Blog Posts
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Armenian Americans in Rural Countryside
Read more: Armenian Americans in Rural CountrysideEmbracing the Rural Countryside: A New Opportunity for Armenian-Americans Rural America offers Armenian-Americans a chance to build strong communities, enjoy a lower cost of living, and reconnect with nature. The Hyeland Project helps families explore these opportunities, particularly in the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee. Why Choose the Countryside? Rural living provides affordability, close-knit communities, and space for families. With AI reshaping jobs, remote work is more viable than ever. City overcrowding has increased stress and costs, making the peaceful Upper Cumberland region a great alternative for Armenians looking to thrive. Challenges of Rural Life Adjusting to a slower pace, limited…
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Armenian Community in Rural USA
Read more: Armenian Community in Rural USABuilding a Thriving Armenian Community in Rural America: Opportunities and Challenges The Armenian diaspora has a long history of resilience, adaptation, and cultural preservation. While major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Boston, and New York have become well-known Armenian hubs, rural America offers untapped potential for community-building, economic opportunities, and a renewed sense of identity. The Hyeland Project seeks to encourage Armenian-Americans to explore these opportunities, particularly in regions like the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of rural living for Armenian families, the challenges they may face, and how initiatives like…
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Healthy Food Renaissance in Upper Cumberland: Discovering Organic Markets and Bakeries
Read more: Healthy Food Renaissance in Upper Cumberland: Discovering Organic Markets and BakeriesThe Upper Cumberland region is undergoing a fascinating transformation: a healthy food renaissance that’s as unique as it is exciting. When we decided to move here, we already knew Tennessee had a rich farming landscape, so we expected to have access to plenty of locally produced food. Our family prioritizes eating grass-finished beef, avoiding seed oils, and keeping carbs in check to maintain what we consider a healthy diet. Having local farmers nearby has always made sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients easier, so we looked forward to finding new favorite farms. What we didn’t expect, however, was to discover grocery stores…
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Speed Limits in the Upper Cumberland: A Culture of Reason and Freedom
Read more: Speed Limits in the Upper Cumberland: A Culture of Reason and FreedomWhen it comes to speed limits in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee, there’s a distinctive approach that sets it apart from many other areas. In most places, speed limits are often seen as the maximum you can drive before getting a ticket. They function more as a guideline for law enforcement than a true safety measure. But in the Upper Cumberland, the story is quite different. Here, speed limits reflect the safest speed you can travel on a given road—not an arbitrary cap set by a paternalistic, authoritarian system. Instead, the speed limit seems to be established with the…
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How to Find Armenian Communities
Read more: How to Find Armenian CommunitiesArmenian Church Dioceses and Parishes The Armenian Apostolic Church is a central institution for Armenians worldwide. The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the Western Diocese provide directories of parishes across the U.S., offering a starting point to connect with local Armenian communities. In Tennessee where the Hyeland Project is focused, there is an Armenian church that meets once a month in Nashville, one hour west of the Upper Cumberland. Armenian Cultural Organizations and Community Centers Organizations such as the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) and Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) have chapters throughout the United…
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Armenian community in rural USA
Read more: Armenian community in rural USAWhy homesteading? Homesteading and rural living is becoming increasingly popular. The scars of lockdowns and the prospect of future instability motivates some to form a more self-sufficient lifestyle. For others, the automation of technology and the isolation of modern life, is the spark to return to a more traditional rural community. Whatever the reason, the trend is real but it leaves Armenian Americans in a bit of a bind. How can one live in an Armenian community in rural America when there aren’t any? Create new ones, of course! That’s exactly what the Hyeland Project is seeking to do. Advantages…
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Armenian American Rural Community
Read more: Armenian American Rural CommunityOld is new again Some of the first Armenian communities in America were established in rural areas of California, particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, due to the availability of fertile land for agriculture. These early immigrants played a crucial role in developing the agricultural industry, especially in crops like grapes and raisins, while preserving their cultural heritage through churches, schools, and cultural organizations, notably in Fresno. Today, there are very few Armenian communities in rural USA. Armenians have congregated primarily in and around cities. For those Armenians wishing to live in a rural community surrounded by Armenians there choices…
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Armenians in the South
Read more: Armenians in the SouthArmenian communities in the South Armenian communities in the southern United States, while smaller than those in other regions, have established significant and vibrant presences. In Florida, the Armenian population is estimated to be around 9,200 people. The state boasts several Armenian churches, including St. David Armenian Church in Boca Raton and St. Hagop Armenian Church in Pinellas Park. Texas is another state with a notable Armenian community, estimated at around 4,900 people. Major cities like Houston and Dallas are home to Armenian churches such as St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Carrollton and St. Kevork Armenian Church in Houston. Other…
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Why Armenians are choosing to work from home in Tennessee
Read more: Why Armenians are choosing to work from home in TennesseeWhy Armenians are choosing to work from home in Tennessee Remote workers have a lot of freedom to choose where to live. Where you live has a huge impact on you and your families life. With a mix of rural or urban living, here are some reasons to consider the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee when optimizing for work from home. No State Income Tax Let’s suppose you make $100,000/yr. In California you’re losing $6,302 of that from income taxes. In New York it is $5,890 and $5,000 if you’re in Massachusetts. Move to Tennessee and congrats you’ve given yourself…
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Top 3 reasons Armenians are moving to Tennessee
Read more: Top 3 reasons Armenians are moving to TennesseeTop 3 reasons Armenians are moving to Tennessee Reason #1: It feels like Armenia Can you tell the difference? One picture is in the Upper Cumberland of Tennessee and one is Dilijan in Armenia. The land, climate, and plants are nearly identical in these two areas. Both areas are also similarly vacation destinations. Dilijan draws vacationers from around Armenia and abroad, and the Upper Cumberland draws in people from Nashville and the surrounding states. The region is mostly rural with several cute towns and small cities evenly spread throughout. Reason #2: Your money goes farther The Upper Cumberland is a…