The Yew Mountain Center Is Building a Future for 500 Acres of Appalachia

For nearly a decade, the Yew Mountain Center has been turning 500 acres of forests, fields, ponds and trails in Pocahontas County into something much bigger than a nature preserve. The community-run nonprofit uses the property as a place to explore Appalachian ecology, culture and the arts, while creating opportunities for education, recreation and a more sustainable local economy.

Now, the Yew Mountain Center is working to make sure that vision continues for generations to come. Since 2016, the organization has operated on the property through a lease with a private owner. That arrangement is coming to an end, and Yew Mountain Center has launched its “We Need Yew” campaign, a three-year effort to raise $1.5 million and purchase the 500-acre property outright.

The land is more than the setting for the organization’s programs. It is the foundation for them. The Yew offers trails, outdoor education, workshops, retreats and lodging, while also serving as a hub for initiatives like the West Virginia Forest Farming Initiative and Mountain Medicine Trail, which connect Appalachian forests to culture, conservation and economic opportunity.

Read the full story from Yew Mountain Center: We Need Yew: Supporting Local Ownership of the Yew Mountain Center