CRAFT Farmer Training Initiative
CRAFT stands for Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training. It is a program that originated in the Northeast, and has since been adopted in many other regions throughout the United States and Canada. The Organic Growers School is proud to announce the launch of a CRAFT program for the Western Mountain region of North Carolina.
CRAFT is a coordinated effort to bring established farmers, farm apprentices, and students of agriculture together for a comprehensive training program in sustainable agriculture. The goal of this program is to give established, successful farmers a stake in the training of our next generation of growers, and to give farm apprentices a rich educational experience that truly encompasses the ins and outs of farm operation.
Other benefits from CRAFT include increased camaraderie between farmers and farm interns, and more beneficial farmer-driven educational programming from our organization. We also believe that the CRAFT farmer training initiative will attract serious aspiring farmers to farms in our region, resulting in dependable seasonal labor, and more promise for the future of WNC agriculture.
CRAFT is a membership program, and there is a place for everyone. You may join as a farm with your interns, a farm without interns, an aspiring farm or farm apprentice, or an interested friend or non-commercial grower. Download a membership form today and join this important regional effort to strengthen the future of farming in WNC. Membership is open year-round, so you may join anytime.
Join NOW for the 2010 Season!
Farmers who join by Jan 31, 2010 will have the opportunity to plan curriculum and host tours!
2010 Member Benefits & Application
Note that the 2010 schedule and member list will not be updated until March 2010. CRAFT is a grassroots program and the schedule is built by the most current member farms. This ensures total farmer ownership. So, stay tuned for the 2010 schedule. OR Join now to be a part of building that schedule from the ground up!
2009 CRAFT Member Farms 2009 CRAFT Schedule
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April 18: My Story: Starting a Farm from Scratch + propagation, field prep, and planting at Forest Creek Farm & Nursery |
| May 16: Season Extension & Greenhouse Management at Thatchmore Farm |
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June 27: Soil Nutrient Management, Cover Cropping, and Composting at Yellowroot Farm (Snapshot of Pastured Pork Production) |
| July 18: Harvesting, Post Harvest Handling, and Irrigation at Mountain Harvest Organic |
| August 8: Insect. Disease, and Weed Management at Full Sun Farm |
| September 19: Marketing to Restaurants and Farming in a Community at Camp Celo Farm |
| October 17: Value Added Processing and Marketing at Green Jade Herbal |
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November 14: Recordkeeping & Planning + End of year wrap-up at Crooked Creek Farms (Snapshot of Pastured Poultry Production and Pasture Raised Beef Production) |
Goodloves Friendly Farm
Would your farm be interested in hosting a fund-raiser workshop for the CRAFT program? Contact us to learn more. (Membership in CRAFT-WNC is not required.)