Sustainabillies llc
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The Sustainabillies
We live on an evolving mountain homestead in Haywood County NC. Two Trees Farm, is nestled in a high elevation valley in the Appalachian mountains. An amazing and challenging place to work towards living off the land. Our connection to nature inspires us to live lightly on the Earth and help others to do so as well.
Dustin Cornelison worked for 7 years in the printing industry, experiencing a toxic work environment and disposable culture. Dissatisfied, a move to Western North Carolina changed the focus of his life. He worked for 2 years as the groundsman and caretaker at an environmental education center and then worked remodeling homes for 5 years. He then pursued an Associates Degree in Welding Technology and a certificate in Sustainable Building with a focus in appropriate technologies at Haywood Community College. Dustin started Sustainabillies in 2011 when he was awarded the Sequoya Foundation Business Grant. He now manages Two Trees Farm and Sustainabillies full time.
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Sara Martin received a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Management with a focus on birds of prey and ecosystem dynamics and a Master's Degree in Biology with a focus on botany, diversity in forest ecosystems, and ecological modeling. She is a unique blend of scientist, traditionalist, and artisan. As a native of Appalachia, she fully embraces and values mountain traditions. As an ecologist, she thinks globally and lives responsibly. As a culinary artisan, she uses a wide variety of techniques and flavors to create eclectic blends of foods that are wholesome, flavorful, and locally grown.
She has directed research at an environmental education center and studied homesteading and permaculture in formal and informal settings.During the spring and fall semesters, you’ll find Sara in the classroom, teaching general biology and environmental science at a community college. She also teaches workshops and classes on food preservation, hands-on farming, and farmstead cooking. Sara has won multiple awards for excellence in college teaching, as well as for developing and leading community-based ecological projects. She is also a sustainable farmer and metal artist.
Our adventure on the property has involved setting up gardens, orchards, installing greenhouses, preparing pastures, and building a blacksmith shop. It has been a labor of love. Our love for the land has allowed us to fulfill our goal to grow most of the fruits and vegetables we need from small, intensively managed, organic gardens and permaculture installations. We are solar powered, and most of the months of the year we generate more electricity than we use- putting green energy into the grid.
After realizing the skills and knowledge we have is in high demand we decided to share our life with others. ​Modern homesteading is different than homesteading 200 years ago. We excel at utilizing the natural processes in the environment instead of dreaming of a property which is “perfect” and does not exist. You can create a sustainable home and gardens even if you do not inherit "farmable land." We want to share how easy it is to live responsibly and more sustainably with the right knowledge and tools without giving up quality of life.
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Sustainabillies offers critical supplies, as well as classes and workshops to teach some of the skills essential to this type of lifestyle.
Our tools and structures we build are constantly evolving. Making things as we need them is our motto. This results in the creation of unique items that are specially designed for sustainable living, satisfy artistic spirits, and support a connection to the land. We offer tested tools that are designed to be functional, beautiful, and to last long enough to be an heirloom.
Two Trees Farm hosts events where you can come and visit us and enjoy the fruits of our labor. You can learn from our experiences of trying to create a sustainable mountain farm. Sustainabillies can also come to you and help you create the vision you have for your own property or business. There is no need to reinvent the wheel- we can teach you how to use the tools and knowledge we have in gardening, blacksmithing and metal work, food preservation, and installation of native habitats. Living simply so that others can simply live is one of our favorite mottoes, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a lot of fun and a beautiful home that functions to support your dreams.
