TRACKS
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Session 1
9:00 - 10:30 |
Session 2 11:00 - 12:30 |
Session 3 2:00 - 3:30 |
Session 4 4:00 - 5:30 |
A BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND |
1A: Practical Solutions in the Garden
Jeff Ashton, Gardener & Author
In this session, we’ll look at practical, cost-effective ways to achieve high performance results in the garden when dealing with issues such as watering, seed starting, record keeping, seed saving, growing out of season, and more. |
2A: Introduction to Organic Beekeeping
Eric Brown, Milk & Honey Farm
Learn the fundamentals for managing honeybees organically. We’ll discuss several of the challenges you’ll face along with possible answers if you’re trying to “go organic” with honeybees. Complete beginners welcome! |
3A: The Latest in Passive Solar Greenhouse Research & Design
Dr. Terry Carroll, Appalachian State University
Energy efficient passive solar greenhouses harness the sun’s energy for light and heat and can reduce a growers’ heating costs by 90%. This presentation will highlight some of the latest discoveries in PS greenhouse research and design. |
4A: Introduction to “Paradise Gardening”
Joe Hollis, Mountain Gardens
For the past 35 years, Joe has been developing a 3-acre mountain cove
as a 'Paradise Garden' - a botanical garden of
useful plants, grown ecologically and arranged ornamentally. Joe will present slides and discuss the original philosophy, how it has worked
out, economics and new directions. |
B GARDENING |
1B: Starting Your First Vegetable Garden
Linda Blue, NC Cooperative Extension
Are you planning to start your first vegetable garden? This session will cover site selection, soil testing, soil preparation, what to plant when and how to grow some of your favorite vegetables. |
2B: Growing Heirloom Tomatoes
Chip Hope, Appalachian Seeds
Learn all about heirloom varieties - from choosing them to growing them – including saving your own seeds and dealing with late blight. Also learn about the grass-roots alternative to organic certification, Certified Naturally Grown, and how to join this movement. |
3B: Introduction to Beneficial Insects
Richard McDonald, Symbiont Biological Pest Management, and Pat Battle, Sparkling Earth Farm
Can you tell the good bugs from the bad bugs? This session will introduce the top 10 beneficial and pest insects. You will also learn how you can design your garden to attract and harbor beneficial insects |
4B: Abundant Gardens for Dry Times: Drought-Proofing Your Garden
Andrew Goodheart Brown, Permaculture Instructor
In the uncertainties of climate change, as well as regional droughts, learn permaculture strategies and techniques as well as other ideas for keeping your gardens and soil abundant and making the most out of what natural water is available. |
C
NURTURING HEALTHY SOILS |
1C: Soil Science 101
Laura Lengnick, Warren Wilson College
This workshop will introduce the nature and properties of soil as a natural resource. Soil physical, chemical and biological properties essential for understanding how to create and maintain a healthy soil will be presented. |
2C: Cover Crops Demystified
Keith Baldwin, NCAT Extension Specialist
Interested in learning about the numerous benefits of cover crops? Come learn how to incorporate cover crops into your farm for erosion control, nutrient management, weed control, and insect pest management. |
3C: Minimal Tillage
Ken Fager, CEFS & Bryan Green
Now that you are no longer mystified about cover crops come learn the nuts and bolts about how to incorporate them into your vegetable farming system. Note: this class is intended to build upon and refer to the preceding session’s information. Speakers may defer very basic questions about cover cropping to the class break. |
4C: On Farm Composting
Brian Rosa, NDENR
Learn the basics of composting including benefits, do and don’ts, compostable materials, utilization and application rates. Different composting techniques, including vermicomposting, will also be covered. |
D
LIVESTOCK
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1D: Backyard Chickens: Egg and Meat Production for Your Family
Speaker TBA
Learn how easy and fun it is to keep a small flock in your backyard to supply your family with the best tasting eggs and chicken you can imagine. Come learn about the satisfying art of raising a healthy backyard flock for food and pleasure. |
2D: Integrating Livestock into Small Scale Crop Production
Bryan Green, Consultant & Ken Fager, NC State University
Small acreage farms can benefit greatly from livestock integration. Come and learn about the benefits of nutrient cycling, pest management, diversification and added profits when animals are integrated into your crop production system. |
3D: Pastured Lamb Production
Nick Nichols, Highlander Farm
The workshop will explore the basics of sheep and meat goats on small acreage, including pasture, shelter, breed selection, animal efficiency, first aid, parasite and predator control. Marketing opportunities and the potential for market growth will be discussed. |
4D: Independent Small Animal Meat Producers Association: Update and Opportunities
Smithson Mills, CARA
Learn about new opportunities for small animal (poultry and rabbit) producers in WNC with the founding of ISAMPA and the development of a new small animal processing facility. Participate in a Q&A session on rules and regulations with a NCDA representative. |
E
ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY OPTIONS
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1E: Saving on Your Energy Bills
Nancy Ostergaard, NC Cooperative Extension
In this session, homeowners will learn where to make changes around their home to reduce energy consumption. The low-cost or no-cost methods will be easy for many participants to do, save money, and be more comfortable. |
2E: Shrinking Your Farm’s Carbon Footprint
Abby Gage, AB Tech Community College
A mix of renewable energy technologies are available to help meet your farm’s heating, electricity, and transport energy demands, and improved energy efficiency could help reduce the cost of these technologies and shrink your farm’s carbon footprint. Learn practical solutions for saving on overall energy consumption on your farm. |
3E: Harnessing Solar Energy
Sundance Power Systems
Learn about solar energy systems for heat and electricity in your home and on your farm. The basics of solar design will be discussed, and an overview of tax incentives will be presented. |
4E: Wind Systems on a Residential Scale
Brent Summerville, Appalachian State University
Learn about wind power in North Carolina and applications for small residential systems, from site analysis to turbines to towers. This is your chance to discover a wealth of information about North Carolina’s outstanding wind resources. |
F
COMMERCIAL FARMERS
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1F: Food Safety from Farm to Fork
Diane Ducharme, NC Cooperative Extension
Recent E.Coli outbreaks and product recalls have moved food safety issues to the forefront of both consumers’ and growers’ minds. This session will focus on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and move participants from awareness to implementation of food safety steps on their own farms. |
2F: Transitioning to Organic Vegetable Production
Ken Fager, Center for Environmental Farming Systems
In this session, we will summarize an organic transition experiment completed including a three year rotation of grains and vegetables. The speaker will engage attending growers by asking specific questions about their farming practices to stimulate discussion that reveals important management considerations. |
3F: From Seed Catalog to Tailgate Market
Alex Brown, Full Sun Farm
This session will cover tips for selling food at tailgate market. We will discuss varieties that are popular with both farmers and customers, and vegetables that are easily grown and sold. Tips for displaying produce will also be presented. |
4F: Funding Opportunities for Farmers
NRCS Representative & Scott Paquin, Firefly Farm
Funding is available for farmers interested in applying conservation practices addressing erosion, water quality, and resource management issues. Come hear from an NRCS agent who deals with these programs, and a farmer who has benefited from them. |
G
PEST MANAGEMENT
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1G: Organic Pest Management of Apples
Elizabeth Brown, NC State University
This session will discuss insect and disease pests of apples and organic methods of control. |
2G: Tomato Grafting for Soil Borne Disease Management
Cary Rivard, NC State University
Grafting tomatoes with resistant rootstock provides soil borne disease management, and may increase yields. Come and learn how this research and its results can benefit local growers. Grafting techniques will be demonstrated, and production strategies will be discussed. |
3G: Organic Inputs that Work and How to Use Them
Tom Elmore, Thatchmore Farm, John Rowland, R Farm, Robert Wilson, Organic Inspector, and Aubrey Raper, Rogue Harbor Farm
This panel discussion will introduce you to favorite organic soil supplements and pest controls for the crops these farmers grow, including sources and costs for materials. Expect an interactive session including input from the audience. (NOTE: This session is intended for professional organic farmers. All are welcome, but very basic questions may be deferred to the break after class.) |
4G: Distribution and Impact of a Predatory Beetle on Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in the High Country of NC
Dr. Richard McDonald, Symbiont Biological Pest Management
Laricobius nigrinus, a predator of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, is native to the Pacific Northwest and has been released in the high country of NC. Come and learn of the progress of this research, including significant predation rates at the oldest release site. |
H
HOMESTEADING
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1H: Urban Orchards, Creating an Edible Garden of Eden
Andrew Goodheart Brown, Barefoot Gardens
Why be enslaved to a delinquent landscape, when you can be growing perennial fruits organically? Once well planned and established, fruit trees can feed your delight, connection, and taste buds for many years to come. |
2H: Hydraulic Ram Pumps - Move Your Water Uphill Without Electricity
Walter Harrill, Imladris Farm
Hydraulic rams, with the right conditions, can pump water without electricity. We’ll learn those conditions as well as how to assemble (we’ll put one together in class), size, site, run, and benefit from a ram. |
3H: Food Preservation: Roots, Fruits, and Leathers
Wendy Harrill, Imladris Farm
Looking to reduce your dependence on commercially prepared products? Here’s your chance to learn some of your options. Discussion will cover water and pressure canning, dehydration, and root cellaring. |
4H: Wholistic Homesteading: Tying it All Together
Patricia Allison, Earthaven EcoVillage
Patricia will discuss integrative design of a sustainable homestead, including the physical
elements (buildings, rainwater collection, energy devices) and the living elements (greywater ponds, gardens, orchards, bees, fish, fowl, rabbits, humans), as well as economic and social/cultural aspects. |
I
URBAN GROWING
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1I: Twenty Great Edible Plants for Urban Living Chuck Marsh, Useful Plants Nursery
This workshop will delve into how you can use multifunctional trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials to liberate your home landscape’s potential for both nutritional abundance and enchanting beauty. |
2I: Urban Orchards, Creating an Edible Garden of Eden
Andrew Goodheart Brown, Barefoot Gardens
Why be enslaved to a delinquent landscape, when you can be growing perennial fruits organically? Once well planned and established, fruit trees can feed your delight, connection, and taste buds for many years to come. |
3I: Cultivating Urban Abundance
Monica Williams, Horticulcuralist and Permaculturalist
Urban home gardens have great potential for yielding abundant food, medicine, inspiration, and beauty. Even the most degraded lots can thrive by using the simple soil building techniques and sustainable practices presented in this session. |
4I: The Home Kitchen Garden: Growing Food Beautifully
Eve Davis, Hawk & Ivy Bed & Breakfast
Fill your home landscape with incredible diversity, interweaving vegetables, fruits, shrubs, berries, herbs, and flowers. Function need never sacrifice beauty! Feed all your senses and your spirit working with the natural world. |
J
FRUIT PRODUCTION |
1J: Cultural & Pest Management for Brambles
Walker Miller, The Happy Berry Inc.
Come and learn how to protect your brambles from frost, Botrytis flower and fruit blight and rot, rust, oak root rot, crown gall, and several viruses. We will also cover pests such as crown borer, bud weevil, spider mites, blackberry phyllids, and learn about environmental stresses. |
2J: Cultural Management for Blueberries
Bill Cline, NCSU Horticultural Crops Research Station
This session will include an overview of organic practices for growing blueberries, including cultivars, site selection and preparation; fertility, irrigation and pest control options; harvesting and handling of fruit; packaging and marketing. |
3J: Sustainable Strawberry Production
Annie Perkinson, Flying Cloud Farm
This session will cover how to grow strawberries organically, and integrate them into a diverse, interplanted sustainable farm. |
4J: Future Directions for Organic Small Fruit Research in North Carolina
Dr. Hannah Burrack, NC State University
A question and answer session discussing research interests and needs important to the organic fruit producing community in the mid-Atlantic and southeast. Delivery of topics covered will include biological control, emerging pests, and organic IPM. |
K
HERBS |
1K: Propagating Your Own Culinary & Medicinal Herbs
Chip Hope, Appalachian Seeds
Growing your own organic plant starts is fun and not difficult. In this session, you will learn how to start herbs from seed, cuttings, and roots, as well as how to grow healthy plant starts. |
2K: Growing Oriental Herbs in Western North Carolina
Joe Hollis, Mountain Gardens
Ginseng is only one example of the connection between our flora and ecology and that of East Asia. Joe will discuss some potential crops for Western NC, as well as current marketing efforts and opportunities. |
3K: Discovering Medicinal Herbs
Juliet Blankespoor, Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
Travel to the green world of medicinal plants and learn how to grow a variety of botanical herbs, organically. Juliet will also share her passion for plants by revealing their many practical uses as herbal plant medicines. |
4K: Growing a Kitchen Herb Garden
Sandi Ford, Clinical Herbalist
Experience growing your own savory, culinary herbs, then learn how to use them in cooking. Sandi will share their value as medicinal herbs also. |
L
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY
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1L: Controlling Exotic Invasive Plants in Your Forest
Bob Gale, WNC Alliance
This presentation will focus on exotic invasive plants that threaten our native species. Ecologist Bob Gale will provide instruction on plant identification, growth characteristics, and methods of control for your forest. |
2L: Managing Timber while Maintaining Forest Understory Herbs
Dr. Dave Ellum, Warren Wilson College
Sustainable Forestry should provide value to forest landowners beyond traditional timber revenues. This talk will focus on timber harvest, timing, and orientation and the Shelterwood method as techniques for maintaining valuable populations of forest herbs. |
3L: Managing Family Forestlands
Alyx Perry, Sustainable Forests Network
Are you maximing the potential ecological, economic, and social benefits from your forestland? This session will cover forest management issues and options, including ecosystem restoration, management planning, achieving economic sustainability, and Forest Stewardship Council Certification. |
4L: Income Opportunities with Non-Timber Forest Products
Jeanine Davis, NC State University
Grow more than trees in your forest! This session includes a colorful introduction to a variety of forest medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and mushrooms, and the basics of how to grow and market them. |
M
SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING
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1M: Honeybee Stewardship for Gardeners & Landscapers
Diane Almond, Beekeeper & Master Gardener
Plants, plans, and practices for establishing, maintaining, and increasing honeybee-friendly gardens and landscapes. |
2M: Beneficial Insect Strategies Every Landscaper Should Know
Dr. Richard McDonald, Symbiont Biological Pest Management
By knowing the correct food and over-wintering plants, landscapers can build beneficial insects into landscape designs while creating beauty and sustainably lowering pest populations. |
3M: Native Plants in the Landscape
Jamie Oxley, Meadowbrook Nursery/We-du Natives
This session will be a photographic fun trip into how you can add native plants to your landscape for aesthetics, wildlife feeding, and longevity. |
4M: Landscaping Ideas to Make Every Drop of Water Count
Cliff Ruth, NC Cooperative Extension
Water is our most precious natural resource. Often we experience scarcity, but this need not keep us from gardening. From drought tolerant plants to cisterns, water conservation is the way to go. |
N
COOKING *
* Please note that cooking classes require pre-registration and an extra $5 registration fee.
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1N: Celebrating Local Food Traditions
Barbara Swell, Log Cabin Cooking Classes
Celebrate local food traditions with stories & dishes made from handed-down veggies. Heirloom bean and spring green stew served in winter squash bowls, fresh ground Madison county corn griddle cakes and herbed flatbreads.
4 spots available (as of 3/3) |
2N: Spring Into the Wild
Michael Gentry, Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts
Join chef Michael Gentry in a sustainable gourmet feast featuring seasonal wild foraged foods such as ramps, day lily shoots, spring greens, wild mint, dandelions, nettles, and more. Several tasty recipes will be offered.
FULL |
3N: Four Seasons of Family Cooking
Diana Schmitt McCall, Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts
Learn how to put delicious and healthy meals on your family table four seasons of the year: including ways to meal plan efficiently, involve family members in the preparation, and optimize local produce.
4 spots available (as of 3/3) |
4N: Detoxfication: Spring cleaning your body with food, nutrients and herbs
Dr. Elizabeth Pavka, Contemporary Nutrition Services
Every person, from young children to the elderly, can improve his or her health with detoxification utilizing food, nutrients, and herbs. Join Dr. Elizabeth Pavka as she discusses some simple ways to detoxify your body this spring.
FULL |
HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS
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MORNING: 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
(Break from 10:30 - 11:00) |
AFTERNOON: 2:00 - 5:30 pm
(Break from 3:30 - 4:00) |
O
Half-day, hands-on workshops require pre-registration by March 1 and an extra $5 registration fee per workshop.
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O-AM: Fruit Tree Grafting
T. Bud Barkslip, Barkslip’s micro nursery and Mike & Faye Dalton, Dalton Nursery
This class will cover whip and tongue graft, and the cleft graft. Whip and tongue is done primarily on bare root stocks and cleft is preferred on potted plants. Mostly working with apple trees, we will graft select varieties on to durable rootstocks and participants will leave with their own grafted trees. Bring cuttings of your favorite fruit trees to share and swap.
Space Available (as of 3/3) : 8 |
O-PM: Goat Cheese Making
Chris Owen, Spinning Spider Creamery
In this workshop, the owner of a licensed farmstead goat dairy that produces fine fresh and aged cheeses will demonstrate how to make some simple cheeses and what you need to do to sell them.
FULL |
P |
P-AM: Growing Shitake Mushrooms
Paul Goland, Hardscrabble Enterprises LLC, and Ken Crouse
We will discuss cultivation and handling of the delicious and healthful shitake mushroom, including three methods of inoculating logs to grow the mushrooms. Each participant will get a chance to inoculate a log using the method of his or her choice.
FULL |
P-PM: : Organic Home Brewing
Jay Adams, Vintner, National BJCP Judge & Home-brewer
During this workshop, attendees will learn techniques for brewing a batch of organic beer using all grain ingredients. While beer is brewing, we will discuss extract and other brewing procedures and sample some local and national microbrews.
Space Available (as of 3/3): 1 |
Q |
Q-AM: Building with Stone in the Landscape
David Reed, Author
Stones in the garden bring beauty and harmony to the landscape in any season. Here is a chance to be inspired and gather practical information using dry stack techniques from local artisan, author and stonemason David Reed.
FULL |
Q-PM: Apitherapy: Healing from the Hive
Ceara Foley, Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism
Behold the bouquet of beneficial blessings bees bestow on us. Hive products such as honey, propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen are valuable medicines and add synergistic potency to herbal remedies. Learn how people have used these gifts from the honeybees for centuries as well as recent scientific validation of their efficacy. Valuable information for family care, first aid, and marketing honey. We will make honey pills to sample and herbal honey to take home!
Space Available (as of 3/3): 8 |
R |
R-AM: Native Plants to Reduce Maintenance & Improve Biodiversity
Sadie Adams & Liz Martin, Warren Wilson College
Join us for a discussion of sustainable landscaping practices and a workshop on how to collect, propagate, plant, and maintain local grass and wildflower species.
Space Available (as of 3/3): 15 |
R-PM: Draft Horse Power for Farm & Forest
Cathy & Andy Bennett, Doubletree Farms
This workshop will combine classroom discussion and a hands-on field session with horses. Come gain a basic understanding of the practicality and economy of the working horse. We will cover sustainability, economics, tools, horsemanship and the joys and challenges of working with horses.
Space Available (as of 3/3): 7 |
S |
S-AM: Food Preservation Made Easy
Renay Knapp, NC Cooperative Extension
Attend this comprehensive course to learn, brush up on old skills, or just to make sure you’re preserving correctly. Renay will cover methods that can be used to preserve foods in jars, including canning using a boiling water bath or pressure canner. Drying is another method that will be covered. Get ready to enjoy your summer’s bounty all year long!
PLEASE NOTE: This workshop will be held at the Henderson County Extensions offices. Details will be mailed to registrants.
Space Available (as of 3/3) : 10 |
A Growers School Favorite:
Plant Walk with Doug Elliott
Join storyteller, naturalist, and herbalist Doug Elliott on an educational and entertaining walk around campus. Learn how to identify plants for food, medicine, and other purposes.
2:00-3:30 - Meet at Sink Lobby |
Please note: Registration for the OGS Spring Conference is non-refundable. The Conference is held rain, snow or shine. The only exception to the non-refund rule is if you register for a half-day workshop or the Children's Program, are notified that they are full, and choose not to attend as a result. If you are unable to attend for any other reason, we will be happy to send you documentation so that your registration fee can be recorded as a tax-deductible contribution to the ongoing work of the Organic Growers School, Inc.
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HANDS-ON & ON THE FARM WORKSHOP |
SUNDAY MARCH 9, 1-5 PM at Mountain Air Country Club, Burnsville, NC
Off-Season Vegetable Production: Discovering your Winter Niche
Cost: $25 per person includes refreshments
Presenters: Patryk Battle, Sparkling Earth Farm, Jeff Ashton, Author, and Gred Gross.
During this workshop, attendees will learn to maximize their farm’s potential using over-wintering, winter harvesting and season extension techniques. We will be discussing methods and materials used to sustain production through the winter months. We will cover both salvaged and commercially available materials, and discuss varieties, infrastructure, and planning tips. Participants will be led on a virtual tour of different farms in our area in order to introduce the many techniques available to produce vegetables throughout the cold season. Attendees will also learn how to build a low-cost hoop house and will construct one on-site. Discover how you can use the winter months to your advantage, and tap into a niche in the ever-expanding market for local food in our region.
FULL |
