Sustainable Agriculture

Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture (RASA) offers educational events, non-profit project management services, and collaborative planning to partners who support our vision of a region of thriving family farms.

Our programs support producers and entrepreneurs who are looking for help to earn money, and increase our region’s food security and nutrition. To this end, we support established farmers markets in the region, and are working with other communities that want to establish their own marketplaces. Since 2003, we have been leading the way in bringing local foods into institutional systems, such as Ohio University in Athens. Our work with the Chesterhill Produce Auction is a touchstone for the vitality we are helping to bring to the regional food economy of Appalachian Ohio.

Don’t hesitate to let us know how we can work with you!

Current Programming

In conjunction with the Konkles, OSU extension, and community leaders from Morgan County, a series of organizational and educational meetings. Learn More

Launched in spring of 2009, this free online resource provides comprehensive directories of regional food producers and the local businesses that support them so that consumers to make an informed decision about where they buy their food. Learn More

Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture in collaboration with Community Food Initiatives, Acenet and Trimble Township residents continues an exciting partnership designed to bring about the re-birth of a weekly Farmers Market…Learn More

RASA Services & Workshops

We offer educational events, non-profit project management services, and collaborative planning to partners who support our vision of a region of thriving family farms.

Listed below is some of our available programming:

Sourcing Local Foods 101
Diabetes Prevention Education
Summer Feeding Program
Farmers Market Support & Development
Landowner Site Assessment
Local Food for Your Family
Local Food for Your Customers

Sustainable Agriculture Staff

Tom Redfern has been Rural Action Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator since 2004. Prior to that he spent 20 years working in commercial and public horticulture, including managing a $1 million nursery, and working as a Horticulturist for Miami University in Oxford Ohio. Tom is a graduate of Hocking College, and Ohio University where he studied Natural Resources Management, Botany, and Environmental Geography.

Tom spent 2 years in the U.S. Peace Corps where he helped to develop agro-forestry curriculum for the Kenya Ministry of Energy.

Tom is currently the President of the Board of Directors for Community Food Initiatives, and is a Board member of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association. His work has been featured in the Appalachian Regional Commission Magazine, and in a recent Central Appalachian Network Case History of the Chesterhill Produce Auction.

Bob Fedyski has been working in the food industry in Southeast Ohio for over 35 years. He has worked his way from prep cook, to executive chef to Culinary Arts instructor. After leaving the kitchen, he became a VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) in the Sustainable Ag. Program. He has been a long time supporter of using fresh, local, and organic products, recognizing the multiple benefits, including flavor, nutrition, and supporting the local economy. He has presented demonstrations for the American Diabetes Association and Public Health Departments, and to school cooks conferences on incorporating local foods into their menus, and has tailored demonstrations for other groups as needed. Bob has been the Local/Institutional Foods Advisor for Rural Action since completing his VISTA service in 2009, he serves on the Board of Directors for True Harvest, Athens Food Policy Council, and is on Ohio University’s President’s Advisory Council for Sustainability, Dining working group. Bob is a graduate of Hocking College, and Ohio University. He has extensive experience in creating site specific strategies for utilizing and procuring local foods in the commercial and institutional setting.