Family dairy farms were once plentiful in Athens County but are now facing extinction due to commercial farming. At nearly 80 years old, Bernard and Loretta Allen are one of the few remaining dairy businesses in the county.

Organic farmer Kip Rondy grows micro greens, mushrooms, squash, kale and lettuce. His produce is sold all over Ohio, but mostly to local restaurants in Athens. Rondy and local business owners sing the praises of buying and eating organically.

Paths converge when people work toward a common goal like sustainability. From locally-grown food to tough environmental issues such as coal-fire power plants, Sonia Marcus is one of the characters at the heart of Athens’ continuing efforts to go green.

Snowville Creamery, a small, locally-owned dairy in Meigs County, has emerged as a prominent part of Athens economy and lifestyle. With proposed changes to dairy laws threatening to wipe out businesses like Snowville, owner Warren Taylor fights to preserve independent production of milk.