Get Involved
Whether you’re local to Central Appalachia or connected from a distance, there’s a place for you here.
There are many ways to take part in ASPI’s work. Since Earth Day 1977, this organization has depended on people who show up with a gift, their time, a question, or a willingness to learn alongside us.
Related: Partner with us · Contact · Newsletter
Ways to Get Involved
Donate
Your gift supports education, research, and stewardship in Appalachia — from maintaining demonstration sites to funding workshops and community programs. Every contribution helps.
Shop
ASPI’s annual calendar and note cards feature artwork and imagery by Appalachian artists and of Appalachian landscapes. Purchasing them is a tangible way to support the work.
- Visit the shop
- 2026 Calendar
- Note cards
Volunteer
Volunteers have been part of ASPI from the beginning. If you have time, skills, or curiosity to offer — for events, field projects, or ongoing programs — we’d love to hear from you.
Partner with Us
ASPI collaborates with organizations, educators, researchers, and community groups whose work aligns with our mission. We also offer fiscal sponsorship for projects that don’t yet have their own nonprofit status.
Service Learning
Since the late 1970s, ASPI has hosted service-learning students from colleges and universities — including the University of Notre Dame — at our sites in Rockcastle County. Students engage in hands-on learning alongside community members, often including a Farm Day working with local homesteads and farms.
Attend Events & Workshops
ASPI hosts and co-hosts workshops, hikes, community gatherings, and regional convenings throughout the year. Events bring people together around energy, food systems, culture, ecosystems, and sustainable living.
Visit a Demonstration Site
ASPI’s demonstration sites are hands-on learning spaces open to visitors. Our Small Town Demonstration Center at our main offices in Mount Vernon, KY, demonstrates energy efficiency and appropriate technology applications in an everyday community setting. Our Rockcastle River Wilderness Site in Livingston, KY, includes the Mary E. Fritsch Nature Center, the Michael Francis Zalla Trails, and close to 200 acres of old-growth forest.
Stay Connected
Sign up for our newsletter for updates on events, new resources, and what’s happening in the region. You can also follow ASPI on social media.
Why It Matters
ASPI’s work is practical and place-based. We use appropriate technology and applicable science to support sustainable livelihoods — working in food systems, energy, ecosystems, and culture. The demonstration sites, workshops, publications, and community partnerships that make this possible all depend on people who care about the region and choose to invest in it.
When you donate, volunteer, or partner with ASPI, you’re helping:
- Keep demonstration sites like the Small Town Demonstration Center in Mount Vernon and the Rockcastle River Wilderness Site accessible and well-maintained
- Fund workshops that connect people with tools for energy efficiency, food production, and land stewardship
- Support oral history and cultural documentation work that preserves regional knowledge
- Expand service-learning programs that bring students into real working relationships with Central Appalachian communities
- Sustain publications and research that inform practical decisions across the region
This is about putting knowledge to work in ways that benefit people and place — something ASPI has been doing since 1977.
Not Sure Where to Start?
A good first step is signing up for the newsletter — it’s a low-key way to stay informed about events, new resources, and what’s happening. From there, attending an event or visiting a demonstration site gives you a feel for the work in person. Many people find their way into volunteering, partnering, or giving from there. We’re glad you’re here.