Photo credit: Stephen Priest, C'20

In December of 2018, the University of the South Farm received USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant funding via the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for research on North American Elderberry as a potential high-value crop for growers on the South Cumberland Plateau and surrounding areas. As an Americorps VISTA volunteer since 2017 with the South Cumberland Plateau, Emily Heid has been working with farm manager Carolyn Hoagland to explore the potential of specialty crops to promote economic growth, environmental sustainability, and cohesion in local communities. In addition to USDA/Tennessee Department of Agriculture and University support, this project was made possible through support from the AmeriCorps VISTA program and the South Cumberland Community Fund. The grant award funds three years of data collection at six partner sites and outreach programming to be offered to all area farmers and gardeners—not just those in the pilot study. 
 

According to Heid, the value of this research is at the intersection of environmental sustainability and economic viability. The establishment of elderberries as a specialty crop may be especially valuable on the Plateau because of a history of extractive industries and sandy, acidic, and poor soils. Since elderberry grows wild on the Plateau, it has the potential to serve as a high-value, low-input crop for area farmers. Heid reports that “consumer interest in herbal remedies, including elderberry, has increased dramatically.” 

This first season has been focused primarily on establishment. Heid explains: “There is currently no data about cultivation success of improved elderberry varieties for the Plateau and even the Southeast region (to our knowledge), as most of the research that has been done on North American elderberry cultivation is centered in the Midwest (Missouri), with research just beginning in California.”  At the end of the three-year long research period, a paper with summaries of the data and recommendations will be made available to the public.
 

“We really don't know where the elderberry market will be in ten years,” says Heid, “but market trends are pointing up. Cultivation in the U.S. is very limited, so if the Plateau could develop as a center for elderberry cultivation in the Southeast, that could be very positive for our local agricultural community, and possibly for the Plateau community as a whole.” While the result of the research may show that commercial elderberry production on the Plateau is not feasible, Heid is hopeful. “If all goes well and elderberry turns out to be a great additional crop for farms on the Plateau, I hope that growers will want to process and market cooperatively, as this would also limit risk. I feel that if this does happen, it will begin with our partner growers who have already shown an interest in working collaboratively.”

Brenna Bierman, a senior chemistry major from Spokane, Washington, has made a career of engaging in research during her college years. She began the summer after her first year at Sewanee by working in the lab of Dr. Rob Bachman, F. B. Williams Professor of Chemistry. Brenna did research on dyes for solar cells, trying to bind platinum to dye molecules. This research is ongoing in the Bachman lab, but Brenna moved on the next summer to a National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, Brenna worked with Dr. Jared Delcamp, examining the asymmetric synthesis pathway of dye-sensitized solar cells. The high humidity and occasional electrical blackouts added to the challenge of this work, which was just fine with Brenna. 

This past summer, she participated in an REU at Northwestern University, working in the lab of Dr. Danna Freedman. Although this was a materials research lab, Brenna engaged in chemistry research involving new materials discovery. She attempted to synthesize meta-stable intermetallics by use of microwaves. Although the lab members could not confirm if it was an intermetallic, they know they obtained a product with stoichometry matching that of the metastable intermetallic.

Brenna has found that her research experiences so far have been very formative. She reports that “they have helped me identify research as something that I want to pursue as a career (either partially or fully). Besides that, my time in lab has provided me a deeper understanding and appreciation for chemistry as a subject. Overall, having the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated scientists and being a part of advancements in the field is incredibly rewarding.”

Brenna is currently applying for doctoral programs in chemistry. With the research experience that she has gained while at Sewanee (and her outstanding grades), she will likely have her pick of many programs.