Tamara McNaughton
Tamara spent her early professional career working mostly with agriculturally related non-profit organizations like Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SSAWG) and this landfill gas to energy project http://www.cooperativeconservation.org/viewproject.aspx?id=717. Through this work, Tamara consistently heard the call that we need more small scale farmers. According to the US Census of Agriculture, the average age of farmers and size of farms have steadily increased and the overall farmer population has decreased. She rose to the call, moved to Meadowview, and became a full time mini farmer in 2012. She is the owner/operator of TNT Farm N Greenhouse where she grows transplants and vegetables for your soil and soul. She attends the Abingdon Farmers Market with products grown on her farm and Emory’s garden in an effort to be part of the change she wishes to see in the world. Civic agriculture, biointensive gardening, permaculture, Vedic wisdom, and healthy soil food web teachings guide her practices.
Education
Appalachian State University Boone, NC
- MA in Appalachian Studies/Sustainable Development 2007
- BA in Applied Anthropology, Minor in Sustainable Development 1995
- Teacher Education Courses 2000-2001
Mayland Community College Spruce Pine, NC
- Horticulture Technology, Plant Production 2002-2005
Teaching
ENVS 206 - Organic Food Production
ENVS 207 - Advanced Organic Food Production
Research
Social justice and food security/resilience in food systems are Tamara McNaughton’s main interests while balancing the three prongs of sustainability: environmental stability, economic viability, and social justice. While studying Anthropology and Sustainable Development in a University setting, she concentrated on localized food systems and indigenous healing modalities in real world context. She is a systems thinker, seeking to grasp the interconnectedness of all things while applying an interdisciplinary approach to life and learning.
In 2010 Tamara guided the Johnson County Community Food Security Assessment found here: https://www.slideshare.net/Fayme4q/u3s620
Open gallery
