Free Farm Tour with farmer Virginia at Hickory Nut Gap
2026-03-28 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Earth Day Event
2026-04-22 14:00 - 20:00 | Eagle Feather Organic Farm, 300 Indigo Bunting Lane, Marshall, NC, 28753, United States
Celebrate Earth Day with a tree planting event.
2-4 p.m. Invasive plant cleanup, path maintenance, and tree planting
Baynard Park
1995 Barnard Rd. Marshall, NC 28753
5 p.m. Plant Walk
6 p.m. Potluck
7 p.m. Drum Circle
Eagle Feather Organic Farm
300 Indigo Bunting Ln. Marshall, NC 28753
For more information contact 828-649-3536

Free Kiss the Ground Screening & Dinner!
2026-04-22 17:00 - 19:30 | McDowell Arts Council Association, 50 S Main St., Marion, NC, 28752, United States
Celebrate Earth Day with a Powerful, Hope-Filled Film and a Call to Support Local Food Systems
This Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, the community is invited to gather for an inspiring evening centered on connection, climate solutions, and the power of local food. A free screening of the acclaimed documentary Kiss the Ground will take place at McDowell Arts Council Association (MACA), located at 50 S Main St, Marion, NC 28752.
Hosted by McDowell Arts Council Association, McDowell Local Food Advisory Council, NC Cooperative Extension-McDowell Center, MATCH, and West Marion Inc., this special event is designed to bring people together around a message of hope: that healing our soil can help heal our planet.
Narrated by Woody Harrelson, Kiss the Ground offers a compelling and visually stunning look at how regenerative agriculture can draw down carbon, restore ecosystems, and strengthen our food systems. More than a film, it’s an invitation to see climate action through a new lens, one rooted in the ground beneath our feet and the farms in our own backyard.
Guests will enjoy a welcoming, community-centered evening with free dinner beginning at 5:00 PM and the film screening at 5:30 PM. Free childcare will also be provided. A brief discussion will follow the film.
Beyond the screen, the event aims to spark something deeper: a renewed connection between people, place, and the food that sustains us.
The event is free and open to all.

Spring Gardening Series Class 3
2026-04-25 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 3: Successful Gardening Through the Season
We will cover common garden pests, methods to deter them, and holistic garden planning as the days get longer and hotter. In this participant-led class, we will talk about troubleshooting: what issues have you had so far, and what are some ways to fix them? Other subjects include cover cropping, understanding NPK, addressing common garden problems, preserving the harvest, and strategies for maximizing garden space.

Twilight Farm Tour, Swannanoa: Stonewall Bakery - Boost Your Farm's Bottom Line: Diversify for New Revenue Streams!
2026-04-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Stonewall Bakery/Fields of Happiness, NC, United States
Topic: Agribusiness
Is your farm relying on a single source of income? In today’s dynamic agricultural landscape, diversification is key to resilience and growth. Join us and the folks at Stonewall Bakery/Fields of Happiness for an insightful seminar and tour designed to help you unlock your farm’s full potential. Attendees will share innovative ways to generate additional revenue streams. Participants will also learn more about Stonewall Bakery’s diversified operation which will help:
• Identify untapped opportunities on your farm, from agritourism and direct-to-consumer sales to value-added products and niche crops.
• Develop a personalized diversification plan that aligns with your resources, passions, and market demands.
• Navigate the challenges and maximize the benefits of expanding your farm’s offerings.
Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate new income streams and secure a more prosperous future for your farm.
THIS EVENT INCLUDES A FARM TOUR AND IS FOR FARM BUSINESS OWNERS ONLY! THE ADDRESS WILL BE SHARED IN YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL!
Co-Sponsor(s): Empowering Mountain Food Systems & Stonewall Bakery/Fields of Happiness

Twilight Farm Tour, Swain County: Hidden Hollow Hemp Farm
2026-04-29 17:30 - 19:00 | Hidden Hollow Hemp & Herb Farm, NC, United States
Hidden Hollow Hemp & Herb Farm is a small mountain farming operation that is adapting and diversifying its income stream and growing techniques to include agritourism, herbalism and regenerative farming. The aim is to tap into not only season extension and efficiency, but shifting to growing on steep, heavily wooded slopes with minimal forest disruption and chemical input. Come join this tour to learn about this farm’s pivots to increase production and diversify its income stream.
This is a tour for farmers seeking to diversify farm income and consider market expansion for existing products. It is limited to owners of working farms.
Details: The farm tour of Hidden Hollow Hemp & Herb Farm takes place on Wednesday, April 29 from 5:30pm-7pm
Location: Swain County
There is no fee for this tour
Limited Space – register early!
Special note: the address will be shared with you once you register.
Speaker: Frank Ellington, Owner, Hidden Hollow Hemp & Herb Farm
Co-Sponsor(s): EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, SWCC, & Swain County Extension

Road Ready: Food Truck Fundamentals
2026-04-30 08:30 - 16:30 | Online/Virtual
Topic: Start-up Assistance
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 in gear? Join us 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!
Speaker(s): Dani Black with Bigger Tables Culinary & Service Consulting; Kenny Jeffrey & James Lugenbell with AppHealthCare
Co-Sponsor(s): EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems and NC State Extension
Fee: No Cost

Twilight Farm Tour, Haywood County: Mighty Gnome Market Garden
2026-04-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Mighty Gnome Market Garden, NC, United States
Topic: Agribusiness
Twilight Farms Tours
Join EMFS, and the Small Business Center as we meet two Haywood farmers with Unique Market and Production Practices.
Please note that farm tours are open only to owners of currently operating farms. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required.
Register for each farm you would like to visit.
Mighty Gnome Market Garden
This farm plans its CSA from the ground up—literally. A detailed crop plan guides planting schedules and quantities to keep shares balanced and consistent. By coordinating with a local Food Hub, they find markets for surplus produce, reducing waste and strengthening their farm’s overall profitability. Attendees will be introduced to record keeping and crop planning practices, improving market planning and decision-making for increased profits.
DETAILS: The farm tour of Mighty Gnome Market Garden takes place 5:30 to 7:00 PM.
There is no charge for the farm visit.
Limited space; register early!
Special Note: The address will be shared with you once you register.
Speaker(s): Laura Lauffer, EMFS & Mark McDonagh and Danielle Keeter, Farm Owners
Co-Sponsor(s): EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, Haywood Community College, Haywood Extension

EOV Monitor Training at Hickory Nut Gap
2026-05-01 08:00 - 2026-05-03 17:00 | Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Road , Fairview , NC, 28730, United States
Ecological Outcome Verification is an outcome-based monitoring protocol that evaluates and tracks ecosystem function year over year currently deployed on over 8 million acres globally. The EOV protocol was developed in collaboration with leading soil scientists, ecologists, agronomists, and an extensive network of regenerative land managers around the world. Used as an empirical data set to support regenerative agriculture all throughout the world.
EOV is a practical and scalable soil and landscape assessment methodology that tracks outcomes in biodiversity, water, soil health, and ecosystem function (i.e. water cycle, mineral cycle, energy flow, and community dynamics).
Date: 5/1/2026-5/3/2026
Location: Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Tuition: $1000
*One work-trade seat available for a student who will be able to trade 5-10 hours of time to lower the price of the training to $300. Contact Mikey.Hans-Barrientos@hickorynutgap.com to apply.
The Hickory Nut Gap Farm Savory Hub is a premier regional and regenerative agriculture hub that has monitored over 40 farms and 12,000 acres of farmland in the South-Eastern US. Providing a hybrid in-classroom and in-field approach at a premier Savory Hub, training will lay out the scientific value and rigor of EOV, regional ecology training, land health auditing, farm and land mapping, plant species identification, and farm planning.
Upon completion of training, you will be a certified EOV Monitor until the end of 2026. This certification allows monitors to potentially work with any of the 44 Savory Hubs on 6 continents monitoring independent farms and whole supply chains. Hickory Nut Gap will offer an additional Hands On Holistic Management Course this fall, taking this course at HNG (or elsewhere) will certify you as a monitor indefinitely. Students will receive a full training to manage Ecological Outcome Verification and leave with instructional materials, plant ID training and documents, an appreciable understanding of ecological processes & land management, as well as connections to the Hickory Nut Gap Farm Hub & the Savory Institute.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS:
Mikey Hans-Barrientos is the Hickory Nut Gap Hub Manager in Fairview, North Carolina. Originally from Miami, Florida, he was introduced to agriculture while working on the Warren Wilson College Farm while getting his bachelor’s degree at Warren Wilson College. After graduating, Mikey went on to work in and around agriculture for several years before getting involved in the Hickory Nut Gap Hub. When he is not out monitoring farms all over the South-East, he is most likely at his home in West Asheville, just 30 minutes from the farm, with his partner, dog, and too many cats.
Ben Gladstone is a Hickory Nut Gap Hub EOV Monitor. As a monitor, he works with Mikey to collect and interpret ecological data with HNG’s partner farms. He discovered his passion for regenerative agriculture through an Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) training course facilitated by the Savory Institute, which reshaped his approach to land planning by connecting design with measurable ecosystem outcomes. Outside of work, Ben is developing his own pasture poultry operation, trying to stay competitive on the ultimate frisbee field, and planning his next adventure with his dog, Kaiya.

3 Barn Farm Plant Sale
2026-05-02 08:00 - 2026-05-03 18:00 | Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center, 51 Cowee School Drive, Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Join 3 Barn Farm & Neighbors at our 2026 Plant Sale
Healthy, Affordable Certified Naturally Grown Plants. 3 Barn Farm grows great plants just outside of Franklin, NC:
Garden seedlings, Flowers, Natives & Herbs.

Record Keeping Methods for Farmers
2026-05-02 10:30 - 12:00 | Rutherford County Livestock Educational Facility, 318 Big Island Rd., Forest City, NC, 28043, United States
Record Keeping Methods Keep records is hard. The key is finding the right mix of methods, tools and automations that work for you. Don’t have time to research all that? Who does? A bookkeeper. This seminar, led by farm bookkeeper and tax expert Laurel Clabaugh will cover different ways to effectively keep records for tax prep and audit security with low-to-no cost tools and simple tips to help you find a system that you actually keep up with.
Speaker: Laurel Clabaugh
Co-Sponsors: EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems, Rutherford County Extension, Isothermal Community College
This event will be held in person at 318 Big Island Rd. Forest City, NC 28043

Twilight Farm Tour, Watauga County: Shipley Farms - From Farm to Experience: Building Agritourism Success
2026-05-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Shipley Farm, 1699 Linville Creek Road, Vilas, NC, 28692, United States
Topic: Managing a Business
Discover how agritourism can transform your farm into a thriving, diversified business. Shipley Farms, a 153-year-old family farm in the Western North Carolina mountains, has evolved from a legacy of Hereford cattle, sheep, and tobacco into a modern, value-added operation centered on their Signature Beef brand. Since 2014, the family has successfully integrated tours, events, hospitality, and lodging to support their brand and generate supplemental income.
In this unique workshop, participants will join one of Shipley Farms’ standard tours and experience agritourism in action. The tour will be followed by an open, candid discussion covering what’s worked, what hasn’t, and key lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, this session offers practical insights and real-world inspiration to help you grow your own agritourism venture.
Speaker(s): Gray Shipley, Shipley Farms
Co-Sponsor(s): EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems and NC State Extension
This workshop will be held at Shipley Farms located at 1699 Linville Creek Road, Vilas, North Carolina – look for signs for parking and farm store.
Fee: No Cost

Mosaic Realty Art Walk & Benefit
2026-05-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Momentum Gallery, 52 Broadway St., Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Come support ASAP at one of Asheville’s most anticipated spring evenings of art, community, and connection. Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty’s Art Walk & Benefit returns on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m., bringing together downtown Asheville’s vibrant creative scene in support of local nonprofits—including ASAP.
This free public event will unfold across 11 downtown Asheville galleries and creative spaces. Each location will be paired with a different nonprofit partner and hosted by Mosaic agents, for a night that celebrates both creativity and impact—all against the eclectic backdrop and electric energy of downtown Asheville. ASAP will be represented at Momentum Gallery at 52 Broadway Street.
In addition to attending the event, you can support ASAP by buying raffle tickets for the South Slope & Broadway Local Vacation Package! This high-value package includes experiences and merchandise from Zelda Dearest Boutique Hotel, Elevation Lofts Boutique Hotel, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, Sauna House Nordic Spa, Mother Bakery & Cafe, Chai Pani, Farewell Coffee Shop, The Orange Peel, Moogseum, and more! Raffle tickets are on sale now for $10 (but there are discounts for purchases multiple tickets.)

Growing Food on Slopes: May Session
2026-05-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Pearson Garden in Montford, 408 Pearson Dr, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
In partnership with Bountiful Cities, OGS 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!

Fermentation for Beginners
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | 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!
TIME: 10:00am to Noon Saturday May 16th 2026
LOCATION:
570 Brevard Rd, Unit 9, Asheville NC 28806 – WNC Foodworks Training Room (Behind the WNC Farmer’s Market)

Tame Your Steep Slope
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Your steep slope isn’t just an eyesore. It’s moving. Slowly, steadily, and after a heavy rain? It heads downhill, taking your soil with it.
Steep slope erosion is one of the most common — and most urgent — challenges for homeowners across Western North Carolina. The good news? The right plants can fix it fast.
In this class, Greg Mason will demonstrate proven techniques to tame your steep slope that goes beyond the usual advice. You’ll learn about plants with root systems that will actually hold your hillside, while building something that looks like it was always supposed to be there.

CRAFT Tour: Designing Effective Volunteer Labor Strategies for Vegetable Production Systems
2026-05-17 13:00 - 16:00 | The Dr. John Wilson Community Garden, 99 White Pine Dr., Black Mountain, NC, 28801, United States
Do you work in agriculture with volunteers? Join us for a CRAFT Tour of the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden via the WNC-CRAFT farmer network. This tour is open to current and prospective CRAFT members!
We’ll tour the entire garden and focus on their Growing for Donation program, a no-till production vegetable operation. Learn how this program utilizes intern labor and volunteer groups to grow crops instead of mechanized equipment. The Growing for Donation program includes a partnership with Utopian Seed Project, and tends to a diversity of crops including vegetables, cut flowers, herbs and an orchard. Learn how this program drives grant funds which lead to useful infrastructure projects for the entire Community Garden.

Technology for Small Farms Workshop
2026-05-19 10:00 - 16:00 | NC Cooperative Extension Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Office, 876 Acquoni Rd, Cherokee, NC, 28719, United States
This workshop is aimed at farmers, market gardeners, and agricultural personnel interested in learning about equipment and tools designed for use by and/or small farmers. Extension Agents from NC Extension will lead discussions on a variety of topics. Lunch and refreshments will be provided at no charge.
Specific topics covered include power equipment with a heavy emphasis on walk-behind tractors and their implements, hand tools and CoolBot Technology.

Farmers Market & Farm Stand Marketing Strategies
2026-05-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Online/Virtual
Turn market shoppers into loyal customers
Learn how to attract attention
Engage customers at your booth and beyond
Keep them coming back week after week
This class is taught by Michelle Dineen Smith, the Market Director of the Watauga County Farmers’ Market

NC Queer Farmer Convergence
2026-05-22 16:00 - 2026-05-24 14:00 | NC
NC Queer Farmers Network will host the first ever NC Queer Farmer Convergence Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24 at Soul Sanctuary in Durham. The event will create spaces for queer and trans farmers, land stewards, and food justice workers to find community, solidarity, and networking in North Carolina. Guests will have opportunities to participate in community-building, skill shares, seed exchanges, shared meals, and more. Current, aspiring, and past farmers, gardeners, growers, landscapers, arborists, foresters, conservationists, land stewards, and food justice, security and sovereignty workers from across the Southeast are encouraged to attend.

Twilight Farm Tour, Madison County: The Forest Farmacy - Expanding Your Farm Income with Mushrooms
2026-05-27 17:00 - 19:00 | The Forest Farmacy, 24 Davis Lane, Marshall, NC, 28753, United States
Topic: Agribusiness
Mushrooms can be a powerful way to diversify farm revenue—but success depends on choosing a model that aligns with your farm’s scale, infrastructure, and market realities.
This hands-on workshop focuses on the business and operational considerations of adding mushrooms to an existing farm. We’ll explore scalable production models, space and infrastructure requirements, startup and operating costs, labor planning, and how mushrooms can fit into (or strain) your current farm systems. Rather than diving deep into cultivation techniques, the emphasis is on decision-making: what size system makes sense, how quickly it can generate income, and what growth pathways look like over time.
You’ll compare different enterprise options—from fresh market sales to value-added products like tinctures—and examine how each impacts long-term scalability. By seeing real-world production systems in action, you’ll leave with a clear framework for evaluating whether mushrooms are a smart next step for your farm—and how to expand thoughtfully if they are.
THIS EVENT INCLUDES A FARM TOUR AND IS FOR FARM BUSINESS OWNERS ONLY! THE ADDRESS WILL BE SHARED IN YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL!
Co-Sponsor(s): Empowering Mountain Food Systems, The Forest Farmacy, & NC Cooperative Extension
Fee: No Cost

Considering Agritourism for Your Operation
2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Online/Virtual
Considering Agritourism for Your Operation Definitions, Activities, Farm Stays
Topic: Agribusiness
Have you considered adding agritourism to your farm operation? What are some of the activities to consider beyond the corn maze? This answer depends mostly on your farm focus and the skills and activities that are easiest for you to share.
Do you love to raise chickens? Do you raise fiber animals? Do you have an option for a u-pick? We will discuss these options, as well as farm stay options, as another farm income opportunity. Bring your questions and concerns to this interactive session.
Speaker(s): Presented by EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems with Laura Lauffer, EMFS Project Director
Co-Sponsor(s): NC State Extension & Western Piedmont Community College
Fee: No Cost

Native Bees: Species & Superpowers
2026-05-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Saturday May 30th, 2026 | 10am
Choose-Your-Price: ($5 -$30)
North America has over 4,000 species of native bees, and most of them are far better pollinators than the honeybee you’ve been trying to attract. Our native bees are the most efficient and effective pollinators, especially for the native plants they have pollinated for hundreds of thousands of years. Brannen Basham and Jill Jacobs of Spriggly’s Beescaping are coming to Winding Stair Gardens to introduce you to the bees your garden actually needs, and show you how to roll out the welcome mat for them.
What You’ll Cover:
Which Native Bees are Actually Out There: Enjoy an introduction to the native bee species common to Western North Carolina, exploring their appearance, habitat, behaviors, and specialities.
What They Need to Stick Around: The nesting conditions, plant choices, and small habitat decisions that turn a regular garden into a place bees come back to season after season
Plants That Do the Real Work: Which flowering species attract the most diverse pollinator activity, and how to plant a space that provides blooms throughout the growing season
Getting Started Without Overcomplicating: Realistic, low-cost steps you can take this season to see results, whether you have a half-acre or a back porch with some containers
Bring your gardening problems and pictures- Brannen & Jill love to answer your questions!
About Spriggly’s Beescaping: Brannen Basham and Jill Jacobs built Spriggly’s Beescaping right here in Western North Carolina with one clear focus: connecting people with nature and showing them how to support local ecosystems in their own outdoor spaces. Their business focuses on nature education and habitat restoration, offering online courses, books, consultations, landscape design and much more. They know their bees, they know this region, and they know how to make all of it make sense to a regular gardener.
