3 Barn Farm Plant Sale
2026-05-02 08:00 - 2026-05-03 18:00 (America/New_York) | 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 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.

Intro to Mountain Gardening
2026-05-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Saturday May 30th, 2026 | 1pm
Choose-Your-Price: ($5 -$30)
Your mountain property is not a blank canvas. It’s a slope. It’s shade. It’s soil that would make a flatlander nervous. And if you have deer… well, you know.
The good news? Every one of those things is workable. This beginner-friendly workshop with Arielle McIntyre is built for people who are new to gardening, new to these mountains, or both. You’ll leave with a real plan: which plants to put where, how to stop fighting your soil, and how to build a garden that actually takes care of itself.
What You’ll Cover:
Reading Your Property: How to look at your yard the way a designer does: slope direction, shade patterns, water movement, and what your soil is actually telling you before you buy a single plant
Working With Acidic Mountain Soil: What grows well in it, what doesn’t, and how to stop treating it like a problem to overcome
Plants That Earn Their Keep: Native species and deer-resistant selections that thrive here without constant attention from you
The Shade Question: Which plants will actually perform under a tree canopy and how to layer them so the shaded spots become some of the best-looking areas on your property
Deer Strategy: Honest, field-tested guidance on what actually discourages deer browsing (and what the deer have long since figured out)
Designing for Low Maintenance: How to think about plant placement, spacing, and succession so your garden gets better over time rather than requiring more work
This class is perfect for those who aren’t long-time gardeners, or those folks with a ton of experience but aren’t accustomed to the unique ecosystem found in the southern Appalachian mountains.

SOIL BASICS: UNDERSTANDING OUR FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT SOILS
2026-06-05 13:00 - 16:00 | Gardner-Webb University, 110 South Main Street, Boiling Springs, NC, 28017, United States
Healthy soils are the foundation of successful agriculture, from backyard gardens to commercial farms. This course introduces participants to the fundamentals of soil science with a special focus on the Foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina. Through practical examples, participants will explore soil properties, fertility, and management practices essential for both small- and large-scale agribusiness.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this 3-hour course, participants will be able to:
Identify the major soil types and characteristics of the North Carolina Foothills and Piedmont region and explain their significance for agriculture and land management.
Describe key soil properties (texture, structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity) and their role in supporting plant growth.
Apply basic soil science concepts to real-world contexts, from home gardening and lawn care to commercial-scale agribusiness.
Instructor: Dr. Greg Pillar, Assistant Provost and Professor of Agronomy
Where: GWU Campus, Boiling Springs, NC
Cost: $99
Credential: 3 CE credits from Gardner-Webb University

Shade Your Stream Symposium
2026-06-06 09:00 - 15:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Why Now Matters:
Western North Carolina has always lived close to its water. Storms like Hurricane Helene reminded us how quickly that relationship can turn — leaving eroding banks, damaged buffers, and overwhelmed watersheds across the region.
The Shade Your Stream Symposium was built for this moment.
Whether you’re dealing with active erosion or just want to do right by the creek on your property, the knowledge and the experts are here — and it won’t cost you a thing.

FREE EOV & Ecology Farm Tour with Mikey
2026-06-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Road , Fairview , NC, 28730, United States
Join us Friday, June 6 for a free EOV & Ecology Farm Tour led by Mikey Hans-Barrientos. This guided pasture walk offers a closer look at how regenerative farming, animal health, and land stewardship all connect to the food on your plate.
During the tour, guests will explore our grazing system and learn about the four main grasses that make up our pastures, comparing fresh growth with dried forage and discussing the nutritional value each provides for our cattle. Mikey will also share how Hickory Nut Gap fits into the regenerative agriculture movement through Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV), including our role in building one of the largest regenerative grazing data sets in the Eastern United States.
Out in the pasture, members of our farm team will discuss animal wellness, body condition, and how careful management impacts the quality of the meat we raise. The tour will wrap up at the Farm Store & Butchery, where guests will sample the protein discussed in the field and hear about the importance of honoring the whole animal while connecting the journey from farm to plate.
Date: Saturday, June 6th
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Location: Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Cost: FREE
After the tour, guests are welcome to make a day of it—shop the store, explore the grounds, and enjoy the beauty of springtime. We look forward to having you out on the farm!

Campground Open Day
2026-06-07 12:00 - 16:00 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Come See What The Fuss Is About!
On Sunday, June 7th, Winding Stair Campground is throwing open the gates for a free, drop-in Open House at our working farm and campground tucked into the mountains outside Franklin, NC.
Bring a picnic!
It’s the perfect day for some snacks next to the beautiful Nantalaha river.
Take a self-guided tour through our quiet, private campsites, walk the farm, and meet the sheep.
No reservations, no agenda, just a good afternoon outside in one of the most genuinely peaceful corners of Western North Carolina.
Our team will be on-site to answer questions and show you around.
– Explore the campground and find your favorite future site
– Walk the farm and tour the working grist mill
– Meet the Icelandic sheep (they are friendlier than they look)
– Ask us anything about camping, the land, or what makes this place different
– Meet the friendly folks from Fish Tales, showing us some fly-fishing demos beside the river!
Sunday, June 7th, 2026
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Winding Stair Campground
7984 West Old Murphy Road Franklin, NC 28734

Own the Supply Chain: Farmer’s Guide to Microprocessing | Melvin Hill Meats
2026-06-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Online/Virtual
For many livestock producers, the journey from pasture to plate is stalled by the “middleman” bottleneck. Whether you are currently using custom slaughterhouses or are considering building your own facility, understanding the jump to a USDA-inspected operation is the key to scaling your business and serving your community.
Join the Knox Good Food Fund for a technical assistance workshop featuring Craig Taffaro, owner and operator of Melvin Hill Meats. Craig brings a “boots on the ground” perspective, having navigated the complexities of the industry firsthand.
This workshop is designed specifically for cattle and livestock farmers who want to understand the reality of microprocessing—beyond just the theory.
What We’ll Cover:
– The Microprocessing Landscape: A look at the legal framework, regulatory requirements, and what it actually looks like to operate a small-scale facility day-to-day.
– The Leap to USDA Inspection: Moving from “Custom” processing to “USDA-Inspected” is a major milestone. We’ll discuss the growing pains, the documentation requirements (HACCP), and the infrastructure shifts necessary to make the transition.
– Navigating the Bottlenecks: Real-world advice on how to manage throughput and maintain quality.
– Q&A with Craig Taffaro: Get your specific questions answered by someone who has built and managed a successful operation.
Why Attend?
As part of the Knox Good Food Fund’s mission to increase access to healthy, local foods in underserved areas, this workshop aims to empower farmers to build more resilient, localized food systems. By mastering the processing side of the business, you aren’t just increasing your own profit—you are helping to feed our community.
Who Should Attend?
– Cattle, hog, and small ruminant farmers.
– Entrepreneurs interested in starting a micro-processing facility.
– Agricultural advocates and food system stakeholders.

Start Your Regenerative Mushroom Farm Live Webinar (by donation)
2026-06-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Online/Virtual
This live workshop is for people who are serious about exploring mushroom farming as more than a hobby.
In 90 focused minutes, we’ll walk through:
* What a regenerative mushroom farm actually looks like in practice
* How the economics work at a realistic scale
* The phased path from beginner to viable producer
* Where most aspiring growers stall — and how to avoid it
* How to begin part-time while protecting your financial stability
This is not a hype-driven presentation or a quick-fix formula. It’s a grounded overview of how living systems grow — and how farms do too.
Whether you’re currently farming, working full-time elsewhere, or simply exploring your options, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what’s possible and what it requires.
The workshop is offered by donation (suggested $25), with 50% of proceeds supporting The Center for Native Health.
We look forward to working with you.

The Power of Native Plants
2026-06-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Ornamental Plants look great. No argument there. And yet without native plants in the mix, your garden is missing the plants that local bees, moths & butterflies, salamanders, and songbirds depend on to continue to grow their families for years to come. Plus, you don’t have to choose one or the other. Knowing how to combine them is the fun part!
Adam Bigelow of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions has spent over two decades walking, studying, and falling in love with the flora of Southern Appalachia. He knows what grows at 3,000 feet, what blooms underneath the hardwoods, and what belongs on your ridge, your slope, and your shaded back corner.
In this class, you’ll cover:
• Why Southern Appalachia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the country and what that means for your property
• Why native plants are so important and their many benefits for you and the local ecosystem that is your garden
• Which native species suit the specific soils, elevations, and rainfall patterns of WNC and North Georgia
• How to ensure you’re planting with your design preferences in mind combined with providing essential food and habitat for our native pollinators
• Common mistakes that quietly undercut the ecological work you’re trying to do
The first half is a talk and slideshow. The second half moves outside for a guided walking tour of the native plant section here at Winding Stair Gardens, where Adam breaks down what each species contributes to the life on your property, including keystone species (the plants that give your pollinator friends the best bang for your buck).
Worth clearing your Saturday morning for.
About Adam Bigelow: A horticulturist, botanist, and self-described “plant nerd” (aka the Joyful Botanist) based in Cullowhee, NC, Adam is the owner of Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions and a planning committee member for the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, the largest of its kind in the country. He brings serious field knowledge with a storytelling style that keeps the whole room leaning in.
All class attendees receive 10% off their entire plant purchase, same day.

Fermentation for Beginners
2026-06-13 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)

Cooking with Herbs Fundraiser
2026-06-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Winding Stair Farm, 57 Saunders Rd., Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Your kitchen windowsill has been waiting for this.
Cooking with Herbs is a hands-on class built around one simple idea: the best flavors start before you ever turn on the stove. You will plant your own four-herb kitchen garden, learn what each herb does in the kitchen, and leave with recipes to put them to work the same week. And, the planter will look terrific on your kitchen table or on an outside ledge!
This is a fundraiser for Community Care Clinic of Franklin, a free and charitable healthcare clinic serving our community. The $25 class covers the cost of the herbs, soil, planter, etc; every dollar above $25 goes directly to supporting their work.
What You’ll Do:
Meet Your Herbs: Learn the personality of each plant, what it pairs well with, and how to harvest it without slowing it down
Plant Your Garden: Get your hands in the soil and build your own kitchen herb planter, ready for a sunny windowsill or a spot on the porch
Cook with Confidence: Walk through recipes that actually use what you are growing, so the planter goes home with a purpose
Give While You Grow: The set price is $25, and anything above that goes 100% to Community Care Clinic of Franklin
You will leave with a living four-herb planter, a set of recipes built around what you planted, and a reason to look forward to cooking dinner this week.
This one is a good fit for home cooks, beginner gardeners, and anyone who has ever bought a bunch of fresh herbs, used one sprig, and watched the rest go to waste.
About Community Care Clinic of Franklin: CCCF provides free, charitable healthcare to uninsured and underinsured residents of Macon County and the surrounding region. This event is one small way the Winding Stair Gardens community can show up for the people who show up for our neighbors every day.
There will be the opportunity to directly donate a custom amount to CCCF at the event.

Nearly Summer Mezze
2026-06-16 14:00 - 18:00 | Treska’s on Highland Lake, 215 Rhett Drive, Flat Rock, NC, 28711, United States
Join Hominy Farm and Friends & Neighbors for a Nearly Summer Mezze pop-up on Sunday, June 14, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Treska’s on Highland Lake. Mezze is a dining style popular all over the Mediterranean and Middle East that includes many small dishes: spreads, spreads, marinated vegetables, salads, and condiments.
This year we’re a bit earlier in the season, so we have a fun blend of spring and summer produce from local farms, flatbreads & bread from Hominy Farm, and a few supplements. The main menu is completely vegan, but we will be offering additional menu items for those who would like some chicken wings or feta. Because of the nature of this event, we may not be able to accommodate specific dietary restrictions but please reach out first and we will do our very best.
Treska’s on Highland Lake is a stunning venue replete with a covered pavilion, flower and vegetable farm, natural amphitheater seating with a view of a beautiful lake. We encourage you to carpool with a crowd, bring a picnic blanket or lawn chairs & hang for a while!
Find ticket information here.

Start Your Regenerative Mushroom Farm Live Webinar (by donation)
2026-06-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Online/Virtual
Hey Folks! This live, by-donation workshop is for people who are serious about exploring mushroom farming as more than a hobby.
In 90 focused minutes, we’ll walk through:
– What a regenerative mushroom farm actually looks like in practice
– How the economics work at a realistic scale
– The phased path from beginner to viable producer
– Where most aspiring growers stall — and how to avoid it
– How to begin part-time while protecting your financial stability
This is not a hype-driven presentation or a quick-fix formula. It’s a grounded overview of how living systems grow — and how farms do too.
Whether you’re currently farming, working full-time elsewhere, or simply exploring your options, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what’s possible and what it requires.
The workshop is offered by donation (suggested $25), with 50% of proceeds supporting The Center for Native Health.
We look forward to working with you.

Mid-Year Farm Business Review & Reporting
2026-06-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Online/Virtual
Join us as we walk through the process of evaluating farm business performance at the midpoint of the year. Participants will review financial records, production data, and key performance indicators to assess progress toward annual goals. This course focuses on organizing and interpreting mid-year data to identify strengths, address challenges, and support informed decision-making for the remainder of the season.
This class is taught by Jennifer Badger, Area Specialized Agent, Agribusiness, NC Cooperative Extension Empowering Mountain Food Systems, North Carolina State University
Fee: No Cost

Beginner & Intermediate Mushroom ID
2026-06-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Asheville Tool Library, 16 Smith Mill Road, Asheville, 28806, United States
Take a deep dive into the complex world of identifying mushrooms! Learn over 25 safe to use species and differentiate dangerous lookalikes.
This Mushroom Identification class takes you deep into the complex world of identifying mushrooms, covering crucial features for safe foraging and characteristics of over 25 unique, rare, useful, and delectable mushroom species! We’ll take a close look at safe edibles and photographs of dangerous lookalikes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Participants take home an illustrated local mushroom ID “cheat sheet” and recieve a copy of the electronic presentation.
What to Expect:
• Learn anatomy, terminology
• Focus on hyper local varietals
• Emphasis on safe versus dangerous lookalikes
Our educators are are founders of Resting Point Farms and are certified in Wild Mushroom Foraging, Identification, and Food Safety through NC USDA. The workshop focuses on various species within the genera through the Blue Ridge Mountains, such as “Pecan Truffle” (Tuber iyonii), “Hen of the Woods” (Grifola frondosa), and “Lion’s Mane” (Hericium erinaceus).
Don’t miss this enchanting and fascinating class!

Drip by Drip: Intro to Irrigation Plumbing Principles
2026-06-23 15:00 - 18:00 | Asheville Tool Library, 16 Smith Mill Road, Asheville, 28806, United States
Learn the basic plumbing principles behind drip irrigation! Walk away with the knowledge to design, build, and troubleshoot your own system.
In a region where water conservation is no longer optional, drip irrigation is one of the smartest changes a gardener can make. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll cover the fundamentals of pressure and flow, explore why small obstructions and fine sediment can spell trouble for a drip system’s low-pressure design, and learn how proper filtration keeps everything running smoothly.
Participants will assemble a small working system from scratch, see how all the components connect, and work through real troubleshooting scenarios together. We’ll also take a walk over to the nearby community garden to see a recently installed system in action, ask questions, and observe how the principles we covered translate to a real-world setup. Whether you’re planning a backyard vegetable patch or a larger garden project, you’ll leave with the confidence and know-how to get water flowing exactly where it needs to go.

Mushroom Growing for Beginners on the Farm!
2026-06-27 10:00 - 17:00 | The Forest Farmacy, 24 Davis Lane, Marshall, NC, 28753, United States
Hey Folks! If you’ve been curious about growing mushrooms but aren’t sure where to start, this is the one-day workshop for you.
You’ll learn core low-tech, outdoor mushroom cultivation methods that we teach in our 3-month online beginners course—distilled into a practical, accessible day on the farm.
You will learn:
* How mushrooms grow and regenerate the forest
* How to inoculate logs and make totems
* How to make your own cardboard spawn
* How to grow mushrooms on straw
* How to make woodchip beds
You’ll will go home with:
* Cardboard spawn to grow out mycelium
* A straw bag inoculated with Oyster mushrooms
* A log inoculated with Shiitake mushrooms
* Woodchips to start your own Wine Cap bed
Whether you’re currently farming, working full-time elsewhere, or simply exploring your options, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what’s possible and what it requires.
We look forward to working with you!
