Upcoming Events
Water Management on a Low-Till Farm
We will explore how New Roots' minimal till practices go hand-in-hand with water management to grow Certified Naturally Grown produce, and how their focus on small-scale, holistic agriculture has helped them succeed. Led by Krista and Stephen, two Farm Beginnings graduates!
The People's Plot at West Asheville Park
Come join us for our next SocFarm meet up! We will be doing some planning and fieldwork to improve and expand our garden plots. You may want to bring a water bottle, a snack, sun protection, and mosquito repellent.
Southeastern Permaculture Gathering
Join Patterson School Foundation for three days of learning and community. Topics include: Foraging and wild foods, permaculture, natural health practices, sustainable living, and open space.
Open to all with all levels of interest or skills around permaculture. Taking a day or three off mid summer is so rewarding, especially at this sweet 30+ year tradition of gathering and sharing stories, knowledge and good company from around the Southeast! This is open to all, and there are sponsorships for BIPOC.
There is camping as well as dorm rooms available, and wonderful food prepared all three days by an AWESOME farm to table chef/ farmer named Ed Weinberger!
SEPG grew out of our long-time location in Burnsville and found a new home at the historic Patterson School Foundation, the first agriculture School in North Carolina! It is no longer a school but it is a great facility and beautiful campus that hosts events and encourages more sustainable and resilient agriculture practices.
The beautiful part about this gathering is that we all come with wisdom and knowledge to share together, and we are all invited to learn and share together. You don’t have to though. You can participate at any level. We often have plant walks, bug walks, mushroom walks, and many circles under the trees or indoors throughout campus covering all subjects we bring to the table in “open space.”
Dig In!'s Fruit Fest fundraiser and Pie Bake-off
Join Dig In for our 4th annual Fruit Fest and Pie Bake-off to celebrate all things fruity while raising money to support Dig In's programs. We’ve got a fruit pie bake-off and pie tasting, games, raffles, local vendors, and free glass blowing demos, all packed into one fun afternoon. We are looking for pie submissions and competition judges; more details and registration at diginyancey.org/fruit-fest-2026/
Food Sovereignty Panel and Community Conversation
Two years post-Helene: What is the current status of local food insecurity, and how can you help? Panel features staff from: Dr John Wilson Community Garden, Bounty and Soul, Red Scout Farm, Warren Wilson College
Fall Vegetable Gardening
Join Bountiful Cities and Sunny Point Café Garden Manager, Alice Oglesby to learn to maximize production in your fall garden.
ASAP’s Agritourism Workshop
Do you offer (or are you considering offering) tours, events, u-pick or other agritourism activities at your farm? This workshop connects you with farmers and professionals in the region to learn more about challenges and opportunities, legal and insurance considerations, and strategies for improving and expanding your farm business’s agritourism offerings.
Speakers: Rei Argeroplos from ASAP, Bill Durr from Ward & Smith, Wes Johnson from Johnson Insurance, and a farm tour and agritourism discussion from Morgan Metcalf from Burley Stick Farm.
Picklepalooza!
Picklepalooza 2026 is a pun-filled, fun-filled event featuring a pickleball tournament, quick pickling and activities for the kids, and opportunities to learn more about fermentation and how to make your abundant garden and CSA produce last well into winter! 🥒
Pickleball Tournament
- 16 total teams of 2 players each can enter
- Players receive a single batch Picklepalooza 2026 shirt, a plus one free entry ticket, and a drink ticket
- First, second, and third place prizes sourced from local business partners
Proceeds will benefit WNC Food Coalition’s Fresh Food campaign: a seasonal fundraiser to help us stock refrigerated, free food pantries in partnership with community-based organizations across 19 WNC counties with local produce and locally raised meat, dairy, and eggs.
Together, we can strengthen our WNC local food system in THREE ways:
1. Hungry neighbors are fed fresh, nutrient-dense foods, creating better health.
2. Our local dollars stay in local businesses - food hubs and small farms - instead of leaking out to national and global conglomerates; creating a more resilient, robust local food economy.
3. The global food chain is disrupted, resulting in shorter distances for food transportation, easing the climate impact of our diet.
Party, play, pickle, and be part of building a better future for local food in WNC.
Collective Farming
Caja Solidaria is a nonprofit working alongside neighbors, healthcare partners, and the land to provide healthy meals, meal kits, and markets to neighbors through prescriptions and collective purchasing. We'll discuss how operating as a collective through work circles inform and inspire their growing practices and create something uniquely helpful to their community.
Perennials as Primary Crop
Wild Blackberry Meadow Sanctuary is a new agrotourism holistic fruit orchard destination just 30 mins from Greenville, SC in the charming small town of Pelzer. We'll discuss considerations for u-pick perennial systems such as agroforestry tree crops and cane berries, including trellising, fertigation, irrigation, pest management.
Birdhouse Auction Benefit
Explore the intersection of Asheville's Art Scene and Asheville’s Food Scene at Bountiful Cities Birdhouse Auction Benefit event at Urban Orchard Cider Company. We bring together hand made local art and support for hyper local urban food security at this live auction benefiting Bountiful Cities food and agriculture programs. Bountiful Cities is a local nonprofit supporting long-term food security through agriculture and culinary education for youth and adults rooted in promoting social justice, economic sustainability, and environmental health.
Attendees can expect an energetic, art-filled afternoon that celebrates the best of Asheville’s creative and culinary scenes while supporting long-term food security in our community. The centerpiece of the event is a live auction featuring one-of-a-kind birdhouses and hyper-local garden and food focused experiences—all benefiting Bountiful Cities’ work to build a resilient, sustainable local food system through urban agriculture, education, and community collaboration.
If you would like to participate as a Birdhouse Maker/Donor please let us know by filling out this form.
If you have any questions please contact Cathy@BountifulCities.org
Post-Harvest Handling
TendWell Farm is a family-run, first generation, certified USDA organic farm which started as .25 acres and is now the largest organic farm in WNC. We will tour their farm and their pack house with an extensive set up (lines and coolers) to see how they create a successful and efficient transfer from field to market.
Crop Trials & Regionally-Adapted Seed Production
A unique project is taking shape in WNC that focuses on regional and resilient foodways and focuses on seed saving, crop trials, and outreach and education. We’ll explore how Utopian Seed Project staff conduct research, grow out trial crops, and select seed in a no-till, low-input system for “seeds that know the South.”
Conference for NC Non-Profits
Join North Carolina Center for NonProfits at North Carolina's annual gathering of nonprofit leaders to learn, connect, and be inspired! The full schedule and list of sessions and presenters will be announced later this summer.
Use promo code FIRSTIN to save $100 off your registration before July 31!
Not a Center member but would like to take advantage of member pricing for this event? Use promo code 35OFF to save $35 when you join or renew by June 30, 2026.
If needed, hotel accommodations can be reserved via our hotel block here with a special discounted rate of $199/night.
WNC Seed & Plant Swap
All are welcome to attend the second annual WNC Seed Swap Tuesday, October 20th, from 4-7pm at Stephens-Lee Community Center! This is a free community gathering full of seeds, stories, and community connections. Please register in advance so you can get updates and info about attending.
Gather to Grow: Forest Farming Conference
The 2nd Gather to Grow multi-day Forest Farming conference will be held in Blacksburg, Virginia on October 23-25, 2026 and feature learning and networking with the community at the heartwood of forest farming in Appalachia and beyond.
The conference will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center on campus and will feature learning, networking, and growing with the community surrounding forest farming of botanicals, mushrooms, syrups, and decorative products in Appalachia. Keynote speakers, an industry panel, regional meet-ups, producer stories, and an expanded expo are all things to look forward to.
41st Sustainable Agriculture Conference
Cultivated for the Carolinas. Rooted in Community.
The Carolina Farm Stewardship Association's Sustainable Agriculture Conference is a unique, authentic professional development event bringing together small-scale farmers, backyard gardeners and homesteaders, locavores, food systems changemakers, educators, and community leaders from across the region to learn, network, and build momentum and community focused on local, sustainable, and organic agriculture.
The 2026 conference, scheduled for October 31 - November 1, in Winston-Salem, NC, will feature dozens of inspiring and practical workshops, networking meetups, an expansive trade show, a keynote panel, locally-sourced bites, pre-conference workshops and farm tours, and more. Whether you’re seeking new production ideas and tips for your farm, advocacy and food system coalition-building strategies for your community, or business development guidance for your food business, the Sustainable Agriculture Conference is designed for you. Don’t miss this once a year, one-stop-shop event for the food and farming community of the Carolinas!
Organic Seed Growers Conference
The biannual Organic Seed Growers Conference is moving out of the Pacific Northwest for the first time in its history and coming to Asheville, North Carolina. Save the Dates of March 26-27, 2027, for the main conference (with pre-conference intensives and farm tours still being planned).
The request for proposals is currently open, with a deadline of July 1st. Check it out here and submit an application. If you want to talk through an idea or suggest a topic that you're really interested in, feel free to reach out to chat about it. As conference co-chair, I'd love to have a strong representation of southeastern voices at the conference!
Conference Tracks:
Acknowledging that seed systems are multi-modal, the 2027 conference sessions will primarily be organized into the following 5 “tracks”.
SEED PRODUCTION: Seed production nuts & bolts for both beginning and experienced producers, including new and novel models for organic seed production, field practices, seed cleaning, treatments, processing, quality assurance, and packing. Economic topics might also include sales and contracting, enterprise development, and commercializing new varieties (e.g., alternative approaches to intellectual property).
Beginning (For those who have grown seed at farm scale for 0 – 3 years)
Advanced (For those who have grown seed at farm scale for 3 or more years)
PLANT BREEDING: Advancements in plant breeding and variety trials for resilience, biodiversity, organic systems, climate change adaptation, and/or grower-led and participatory breeding projects.
SEED STORIES: First-person seed storytelling and interactive sessions on emerging topics, culturally significant crops and varieties, and subjects tied to current events.
ADVOCACY & POLICY: Emerging policy and advocacy topics essential to expanding organic seed systems. Sessions focused on seed equity and justice are encouraged to apply.
Black Soldier Fly Workshop
Join Bountiful Cities and our guest instructor Danny Keaton owner/operator of Dannys Dumpster to discuss the process of raising black soldier flies
Seed Saving 101
Learn the art of seed saving! Walk away with the practical skills to preserve your favorite plant varieties and support local biodiversity.
Join us for Seed Saving 101, part one of our two part Seed Saving Series in collaboration with Lu of Utopian Seed Project. During this informational workshop, participants will learn about seed saving at any scale, whether that’s on your garden or for larger production. This workshop includes a presentation that will demonstrate seed selection, adaptation, what to do’s & what not to do’s when seed saving, and how to produce robust seeds for an array of staple crops.
Walk away with the knowledge to go home and save your own seeds, show up prepared to Part 2 (Seed Processing & Storing) and a copy of the presentation.
Take Root Festival
Join us on Friday, June 26th from 5-8pm as the farm comes alive with live music, ice cream, local beer, and hands-on activities for all ages. Whether you're creating art, touring the garden, or just soaking up the sunshine—there's something for everyone at Take Root.
Expanding Your Food Business: Preparing for a 3rd Party Audit
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Growing Ginger and Turmeric
While ginger and turmeric are typically imported, WNC is becoming more well-known as a producer of both. We will delve into the considerations for growing these two unique crops in WNC, including infrastructure, seedling care, soil requirements, and disease management considerations.
Led by Michael Rayburn
Retail Foods: Restaurants, Food Trucks & More
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Food Labeling: Do’s, Dont’s, & Details
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Considering Agritourism w/Empowering Mountain Food Systems
For more information call 828-359-6936
Business Preparation: Taxes, licenses and other considerations
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Grant Writing and Funding for Food Businesses
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Solidarity Economies in the WNC Food System a Community Food Strategies Regional Gathering
A full day Gathering hosted by Community Food Strategies and The WNC Food Coalition to celebrate and integrate solidarity economies practices in the Western North Carolina food system.
Food leaders from councils, hubs, local government and funders are invited to attend. The day will feature and panel of elders and activists, workshops on trust-based finances in nonprofits, a world cafe of community leaders.
Catering by Equal Plates. Location to be announced.
Contact jenn@wncfoodcoalition.org for more information.
Designing Effective Volunteer Labor Strategies for Vegetable Productions Systems
We'll tour the entire garden and focus on their Growing for Donation program, a no-till production vegetable operation. Learn how this program utilizes intern labor and volunteer groups to grow crops instead of mechanized equipment. The Growing for Donation program includes a partnership with Utopian Seed Project, and tends to a diversity of crops including vegetables, cut flowers, herbs and an orchard. Learn how this program drives grant funds which lead to useful infrastructure projects for the entire Community Garden.
Led by Leonora Stefanile
Rivercane Propagation Volunteer Day
We are grateful to partner with Rose Thunder Farm in this opportunity to restore indigenous ecosystems and strengthen our region’s climate resilience.
Rose Thunder Farm believes restoration should be rooted in ecological care, Indigenous cultural access, and right relationship with the plant. While the farm does not sell rivercane, their participation in this event is dedicated to supporting restoration, propagation, and broader access to this increasingly scarce species in our region.
What to Expect
Join Cooperate WNC for a hands-on day of learning and action! You’ll help:
Dig and collect rivercane rhizomes (underground stems)
Pack rhizomes with soil to send to local nurseries
Support spring restoration projects across the area
How to Participate
Drop in anytime between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for outdoor work.
Feel free to bring your own gloves if you prefer.
No experience is necessary. all ages and abilities are welcome. Snacks and drinks will be provided, so come ready to learn, connect, and make a difference.
Reach out to justin@cooperatewnc.org for more information.
Marketing & Competitive Analysis –Standing Out in NC’s Food Scene
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a seven part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Weeds and What they Tell Us
Weeds are great teachers, so let’s get down and listen! We will be looking how uninvited plants can help us understand our soil by showing us nutritional needs, compaction, and soil health. We will also discuss “invasive” plants and the challenges and opportunities they bring. We will also discuss possible solutions for weed control without chemicals. Taught by Jim Smith, local agricultural consultant.
Attendance is free and open to all ages.
Got 2 Be NC – NCDA’s MarketingServices
Empowering Mountain Food Systems presents a 7 part series - Navigating Your Food Business.
Grant Writing for Beginners
Target Audience:
This event is intended for rural, small-budget community-based organizations such as non-profits, churches, and other community groups. For-profit organizations, government agencies, consultancy/intermediary organizations, and University representatives are kindly asked to refrain from registering.
Overview:
Do you need grant funding for a project but are unsure where to start? Are you struggling to understand what the funders want? In this hands-on workshop, we’ll use templates, tips, and real-world examples to guide you through the entire process—from finding funding and building relationships with funders to writing a strong proposal. We will also include tips for using (and NOT using) AI. You will be more confident in your ability to turn your passion into a successful proposal!
This workshop is tailored towards beginners and may be a fit for you if you are:
New to the grant writing process and overwhelmed by it all.
Full of innovative ideas and ready to get those dreams funded but need help connecting your vision with the grant application process.
Sure about your organization’s solution but are not sure which funders share your passion.
Participants will Learn :
Where to look for funding, and how to determine if your work fits funder priorities.
The basics of building relationships with funders.
How to effectively answer the key parts of a grant proposal while reflecting your work.
The fundamentals of building a project budget.
2026 Food Waste Solutions Summit
The 2026 Food Waste Solutions Summit is a regional gathering aimed at disrupting food waste issues facing our communities, expanding our networks, and inspiring dynamic solutions. Our fourth summit builds on collaborative efforts activated by the 2017, 2019 and 2023 summits, bringing together local businesses, organizations, and university leaders to expand cross-sector conversations and deepen partnerships. The past three summits attracted hundreds of attendees from dozens of community organizations, businesses, and government agencies and resulted in the launch of Food Waste Solutions WNC, a collaborative network addressing food waste recovery issues including:
Support for edible food waste collection and redistribution
Increased landfill diversion tactics
Innovative enterprise development
Development of community and municipal level compost initiatives
Because of this work, the Asheville area now serves as a model for other communities across North Carolina striving to reduce food waste.
Annual Spring Fling!
Spring Fling! is our annual celebration of community, culture, and the growing season at Peace Gardens & Market.
For over a decade, neighbors and visitors from across Asheville have gathered here to welcome spring together—with plants, music, food, and creativity rooted in place. Each year, more than 1,500 people come through the gardens to connect, celebrate, and invest in something local and meaningful.
At the heart of Spring Fling is our plant sale, featuring healthy, locally grown vegetables, herbs, and flowers cultivated right here in our gardens using open-pollinated and heirloom varieties.
These aren’t just plants—they’re part of a larger ecosystem of care.
Every purchase directly supports:
* Youth stipends and workforce development
* Environmental education in the gardens
* Free produce and CSA deliveries for elders
* The ongoing care of our gardens and public art installations
High Tunnel Production Methods (CRAFT)
Explore spring production on a sloped mountain farm; see the farm’s 4 caterpillar tunnels, high tunnel, and a greenhouse full of plant starts. We’ll talk about financing, siting, and putting up covered growing structures, crop timing and selection, and more.
Cold Season Plant Sale
Peace Gardens & Market | Asheville, NC
We’re offering locally grown, hardy vegetable starts ready for early spring planting, including lettuce, brassicas, herbs, and other cool-weather crops. New varieties will be added as they mature and harden off, so check back often.
All plants are sliding scale:
$5–$8 per unit.
Units are 4″ pots, 2.5″ pots, 4-packs, and 6-packs.
We operate on an honor system. Pay what you can within the range using:
Venmo, PayPal, Credit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash, or Check. “How to Pay” signage on site will walk you through payment options.
When you purchase plants from Peace Gardens, you’re doing more than starting your garden.
Your dollars help:
• Provide youth stipends for young people working in the garden
• Deliver free produce boxes to neighborhood elders
• Maintain our community garden and outdoor art space
This is community-rooted growing — from seed to table.
Come early for the best selection, and keep checking back as new plants are added throughout the season. Plant catalog is below and will be updated as new varieties become available.
Grant Writing for Beginners
Target Audience:
This event is intended for rural, small-budget community-based organizations such as non-profits, churches, and other community groups. For-profit organizations, government agencies, consultancy/intermediary organizations, and University representatives are kindly asked to refrain from registering.
Overview:
Do you need grant funding for a project but are unsure where to start? Are you struggling to understand what the funders want? In this hands-on workshop, we’ll use templates, tips, and real-world examples to guide you through the entire process—from finding funding and building relationships with funders to writing a strong proposal. We will also include tips for using (and NOT using) AI. You will be more confident in your ability to turn your passion into a successful proposal!
This workshop is tailored towards beginners and may be a fit for you if you are:
New to the grant writing process and overwhelmed by it all.
Full of innovative ideas and ready to get those dreams funded but need help connecting your vision with the grant application process.
Sure about your organization’s solution but are not sure which funders share your passion.
Participants will Learn :
Where to look for funding, and how to determine if your work fits funder priorities.
The basics of building relationships with funders.
How to effectively answer the key parts of a grant proposal while reflecting your work.
The fundamentals of building a project budget.
Seed Swaparoo
Hosted by Caja Salidaria Farm
Drop in anytime between 5-7
Bring some seeds to swap! Light refreshments will be available.
Soil Test Practicum
Let’s learn soil basics and interpret our test results together with Mark Dempsey, the Organic Technical Service Provider at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Mark will cover the basics of soil management, nutrient testing, and share recommendations for organic amendments to balance the chemistry and biology of our living soils.
After the presentation, we will break into small groups to discuss individual soil test results, so please come prepared with your printed test results. (The tests may be from the NCDA or another lab. Ask for expanded version of test results.) Pat Battle will also join us to contribute to the conversation with his decades of organic growing experience.
Attendance is free. Please register at https://signup.com/go/ocUMKWR
Limit 15 people
*Soil Test Required
This is part of Dig In's Resilience in the Garden Series
Biochar for Soil and Planet Health
Instructor: Alex Gray
This workshop will cover:
What biochar is and why it matters
How biochar is made
How to properly charge and apply biochar
Soil regeneration strategies
Increasing crop yields using biochar
This is a great opportunity for garden leaders, volunteers, and growers looking to improve soil health across their gardens.
Bring a bucket — compost will be available to take home.
Pre-registration Required
This is a no-cost workshop (suggested donation only) and is presented in collaboration with The City of Asheville and Bountiful Cities.
CSA Fair
The CSA Fair is relaxed setting where attendees chat with farmers about their products, growing practices, payment structure, and more. Attendees can sign up for a CSA during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair will also feature local food tastings and activities for kids, as well as produce and food products available for purchase. Participating farms—all offering CSA pickups in Buncombe County—will be announced in mid February.