Classes will cover all topics on organic home gardening including site selection, planning, soils, composting, companion planting, seed sourcing, disease management, favorite varieties, and more. No advance sign up necessary--drop in for one class or attend the entire series!

$10 donation suggested at the door.

For more details, click here.

Thank you to everyone! To the 95+ speakers, 150+ volunteers, 25 sponsors, 40+ exhibitors, and 2000 or so attendees. The Conference weekend was a smashing success. Stay tuned for photos, class summaries, and additons to our Spring Conference Library.

March 9 & 10, 2013 at UNC-Asheville

Please note that as of Jan 28th, the exhibit hall is FULL, with the exception of 3 standard (6'x3') tables that are available on Sunday, March 10th ONLY. Contact meredith@organicgrowersschool.org to reserve, or to be added to the waiting list for openings. Thank you!

MANY THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS!

Please support them with your patronage!

Bountiful Sponsors    

Harvest Sponsors

Soilbuilder Sponsors

Conference Exhibitors

 BioNetwork

Appalachian Seeds Farm & Nursery

BackHome Magazine

Banner Greenhouses

Black Seed Organics

Carolina Farm Credit

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine

Clemson University Sustainable Agriculture Program

C.R Brown Enterprises

Fred C. Gloeckner & Co, Inc.

French Broad Food Co-op

Green Bee Cleaning Co.

Greenlife Grocery

High Mowing Organic Seeds

Innovative Greenhouse Design

Mighty Grow Organic Fertilizer

Natures NOG

NC Ginseng & Goldenseal Co.

Ramble & Root

Red Moon Herbs

Red Root Native Nursery

Reems Creek Nursery & Landscaping

river island apothecary

Seven Springs Farm

Skeele Services

Small Terrain

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange

Sow True Seed

The Lord's Acre

Useful Plants Nursery

Air Bed & Breakfast: http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/284022 and http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/284063

Log Cabin Motor Court: www.theashevillecabins.com.

Asheville Green Cottage: www.ashevillegreencottage.com

Asheville Area Hotels: PLEASE NOTE: The Southern Conference Basketball Tournament is happening in Asheville the same weekend as OGS. As a result, hotel availability is limited so book early!

Days Inn

Country Inn & Suites

Quality Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn

Renaissance Hotel

Hotel Indigo

for photo files, email jenn@organicgrowersschool.org

We make a limited number of press passes available. Please contact meredith@organicgrowersschool to inquire. Preference will be given to those willing to provide pre-event media or feature articles about the event.

What is the Conference and where will it be held?

The Conference will be hosted in downtown Asheville, North Carolina at the University of North Carolina. More information about the event can be found here.

When Can I Register?

RIGHT NOW! Deadlines: Early Bird Registration will open after December 15th and close February 18th at midnight. Be an early bird and save money! Only $45 on Saturday or $40 on Sunday to attend! The Class Schedule will be released when registration opens.

Why do Saturday tickets cost $5 more this year?

In an attempt to balance our attendance, we are offering a slight incentive to folks who choose to attend on Sunday. Our hope is that the challenges associated with accommodating 2000 people are somewhat lessened by more even attendance throughout the weekend. Thanks for your understanding!

The Class Schedule is confusing. Can you please explain?

Packing so many classes onto two pages has proven tricky over the years, hence the birth, and continued use of our famous (or infamous) "class grid". Before you get frustrated, please read the whole document, as class descriptions and class times occur on different pages. There simply isn't room to list them all in the same place!

TRACKS are categories or suites of classes of the same type. (example: the All About Poultry track will feature classes about poultry.) Tracks are given letter codes A-O.

SESSIONS are classes within tracks. (example: backyard chickens would be a session within the All About Poultry track). Sessions, or classes, are given number codes 1-4.

TIMES: There are four time slots throughout each conference day. All of the sessions with code #1 happen from 9:00am- 10:30 am. session #2 is 11:00am-12:30pm. Session #3 is 2:00pm-3:30pm. Session #4 is 4:00pm-5:30pm. Therefore, all the sessions with number code 1 are happening at the same time, and so on and so forth with sessions labeled 2-4. Ultimately, you can pick up to four classes to attend in one day. You do not have to attend all your classes in a single track. You are free to switch around from track to track throughout the day.

Most classes are REPEATED on day two of the event, to give you a better chance of getting to all the awesome classes you want to see.

What About Lunch?

In the past, we have offered you the option to purchase a $10 catered lunch when you register. This is no longer an option. However, we are excited to be welcoming Asheville restaurants to the event this year, and they will be selling yummy food made with local and organic ingredients between 12:30 and 2:00 each day. Join us in celebrating fresh food from local businesses by supporting Homegrown, Greenlight Cafe, Rosetta's Kitchen, and others. Be sure to bring some 5's and 10's to spend on lunch, as many vendors are unable to accept plastic.

What is a half day hands-on workshop and when does it happen?

Half day hands on workshops cover topics that warrant a more in-depth look. These classes are three hours as opposed to the usual 1.5 hour sessions, and occur at the same time as usual classes. They cost $5 extra because they are hands on in nature, and usually you learn by doing, and get to take your work home. These workshops are some of the most popular offerings at the event, so make sure to register early to get a spot!

Can I register for just a class or two, and not the whole day?

Because we try to keep things both affordable and simple, we regret that we cannot offer partial registrations.

My kid isn't yet 7, but s/he is super duper mature. Can you make an exception to the 7-12 age limit in the kids program?

We have no doubt that your kid is the most special child in the world, however, our kids program is run entirely by volunteers, and the line has to be drawn somewhere! The age limits of 7-12 are set for a reason and we appreciate your respect for the heroic volunteers that head that program. Pending funding, we would love to develop programs for younger tots as well as older teens at future events. Let us know if you would like to help make that happen. In the meantime, leave the younger ones (7 and under) with a sitter, and feel free to sign em up when they reach 7!

I have a hard time registering online. Can I register by phone?

We regret that our staff is too slim to allow phone registration, but you can register by mail. Simply print a registration form and send it off with a check! You can access the form here.

Can I register at the event?

Yes, but it's more expensive, and you may miss out on limited seating in cooking classes or half day hands on workshops. Registrations postmarked or submitted after February 18th will cost an additional $15. Save money by planning ahead! Register by February 18th!

Something's come up. Can I get a refund?

Registration for the 2013 OGS Spring Conference is non-refundable. The event will be held rain, snow, or shine. Click here for the full refund policy. If you are interested in transferring your tickets to someone else, that's just fine! Contact the registrar at 828. 342.1849 or earthstarnc@earthlink.net to initiate a transfer.

You can access the amazing class schedule using the link to our left. You can click here to register now. Browse FAQ, our sponsors, and trade show opportunities using the links to the left. Stay tuned for more info!

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 1994, 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.

Check out the speaker handouts and presentations we've uploaded from past events by entering our Spring Conference Library.

Need more info? Contact us.