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:
- 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; and
- are always followed by a group potluck!
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 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: USDA-NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Grant #2016-70017-25341, USDA Rural Business Development Program, Community Foundation of WNC, Polk County Community Foundation, CLIF Bar Family Foundation, New Belgium Brewing, Simply Organic 1%. Our Growth Partners (year-round program support) are: Carolina Farm Credit, French Broad Food Coop, Mountain Rose Herbs, Earth Tools, Biltmore Company, Red Moon Herbs, Living Web Farms, and Chelsea Green Publishing. Our Media Sponsors are Hendersonville Community Co-op, and WNCW.