CSS History

In 2015, the non-profit Center for Sustainable Stewardship was founded at Big East Fork, to assist groups and individuals with an intention to save the Big East Fork watershed from being spoiled by development. Additional land was purchased in 2016, creating a protected space of over 2000 acres. In early 2017, the area was designated Tennessee's first Sanctuary Valley. In 2020 CSS was gifted 713 acres for its campus of streams and trails to train stewards. With the pandemic, it was seen that doing less can be an approach to natural healing. Less driving meant less CO2 and more time to enjoy nature. With the tenth year of CSS it is clear this is a special piece of land that deserves protection. With volunteer efforts and support, we have the opportunity to build a legacy for our generation and for generations to come.

The CSS logo of three leaves represents the three pillars of our organization:

Stewardship of the Land -

We protect our watershed, pastures, soil, and forests so we may receive their many blessings.

We do unto downstream as we would have upstream do unto us.

We identify and invest in watershed rural lands to place forest and farmland in the hands of the next generation of stewards.


Stewardship of Others -

We provide safety, resources, support, and encouragement to those around us.

We contribute financial reserves, food to our food bank, or work in our community..

We provide and support education to the future stewards of our various overlapping communities.

Stewardship of Self -

We cultivate our own physical, mental, and spiritual health

We communicate with intention, to understand and uplift.

We treasure our creativity and give ourselves time and place in which to learn and play.

615-426-5654 is best number to call for immediate response