Farm Taxes: Let's Crush the Schedule F
2026-02-12 17:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | N.C. Cooperative Extension – Rutherford County Center, 193 Callahan Koon Rd., Spindale, NC, 28160, United States
Let’s Crush the Schedule F! No one likes taxes but getting them done right is as important as any other part of the farm. Gain confidence with this guided walk through of the Schedule F (Profit and Loss from Farming) that will teach you what you need to report and how, help reduce your taxable income, and enjoy some light humor along the way.
Speaker:
Laurel Clabaugh started her farm bookkeeping journey with a mid-size poultry farm and in the years since has worked with a variety of farmers covering different industries from produce to agritourism. She is passionate about helping small farmers understand the money side of their business in a way that is as painless as possible. Eager to help small farms succeed, Laurel specializes in 1-on-1 conversations to provide tools and training created with real world experience to meet farmers where they’re at and bring them to where they want to be.
This event will be held at the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Rutherford County Center (193 Callahan Koon Rd, Spindale, NC 28160) from 5:30PM-8:00PM on February 12, 2025. Dinner will be provided.

Share the Love with Root Cause Farm
2026-02-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Cultivated Cocktails Distillery and Tavern, 161 Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
Share the Love This Valentine’s Day Weekend with Root Cause Farm: A Night of Community, Music, and Impact
Fairview, NC — January 15, 2026 — This Valentine’s Day, Root Cause Farm invites you to Share the Love on Friday, February 13, from 5–8 p.m. at Cultivated Cocktails, for an evening of live music, handcrafted spirits, and meaningful community connection.
Root Cause Farm is more than a farm—it’s a community hub where everyone can find the nourishment they need. As a nonprofit in Fairview, NC, the farm brings neighbors together to grow, share, and celebrate healthy, local food. Through the coordination of dedicated volunteers, Root Cause Farm produces thousands of pounds of organic fruits and vegetables each season, distributing it at no cost to families in need.
This year’s Share the Love event highlights not only the farm’s dedication to nourishing families but also its commitment to educating the next generation of farmers, nutrition advocates, and community leaders. Guests will enjoy soulful live music from Asheville’s Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp and expertly crafted spirits from Cultivated Cocktails, a family-owned distillery with deep Western North Carolina roots.
By attending, guests are supporting more than a night out—they are helping train our future leaders, increasing fresh produce production capacity by at least 15%, and strengthening community connections. In 2025 alone, Root Cause Farm served 120 families weekly, educated more than 50 children, and engaged 80+ weekly volunteers, proving that when neighbors come together, nourishment and hope flourish side by side.
“Our work feeds more than bodies—it nourishes hope, knowledge, and the roots of a stronger, more resilient food system here at home,” said Executive Director Nicole Coston. “Share the Love is a celebration of what’s possible when our community comes together. In addition to Cultivated Cocktails’ generous commitment of 10% of the evening’s proceeds, guests will be able to support Root Cause in our ‘Fund a Foot’ initiative—an opportunity to sponsor garden beds and stand alongside families for an entire growing season, helping deliver months of fresh, organic produce to our neighbors in need.”
No tickets necessary. For more information, follow Root Cause Farm on Instagram and Facebook. Make this Valentine’s Day celebration one that grows love, hope, and impact right here at home.
About Root Cause Farm
Founded in 2009, Root Cause Farm is a Fairview-based nonprofit dedicated to growing and sharing no-cost, organic produce while fostering community education and engagement. The farm cultivates food security, resilience, and connection, ensuring that everyone in Western North Carolina has access to healthy, nourishing food.

Selling at Farmers Markets: Practical Strategies to Boost Sales & Stand Out
2026-02-16 09:00 - 10:30 | Pellissippi State – Magnolia Campus, 1610 E Magnolia Ave, Knoxville, TN, 37917, United States
Prepare for a successful market season with proven, on-the-ground strategies from an experienced farmer. This in-person workshop covers customer attraction, booth setup, and efficient checkout—designed for vendors at all experience levels.

Asheville Restaurant Week
2026-02-17 - 2026-02-23 | NC
For many, the delicious culinary creations of local restaurants are a big part of what makes Asheville special. Asheville Restaurant Week celebrates Asheville’s great food scene. Show your favorite restaurants some love or try someplace new! Many restaurants will have special menus and discounts. See a full list of participating restaurants at at ashevillechamber.org.

Farmer Roundtable: What Thrives Now? Climate Shifts on Small Farms
2026-02-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Online/Virtual
This will be a facilitated farmer-to-farmer conversation about how conditions have changed over time, and with it, farm production. We will have a panel of longtime farmers who will dig into what used to do well on their farms, what thrives now, and how climate and environmental shifts have influenced those choices. Expect honest reflection, shared lessons, and plenty of discussion about what’s working, what’s been hard, and the skills and knowledge farmers need to keep adapting. This is a space to learn from each other and think together about what comes next.

An Introduction to Southern Appalachian Wildflowers
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Discover the hidden gems blooming in our mountains!
The wildflowers of Southern Appalachia are often nature’s earliest artists, painting the forest floor with color and life starting as early as February. From delicate Trout Lilies emerging through leaf litter to the enchanting Yellow Lady’s Slipper hiding in mountain coves, these blooms tell a quiet story of beauty and resilience unique to our mountains. Join Adam Bigelow—The Joyful Botanist—for a captivating journey through the region’s most beloved wildflowers.
What You’ll Learn:
Iconic Species: Meet the signature wildflowers of Southern Appalachia, from spring ephemerals to summer bloomers, and learn what makes each one special.
Seasonal Bloom Times: Understand when different species emerge and how to plan your own wildflower adventures throughout the year.
Habitat & Ecology: Discover where these plants thrive and their vital roles in mountain ecosystems.
Identification Tips: Learn key features to help you confidently identify wildflowers in the field.
Conservation & Appreciation: Understand the importance of protecting these native treasures and how to enjoy them responsibly.
This presentation-style class, held in our comfortable Pavilion, features a stunning slideshow of wildflowers in their natural habitats. Whether you’re a beginner naturalist, avid hiker, or simply someone who wants to know the names of those beautiful blooms you pass on the trail, this class will deepen your connection to the natural world around you.

Fermentation for Beginners (with Queeney Foods LLC)
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:00 | WNC FoodWorks, 570 Brevard Rd., Unit 9, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
Join Colleen Queeney of Queeney Foods LLC for a 2 hour Beginner Class on Fermentation. You’ll learn all about how to ferment foods, enjoy tasting different fermented foods and go home with your own jar of personally flavored sauerkraut!
COST: $50 per person
TIME: 1:00pm to 3:00pm February 21st 2026
LOCATION: 570 Brevard Rd, Unit 9, Asheville NC 28806 – WNC Foodworks Training Room (Behind the WNC Farmer’s Market)

ASAP's Business of Farming Conference
2026-02-28 08:00 - 16:00 | AB Tech Community College, 340 Victoria Rd, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
ASAP’s 2026 Business of Farming Conference will take place on Feb. 28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at A-B Tech Conference Hall in Asheville, NC.
The annual Business of Farming Conference brings together professional farmers from across the Southeast region to network and share resources to grow their farm businesses. Farmers learn about marketing, business planning, and financial management from experts and innovative peers. The conference is designed for beginning and established farmers as well as those seriously considering farming as a profession.
Find more information here and register here.

Bare Root & Live Stakes Class
2026-02-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Master low-cost, high-impact planting techniques before spring arrives!
Learn two powerful methods for establishing native plants while they’re dormant—perfect for stream bank restoration, erosion control, or populating larger areas without breaking the bank. Whether you’re tackling a problem slope or dreaming of a native restoration project, this workshop will give you the practical skills to make it happen.
What You’ll Learn:
Live Staking: A fast, low-labor technique for adding quick-rooting shrubs to wetlands and riparian buffers. Learn how to properly prepare, plant, and space live stakes to combat erosion on creek banks.
Bare Root Planting: How to work with dormant seedlings for cost-effective establishment of trees and shrubs in your landscape.
Real-world applications: See how we’ve used both methods successfully here at Winding Stair Farm to improve stream banks and restore native habitat.
Pre-order live stakes before the class (below) and your stakes will be waiting for you at class!
Both techniques are conservation-proven and widely used by restoration professionals to establish native plants at a fraction of the cost of potted stock. This class is perfect for landowners, stream stewards, native plant enthusiasts, and anyone looking to restore habitat on a budget.

Wild Remedies for Winter Coughs
2026-02-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Learn to make your own powerful cough syrup from the wild herbs of Appalachia! And, take home your own handmade cough remedy!
Winter brings coughs of all kinds—dry, wet, tickly, or deep—and the mountains around us offer potent natural remedies that have been used for generations. Did you ever wonder why cough syrup is cherry flavored and colored? Because it used to be made from wild cherry bark! Join herbalist Abby Artemisia to discover how to identify, understand, and craft effective herbal remedies for one of winter’s most common ailments.
Abby will also have copies of her book The Herbal Handbook for Homesteaders and locally harvested handmade herbal products for available for purchase.
What You’ll Learn:
Cough Energetics: Understand the difference between wet and dry coughs and why it matters when choosing the right herbs
Local Wild Medicine: Explore two of the most effective regional herbs for cough relief—mullein and wild cherry
Traditional Remedies: Discover the history behind cherry-flavored cough syrup and its wild origins
Hands-On Demo: Watch Abby prepare a special shelf-stable DIY cough syrup called an oxymel
Taste & Take Home: Sample the finished oxymel and leave with recipes you can make at home
This hands-on workshop combines herbal wisdom with practical skills. Whether you’re seeking natural alternatives to store-bought remedies or simply want to deepen your connection to plant medicine, this class will empower you to care for yourself and your loved ones using the healing gifts of our mountains.
We’ll gather in our covered outdoor pavilion for this class. Dress comfortably for being outside, though we’ll retreat indoors if Mother Nature gets too wild!

Burke County Land Summit
2026-03-04 08:30 - 16:30 | Burke County Agricultural Center, 130 Ammons Drive, Morganton, NC, 28655, United States
Join leaders in Land Conservation, including:
Stephen Bishop – NC FarmLink
Bob Holbrook, Western Carolina-Free Mediation Services for Family Farm Succession
Tom Fanslow, Conserving Carolina-Mitigation Projects
NCDA-Farmland Preservation and Conservation Easements
Lunch Provided! Call 828-764-9480 to register.

2026 Spring Conference
2026-03-06 09:00 - 2026-03-08 18:00 | Mars Hill University, 100 Athletic Street, Mars Hill, NC, 28754
Join us for the Southeast’s largest gathering of farmers, gardeners, land-stewards, and food-system changemakers! Our Spring Conference supports, inspires, and educates people to farm, garden, and live organically by providing affordable, practical, hands-on education. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting out, you’ll leave with connections, knowledge, and inspiration to build a more vibrant, equitable, and abundant food and farming system.
What’s in store:
• Your choice of 60+ classes spanning across 12 track topics including gardening, soils, farming business and production, earth stewardship, sustainable living, and more
• Hands-on workshops from experts across the region and practical demonstrations you can apply right away
• Networking and community-building with growers, educators, and advocates from across the country

Introduction to Organic Gardening
2026-03-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Grow real food. Skip the chemicals. Start this spring.
You don’t need a lot of land, a lot of money, or a green thumb handed down from generations past. What you need is a solid starting point, and that’s exactly what this class delivers. Adam Bigelow breaks down organic gardening into clear, practical steps for anyone ready to get their hands in the soil. Tomatoes, greens, squash, herbs… this is where your garden story begins.
Western North Carolina soil is genuinely special. Rich, biodiverse, and full of life when treated right, it gives local gardeners a serious head start. This class shows you how to read that soil, feed it well, and set up a garden that produces real food without synthetic fertilizers or chemical sprays.
What You’ll Learn:
Where to Begin: How to pick your garden spot, prep your beds, and set yourself up for a productive first season
Organic Soil Care: What your soil actually needs and how compost, mulch, and natural amendments do the heavy lifting
Planting the Right Way: Spacing, timing, and crop selection for WNC’s unique growing season
Pest and Weed Management: Low-fuss, chemical-free methods that work with your garden instead of against it
Food You Can Trust: Why organic methods produce cleaner, more flavorful harvests and how that difference shows up on your plate
This beginner-friendly class is perfect for first-time gardeners, backyard dreamers, and anyone who has tried and struggled before. No prior experience needed. Just show up ready to learn and leave with a real plan for your spring garden.

Intro to Becoming A Ginseng Dealer
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Online/Virtual
“Intro to Becoming Ginseng Dealer” is the first of a virtual two-part series for those interested in obtaining a ginseng dealer license. Part one is a standalone course but is also a prerequisite to “The Foundations of Becoming a Ginseng Dealer”.
Here is the course outline:
-History of American Ginseng
-Harvesting, washing & drying techniques
-Differences in agricultural production methods
-Current marketing trends
-Laws & regulations to selling
-Financial startup needs
Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
Meet your teacher: Robert Edius. Robert is an avid American ginseng grower and educator who owns and operates Eagle Feather Organic Farm. To cultivate the next generation of responsible forest farmers, he also hosts classes, workshops, been on radio shows, and is the founder and president of the North Carolina Ginseng Association. He specializes in “wild simulation ” cultivation-growing plants organically in their natural forest habitat and enjoys sharing that knowledge with others.

ASAP’s 2026 CSA Fair
2026-03-12 15:30 - 18:00 | YWCA of Asheville, 185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join ASAP’s 2026 CSA Fair and Celebrate CSA Month
CSA Fairs are a chance to meet local farmers face-to-face and learn more about CSA programs. You can ask questions about what products are included in the CSA box throughout the year, the farm’s growing practices, payment options, and pickup locations. Attendees can sign up for a CSA during the fair or follow up with farmers later. ASAP’s CSA Fair, hosted annually in March, is family-friendly, with activities for kids and community connections.
This event is free and open to the public. A list of participating farms will be released in mid-February.
Visit asapconnections.org/CSA to find CSA farms in WNC and surrounding states, see CSA products and pickup locations, and learn more about how CSAs work.

Introducing Spring Ephemerals
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Saturday, March 14th, 2026 | 10am | Choose Your Price: $30 – $5
Discover spring ephemerals—enchanting wildflowers that herald the arrival of spring in the Appalachians. Led by local herbalist Patricia Kyritsi Howell, you’ll learn to identify these delicate beauties, understand their life cycles, and explore their traditional herbal uses.
This presentation-style class in our comfortable Pavilion covers identification, ecological importance, historical Appalachian uses, garden cultivation tips, and sustainable conservation practices.
Whether you’re a wildflower enthusiast, home gardener, or simply want to catch these fleeting blooms at their peak, this class will deepen your appreciation for the seasonal rhythms of our mountain forests.
About Patricia: Patricia Kyritsi Howell is a renowned herbalist, educator, and author of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians, inspiring students to use local herbs sustainably for over thirty years.

Farm Planning & Design: Climate Resilience
2026-03-19 13:00 - 16:00 | SAHC Community Farm, Alexander, NC, 28701, United States
Thursday March 19th 1pm-4pm
180 Mag Sluder Road Alexander, NC 28701
Are you looking for the perfect farm property but not sure how to create the best plan for your land? Join us for an introduction to planning and layout of land for small-scale farming with a focus on climate-resilient design.
Our case study for this process will be a property just around the corner from the SAHC Community Farm in Alexander. We will have a virtual “walk through” site analysis of the property’s conditions using a number of land planning tools, with a Permaculture approach. We will inventory conditions such as soils, water, wind, aspect and more to create a multi-layered map of the site as a base for decision making. Using this information, we will actively draw up together a concept for the site, which addresses some of the needs and challenges identified in the analysis phase. Through this design process we will cover how to avoid making a $10,000 “bad decision” when beginning with infrastructure improvements.
This workshop will be particularly appropriate for participants who already own or lease land, as well as those who plan to do so in the future. Our focus will be on growers and how best to make design decisions for resiliency.

Spring Equinox Yoga
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Welcome the return of light, warmth, and new beginnings with a special Spring Equinox Yoga class set among the living beauty our garden nursery. Surrounded by budding plants and fresh spring energy, we’ll gather to honor the seasonal shift toward growth, balance, and renewal.
This gentle, all-levels class will focus on opening the body, awakening the breath, and cultivating a sense of ease and vitality as we move out of winter’s stillness. Expect slow, mindful movement, grounding yet uplifting poses, and moments of reflection to help you set intentions for the season ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or returning to your mat after time away, this class is designed to feel nourishing, welcoming, and restorative.
Let the rhythms of spring—and the lush setting of the garden—invite you to reconnect with yourself, nature, and a supportive community of women. Beginners are warmly welcome.
Please bring a yoga mat and dress comfortably for the weather. Spring’s fresh energy (and maybe a soft breeze) will be part of the experience.

8th Anniversary Party
2026-03-21 11:00 - 15:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
It’s Our 8th Anniversary Party! (Free!)
Eight years of growing, digging, and connecting with this incredible mountain community, and we’re throwing the biggest party yet to mark the occasion!
Join us on Saturday, March 21st from 11 AM to 3 PM for a day packed with live music, delicious food, farm tours, giveaways, and so much more.
Whether you’re a longtime friend of the nursery or discovering us for the first time, this is the event of the season- and we wouldn’t want to celebrate without you.
Come as you are, bring the whole family, and let’s make some memories together. We can’t wait to see you!
11am: Free Behind-the-scenes tour of the nursery, led by nursery manager, Greg Mason
12pm – 2pm: Live Music from Ridgetop Dave
Food Truck from The Wood Fired Grill
Free cookies to the first 100 attendees
20+ Prize Drawings
Free Mixed-Color Columbine Plants
10% off Winding Stair Gardens purchases

Seed Swap
2026-03-22 16:00 - 19:00 | Water Street Lounge, 116 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Let’s celebrate Spring Equinox together in the spirit of giving. We’re all getting excited about growing! Bring what you have to share whether it’s seeds, bare roots, houseplants, young starter plants, small trees or small tools you want to give. You are welcome to come even if you don’t have things to share! Please consider eating at Rosetta’s since you’ll be downtown since they are our sponsors for this event and they ALWAYS feed our community with the EVERYONE EATS program.
If you don’t have time to stop and eat at Rosetta’s, we will take tips for the EVERYONE EATS program and Rosetta’s Kitchen who graciously are letting us use the space at Water Street Lounge.
Please TAKE WHAT YOU NEED that you intend to PLANT THIS YEAR.
BRING A SNACK TO SHARE!
FREE HERBAL TEA PROVIDED
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR SPONSORS, Rosetta’s Kitchen, Water Street Lounge and Red Moon Herbs.

Road Ready: Food Truck Fundamentals
2026-03-25 08:30 - 2026-03-26 17:00 | Watauga Agricultural Conference Center, 252 Poplar Grove Road, Boone, NC, 28607, United States
Get ready to roll into the world of food trucks and learn the secrets of success at Road Ready: Food Truck Fundamentals!
Ready to put your food truck dreams in gear? On March 25th and 26th you’ll have two full days with the experts who can help you get real and get on the road safely, legally and profitably. Don’t miss this chance for the tools, resources and connections you need to build a strong business foundation for food adventuring!
March 25th and 26th, 8:30am to 5pm, with breakfast and lunch provided.
Social event Wednesday evening (5pm-8pm):
We’ll venture out to King Street in Boone to enjoy a meal together (not covered in meeting fees) and share our experiences of the day and dreams for the future.
This program is sponsored by the Caldwell County Technical Community College Small Business Center. Thank you to Watauga County Cooperative Extension for hosting us!

Start Your Regenerative Mushroom Farm
2026-03-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Online/Virtual
Curious about mushroom farming — but unsure where to begin?
This live, 90-minute workshop is designed to help you understand what it actually takes to build a viable regenerative mushroom farm — without hype, overwhelm, or unrealistic promises.
In this session, we’ll cover:
• Why mushrooms are uniquely suited to regenerative agriculture
• What “one year to viability” really means
• How to begin part-time while protecting financial stability
• The phased path from first harvest to reliable weekly production
• Where most aspiring growers stall — and how to avoid it
Whether you’re exploring a new income stream, looking to diversify a farm, or considering a larger life transition, this workshop will give you clarity about what’s possible and what it requires.
This event is offered by donation (suggested $25), and 50% of proceeds support The Center for Native Health.
Join us live. Ask questions. Leave with a grounded understanding of how regenerative mushroom farming actually works.
Reserve your seat and begin where you are.
Who it’s for: Farmers, homesteaders, land stewards, and purpose-driven career-seekers ready to grow real food and a resilient livelihood.
Presenters: Christopher Parker (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) & Katherine Parker, PhD — co-founders of The Forest Farmacy.

Free Farm Tour with farmer Virginia at Hickory Nut Gap
2026-03-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Road , Fairview , NC, 28730, United States
Join us for a Free Farm Tour with our Head of Operations, Virginia Hamilton! Virginia will guide you through the different animal operations we have on our Fairview Campus, diving deeper into how our home of the brand and our Partner Farmer program operate in tandem to further Regenerative Agriculture in the Southeast.
You’ll meet the animals, get a closer ‘back-stage’ look at this season’s biggest challenges and triumphs & sample some delicious meats to boot. This free farm tour is truly Pasture to Plate.
✅ Free to attend
✅ Family-friendly
✅ Great for anyone curious about where their food comes from
Consult the weather before you choose your outer-wear and wear comfortable shoes—we’ll be outside and walking the pastures!

Raised Bed Vegetable Gardening
2026-03-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Growing your own food in the mountains is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It’s also one of the most humbling.
Katie of 3 Barn Farm gets that, and she’s here to make the learning process a whole lot easier. This hands-on class covers what actually works at our elevation and in our rocky, clay-heavy WNC soils. Using one of our Epic Garden Beds as a live example, Katie walks you through building a bed, mixing the right soil, picking the right plants, and keeping everything alive through a mountain summer.
What You’ll Cover:
Building Your Bed: Why raised beds outperform in-ground planting here, and how to get yours set up right from the start
Soil That Works: How to build a mix that drains well, holds moisture, and gives your plants something worth growing into
Plant Selection: Which vegetables do well at higher elevations, and how to plan around WNC’s last frost dates
Watering Basics: Managing the gap between our wet springs and dry summer stretches
Keeping It Going: Feeding, mulching, and staying ahead of pests without reaching for a bottle of chemicals
When Things Go Wrong: Blight, critters, mystery wilting… Katie has seen it all and knows what to do about it
Class is held on our grounds with plenty of time for questions and getting your hands in the soil. First-time growers are very welcome. So are people who’ve tried before and walked away with nothing but frustration.

Spring Gardening Series Class 1
2026-04-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Burton Street Community Peace Garden, 47 Bryant Street, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
**This is part of a 3-part Spring Gardening Series at the Peace Gardens**
Class 1: Garden Design, Planning, and Prep
This class will cover the fundamentals of garden planning, including setting priorities, making observations, designing garden layouts, budgeting, and implementing succession planting. Participants will gain insights into selecting what to grow, including perennials and atypical crops. Learn about the requirements for starting and caring for plants, whether by growing from seed indoors, purchasing transplants, or direct seeding. The course will discuss useful tools and their applications, along with hands-on experience.

Butterfly Felting Workshop
2026-04-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Transform wool into whimsical butterflies with your own hands!
Spring is the perfect time to explore the art of needle felting, and what better subject than butterflies? In this hands-on beginner workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of needle felting as you create up to five unique felt butterflies to create a whimsical and beautiful mobile. Working with colorful fibers and simple techniques, you’ll discover how therapeutic and rewarding this ancient craft can be—no experience necessary!
What You’ll Learn:
Needle Felting Basics: Master the foundational techniques of this accessible fiber art
Create Your Own Felt: Transform raw wool into workable felt through the magic of needle felting
Design & Color: Explore pattern and color choices to make each butterfly uniquely yours
Take Home Your Art: Leave with a lovely felt butterfly mobile that will add fun to any space
This beginner-friendly class, held in our comfortable Pavilion, provides all materials and tools. Whether you’re looking for a new creative outlet or simply want to spend a peaceful morning working with fiber, this workshop offers a gentle introduction to the meditative art of needle felting.

Growing Food on Slopes: April Session
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Pearson Garden in Montford, 408 Pearson Dr, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
In partnership with Bountiful Cities, Organic Growers School is excited to offer a series of hands-on workshops at Pearson Garden Food Hub in the Montford neighborhood in Asheville. Over 3 sessions, we will explore planning, installing infrastructure, and planting food-producing plants in a sloped system; we will build a small hillside orchard to practice the concepts and skills.
We’ll cover: what and where to grow based on soil, sunlight, slope, and water access; how to measure and install swales and terraces; how to maintain soil quality and prevent erosion; cultivating food from unlikely spots; and how to keep your hillside garden thriving long-term.
If you’ve ever wanted to grow food in your backyard or community but found our WNC hillside landscapes challenging, this series is for you!
This project will support Bountiful Cities’ ongoing community-centered efforts to build long-term food security and permanent food access for all people by expanding food production at Pearson Garden. Help contribute to the cause!

Grow Your Own Food Forest
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Growing your own food is one thing. Growing a self-sustaining ecosystem that feeds you, your family, and the wildlife around you — that’s something else entirely.
A food forest is one of the most rewarding things you can put on your property. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Adam Bigelow is here to change that.
This class covers the fundamentals of food forest design from the ground up — how to think about your land, choose the right plants for our mountain climate, and layer everything together so nature does most of the work for you.
What You’ll Cover:
Site Selection: How to read your property (sun, slope, soil, and drainage) and identify where a food forest will actually thrive
Plant Selection: Which fruit trees, shrubs, and ground covers perform at our elevation and in our acidic Appalachian soils
Companion Planting: How to pair plants strategically so they support each other’s growth, deter pests, and build soil health over time
Layering Your Forest: Understanding the canopy, understory, shrub, and ground layers and how to stack them for maximum yield and minimum maintenance
Ecosystem Benefits: How a well-designed food forest supports native pollinators, improves water retention, and gives back to the landscape around it
Maintenance Without the Misery: What ongoing care actually looks like once your food forest is established
Class is held on our grounds with plenty of time for questions, conversation, and the kind of tangents that only happen when someone genuinely loves what they’re teaching.

Spring Gardening Series Class 2
2026-04-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Burton Street Community Peace Garden, 47 Bryant Street, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
**This is part of a 3-part Spring Gardening Series at Burton St. Peace Gardens**
Class 2: Soil & Water Management and Plant Care
In this class, participants will dive into soil management. They will explore the principles of healthy soil and learn how to naturally and affordably amend their soil. Discussions will encompass composting, vermicomposting, and various strategies for building a raised bed, clearing space for a new one, or reviving an old garden bed. Everyone should get ready to get their hands in the dirt!

Build Your Own Bee Hotel
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
You probably know there are bees. You may not know there are over 500 kinds of them right here in western NC. John Kotab does.
A bee hotel sounds like a charming yard decoration, and it is! It’s also one of the most practical things you can put in a garden if you care about what grows in it. John is here to show you how to build one from scratch, and to explain exactly why it matters.
This hands-on workshop covers two distinct construction methods so you leave with a finished bee hotel, not just notes. You will get into the lifecycle of native bees, how they interact with hollow and pithy-stemmed perennials, and which plants they depend on to survive and reproduce.
What You’ll Cover:
Native Bee Diversity: Who is actually living in your garden right now, and what kind of habitat they are searching for
Construction Methods: Two approaches to building a bee hotel, built together in class, so you go home with a completed structure and the blueprints to build more
Lifecycle and Behavior: How native bees reproduce, raise young, and rely on specific plant structures at each stage of life
Plant Relationships: The connection between native bees and the hollow or pithy-stemmed perennials that make up their nesting world
Ongoing Care: How to clean and maintain your hotel so it stays a place bees want to return to, season after season
You will leave with a finished bee hotel, a seed packet carrying thousands of seeds to grow a bee-friendly garden at home, a list of workshop-cited resources on native bee biology, and a clear picture of how one small structure can shift the health of your whole yard.
This one is a good fit for gardeners, conservationists, and anyone who has noticed fewer pollinators than there used to be and wants to do something about it.
