Our Reclamation and Remediation (Rec & Rem) team is dedicated to preserving and transforming both people and places through workforce development and abandoned mineland reclamation. Trainees and Crew Members working on our Rec & Rem sites gain hands-on experience in regenerative agriculture and land stewardship while developing personally, professionally, and academically through our WRAPS model. Through our reclaimed mine sites in southern West Virginia, we’ve transformed once-abandoned land into assets that meet community needs. These sites now support diverse plant life, including food-producing crops, a variety of animals aiding in natural remediation, and even a small solar array.
Our Highwall site, formerly abandoned mine land, is now a hub for regenerative agriculture, workforce development, and tourism, restoring soil health while supporting food production, community training, cabin stays, and, soon, a trail system.
Coalfield Development’s Highwall site, located in Mingo County, West Virginia, is a former mine land project focused on workforce development and economic opportunities. The site has robust farm land with a variety of animals, as well as an on-site farmstand registered with the WV Department of Agriculture, where local meats and produce are sold, and an initiative in partnership with Mingo Central High School’s ProStart program. In addition to agriculture, the site also boasts significant tourism potential – three rental cabins are being constructed and a trail system is in progress. It also features an agrivoltaic solar array with battery storage, designed to provide shade and cooling for water systems while generating energy to power staff training, coolers, and more.
Coalfield Development’s Ashford Lavender Farm, located in Boone County, West Virginia, is a key component of its efforts to create new economic opportunities in Appalachia. Located on formerly mined land, the farm provides hands-on workforce training in agriculture and supports the production of high-value crops, essential oils, and artisanal products.
The lavender farm also helps generate new business ventures and job opportunities, contributing to the local economy. By combining agriculture with workforce development, Coalfield Development is expanding career pathways and strengthening rural communities.
Ashford Farm Photos by Vanta E. Code III
Highwall is transforming former mine land into a thriving space for agriculture, tourism, and job training. Book a stay in our SkyView Cabin to experience the beauty of Mingo County!
Each month, Coalfield Development holds a Council Day, an organization-wide gathering of all our staff and teams. We celebrate WRAPS Program graduates, milestones of our collective work to rebuild the Appalachian economy from the ground up, and work side-by-side with each other. In June 2024, we held our Council Day at Highwall, a Mingo County site owned by Coalfield Development that once housed an abandoned strip mine and is now transformed to meet community needs.
The Highwall Farmstand offers fresh produce, meat, and poultry from our farm, along with locally made products from regional producers.
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Inspiring the courage to grow, activating the creativity to innovate, and cultivating communities of opportunity in central Appalachia.
