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2008 Calendar

Click on the month or scroll down to see the calendar events.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Page updated March 24, 2008

May (Top)

2-4 - Friday - Sunday - WNC Herb Festival - WNC Farmers Market, Asheville, NC. Largest herb festival in the Southeast.  Contact 828-253-1691  wncfarmersmarket.org

4 - Sunday - Cosby Ramp Festival - Cosby, TN. Contact 423-623-1009, cosbyrampfestival.org

4 - Sunday - Waynesville Ramp Festival - Waynesville, NC. Contact 828-456-3517

9 - Friday - Small Fruit Conference for Small-Scale Mountain Farmers - Fletcher, NC. Tour the Mountain Horticultural Crops Center's strawberry trial area with research experts, then go indoors and learn the latest production information for strawberries, blueberries, and brambles.  See the website for program information, registration form, and directions, or call Jean Harrison at 255-5522. 

10 - Saturday - Locavore's Lunch - Poppies Market in Brevard and NC A&T State University are planning a "locavore's lunch" and Small Farms Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Enjoy farmer vendors, BusyBee beef burgers, goat cheese/veggie flatbreads, and a panel of speakers on local farming issues.  Farmers should contact Brittany Whitmire to vend.  Interested in attending?  Just show up, or contact Poppies at (828) 885-5494.

10 - Saturday - Farm Field Day
- Glastonbury Farm, Cosby, TN.  A hands-on look at life on a small homestead, featuring garden, goat, and chicken demonstrations, composting, beekeeping.  Children welcome, free but donations welcomed for presenters.  Email or call 865-436-2183 for information.

10 - Saturday -
Whole Bloomin’ Thing Festival - Waynesville, NC. Contact 828-627-1058, see froglevelmerchants.com.

12 - Monday - Flag Pond Ramp Festival - Flag Pond, TN. Contact flagpond.com.

12-13 - Monday-Tuesday - Recipe to Market and Selling Skills for Food Entrepreneurs- Asheville, NC, held at Blue Ridge Food Venures.  First day covers product development, safe food production, labeling, packaging, marketing, food regulations, and more.  Second day covers product rollout, pricing, making sales cals, trade show operation. $30 one/$50 both. Speakers from Cornell extension and Vermond Food Venture Center.  See website or email Mary Lou Surgi to register.

14 - Wednesday - ASAP Workshop:  The Real Dirt - Franklin, NC, Extension Center.  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Workshop for farmers covering farm business planning, local marketing, food safety.  Speakers include ASAP staff and Keith Baldwin from NC A&T.  See ASAP workshop page for more details. 

19 - Monday - Farm Fun Day - WNC Nature Center, Asheville, NC. Contact 828-298-5600, wildwnc.org.

20 - Tuesday - Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival - Whitetop, VA. Contact 276-773-3711.

21 - Wednesday - ASAP Workshop:  Minding Your Own Business - Old Fort, NC. 9 a.m. to noon.  Workshop for farmers covering farm business planning, local marketing, food safety.  Similar to previous workshop 5/14 (do not attend both). Call us to register. Or see workshop page.

21 - Wednesday - Foothills Family Farms On-Farm Workshop Series: Pastured Broiler Production for Small Acreage Vegetable Farms - Crooked Creek Farms in Old Fort,2:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Cost: free.To register: call Casey McKissick at (828) 216-2966 or send an email to info@foothillsfamilyfarms.org

June(Top)

4 - Wednesday -
Local and Sustainable Food Initiatives- Panel discussion about local and sustainable food initiatives at the West Asheville Branch Library, 942 Haywood Rd., 7 p.m.   Contact the library at 250-4750 for more information.

24 - Tuesday - Bread Wheat and Organic Production- Production and marketing workshop for potential producers of wheat.  Come learn about varieties that produce well in the Southeast.  Hear from an agronomist, a farmer, and conventional and organic wheat buyers who will answer marketing questions.  $10 registration fee includes dinner. To register see the CEFS website or call 919-513-0954.

July (Top)

August (Top)

September (Top)

October (Top)

November (Top)

December (Top)

 

 

 

Previous Months

January (Top)

8 -9 - Tuesday - Wednesday - Southeast Apple Conference, Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville, NC. Find more information here.

13 – Sunday - Open Forum Regarding Sustainable Agriculture Development in South Carolina – 12pm – 4:30pm at the Lake House at the Sandhill Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC. Directions available at http://www.clemson.edu/sandhill. A lunch featuring local/organic foods will be served at noon and the meeting will begin at 1:30 PM. The meeting is open to all South Carolina farmers, educators, policy makers, state and federal government and non-governmental agricultural agency personnel, and other South Carolina citizens with an interest in sustainable agriculture. Input from this public meeting will be used to prioritize critical issues and needs and to formulate plans for statewide sustainable agriculture training and education programs. In order to facilitate space and meal arrangements, it’s important that you register in advance. A nominal $10 fee will be charged for lunch. Please complete and mail your registration form (attached) and $10.00 check for lunch to Kelly Gilkerson, Department of Entomology, 114 Long Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0315. Lunch reservations on first come, first served basis; registration deadline for lunch is Monday, January 7, 2008.

20 – Sunday – Slow Food High Country – The next Slow Food High Country gathering has been planned to explore winter-gardening at its most extreme (well, for NC at least): late January in the High Country. This event is open to members and non-members alike who share an interest in growing foods locally, and sharing the camaraderie that arises when good food and good conversation are shared. Please RSVP to Slow Food Boone: slowfoodboone@gmail.com

23 – Wednesday - 2008 Western North Carolina Shiitake Mushroom Workshop - 1-3 pm at Ray-Cort Rec. Park in Burnsville. This will be a demonstration workshop for anyone who would like to learn how to inoculate logs with shiitake mushroom spawn. All attendees are asked to bring 2 oak logs, fresh cut within 2-3 weeks of the workshop. The oak logs should be 4-8 inches in diameter and 4 ft. long. Each person will inoculate their own logs to take home. Do not bring more than two logs to the workshop. If you bring more, we will ask you to either donate them to those attendees that have come without logs, or leave them in your vehicle. To register for the workshop, call Jean Harrison at 255-5522 or jean_harrison@ncsu.edu. Ray-Cort Park is located at 315 Mitchell Branch Rd., off of N. Main Street in Burnsville. Bundle up, we'll be outdoors!

24 – Thursday - Commercial-Scale Organic Production & Certification Class - NC Cooperative Extension presents: A class for farmers wanting to begin or transition to Commercial-Scale, Certified Organic Production of Vegetable and Fruit Crops. This class is geared toward growers who are already set-up for commercial scale production (1-acre of ready-to-be-certified-organic field land or more), and wish to enter the still-expanding Certified Organic Market. Topics covered will include soils & fertility, disease identification & control, insect identification & control, weed management, post-harvest handling, certification & record-keeping, and marketing to wholesale buyers. The class will meet every Thursday through 4/3/08. The class will meet on Thursdays, from 6-8 PM, at the Watauga County Extension Center during the winter and early Spring of 2008. Participating growers will receive current books and other resources on organic agriculture, weed management, disease identification, and pest control. The cost for the entire class series (including books & materials) is $50.  Class size is limited to 15 growers. For more information, call the Watauga County Cooperative Extension office at (828) 264-3061, or e-mail Richard Boylan at richard_boylan@ncsu.edu.

26 - Saturday - Organic Gardening Class - with Hal Oliver of Oliver's Organics, 2:00p.m. at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Also: Hendersonville Comm Co-op will be carrying seeds, and bagged soil and fertilizers. The co-op will be able to special order sprays and other products that will be discussed in the Organic Gardening Classes with Hal Oliver.

This is the first in a series of classes on Organic Gardening with local organic grower, Hal Oliver. Each class will cover a different topic, and they will be given in a appropriate order of importance as the growing season approaches and gets started. All classes are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Co-op in the warehouse. The cost is $10 for HCC Owners and $15 for non-owners. If folks want to sign up for the whole series, they can get a discount: $30 for Owners, and $45 for non-owners. Dates: January 26th- Soil Fertility, February 9th- Seeding, February 23rd- Sprays, March 1st- Irrigation, March 22nd- Greenhouse Construction. The class space is limited to 20 people, so please contact Damian or Gretchen at the co-op to sign up. 693-8557 There is also a sign up sheet at the front kiosk in the store.

February (Top)

1 – 3 – Friday – Sunday – NC Winegrowers Association Annual Meeting – Greensboro, This year’s NC Winegrowers Association Annual Meeting will be an information-packed learning and networking event. If you currently grow winegrapes or are considering doing so, you will not want to miss the experts who will be presenting here. Topics to be covered will include business planning, disease and insect management, hybrid winegrape varieties (particularly relevant for High Country growers), and vineyard management after a late spring freeze (also, alas, very relevant for our region). For the full agenda, registration forms, and other information, contact Angie Owens at info@ncwinegrowers.com or 336-813-6688. More information about the event can also be found at www.ncwinegrowers.com.

5 – Tuesday - Vendor Information Meeting -  Buncombe County Cooperative Extension and Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project will be hosting an informational meeting for the new Asheville City Market on Tuesday, February 5th, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the City's Public Works Facility, 161 S. Charlotte Street.  Farmers and other vendors are invited.  A timeline to opening, operational details, and vendor applications will be shared.  A similar meeting was held on December 6th.  If you attended, there’s no need to come to this one as well. For more information, contact Mike McCreary, Market Manager, at (828) 348-0340 or see the market website .

9 - Saturday - Organic Gardening Class - with Hal Oliver of Oliver's Organics, 2:00p.m. at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Also: Hendersonville Comm Co-op will be carrying seeds, and bagged soil and fertilizers. This is the second in a series of classes on Organic Gardening with local organic grower, Hal Oliver. Each class will cover a different topic, and they will be given in a appropriate order of importance as the growing season approaches and gets started. All classes are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Co-op in the warehouse. The cost is $10 for HCC Owners and $15 for non-owners. If folks want to sign up for the whole series, they can get a discount: $30 for Owners, and $45 for non-owners. Dates: January 26th- Soil Fertility, February 9th- Seeding, February 23rd- Sprays, March 1st- Irrigation, March 22nd- Greenhouse Construction. The class space is limited to 20 people, so please contact Damian or Gretchen at the co-op to sign up. 693-8557 There is also a sign up sheet at the front kiosk in the store.

12 - 14 -Tuesday - Thursday - Acidified Foods Processing and Packaging Better Process Control School For North Carolina Entrepreneurs Packaging in Glass and Plastic Containers - Haynes Conference Center ,A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC. For more information see the workshop announcement and registration form:  http://www.ncsu.edu/foodscience/pdf/acidified_foods_feb%2008.pdf To inquire about scholarships contact Mary Lou Surgi at Blue Ridge Food Ventures, 665-9464.

19 – Tuesday - WNC Livestock Sales Market Study Meeting – 7pm-8pm at Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, 455 Research Drive, Fletcher, NC 28732; phone: 828-684-3562. The North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has provided a grant to fund a feasibility study on establishing a Livestock Marketing Facility in Western North Carolina. To help launch this study, we want to talk directly with area livestock producers to explain the purpose and schedule for the study and to find out what livestock producers want and need in terms of a livestock marketing facility. Get more information here(.pdf).

20 - 21 - Wednesday - Thursday - Winter Vegetable Conference - Crown Plaza Resort, Asheville, North Carolina
Sponsored by the North Carolina Tomato Growers Association, the NC Cooperative Extension Service, and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, this is the conference to attend if you want to learn the latest about vegetable and specialty crop production in Western North Carolina.  Find more information here.

23 - Saturday - ASAP Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference - ASAP’s Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference is an annual tradition now in its fifth year.  The conference is a single day packed full of information about how farms can effectively promote themselves, crops and techniques to consider for farm diversification, and tips to reach local markets from direct to wholesale.  Attendees are working farmers and others seriously considering farming as a profession.  Speakers include agriculture experts, farmers experienced in reaching local markets, buyers, and ASAP staff.  The conference will be held on Saturday, February 23rd, at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa.  For more information and a list of workshops, give us a call or see www.asapconnections.org/marketingconference.htm

23 - Saturday - Organic Gardening Class - with Hal Oliver of Oliver's Organics, 2:00p.m. at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Also: Hendersonville Comm Co-op will be carrying seeds, and bagged soil and fertilizers. This is the third in a series of classes on Organic Gardening with local organic grower, Hal Oliver. Each class will cover a different topic, and they will be given in a appropriate order of importance as the growing season approaches and gets started. All classes are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Co-op in the warehouse. The cost is $10 for HCC Owners and $15 for non-owners. If folks want to sign up for the whole series, they can get a discount: $30 for Owners, and $45 for non-owners. Dates: January 26th- Soil Fertility, February 9th- Seeding, February 23rd- Sprays, March 1st- Irrigation, March 22nd- Greenhouse Construction. The class space is limited to 20 people, so please contact Damian or Gretchen at the co-op to sign up. 693-8557 There is also a sign up sheet at the front kiosk in the store.

29 – Friday – Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School - The Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School will be held on Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Person County Cooperative Extension Center, 304 South Morgan Street in Roxboro, NC. The cost of the one-day school is $25.00 per person for the first individual in the family or business and $15.00 for each additional person.  Both fees will include lunch, which will be provided.  Pre-registration is required in order to save you a seat.  For a copy of the program, pre-registration form, map, and a list of local motels in Roxboro, contact Carl Cantaluppi at 919-603-1350 or e-mail at carl_cantaluppi@ncsu.edu.

March (Top)

1 - Saturday - Organic Gardening Class - with Hal Oliver of Oliver's Organics, 2:00p.m. at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Also: Hendersonville Comm Co-op will be carrying seeds, and bagged soil and fertilizers. This is the fourth in a series of classes on Organic Gardening with local organic grower, Hal Oliver. Each class will cover a different topic, and they will be given in a appropriate order of importance as the growing season approaches and gets started. All classes are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Co-op in the warehouse. The cost is $10 for HCC Owners and $15 for non-owners. If folks want to sign up for the whole series, they can get a discount: $30 for Owners, and $45 for non-owners. Dates: January 26th- Soil Fertility, February 9th- Seeding, February 23rd- Sprays, March 1st- Irrigation, March 22nd- Greenhouse Construction. The class space is limited to 20 people, so please contact Damian or Gretchen at the co-op to sign up. 693-8557 There is also a sign up sheet at the front kiosk in the store.

8 - Saturday - Organic Growers School Spring Conference - Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, North Carolina. The Organic Growers School Spring Conference is an annual event held every March, consisting of a diverse array of workshops and hands-on classes for all folks interested in organic and sustainable agriculture—from the beginning backyard gardener to the advanced commercial grower. Each year, we feature around 70 classes and 10 extended, hands-on workshops on a wide range of topics, including Soils, Pest Management, Livestock, Herbs, Cooking, Permaculture, Homesteading, Urban Growing, Forestry, and much more. Also offered are a Children’s Program (ages 7-12), a trade show, and a seed and plant exchange.  The Spring Conference is a great place to connect with people and network within the regional agriculture community, learn new things, and collect ideas for the coming growing season. The event has grown from about 100 people in 1993 to 1000 in 2007! Participants come from over 17 different states.  For more information about the Organic Growers School Spring Conference, or if you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact event coordinator Meredith Leigh McKissick at meredith@organicgrowersschool.org. Find more at organicgrowersschool.org

22 - Saturday - Organic Gardening Class - with Hal Oliver of Oliver's Organics, 2:00p.m. at the Hendersonville Community Co-op. Also: Hendersonville Comm Co-op will be carrying seeds, and bagged soil and fertilizers. This is the final class in a series of classes on Organic Gardening with local organic grower, Hal Oliver. Each class will cover a different topic, and they will be given in a appropriate order of importance as the growing season approaches and gets started. All classes are on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. at the Co-op in the warehouse. The cost is $10 for HCC Owners and $15 for non-owners. If folks want to sign up for the whole series, they can get a discount: $30 for Owners, and $45 for non-owners. Dates: January 26th- Soil Fertility, February 9th- Seeding, February 23rd- Sprays, March 1st- Irrigation, March 22nd- Greenhouse Construction. The class space is limited to 20 people, so please contact Damian or Gretchen at the co-op to sign up. 693-8557 There is also a sign up sheet at the front kiosk in the store.

24 - Monday - Ramps and Rainbow Festival - Cherokee, NC. Contact 800-438-1601. cherokee-nc.com

29 - Saturday - Asheville Artisan Bread Baker’s Festival - Greenlife Grocery, Asheville, NC. Learn more here.

29 - Saturday - WNC Independent Poultry and Rabbit Meat Producers Workshop - McDowell Technical Community College, Marion, NC. This event has reached its full capacity.  Click here to learn about the event sponsor, the Independent Small Animal Meat Processors Association of WNC .

31 - Monday - Planning for Success: Marketing, Branding, Business Planning, And Conservation Programs for Your Farm - Clegg Center Auditorium · North Georgia Technical College · Clarkesville, GA. Join ASAP and North Georgia Technical College for a half-day workshop that will present information and tools to farmers interested in expanding and diversifying into different markets.  Cost is $5 and includes lunch. Find out more and register here.

April (Top)

2 - Wednesday - Sustainable Development Expo , Haywood Community College, Clyde, NC, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., student center.  This expo will focus on the growing field of sustainable development businesses and provide information and networking opportunities for both students and the general public.
See website for more info.

13 - Sunday - Ginseng & Goldenseal, with Robert Eidus
, Eagle Feather Farm, Marshall, NC.  Hands-on training with newly sprouted medicinal plants in a forest environment.  Marketing strategies and marketing organizations will be highlighted for those interested in native plants as a business opportunity.  Call Robert at (828) 649-3536 or Lorie at (828) 350-9093

15-16 - Tuesday - Wednesday Developing a New Food Business
, NC Cooperative Extension, Cleveland County Center, Shelby NC.  A two-day workshop covering business start up, legal considerations, market research, pricing, food processing, facilities, and more.  Contact Nancy Jones at (704) 482-4365

16 - Wednesday - Ginseng Regulatory Forum
, USDA Forest Service Station, Asheville, NC.  NCDA&CS Staff wil hold an open forum to obtain input on possible changes to the North Carolina program that regulates ginseng harvest and importing.  Contact 257-4832 for more information.

17 - Thursday - Organic Certification Workshop:  Is it Worth Considering for Your Farm?
, Buncombe County Extension Center, Asheville, NC.  Organic Growers' School and Cooperative Extension host organic farmers and a certification inspector who will guide you through the certification process and discuss benefits and barriers.  Also see follow-up workshop on 4/24.   Contact Jean Harrison to sign up, 255-5202.

24 - Thursday Making Jams and Preserves on a Larger Scale, Asheville, NC.  Dr. John Rushing will train participants in adapting homemade jam/preserve recipes to do larger batches and get consistent results.  Readily-available scientific testing methods and food safety will be emphasized.  $10.  Held at Blue Ridge Food Ventures.  See website or email Mary Lou Surgi to register.

24 - Thursday - Organic Marketing Workshop:  Getting Organic Prices for Organic Products, Buncombe County Extension Center, Asheville, NC.  Organic Growers' School and Cooperative Extension host ASAP's Kate Slattery, a produce buyer, and an organic grower who will discuss the market for organic products.   Contact Jean Harrison to sign up, 255-5202.

23-26 - Wednesday - Saturday -
Polk County Ramp and Tramp Festival, Greasy Creek, Tennessee 423-338-4503

26-27 - Saturday-Sunday - Smoky Mountain Romp and Ramps Festival , Robbinsville, NC  http://grahamcountytravel.com/activities.html

26 - Saturday - 17th Annual Johnson Farm Festival, Henderson County, NC. Contact 828-891-6585

28 - Monday -  5th Annual Flower and Garden Show Grove Arcade, Asheville, NC. Contact 828-252-7799

 

See the 2007 Calendar Here.