Organic Growers School

Spring Conference THIS WEEKEND!

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:15:26 -0500

The ultimate spring kick-off is just days away! If you've already registered, we suggest you take a look at the campus map and recommended parking. Note that registration will be on the 1st floor of the HighSmith Union Building. NEED DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO UNCA?

Online registration is now CLOSED. YES! You may register at the door.

Join over 1300 farmers, gardeners, activists, and consumers March 6 & 7, 2010 at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA) for the southeast's largest sustainable living conference. Registration is only $55 per day, and buys you a general registration, and access to over 60 classes! The 6th annual Childrens Program is for kids aged 7-12, and costs $30 per day. Additional hands on workshops and cooking classes are $5 each. See you there, green thumb.

CHECK WORKSHOP AVAILABILITY

NOTE: EXHIBITOR SPACE IS FULL

VOLUNTEER SHIFTS ARE FULL

View our refund policy

Want to Carpool? Share a hotel room?

Visit the homepage for this event

Sponsor

View a MAP of the conference site

Thanks for a Successful Conference!

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:56:53 -0600

The 17th annual Organic Growers School conference ended yesterday, and over 1500 gardeners, farmers, chefs, food activists, and consumers left the campus of UNC-Asheville ready to kick of the spring season. "I have so many skills now because of this event" says veteran volunteer Dee Casey. "I've been coming for so many years and every year I gain so much more." Casey takes part annually in the OGS volunteer work exchange program, which gives over 100 people the opportunity to pitch in and make the conference happen in exchange for free or reduced admission to classes. Even from the registration desk, the energy was contagious, as I overheard people talking about the classes they attended and the workshops they have planned for later in their day. Popping my head in on class after class, it always makes me smile to see the learning and networking that happens through this great community event. Still need to fill out your Conference Evaluation? You can do it online up until April 1st!

Also check out "10 Things learned at the Organic Growers School", written by attendee and local blogger Alisa Hixson. Stay tuned for next years dates, and new additions to our Spring Conference Library, which we expect to unveil soon!

Thanks to everyone who assisted and attended, and we hope to see you again soon!

Volunteer

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:04:40 -0600

We could not do our work without the help of volunteers!

Send us an email to be added to our volunteer roster. You'll be contacted when we need help, and given notice of work exchange for events. Thanks for pitching in to support sustainable agriculture!

Annual Spring Conference

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:14:36 -0600

The Spring Conference has come and gone for 2010, thanks to the energy and support of our staff, board members, amazing and generous speakers, over 100 volunteers, and an as yet unknown number of enthusiastic attendees, sure to exceed 1300. Inspiring classes on alternative energy, seed saving, and sustainable livestock production mingled with no-nonsense food safety updates, intern hiring and legalities, and how to access land made for an information packed weekend of networking and learning. Walking across the UNC-Asheville quad, one could gander at a hoophouse built by a morning class in 3 hours flat, and hear the bleating of baby goats out for the children's program. Very soon we hope to have speaker resources uploaded to our Spring Conference Library, along with statistics and photos from the event.

Thanks to everyone who made this past weekend great, and we hope to see you in 2011! Stay tuned to this page for 2011 dates. And remember that our curriculum is always based on what you ask for, so send us your ideas for great workshops next year!

The Organic Growers School Spring Conference is a one-of-a-kind event that brings people of all walks of life together for a weekend of learning and networking near Asheville, North Carolina. Since 1993, the OGS Spring Conference has been the best way to kick-off the season, with over 70 classes and hands on workshops on a variety of topics, from starting your first vegetable garden, baking bread, and saving on home energy costs, to raising your own goat herd. The mission of OGS is to provide down-to-earth, practical advice on growing and sustainable living, while remaining affordable and accessible to anyone wanting to participate.

Need more info? Contact us.

Jobs

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:53:23 -0600

NOW HIRING

Farmer Programs Outreach & Development Assistant

based in Asheville and western NC

Application Deadline: March 24^th, 2010

The Organic Growers School invites applicants for a Farmer Programs Outreach and Development Assistant who will report to the organization’s Farmer Education Committee. Specific responsibilities include

fundraising and development for Organic Growers School programming, specifically farmer-driven initiatives including CRAFT-WNC and NC Apprentice Link.
Outreach and publicity for farmer programming
Administrative support pertaining to all organizational initiatives

We are particularly eager to find organized, hard-working candidates who possess

strong written and oral communication skills
knowledge pertaining to organic and/or sustainable agriculture businesses and education
fundraising and event experience
ability to work both independently and in teams

Work will be six to eight months, from home, part time, and compensated at an hourly rate from $12-$15 based on candidate’s experience. There exists the potential for longer term employment.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and 3 references to jobs@organicgrowersschool.org. We will not accept, nor will we return phone calls regarding this position.

You may also mail resume and materials to Organic Growers School 788 Mt Hebron Rd. Old Fort NC 28762

The Organic Growers School is a 501c3 non profit organization that does not discriminate with respect to race, sexual orientation, religion, or other personal factors.

NC Apprentice Link

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:31:07 -0600

At the request of area farmers, the Organic Growers School has established a program to match NC farmers with prospective apprentices. As a corollary to our CRAFT-WNC farmer training initiaitve, this web page will act as a database of participating farms in North Carolina who are seeking dependable labor. As a farmer, you can create a profile for inclusion in this database. Prospective apprentices can fill out an application/interest form. Then, our office will match apprentice applications with farmer participants, and contact farmers to allow them to follow up with the apprenticeship applicants.

SCROLL DOWN TO START LOOKING AT FARMS!

Apprentices: Click here to fill out an application to work

Farmers: Click here to create your profile!

To continue building our database, we need area farmers to join. If you are seeking apprentices for the 2010 farming season and would like to participate in our matching initiative, fill out a FREE profile.

If you are a farm member or associate farm member of the CRAFT-WNC farmer training initiative, your profile will be processed and included as part of your membership. For more information on CRAFT-WNC, click here. or contact Meredith McKissick at 828.582.5039 or email meredith@organicgrowersschool.org

Join NC Apprentice Link as a Farmer

CODE	COUNTY	REGION	# JOBS	DESCRIPTION	MORE INFO
YAN-001	YANCEY	MOUNTAINS	2	The Camp Celo Farm: providing a beautiful setting for a summer camp and producing much of our food, and providing campers with an opportunity to participate in a working farm. It includes 16 acres made up of woods, pasture, and a large organic vegetable and flower garden. We also keep goats, cows, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens. Our garden produces berries, sweet corn, salad greens, asparagus, tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, peas, and more. The produce is grown for the summer camp kitchen and is also delivered to restaurants, grocery stores, and wholesalers in Asheville, NC, about a one hour drive from Celo.	Click here to view Camp Celo's full profile
MAD-001	MADISON	MOUNTAINS	3	Mountain Harvest Organics is a 130 acre farm located in the Spring Creek community of Madison County, which is northwest of Asheville. Our farm is nestled in a valley shadowed by beautiful Bluff Mountain over which the Appalachian Trail passes. Our location inspires us to use natural farming practices to preserve the beauty for future generations. We have 4 acres in production and we grow a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs. We market through a 40 member CSA and sell at the North Asheville Tailgate Market and teh Waynesville Tailgate Market. We also have some livestock (chickens, goats, and horses)and attempt o live as self sufficiently as possible. Our apprenticeship programs offers positions of varying lengths throughout the season.	Click here to view our full profile
BUN-001	BUNCOMBE	MOUNTAINS	2+	We are looking for two or more interns this season. Work with an herbalist/farmer on a small Certified Naturally Grown Farm in West Asheville, NC. We are located on a beautiful 3 acre property, farming about 2/3 acre. We grow heirloom vegetables, berries, cut flowers, and culinary/medicinal herbs. Value-added products are made weekly including salves, massage oils, tea blends, and other hand made products. We sell our produce and other products at 2-3 farmers markets each Saturday that will require that interns commit to working most Fridays and some Saturday mornings during the season.One intern will focus on the fruit/veggie/flower section of the farm, and the other working more with the herbs and value-added products. This is a great opportunity for anyone living around the Asheville area that would like to learn more about sustainable farming and/or natural medicine.	Click here to view our full profile
MCD-001	MCDOWELL	MOUNTAINS	1+	Crooked Creek Farms is a 21 acre diversified farm outside of Old Fort NC. We are a small family (1 young child) looking to hire one individual, a couple, or a small family either to commute to our farm or live on the property in a camper. We will offer a stipend and can share meals. We raise A-Z vegetables, specialty cut flowers, pastured chickens and grass fed beef. We strive for sustainability and diversity. We market through a CSA, tailgate markets, and wholesale. We also run a farmers cooperative.	THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED FOR 2010
POL-001	POLK	MOUNTAINS	1	Forest Creek Farm and Nursery is a small-scale, diversified, organic family farm. Our mission statement is to “care for the land in a sustainable way, provide food and a way of life for our family, and provide customers with the best-tasting produce and highest quality plants.” We raise vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, fresh cut flowers, small fruits, and transplants. We sell through direct markets such as local tailgate markets and a few restaurants. We are also starting a 5-member monthly CSA program for the 2010 season. We are looking for someone who can not only take initiative and work hard, but who is also interested in the learning about farming on a family scale. Position available April through October, possibly longer.	THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED FOR 2010
JOH-001	JOHNSTON	PIEDMONT	1	TayLee Organics is a newly formed USDA certified organic farm providing CSA memberships to local residents. We offer a variety of fresh produce, along with free-range eggs and other food items. We are willing to teach someone our organic growing methods, as well as the business behind building an organic farm, i.e., marketing, accounting, delivering, customer service, etc. We are looking for someone who has a desire to learn the organic trade, has a strong work ethic, dependable, honest, punctual and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Laziness is not appreciated here nor will it be tolerated. We are fun-loving and enjoy our work, but because we have to answer to our members, we must work first and play later. Therefore, we need someone who is serious minded. If this description fits you, please feel free to apply.	Click here to view our full profile
HAW-001	TENNESSEE-HAWKINS CO.	TENNESSEE	1	JEM farms is a certified organic enterprise that produces organic eggs, and a diverse range of organic produce. Some of our product is perennial (asparagus, raspberries) and we strive to offer a full range of product during the growing season. We have season extension opportunities with out 100' hoop house. We also grow for our animals (blue hubbard squash, sunflowers and millet) and market some meat locally. We raise pastured poultry, woodland pigs, and a few goats. We share our farm with an assortment of rescued dogs, a couple cats, and a five-year-old field hand. We consider ourselves as a work in progress and welcome your input on improving our operation.	Click here to view our full profile
BUN-002	BUNCOMBE	MOUNTAINS	2+	The Lord's Acre is a new and exciting faith garden project made possible by community volunteers. Last year we grew three tons of produce on 1/4 acre of newly tilled soil. This year we plan to expand to a half acre. All organically grown produce is given away freely to those in need. Our first commitment is to Food For Fairview food pantry 1/2 mile down the road. Additional food is given to The Welcome Table in Black Mountain or is gleaned by The Society of St. Andrews. We intend to expand our recipients this year as we expand the garden. Our two head gardeners have 50 years of gardening experience between them and both were head research gardeners for The Mother Earth News magazine. Apprentices will be living, learning and eating with them. People of all beliefs are welcome to volunteer or seek appenticeships.	Click here to view our full profile

E-newsletter archives

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:06:52 -0600

Click on the link for the issue you are looking for. You will be prompted to download a file. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader istalled on your computer to view these files.

2009

June Growers Notebook

July Growers Notebook

August Growers Notebook

September Growers Notebook

October Growers Notebook

Holiday Growers Notebook

2010

January Growers Notebook

CRAFT Farmer Training Initiative

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:46:39 -0600

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

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

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

November 14: Recordkeeping & Planning + End of year wrap-up at Crooked Creek Farms

(Snapshot of Pastured Poultry Production and Pasture Raised Beef Production)

Forest Creek Farm & Nursery

Full Sun Farm

Goodloves Friendly Farm

Green Jade Herbal

Let It Grow Organic Gardens

Mountain Harvest Organic

Thatchmore Farm

Yellowroot 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.)

Links We Like

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:13:28 -0600

If you would like a link to your website to be listed here, please contact us and include the address and a description of the site content.

North Carolina State University and NC Cooperative Extension Sites

North Carolina Cooperative Extension
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/:

NCSU Specialty Crops Program
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/specialty_crops/

An Organic Agriculture Internet Resource Guide
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/programs/ncorganic/

Sustainable Ag: Growing Small Farms
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/chatham/ag/SustAg/index.html

Sustainable Practices For Vegetable Production In The South
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/index.html

University Resources (outside North Carolina)

Publications by University of California - Davis
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu

University of Florida Extension Website
(good for greenhouse and other general information)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_PG001

Education

NC School of Holistic Herbalism
http://www.herbsheal.com

Sustainable Agriculture Resources and Organizations

ASAP – Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
http://www.asapconnections.org/

ATTRA – National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
www.attra.org

CFSA – Carolina Farm Stewardship Organization
http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/

Carolina Organic Growers, A Farmers Cooperative
http://www.carolinaorganicgrowers.com/

Growing for Market
http://www.growingformarket.com/

HortIdeas
http://users.mikrotec.com/~gwill/hi-index.htm

The New Farm: Farmer-to-Farmer Know-How from The Rodale Institute
http://www.newfarm.org/

SARE – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
http://www.sare.org/

Southern SARE – Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
http://www.southernsare.org/

Seed Savers Exchange
http:// www.seedsavers.com

Seed Suppliers

LOCAL SEED COMPANIES:

Appalachian Seeds

Organic Heirloom Tomato Seeds

seeds@appalachianseeds.com

www.appalachianseeds.com

Sow True Seed

Phone: 828-254-0708

Fax: 828-254-0709

info@sowtrue.com

www.sowtrue.com

ORGANIC SEEDS:

Source: ATTRA / The Southern Organic Resource Guide

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, MO
417-924-8917
417-924-8887 FAX
www.rareseeds.com
Cook’s Garden, PA
800-457-9703
800-457-9705 FAX
www.cooksgarden.com
Fedco Seeds, ME
www.fedcoseeds.com
Filaree Farm, WA
509-422-6940
info@filareefarm.com
www.filareefarm.com
Harris Seeds, NY
800-544-7938
www.harrisseeds.com
High Mowing Seeds, VT
802-888-1800
802-888-8446 FAX
www.highmowingseeds.com
Horizon Herbs, OR
541-846-6704
541-846-6233 FAX
herbseed@chatlink.com
www.chatlink.com/~herbseed
Johnny’s Selected Seeds, ME
(commercial orders)
207-437-4301
(home gardeners)
800-437-4290 FAX
homegarden@johnnyseeds.com
(home gardeners)
www.johnnyseeds.com
Lakeview Farm, MO
573-549-2231
Milk Ranch Specialty Potatoes, CO
970-641-5634
970-642-0471 FAX
craig@milkranch.com
www.milkranch.com
Morgan County Wholesale Seeds, MO
513-378-2655
The Natural Gardening Company, CA
707-766-9303
707-766-9747 FAX
info@naturalgardening.com
www.naturalgardening.com
Organica Seed Co., MA
413-599-0396
office@organicaseed.com
www.organicaseed.com
Sand Hill Preservation Center, IA
563-246-2299
sandhill@fbcom.net
www.sandhillpreservation.com
Seeds of Change, NM
888-762-7333 (orders)
866-339-3876 (technical questions)
www.seedsofchange.com
Seed Savers, IA
563-382-5990
563-382-5872 FAX
www.seedsavers.org
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, VA
540-894-9480
540-894-9481 FAX
www.southernexposure.com
Territorial Seed Company, OR
800-626-0866
888-657-3131 FAX
www.territorialseed.com

Weed Identification

Oregon Biodynamic Group
http://www.oregonbd.org/Class/weeds.htm

Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research: Weed ID
http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/weedid/

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources: Weed ID
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/weeds_common.html

Pest Identification

Clemson University Pest ID
http://entweb.clemson.edu/pesticid/safetyed/pstident.htm

Handtools

Valley Oak Tool Compan
http://www.valleyoaktool.com

Sources for supplies and fertlizers

Good Earth Organics
http://goodearthorganics.com

Hydro-Gardens (Colorado Springs)
http://www.hydro-gardens.com/

Ray’s Bag Company
http://www.raysbaginc.com/

Southern States
http://www.southernstates.com/

Post-Harvest Information

University of California – Davis
http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Pubs/postthermo.shtml

NC State University
http://apps.ces.ncsu.edu/pubs/index.php3?status=topic&category=Postharvest

Topics Related to Sustainable Agriculture, Healthy Food and Healthy Communities

Land Conservation and Farmland Preservation

American Farmland Trust
http://www.farmland.org/

Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
http://www.carolinamountain.org/

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
http://www.appalachian.org/

Permaculture

The Permaculture Research Institute
http://www.permaculture.org.au/

Asheville Permaculture Guild
http://ashevillepermacultureguild.googlepages.com/

The Permaculture Activist
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/

Homesteading

Back Home Magazine
http://www.backhomemagazine.com/

Homesteading Directory Site with Many Links
http://dmoz.org/Home/Rural_Living/Homesteading/

Back to Basics
http://www.backtobasicsnc.com

Urban Growing

Path to Freedom
http://www.pathtofreedom.com/

Urban Agroculture Notes by City Farmer – Canada’s Office of Urban Agriculture
http://www.cityfarmer.org/

The Bountiful Cities Project
http://www.bountifulcitiesproject.org/

Sustainable Agricultural Advocacy and Related Topics

Heifer International
http://www.heifer.org/

Community Food Security Coalition
http://www.foodsecurity.org/

UT Organic Field Tour

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:56:20 -0600

2nd annual field tour at the Organic Crops Unit at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN 7:30 am - 2:30 pm

The program includes ten 30-minute talks on organic and sustainable agricultural practices. These topics are:

1. Growing lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes in high tunnels

2. Organic small fruit production

3. Natural alternatives for disease control

4. Basics of organic production

5. Marketing organic produce

6. UT market garden and internship program

7. Reduced till broccoli research

8. Managing cover crops in organic systems

9. Composting 101

10. Featured lunch presentation \"Plants you didn\'t know you could eat\"

We will have a sponsored lunch and then will end the day with an equipment demonstration and a walking tour of the farm.

We will also have an exhibition tent like last year, providing an opportunity for businesses, non-profits, government agencies and other organizations relating to organic and sustainable agriculture to get in touch with growers and the general public.

For more information on our program, visit http://organics.tennessee.edu/