Scenic Roots

"Scenic Roots" offers conversations that matter in the heart of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.From the mountains to the river, our conversations are rooted deep within every corner of our community - reflecting who we are, who we were and who we can become.We engage with the news that affects our community, behind and beyond the headlines. We build bridges that span from creators and innovators to storytellers and the outdoors. We focus on our challenges as many communities in one - as we celebrate what inspires us. We resonate with countless voices - in words and spaces, sounds and songs.We are "Scenic Roots."Ray Bassett hosts and produces "Scenic Roots" at WUTC.

Across The Tri-State, The High Stakes Of Disappearing Farmland

WUTC | By Ray Bassett

Published November 12, 2024 at 8:34 PM EST

Over the past two decades, Hamilton County has lost more than half of its land available to grow food.

That includes more than 5,000 acres of farmland - and a 65 percent loss of cropland.

Food As A Verb, the Chattanooga media startup, shared those numbers from the Land Trust for Tennessee.

Hamilton County is far from alone: By the year 2040, the tri-state region of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia is projected to lose 150,000 acres of farmland.

On Thursday starting at 10:30 AM, David Cook of Food As A Verb will moderate a panel at this year’s Tri-State Summit, presented by Thrive Regional Partnership in Chattanooga - titled, “When It’s Gone, It’s Gone: The High Stakes of Disappearing Farmland.”

Brooks Lamb, author of “Love for the Land,” will be on that panel.

Later on Thursday, starting at 4:30 PM, Brooks will be the first guest for a new farm-to-table speaker series, presented by Food As A Verb and Little Coyote - at the restaurant’s location in St. Elmo.