Programs of Dogwood Valley

Programs of Dogwood Valley Include:

From the very beginning of our founding organization GTKYF Foundation Inc and the Rock Bottom Farms Program, our goal was to help people, animals, and communities form the “Rock Bottom Up.” We saw that many people have never learned real-world skills that enabled them to earn a living wage in their home communities. In addition, many people that are not collage bound have no place to learn the skills that interest them. Many of the “Old World Skills” are being lost. We desire to help those with an interest in hands-on trades and old would skills learn them hands-on.

  • “The Shop:” These services and uses of the shop facility will be offered onsite and via this program of Dogwood Valley. These training and employment programs will be offered via The STEP Group (Skills Training and Employment Program) as well as the Sustainability Program of GTKYF Foundation Inc. We will be able to put together packages, training, and workshops that enables people to learn the skills that make their lives more effective in their local communities and support our efforts across the board. One day classes, weekends, one week, and month-long will all be offered on a customized to fit the person or groups needs.
    • Auto repair: Training and service for those in need of these skills. From basic to advanced. Including gasoline, deseil, equiptment, and small engine. These techs and services will incorporate using the people living on-site and in the local community. As well as those who come to the facility for training to learn a trade via the incorporation of our “STEP GROUP” (“Skills Training and Employment Program”). Some of these services will be for retail or contracted rates. With those funds being used to support the workers and the facility costs. The main shop would be used to start this effort with the eventual goal of building this aspect’s own structure/facility on one of the local sites. The repair services would also be provided to those in need on a sliding scale.
    • Mobile / Traveling Road Service: HUB and Base. We have long seen the need for a part of the STEP Group to include a outreach that has repair techs availible for “Rescue Missions” throughout the United States. We plan to start this here and grow it to service the country. These servies would also be availible to the general public via retail opperations, as well as a membership aspect. Many of the large groups that offer “Mobile assistance” do not cover schoolies, buses, and vans that are the full time residences of those using them. We plan to.
    • Bus / Van Retrofitting: This includes outfitting and retrofitting vans, school buses, and box trucks to facilitate the nomadic lifestyle and those living in their vehicles. The main shop would be used to start this effort with the eventual goal of building this aspect’s own structure/facility on one of the local sites. Again using the aspect of the STEP Group to employ and train those living on-site, those in the community and those coming to the facility to learn the trade.
      • Some will be built for those in need. Including repairs.
        • With some being sold or even leased/financed to those struggling.
      • Some will be built for companies including food trucks
      • Some will be built for retail or wholesale sales. To help fund the other parts of this program
      • We would like to eventually be able to rent/lease some creative units to people who want to experience this type of life. Whether before they commit to it permanently or just to have the experience in their lives. Making memories as a family.  Strong families make for strong communities. Nomadic experiences build memories.
    • Blacksmithing / Metalworking: This is for teaching old-world trades and skills of blacksmithing and forging. As well as sheet metal working and welding/ fabricating. Many of these items will be sold at events and via the internet. As well as commissioned and custom work related to our other programs.  Classes will be offered and people will be able to stay onsite to learn this and other trades. Those onsite, in the local area, and those traveling in for training and desiring to learn the skills. This will be offered and done in conjunction with the STEP Group and The Sustainability program of GTKYF Foundation Inc. This program will use the Blacksmith shop located next to the main shop and the meeting/workshop areas of the main house.
    • Glass Blowing: This is for teaching old-world trade and skills of Glass Blowing. Many of these items will be sold at events and via the internet. As well as commissioned and custom work related to our other programs.  Classes will be offered and people will be able to stay onsite to learn this and other trades. Those onsite, in the local area, and those traveling in for training and desiring to learn the skills. This will be offered and done in conjunction with the STEP Group and The Sustainability program of GTKYF Foundation Inc. This program will use the Glass shop located next to the main shop and the meeting/workshop areas of the main shop and main house.
    • Wood Working: This will use the Wood Shop on the other side of the main shop. Providing woodworking services while working in conjunction with the other programs. The woodshop would be used to start this effort with the eventual goal of building this aspect’s own structure/facility on one of the local sites.
    • Screen Printing / Embroidery: This is a skill and service we would like to add and eventually teach to those wanting to learn it. A structure or aspect of this would have to be made at some point to allow for this. As well as the purchase of the equipment needed. Helping service the ongoing needs of the organization as a whole.
    • Crafting: This area is adjacent to the “Bus lot” bath and laundry house and is for those who desire to create and sell those items to learn to support themselves. Classes in many aspects of crafting will be offered and could be done in conjunction with other skills. Such as wire warping, painting, macrame, and many other crafts.
    • Tiny House / Shed construction: This would be started in the main shop area. With units being used on-site at first. Then eventually sold offsite and moved there. The main shop would be used to start this effort with the eventual goal of building this aspect’s own structure/facility on one of the local sites. Providing services via the STEP Group.
    • The base of Operations: for the STEP Group Programs of Plain and Simple llc and Americas Painting Experts These are two existing companies under the STEP Group currently. They would work out of the main shop area for the time being with the eventual goal of building and moving them to their own facility on one of the sites locally.
    • Warehouse: For storage and staging of gear for Neighbors Helping Neighbors program. Initially using the main shop area as the base for this. Eventually building its own facility at one of the local sites.