Farm Tours
Farmers learn best from other farmers, and aspiring farmers learn best from hearing how successful farmers in the region are running their farms. Farm Tours form the core of the WNC CRAFT training program.
Tours will:
- continue to operate VIRTUALLY during COVID-19 (beginning April 2020);
- occur 1–2 times monthly from April through October;
- provide an overview of the farming operation, as well as a focused look at a topic of that farmer’s choosing;
- are always followed by a group potluck (to commence once in-person tours begin again).
WNC CRAFT is a membership program, and its fees cover a whole year of learning and networking opportunities. More details will be provided on each tour upon joining CRAFT.
CRAFT Farm Tour Schedule 2020
| DATE | FARM HOST | TOPIC |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 19 | VIRTUAL FARM TOUR: The Culinary Gardener, Weaverville NC | Vegetable Production |
| Thursday, April 23 | VIRTUAL TWILIGHT TALK: Black Trumpet Farm & New Roots Market Garden | Twilight Talk: Apprentice Orientation - Transitioning from Apprentice to Farmer |
| Sunday, May 17 | Mountain Gardens, Burnsville, NC | Growing Herbs |
| Thursday, May 28 | VIRTUAL TWILIGHT TALK: Grassroots Farm & Dairy, Acornucopia Project, & TBD | Vertical Integration |
| Sunday, June 7th | SAHC Community Farm, Alexander, NC | Pasture Walk |
| Thursday, June 25 | Beacon Village & Balsam Gardens, Old Ford, NC | Twilight Talk: Food Safety |
| Sunday, July 12 | Black Thorn Farm, Leicester, NC | Shepherding in the Mountains |
| Sunday, August 16 | Lane in the Woods, Marshall, NC | Farmstead Cheesemaking |
| Sunday, October 11 | Full Sun Farm | Cut Flowers |
2019 CRAFT Farm Tour Schedule
CRAFT Farm Tour Schedule 2019
| DATE | FARM HOST | TOPIC |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 14th | Goldfinch Gardens, Burnsville, NC | Low Till Vegetables |
| Saturday, April 27th | New Roots Market Garden, Marshall, NC | Apprentice Orientation: Transition from Apprentice to Farmer |
| Thursday, May 9th | Green Toe Ground @ The Wedge Brewery, Asheville, NC | Twilight Talk: Social Justice & Agriculture |
| Sunday, May 19th | Thatchmore Farm, Leicester, NC | Intensive Vegetable Production & Renewable Energy |
| Sunday, June 2nd | Bluebird Farm, Morganton, NC | Irrigation |
| Thursday, June 6th | Imladris Farm @ The Wedge Brewery, Asheville, NC | Twilight Talk: Enterprise Development |
| Sunday, July 21st | Belflower Farm, Bostic, NC | Intensive Livestock Production |
| Sunday, August 18th | Franny's Farm, Leicester, NC | Hemp Production |
| Sunday, September 8th | Grassroots Farm & Dairy, Marshall, NC | Small-scale Dairy & Value Added Livestock Production |
| Saturday, October 19th | Flying Cloud Farm, Fairview, NC | Molasses Making |
2018 CRAFT Farm Tour Schedule
CRAFT Farm Tour Schedule 2018
| DATE | FARM HOST | TOPIC |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, April 15th | Flying Cloud Farm, Fairview, NC | Plant Propagation |
| Thursday, April 26th | Full Sun Farm & Goldfinch Gardens @ New Belgium Brewery | Twilight Talk: Crop Planning |
| Saturday, May 5th | New Roots Market Garden, Marshall, NC | Apprentice Gathering: 1st Year Growing for Market |
| Sunday, May 27 | Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Fairview, NC | Grassfed Beef & Rotational Grazing |
| Saturday, June 9 | Open Ridge Farm, Burnsville, NC | Value-Added Farm Products |
| Thursday, June 28th | Rayburn Farm @ New Belgium Brewery | Twilight Talk: Diversified Marketing Strategies |
| Sunday, July 29th | Gaia Herbs, Brevard NC | Medicinal Herbs & Soil Health |
| Sunday, August 12th | SAHC Incubator Farm, Alexander, NC | Equipment Repair & Maintenance |
| Sunday, September 9th | A Way of Life Farm, Bostic, NC | Planting a Fruit & Nut Orchard |
| Sunday, September 23rd | Glorious Forest Farm in partnership with The Appalachian Beginning Forest Farming Coalition | Silvopasture - Animals in the Woods! |
| Sunday, October 14th | Franny's Farm, Leicester, NC | Raising Poultry |
If you have any questions about this program, please contact Cameron, Farmer Programs Director, at cameron@organicgrowersschool.org.
OGS Farmer Programs are made possible by our farmer network and our funding partners: CLIF bar Family Foundation, Southern Sustainable Agriculture, Research and Education UNFI Foundation, WNC Bridge Foundation, Harry Chapin Foundation, Walnut Cove, New Visions, and USDA Rural Development. Our Growth Partners (year-round program support) are: Carolina Farm Credit, Earth Tools, Buchi, Living Web Farms, Gaia Herbs and Chelsea Green Publishing. Our Media Sponsors are WNCW, Asheville FM and BPR. .