 1977.
Understanding leads to action.
If people understand and appreciate the complexity of our natural environment, they make choices that make them better stewards of the land. That belief has guided every program since our founding on Earth Day, 1977.
We work at the intersection of four systems.
Our programs address Ecosystems, Energy, Food Systems, and Culture — because, like the ecosystems around us, our work in each area depends on the strength of all the others. They are deeply interdependent.
We meet people where they are.
We promote low-cost, self-sufficient, sustainable living — not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical, accessible possibility. We offer free public workshops when we can, sliding-scale access to fee-based programming, and fair compensation for the people who do the work.
We are rooted in place.
We operate from our Small Town Demonstration Center in Mount Vernon, KY, and our Rockcastle River Wilderness Site in Livingston, KY — nearly 200 acres of mature forest. These aren’t just facilities; they are living demonstrations of what we teach.
Four systems, one region
Like the ecosystems that surround us, our work in each area is strengthened by the others. Many programs are deeply interdependent.
Ecosystems
Forest ecology, biodiversity, and environmental education grounded in the Appalachian mixed Mesophytic landscape.
Energy Systems
Renewable-energy demonstrations, solar installations, and low-cost, appropriate technology for sustainable living.
Food Systems
Sustainable agriculture, local food networks, ginseng and wild edibles, and community food resilience.
Cultural Systems
Folkways preservation, oral history, Appalachian storytelling, and documentation of regional knowledge and tradition.
Support This Work
ASPI’s work is made possible through community support, partnerships, and shared commitment to a more sustainable future.