By: Sheldon D. Barker
We live in a unique place. Am I a bit biased in that opinion? Yes, most
likely I am, but who can blame me. Just look around at the mountains, the
valley, the trees and wildlife, where we live is unique in many ways.
The Sequatchie Valley is an
anticline, the result of folds in the rock, and the erosion of water. The
Geological feature itself stretches from the Crab Orchard Mountains
southwesterly to Guntersville, Alabama. The Sequatchie River drains the
northern part of the valley, and from South Pittsburg, Tennessee south the
Tennessee River. The Cumberland Plateau marks the western side of the valley
and Walden’s Ridge the eastern side. The seventy-five mile or so expanse in
Tennessee is known as the Sequatchie Valley, and Sequatchie County sets at the
very heart of the valley.
The uniqueness is not limited to the geology. According to some sources,
the region is one of the most diverse ecologically. With seventy-five percent
of the county forested, there are many opportunities to benefit from our
natural resources both economical and recreational.
The soils of the county are very fertile, thus agriculture is and has
been very important in the county. There
are 232 farms in Sequatchie County (2007 Census of Agriculture) with 28,675
acres in production, the market
value of products sold is about $4,943,000, with livestock sales making up about
90 percent of the total value.
With such a diverse and rich natural environment, the Agriculture and
Natural Resources programs of The University of Tennessee Extension are very important.
Extension offers many programs and services to farmers and landowners. From soil test and fertilizer
recommendations, to insect,
weed and disease identification and control recommendations, all researched
based. There are also classes on vegetable gardening, beef and forage
production, and forestry and wildlife management, just to name a few. Keep
following us here and in our other media outlets to learn more about Extension.
Check out our
website at https://utextension.tennessee.edu/sequatchie/
for more information.
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/UTExtension.Sequatchie?ref=hl
Thank you for the posted information on our unique valley. We are studying erosion in 4th grade science. This blog will give me a direct connection to use with the students.
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