ASAP - Calendar 2007

4 - Thursday - Land and Water Conservation Commission Public Meeting - 7pm, Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, Laurel Building, Ferguson Auditorium. This meeting has been set up by the newly created NC Land and Water Conservation Commission to gather public input on recommendations to the 2007 General Assembly on conservation in NC. All residents are encouraged to attend, whether they speak or not, to support funding for land and water conservation. If you would like to speak, come early to sign up. For more information about the meeting, see the Land For Tomorrow website.

6 -7 - Saturday - Sunday - Bee School Sessions 1 & 2 - 1:30 - 4pm, Folk Art Center, Asheville. The Buncombe County Bee Club and Cooperative Extension will present this free 5-class series for beginning beekeepers. Preregistration is required and is available online at www.wncbees.org, where you can also find the agenda for each session.

10 - 11 - Wednesday - Thursday - Southeastern Apple Growers Meeting - Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville, NC. This year's meeting, beginning at 10am on Wednesday, will feature educational programs, commercial exhibitors, a banquet, and a chance to meet and talk with other growers. Registration is $20 in advance or $30 at the door. For more information and to pre-register, contact Peggy Laughter at (828) 685-3241 or see the meeting website.

13 - Saturday - Chef Ann Cooper Speaks at Malaprop's - 7pm, Malaprop's bookstore, Asheville. Chef Ann Cooper, professional chef and author of "Lunch Lessons: Changing The Way We Feed Our Children," works to transform cafeterias into culinary classrooms for students, one school lunch at a time. She will share her success stories and first hand experience with creating school lunch programs that promote wellness and focus on organic, seasonal and sustainable meals for children. She will speak and sign copies of her book at Malaprop's bookstore.

13 -14 - Saturday - Sunday - Bee School Sessions 3 & 4 - 1:30 - 4pm, Folk Art Center, Asheville. The Buncombe County Bee Club and Cooperative Extension will present this free 5-class series for beginning beekeepers. Preregistration is required and is available online at www.wncbees.org, where you can also find the agenda for each session.

21 - Sunday - Bee School Session 5 - 1:30 - 4pm, Folk Art Center, Asheville. The Buncombe County Bee Club and Cooperative Extension will present this free 5-class series for beginning beekeepers. Preregistration is required and is available online at www.wncbees.org, where you can also find the agenda for each session.

25 -28 - Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (Southern SAWG) Conference - Louisville, KY. Conference sessions will be held at The Galt House Hotel and Suites, in the heart of downtown Louisville. The conference attracts over 900 farmers and advocates working toward sustainable food systems in the South. In addition to plenty of practical sessions, the conference features field trips to local farms and exhibits by vendors whose products and services provide support to producers. Equally valuable are the personal contacts made by attendees—with 0pportunities to learn and to share with others. Participants will also get a taste of Kentucky with locally produced foods at a special banquet. The complete conference schedule will be available at www.ssawg.org or call 678-494-0696 to request a brochure. Join us in the Bluegrass State for another stellar Southern SAWG conference!

1 - Thursday - Food Industry Class: Starting a Food Business 101 - 6pm - 9pm, Enka, NC. This free class offered by the AB Tech Food Business program will provide business basics for anyone wishing to start a food-based company including the need for incorporation, financial reporting, food costing, marketing, distribution and other related topics. For more information and to register, contact Mary Lou Surgi at mlsurgi@awnc.org or (828) 665-9464.

1 - Thursday - AgVenture Feasibility: What else can I do with what I've got? - 3pm - 6pm, Murphy, NC. Part 1 of a three-part workshop series to help growers in western North Carolina plan their farm businesses; participants are not required to attend all three sessions. The workshop will be held in the TeleCenter, room 103, of the Tri-County Community College in Murphy. See Part II or Part III on this calendar. For more information, contact Brittany Whitmire at brittany.whitmire@buncombecounty.org or call your County Cooperative Extension Office.

1 - 2 - Thursday - Friday - Season Extension and High Tunnels Workshop - Family Central, Jefferson NC. Steve Moore, an accomplished grower in the cold climate of Pennsylvania, will lead this course presented by NC State Cooperative Extension. The course will focus on low-impact, energy efficient techniques to extend the mountain growing season for vegetable and cut-flower growers. Cost is $35, which includes lunch both days and a selection of relevant books; the class is limited to 15 participants. To reserve a place, call Ashe County Extension at (336) 219-2650.

2 - Friday - The Basics of Owning Your Own Vineyard or Winery - 1 - 8pm, Airport Marriott, Greensboro, NC. Presented by the North Carolina Winegrowers' Association, this session is targeted towards North Carolina residents that are considering getting into the wine business. Topics addressed will include the basics of building a vineyard, making wine, running an agricultural business, and selling wine. Registration is $30 and must be postmarked by January 26th 2007. Download a flyer and registration form here, find more information at www.ncwinegrowers.com, or send an e-mail inquiry to info@ncwinegrowers.com.

2 - Friday - Western Region Shiitake Mushroom Workshop - 1 - 3pm, Ray Cort Recreation Park, Burnsville NC. Join NC Cooperative Extension Dr. Omon Isikhuemhen from NC A&T State University, who will show participants how to innoculate logs with shiitake mushroom spawn. Participants should bring two oak logs cut within two weeks of the workshop. To register, call Yancey Extension at (828) 682-6186 or e-mail Jean_Harrison@ncsu.edu.

3 - Saturday - Creating Safe, Fun, and Educational Farm Fieldtrips - Swannanoa, NC. This free ASAP workshop will present resources and strategies for attracting and working with school groups, tools for implementing fieldtrip activities that are correlated with curriculum, and the opportunity for teachers and farmers to build beneficial working relationships. For more information, contact Molly Nicholie at molly@asapconnections.org or (828) 236-1282.

7 - Wednesday - Commercial Organic Certification Class - 6 - 8pm, Ashe County Extension Center, Jefferson NC. The first of a six-session class for growers interested in transitioning to commercial-scale certified organic production. The class is limited to 15 participants; cost is $50. For more information and to register, contact Richard Boylan at richard_boylan@ncsu.edu or call the Ashe County Cooperative Extension office at (336) 219-2650.

8 - Thursday - Food Industry Class: Regulatory Compliance for Food Based Companies - 6pm - 9pm, Enka, NC. This free class offered by the AB Tech Food Business program will teach individuals how to produce foods that are compliant with all Department of Health and Department of Agriculture regulations. For more information and to register, contact Mary Lou Surgi at mlsurgi@awnc.org or (828) 665-9464.

8 - Thursday - AgVenture Feasibility: What else can I do with what I've got? - 3pm - 6pm, Henderson County Cooperative Extension Center. Part 1 of a three-part workshop series to help growers in western North Carolina plan their farm businesses; participants are not required to attend all three sessions. See Part II or Part III on this calendar. For more information, contact Brittany Whitmire at brittany.whitmire@buncombecounty.org or call your County Cooperative Extension Office.

10 - 11 - Saturday - Sunday - Advanced Bee School - 1:30 - 4pm, Folk Art Center, Asheville. The Buncombe County Bee Club and Cooperative Extension will present this free 2-class series for beekeepers with some experience. Preregistration is required and is available online at www.wncbees.org, where you can also find the agenda for each session.

14 - Wednesday - Legal Liability Workshop for Farmers - Winston-Salem, NC. This workshop, offered by NC State Cooperative Extension, will cover legal liability, getting appropriate insurance coverage, and handling produce safely. The workshop is especially pertinent to growers that deal in direct markets. Cost, including lunch, is $15. Online registration is available at the NCSU website. For more information, contact Annette Dunlap, annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu.

15 - Thursday - Food Industry Class: Marketing Jams, Jellies and Other Food Products - 9am - 12pm, Enka, NC. This free class offered by the AB Tech Food Business program will explore different marketing strategies for selling food-based products, from major distributors to local stores. For more information and to register, contact Mary Lou Surgi at mlsurgi@awnc.org or (828) 665-9464.

15 - Thursday - AgVenture Feasibility: What else can I do with what I've got? - 3pm - 6pm, Bakersville, NC. Part 1 of a three-part workshop series to help growers in western North Carolina plan their farm businesses; participants are not required to attend all three sessions. The workshop will be held at the Bakersville Fire Department. See Part II or Part III on this calendar. For more information, contact Brittany Whitmire at brittany.whitmire@buncombecounty.org or call your County Cooperative Extension Office.

21 - 22 - Wednesday - Thursday - NC Tomato Growers Association Winter Vegetable Conference and Annual Meeting - Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville. Presentations on organics, production issues, new opportunities, large and small scale farming issues, and the farming foundation. For more information, go to the conference website or check the Extension calendar from the NC Extension website. You can also download a pre-registration form (in PDF format) by clicking here.

22 - Thursday - Food Industry Class: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Packaging - 6pm - 9pm, Enka, NC. This free class offered by the AB Tech Food Business program will show participants the importance of proper packaging for their food product based on the anticipated end user. For more information and to register, contact Mary Lou Surgi at mlsurgi@awnc.org or (828) 665-9464.

24 - Saturday - ASAP Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference - Swannanoa, NC. A full day of workshop choices to help famers large and small answer the question, "Where and how will I sell what I grow?" This year, attendees can choose to attend a half-day farm business planning workshop. Preregistration required by February 5th to guarantee lunch. For more information and to register, click here.

28 - Wednesday - Bridging the Gap: Selling to Food Service and Retail - Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center, Fayetteville, NC. A day-long workshop for growers and agriculture professionals from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Registration is $12 for government employees and $25 for all others. Registration form and more information is available at the workshop website.

2 - Friday - Northern Piedmont Specialty Crops School - Roxboro, NC. This day-long workshop for growers interested in learning from other entrepreneurial farmers will include presentations on growing and marketing specialty garlic, growing medicinal herbs, integrating agritourism with the farm operation, and using drip irrigation. The cost of the session, including lunch, is $25 for one person and $15 for each additional person in a group. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, contact Carl Cantaluppi at carl_cantaluppi@ncsu.edu or (919) 603-1350.

2 - Friday - 2nd Annual Small Fruits Conference - 9am - 5pm, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, Fletcher NC. This conference will focus on establishment, varieties, production, pest management and marketing specific to WNC. $15 registration fee includes lunch; register by February 27th to reserve your space. For more information, contact Jeremy Delisle at (828) 688-4811 (or 2051), or Diane Ducharme at (828) 697-4891.

2 - 3 - Friday - Saturday - Seedling Sale - 9am - 4pm, Jesse Israel and Sons Nursery and Garden Center, Asheville NC. Sale of hardwood and pine seedlings to benefit the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District. Help with conservation and plant a tree! To pre-order hardwoods, call (828) 250-4785. All proceeds go to District education programs.

3 - Saturday - Southern Appalachian Youth Symposium on Food - Swannanoa, NC. SAY Food! is a student-initiated event for high school and college-age youth in the Southern Appalachians. Students will gather on the campus of Warren Wilson College to raise awareness of the importance of food and local food systems, to create an opportunity for communication between organizations and youth, and to envision possible approaches to further develop local food systems. More information will be available soon. In the meantime, contact Hillary Wilson at hwilson00@warren-wilson.edu.

3 - Saturday - High Country Growers School and Seed Swap - 9am - 4pm, Ashe Family Central, Jefferson NC. All growers and gardeners are invited to bring a little of what they have grown and saved, and to take some new varieties home with them. Classes will take place throughout the day on topics such as seed-saving and incubating a new generation of young farmers. A class on grafting apple trees will be offered by Ron and Suzanne Joyner at 2pm. Participants can learn successful grafting techniques from these experienced growers and root stock will also be available for sale. The workshop is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Ashe County Center of NC Cooperative Extension at (336) 219-2650. Directions to Family Central can be found at:
http://www.blueridgegraphics.com/acpc/map.asp.

8 - Thursday - Risky Business: How do I protect my farm business and me? - 3 - 6pm, various locations. Part II of a three-part workshop series; participants are not required to attend all three workshops. Identical workshops will be held at this time at the teleconference studio of Murphy High School; on the campus of UNC-Asheville; and at Mayland Community College in Spruce Pine. See Part I or Part III on this calendar. For more information, contact Brittany Whitmire at brittany.whitmire@buncombecounty.org or call your County Cooperative Extension Office.

8 - Thursday - So, You Think You Want to Cook? - 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Family Central Conference Room, Jefferson NC. Part of a weekly series through March. Free class offering business basics for anyone wishing to produce and sell a food product. Preregistration is required; to register, call Celia Robinson at the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, (828) 846-3900 x223.

8 - 10 - Thursday - Saturday - Georgia Organics 10th Anniversary Conference - Douglas, Georgia. The conference, themed "Connecting at the Crossroads - New Directions for Farms, Foods and Communities," features keynote speaker Joel Salatin, one of the nation's most renowned sustainable farmers. In addition, there will be 25 workshops, in-depth educational sessions, farm tours, and a banquet featuring local and organic foods prepared by Georgia chefs. The conference is open to farmers, customers, gardeners, chefs, and agricultural professionals. Registration fees start at $95 for GO members and $110 for non-members. For more information, contact Alice Rolls at (678) 702-0400 or alice@georgiaorganics.org, or see the Georgia Organics website.

10 - Saturday - Shiitake Mushroom Innoculation Workshop - Lansing, NC. Offered by NC State Extension in conjunction with Ashe County farmer Nancy Hoffman. More information available soon.

10 - Saturday - 14th Annual Organic Growers School - Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock NC. A day of workshops for beginning gardeners to advanced commercial growers. Over 70 diverse classes and hands-on workshops to choose from . Pre-register online at www.organicgrowersschool.org, or by mail, before March 1 and save $$$.

11 - Sunday - The Making of Miso with Sandor Katz - 2pm - 5pm, The Ashevillage Institute, 80 Buchanan Ave, Asheville. An afternoon-long workshop on how to make Miso, a traditional Japanese fermented food, and an opportunity to discuss other fermentation processes and food politics. A benefit for the Asheville Local Exchange Trading System; $20 suggested donation. To preregister (recommended), e-mail info@ashevillelets.org. For more information, go to www.wildfermentation.com.

15 - Thursday - Regulatory Compliance for Food Based Companies - 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Family Central Conference Room, Jefferson NC. Part of a weekly series through March. Free class to teach individuals how to produce foods compliant with all Department of Health and Department of Agriculture regulations. Preregistration is required; to register, call Celia Robinson at the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, (828) 846-3900 x223.

16 - 19 - Friday - Monday - Third National Farm to Cafeteria and Food Policy Conference - Baltimore, Maryland. This year's conference, "From Cafeterias to Capitol Hill: Growing Healthy Kids, Farms and Communities," will bring together hundreds of farm to cafeteria and food policy enthusiasts to share experiences and get the latest, up-to-date info on institutional purchasing on both the organizing and policy perspectives. A major focus of the conference will be issues related to the Farm Bill, including farm to cafeteria and beyond. On Monday, attendees will have the opportunity to visit with their elected representatives on Capitol Hill. For more information and to register, see the conference website.

17 - Saturday - Shiitake Mushroom Log Workshop - 1pm - 6pm, Warrensville NC. Free workshop open to the public, consisting of presentations of both basic mushroom biology and cultivation techniques, plus hands-on practice of the process of drilling, inoculating, and waxing the logs for successful production. Registration is required; to sign up, contact Ashe County Cooperative Extension at (336) 219-2650. More information about the location can be found at http://www.foxfireholler.com/.

22 - Thursday - Marketing Cakes, Molasses, Hot Sauce and Other Food Products - 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Family Central Conference Room, Jefferson NC. Part of a weekly series through March. Free class to explore marketing strategies for selling food products. Preregistration is required; to register, call Celia Robinson at the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, (828) 846-3900 x223.

22 - Thursday - Food Safety for Your Farm - 5pm - 9pm, Madison County Extension Office, Marshall NC. Protect your markets with food safety! NC Cooperative Extension will be hosting this workshop, designed to help farmers learn the basics concerning the voluntary Good Agricultural Practices (GAPS) program. Participants will learn to identify possible contamination points in the production process that are important in the expectations of not only institutional markets but other markets demanding food safety plans. Cost is $15 per person and includes a meal. For more information and to register, contact David Kendall or Dewain Mackey for Madison County at (828) 649-2411 or Diane Ducharme for Buncombe, Henderson and Haywood Counties at (828) 697-4891.

24 - Saturday - AgriBusiness Planning 101: Building a Practical Business Plan that Works for My Farm and ME! - 9am - 3pm, various locations. Part III of a three-part series of workshops to help growers with business planning. Participants are not required to attend all three workshops in the series. Pre-registration for this workshop in the series is required by March 10; cost is $15 per person and includes lunch. To register, contact your county Cooperative Extension office. Identical sessions of this workshop will be held at the telecenter of the Tri-county Community College in Murphy; at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Fletcher; and at the Bakersville Fire Department. See Part I and Part II of the workshop series on this calendar. For more information, contact Brittany Whitmire at brittany.whitmire@buncombecounty.org or call your County Cooperative Extension Office.

24 - Saturday - Asheville Artisan Bread Bakers' Festival - 10am - 2pm, Greenlife Grocery, Asheville. A celebration of locally crafted artisan bread including baking workshops for home bakers (at the Greenlife kitchen) and for advanced home bakers (at the AB-Tech Culinary School). For a complete workshop schedule, see the festival website. For more information, call (828) 683-2902 or e-mail wakerobinfarmbreads@main.nc.us.

29 - Thursday - Packaging 101 for Food Sales - 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Family Central Conference Room, Jefferson NC. Part of a weekly series through March. Free class for individuals to learn proper packaging techniques, how to create a realistic marketing plan and how to get your product in front of potential buyers. Also, proper labeling and design will be addressed as well as packaging for larger food batches. Preregistration is required; to register, call Celia Robinson at the Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, (828) 846-3900 x223.

29 - Thursday - Protecting the Family Farm - 4pm-7pm, Greenlife Community Center, Asheville NC. Learn about protecting your farm with a conservation easement or by integrating agritourism into your farm business; network with local and state representatives of the NC Agritourism Networking Association. Cost is $10, payable at the meeting, and includes materials and dinner from the Greenlife deli. To register, e-mail Marilyn Cade at marilyn@mountainfarm.net.

30 - Friday - Income Opportunities with Botanical Herbs - 8:30am - 3pm, Oakwood, VA. Presentations by growers and researchers on the production, organic certification and marketing of botanical herbs. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Registration deadline is March 26th. For more information and to register, contact Bill Worrell at (276) 889-8056 or bworrell@vt.edu.

31 - Saturday - Income Opportunities with Botanical Herbs - 8:30am - 3pm, Galax, VA. Repeat workshop from March 30th. For more information and to register, contact Bill Worrell at (276) 889-8056 or bworrell@vt.edu.

31 - Saturday - Growing Oriental Herbs in WNC - 2pm - 5pm, Asheville NC. Learn about growing and marketing Oriental herbs in the local area, purchase plant starts and network with other growers. $5 donation is encouraged. The class will be held at Daoist Traditions of Oriental Medicine, 382 Montford Ave in Asheville. For more information, contact Joe Hollis at joehollis@excite.com.

10 - Tuesday - Quarterly Meeting, Bethel Rural Community Organization - 7pm, Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bethel NC. Quarterly meeting where residents and friends of the Bethel community in Haywood County can meet to get involved with community events and issues, including farmland preservation in the Pigeon River Valley. For more information, contact president Ted Carr at (828) 648-0075 or tedcarr@bellsouth.net.

13 - Friday - Come to the Table: Food, Faith and Farms - Asheville, NC. A one-day regional event to focus on sustaining local agriculture, hunger in our communities, and the role of churches by bringing together farmers, theologians, land stewards, nutritionists, and advocates from across North Carolina's faith communities. Pastors, lay-people and citizens interested in these issues are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Chris Beers at chrisliubeers@gmail.com or Betty Bailey at bbailey@rafiusa.org.

14 - Saturday - Spring Festival at Split Creek Farm - 11am - 5pm, Split Creek Farm, Anderson SC. A full day of tours, demonstrations and education for families at a nationally recognized dairy. Learn about how a small family farm works, visit with the animals, and sample delicious goat milk products. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under. For more information, visit www.splitcreek.com, or contact the farm at info@splitcreek.com or (864) 287-3921.

14 - Saturday - Plant Rescue - 10am, Bright Hope Methodist Church. Join Robert Eidus of the Southern Appalachian School for Growing Medicinal Plants at Bright Hope Methodist Church in Madison County for a day of gathering plants to be replanted that day. For more information, contact Robert Eidus at (828) 649-3536.

15 - Sunday - Seedling Swap & Potluck - 1pm, Magnolia Park in Montford, Asheville. Sponsored by Asheville Local Exchange Trading System, this event is for people with plants to share to come and make exchanges. No money involved. Bring a potluck dish, seedlings to share, and a box to bring home beautiful plants. For more information, see www.ashevillelets.org or call 800-627-9060.

16 - Monday - Local Food Forum - 7pm, Cannon Lounge, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa NC. A panel discussion featuring Brian O'Loughlin, food service director for WWC, ASAP director Charlie Jackson, local farmers and more, focused on sharing ideas and information on bringing local farm products to insitutional markets and using WWC as an example. All interested community members are invited. For more information, contact Jeffrey McConnaughey at jmcconnaughey@warren-wilson.edu.

22 - Sunday - Ginseng and Goldenseal - 1pm - 4pm, Eagle Feather Farm, Marshall NC. A hands-on workshop with Robert Eidus of the Southern Appalachian School for Growing Medicinal Plants, in the forest with newly sprouted plants. The cultivation of medicinal plants as a business will also be discussed. Registration fee $50. For more information and to register, contact Lorie Groetzinger at (828) 350-9093 or lorie@northportbinding.com.

22 - Sunday - Berry and Small Fruit Workshop - 9:30am - 4pm, Montford Rec Center Fruit Orchard, Asheville NC. Workshop led by Walter Harrill of Imladris Farm and Chuck Marsh, permaculturist. Learn about the basics of orchard plantings including plant varieties, site selection, soil prep, pest/disease management and pollination, and maintenance of individual plants as well as designing a comprehensive edible hedge planting for landscaping, eating, wildlife benefit and ornamental asthetics. Bring some gloves, boots, lunch and a notebook as we will be preparing beds and planting our words. Cost before April 7th: $25; after April 7th: $35; under 18: $15. For more information contact Bill Whipple, (828) 713-2424 or whipplebill@hotmail.com.

26 - Thursday - Freeze Recovery Assistance Through Production of Alternative Crops - The Easter weekend freeze has left many Western North Carolina farmers looking for alternative crops for this season. An informational meeting has been scheduled to address growers’ needs for alternative crops and marketing options. Find out more here.

28 - Saturday - Plant Sale and Flea Market - 8am - 5pm, Buncombe Community School, Swannanoa NC. The 4th Annual Plant Sale and Flea Market of the Youth Fresh Food Initiative at Buncombe Community School will offer a diverse selection of naturally grown vegetable and perennial transplants grown by Agriculture students. Proceeds benefit sustainable agriculture education and paid agriculture internships on the farm over the summer. Space at the flea market will be available to sellers for $15; contract grown transplants for area farmers will also be available. For more information, contact Casey McKissick at (828) 686-7734 or casey.mckissick@bcsemail.org.

4 - Friday - Cookout to Benefit Local Farmers in Response to Recent Freeze - There will be a fundraiser to benefit local farmers at Earth Fare in the Westgate shopping center Friday, May 4 from 5-7pm. Find out more here.

4 - Friday - "Future of Farms" Presentation - 11:45am - 1pm, Chestnut Ridge Room, UNC-Asheville Reuter Center. Enjoy a visual tour of area farms while learning about issues of sustainability, development, locally grown foods and great farms to visit. ASAP's Peter Marks shares insider tips on where to eat and shop for fresh food. A free presentation, part of the Reuter Center's TGIF series, open to members and guests. Purchase lunch at the Center or bring your own. For more information about the Reuter Center, see http://www.unca.edu/ncccr/.

5 - Saturday - Ramp Festival and Dedication Ceremony - 2pm - 7pm, Barnardsville, NC. Dedication and public opening of the Little Snowball Mountain Fire Tower, newly reconstructed at the Big Ivy Historical Park. A Ramp Festival follows, together with park tours, craft demonstrations, music, vendors, and more. A country supper will be available. The festival and dedication will take place at 540 Dillingham Rd., Barnardsville, NC. For moreinformation call Ken Richards at (828) 253-3943.

8 - Tuesday - Marketing Boot Camp: High Country Region - 11:30am - 5pm, Wilkes Public Library, Wilkesboro NC. Day-long workshop for marketing professionals and community members in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. Sponsored by NC Tourism Development, presentations will include information about NC Department of Commerce Division of Tourism resources; marketing trends as they apply to western North Carolina; marketing on a limited budget; and specific projects of a regional focus. $25 registration fee includes lunch. Download a flyer and registration form here. For more information, contact Helen Ruth Almond at hralmond@nccommerce.com.

9 - Wednesday - Marketing Boot Camp: Blue Ridge Mountain Region - 11:30am - 5pm, Kellogg Center, Hendersonville NC. Day-long workshop for marketing professionals and community members in Buncombe, Burke, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey counties. Sponsored by NC Tourism Development, presentations will include information about NC Department of Commerce Division of Tourism resources; marketing trends as they apply to western North Carolina; marketing on a limited budget; and specific projects of a regional focus. $25 registration fee includes lunch. Download a flyer and registration form here. For more information, contact Leesa Brandon at lbrandon@nccommerce.com or Frankie McWhorter at fmcwhorter@nccommerce.com.

10 - Thursday - Marketing Boot Camp: Smoky Mountain Region - 11:30am - 5pm, Southwestern Community College, Bryson City NC. Day-long workshop for marketing professionals and community members in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Qualla Boundary and Swain counties. Sponsored by NC Tourism Development, presentations will include information about NC Department of Commerce Division of Tourism resources; marketing trends as they apply to western North Carolina; marketing on a limited budget; and specific projects of a regional focus. $25 registration fee includes lunch. Download a flyer and registration form here. For more information, contact Ron Ruehl at rruehl@nccommerce.com.

18 - Friday - Local Food Presentation - 7:00 PM, Malaprop’s, 55 Haywood St., Asheville, by Peter Marks of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, and Laurey Masterton, owner of Laurey's Catering in Asheville and author of Elsie's Biscuits.

29 - Tuesday - Planning the Future of Your Farm Workshop Sponsored by the Farm Prosperity Project and the NC Farm Transition Network - 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, 455 Research Drive in Fletcher, NC, PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED: To register and for directions, please email Terri_Schell@ncsu.edu or call Terri Schell at 828-684-3562 . FOR MORE INFORMATION, please email Tom@landofsky.org or call Tom Elmore at 828-251-6622. Directions are at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/.

21 - Thursday - NC A&T Small Farm Field Day 2007 - 9am - 12pm, 3136 McConnell Rd, Greensboro, NC 27411. Lunch will be provided to all pre-registered participants. To pre-register and reserve a lunch, contact: Ms. Andrea Brooks, email: abrooks@ncat.edu or phone: 336-334-7956.

23 - Saturday - Great Smoky Mountain Trout Festival - 9am - 6pm, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. This year's 18th annual festival will offer live entertainment, food, games for kids, the annual Adopt-a-Trout race to benefit Haywood Waterways, and representatives from area recreation and conservation organizations. Adults $2, kids 12 and under free. For more information, check in with the festival website.

23 - Saturday - Small Fruit in the Home Landscape - 2 pm, Reems Creek Valley Nursery. Horticulturist, Wilma Penland will discuss incorporating beautiful and delicious edible fruits into the landscaping around your home. Most fruits are delicious and beautiful to look at as well. Pretty flowers, showy bark, gorgeous fall color, and yummy fruit bring a feeling of natural abundance to your home landscape. Delight your children and family with an array of small fruits tucked here and there as edible landscaping - ready for picking right out your back door. Free, but please pre-register at 828-645-3937 or at the nursery.

24 - Sunday- Buy Local Bash - 12 pm - 5pm, Greenlife is teaming up with ASAP to showcase neighborhood bakers, farmers and crafters for food sampling, demos and more. There will also be local music by the Sons of Ralph! The event will also include the following talks: Making a Kick-A** (very healthy) Salad With Wild Foods, featuring Stephanie Katz of Doghead Herb Farm, Asheville, NC,; Sustainable Agriculture in Practice at Hickory Nut Gap Farm, featuring Jamie Ager of Spring House Meats, Fairview, NC.; 5 00 Studies Later: The Medicinal Benefits of Broccoli Sprouts, featuring Ed Mills of Sunny Creek Farm, Tryon, NC.

30 - Saturday - Creating a Butterfly Garden - 10 am, Reems Creek Valley Nursery. Love to see butterflies flitting around your garden? Particular plants, sunshine, water, shelter and pesticide-free habitat all foster an environment that attracts butterflies. Join Ruth Uffelman for a free seminar to learn to design a mini-habitat that entices your butterflies to your yard for your enjoyment and for their benefit.

July (Top)

7 - 8 - Saturday -Sunday - Lavendar Festival - 10am - 5pm, Mountain Farm, Burnsville, NC. For more information visit: www.mountainfarm.net/page16.html.

8 - 14 - Sunday - Saturday - Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts - Warren Wilson College. Week one of classes in all areas of food gathering, preparation and enjoyment, conducted by chefs, bakers and from Asheville, New York City, France, and Italy. Cost is $1,000 for each week. For more information, see www.schoolofculinaryarts.org or call (828) 771-3018.

12- Thursday - Fueling the Farm: Managing Energy Risks, Reducing Energy Costs, and Exploring Alternative Energy Sources The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) are pleased to announce this day-long workshop at CEFS, a 2,000-acre research, extension, and education facility near Goldsboro, North Carolina. Registration is required. To learn more about the workshop or to register, visit the CEFS website, www.cefs.ncsu.edu.

13 - Friday - NC Watermelon Tasting - WNC Farmers’ Market, Asheville, NC. Contact 828-253-1691

15 - 21 - Sunday - Saturday - Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts - Warren Wilson College. Week two. See description above.

18-29 - Wednesday - Sunday - Georgia Mountain Fair, Hiawassee, GA. Contact 706-896-4191, georgia-mountain-fair.com

27 - 29 - Friday - Sunday - North Carolina Herb Association Wild Herb Weekend - Valle Crucis Conference Center, Valle Crucis, NC. Spend a casual weekend filled with superb educational sessions, visiting with other herbalists, shopping among vendors with herbs, herb and gardening products, and more. All at a charming conference center in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and at an affordable price. The annual Wild Herb Weekend (WHW), presented by the North Carolina Herb Association, brings together herb hobbyists, gardeners, and herb enthusiasts from across North Carolina and neighboring states. For more information and registration forms, visit www.ncherbassociation.com/festivals.html.

28 - Saturday - Caldwell Blackberry Festival, Lenoir, NC Contact 828-726-0616, caldwellcochamber.org

31 -Tuesday - 2007 Irrigation Tour - Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center, Fletcher, North Carolina. Tour MHCREC - Observe various irrigation systems including frost protection. Van Wingerden International - View Flood Floors and ebb & flow irrigation system in nursery. Lunch Provided at Mills River Restaurant, Tour Etowah Orchids. Tour Turf Mt Sod Penrose Farm. Tour Pisgah Fish Hatchery and Nature Center Waste Water Land Application - View wastewater treatment and land disposal systems. More tour details and registration information are at: http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/workshops/2007irrigationtour/index.html.

August (Top)

4-5 - Saturday - Sunday- High Country CFSA Farm Tour - NC High Country. Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany Counties in North Carolina.
Tour 14 Family Farms throughout the High Country! Join local farmers and Carolina Farm Stewardship Association for a fun-filled summer weekend! Enjoy the bounty of food and flowers in the beautiful North Carolina mountains while supporting local, organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farms. For more information, visit their website.

7- Tuesday - Henderson County Farm to School meeting - to gather Henderson County community members together to talk about farm to school (getting locally grown food into school cafeterias, along with school gardens, farm field trips, and hands on cooking) and how that might be implemented in Henderson County. Email Emily for more information.

7 – Tuesday - Profitable Produce: A Workshop on Legal Liability and Handling Food Safely - Ashe County Center, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, 134 Government Circle, Suite 202, Jefferson, NC 28640. Why You Need to be Concerned About Food Safety and Liability, Annette Dunlap, MBA, Extension Associate, Agricultural Business Management, N.C. State University. Legal Issues in Direct Marketing, Ted Feitshans, Extension Specialist, Agricultural and Resource Economics, N.C. State University. Good Agricultural Practices: How to Avoid E. coli and Other Food-Borne Diseases in Produce, Dr. Lynn Turner, Professor of Food Science, N.C. State University. Product Liability Insurance, Shirley Outlaw, North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance. For more information, contact: Carolyn Shepherd, 336.219.2650 or carolyn_shepherd@ncsu.edu, Annette Dunlap, 919.515.5969 or annette_dunlap@ncsu.edu. This workshop is being provided by North Carolina Cooperative Extension ( Ashe County) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University. For information about value-added programs: www.cals.ncsu.edu/value-added. For contact information and directions to the Ashe County Cooperative Extension Center: ashe.ces.ncsu.edu.

9 - Thursday - Tomato Field Day - Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Fletcher, NC. Registration is from 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Welcome Comments begin at 1:00 p.m. Tour of Research begins at 1:30 p.m. and runs to 5:30 p.m. At 6:00 pm there will be a Pig Pickin’ at nearby Lake Julian sponsored by the N.C. Tomato Growers Association Find out more here.

9 - Thursday - Natural Systems Agriculture and the New Conservation Ethic - with Robin Suggs. 6 class program begins August 9, 2007. $20/ class or $100/ 6 class series. Alternating Thursdays 6-8pm. In light of increasing public acknowledgement of our current environmental crisis exemplified by global warming and the near collapse of natural systems on our planet it is obvious that our societal “policies du jour” are failing. Class instructor, Robin Suggs, will interactively communicate his vision for sustainability beginning with personal action and responsibility here in the Blue Ridge Bioregion. Contact the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism for more info or to register - www.herbsheal.com/courses_short.htm, (828) 350-1221, Info@HerbsHeal.com.

9 - Thursday - Moving Towards Wellness - A fair dedicated to healthy habits and local food. 9 am –3 pm, Patton Bldg. Blue Ridge Community College. Classes include: nutrition, cooking, exercise, healthcare choices, consumer issues, and complimentary therapies. Sponsored by the Healthy Aging Coalition, Council on Aging for Henderson County, the Hendersonville Community Coop, and Blue Ridge Community College.

10 – Friday - Farm Incubator and Grower’s (FIG) program kick-off - 8a.m.-1p.m., Maverick Farms (in Valle Crucis). Coffee/muffins and a light lunch will be served. Please join the Maverick Farms crew to talk about an exciting new community project. In our efforts to develop a more robust local food system in the High Country, we have realized the region needs more land under cultivation and a new generation of farmers. For these reasons, we are turning our attention and resources to the development of a Farm Incubator and Grower’s (FIG) program. We invite you to come hear more about the project, share your interest and ideas, give us feedback on the FIG program/business plan, and help us strategize about how we can all work together to build a comprehensive regional food system. PLEASE RSVP by Friday, August 3 by e-mailing Sara Safransky at sara@maverickfarms.org or calling the farm at 828-963-4656.

11-12 - Saturday - Sunday - 30th Annual Sourwood Festival, Black Mountain, NC. Contact 828-669-2300, exploreblackmountain.com

11 – Saturday - Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture and Energy Project From Seed to Sale - Growing Native Azaleas - 2 PM, 843 Wallace Road, Trade, TN 37691. The folks at Tennessee Rose nursery know their way around native azaleas, and walk their talk all the way “From Seed to Sale.” Saturday, August 11 is your chance to visit their farm and learn about the techniques they use to conserve and spread some o the most beautiful native shrubs in the High Country. Please RSVP by Phone or E-mail to: 423-727-6574, Tennrose@xtn.net.

17 - Friday - North Carolina Tomato Tasting, WNC Farmers’ Market, Asheville, NC. Contact 828-253-1691, wncfarmersmarket.org

17 – Friday - Organic Crops Rotation Field Day - Upper Mountain Research Station: 1:30 – 4:30 PM. With a focus on Organic Tomato Production and Farmscape Plantings for Beneficial Insect Habitat. For the past three years, a small patch of the Upper Mountain Research Station has been managed organically and used to grow rotations of vegetables and cover crops using techniques that can easily be emulated by small farms in our area. On the afternoon of Friday, August 17, NC Cooperative Extension and staff of the Upper Mountain Research Station will share the techniques used for building soil fertility, planning rotations, and managing pests. The field day is free and open to all interested growers. For more information, or to register, call the Ashe County Cooperative Extension 336-219-2650.

19 - 21 - Sunday - Tuesday - Strategies for Rural Development: Business Incubation and Clean Energy - Johnson City, TN. Find out more from the Appalachian Regional Commision.

20 – Monday – Farm Production, Marketing and Financial Planning Workshop – 5 pm, Hawkins County Gas Company, 202 Park Blvd, Rogersville, TN 37857. Cost: FREE! Presenters: Annette Wazelaki, Vegetable Production Extension Specialist at UT, on production planning, Rob Beets, Marketing Specialist with TDA on market planning, Alice Rhea, Area Farm Management Specialist with UT Extension in East Tennessee, on financial planning. We invite all farmers and growers to come join us for this unique, no-cost learning experience! You will learn how to market, produce and plan for your business's financial future. So that we may have enough refreshments and supplies available, please contact Lisa Long by August 13th at 423-357-8073 or lisafarm2school@yahoo.com to reserve your seat. “This material is based upon work supported by USDA/CSREES under Award Number 2004-49200-03123.”

23 - Thursday - The Small-Scale Biodiesel Production Workshop - 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Presented by Rachel Burton & Matt Rudolf of Piedmont Biofuels, Pittsboro, NC. Hosted by: Bill Welch, Broken Wing Farm. Location: Broken Wing Farm, 331 Penson Road, Honea Path, SC 29654. This workshop will examine the use of vegetable oil based fuels, delve into the mechanics of diesel engines and vegetable oil fuel systems, and explore the chemistry of biodiesel and biodiesel production using a using a small-scale reactor (on-site). The cost for the workshop is $30 and includes lunch. Contact Kelly Gilkerson at 864-656-5057 or kgilker@clemson.edu for more information.

27 - Wednesday - Opportunities with Tomatos and Organics - 3:00 - 6:30pm at Mountain Research Station, 265 Test Farm Rd in Waynesville, NC. For more information, contact Jeanine Davis or Laura Duffie at 828-684-3562.

28 -Tuesday - Farmer's Marketing 101: Successful Direct Marketing Strategies for Small-Scale Farmers - 9:15 AM - 5:15 PM, The Lake House, Sandhill Research and Education Center, 900 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229. Registration: $20 includes local foods lunch. Presenters include: Sheila Neal, Manager, Carrboro Farmers Market (one of the finest local markets in the U.S.); Emile DeFelice, Farmer and Local Foods Expert, Caw Caw Creek Pastured Pork; Azeez Mustafa and Gayla Carle, Farmers and Direct Marketing Experts, Sumter Cooperative Farms; Austin Jenkins, Manager, Sandhill Farmers Market; Dave Lamie, Marketing Specialist, Clemson Institute for Community and Economic Development; Amy Nichols and Amanda McNulty, Customer Service Experts, Clemson University Extension and Clemson Sustainable Ag Program. We invite all farmers, market gardeners and agriculture professionals to join us for this unique opportunity to learn about direct marketing strategies from highly successful market managers, farmers and other marketing experts. Registration form and a workshop agenda are attached. Please contact Kelly Gilkerson for more information; kgilker@clemson.edu.

31 - Friday - Apple Pickin’ Days, Cocke County, TN. Contact 423-487-3111, treasuresofappalachia.com.

31- 9/3 - Friday - Monday - NC Apple Festival - Hendersonville, NC. Contact 828-697-4557, ncapplefestival.org

September (Top)

1 -Saturday - Solar Hot Water Heater Workshop - 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Hands-on training by Paul Gallimore, Director of Long Branch Environmental Education Center. Madison County, North Carolina. Uses locally available or recycled materials. Can be built with ordinary carpentry and plumbing skills. No glycol or pumps and does not need to be drained. Can withstand temperatures to -15° Fahrenheit without danger of freezing. Heats water 12 months out of the year in NC mountain climate. Heats water even on cloudy days. $105 tuition if paid by August 20, $125 if paid after August 20. Free sleepover accommodations. Limited to 15 participants. See www.southeasternharps.com/water or contact Carolyn Deal at 828-649-3016.

2 - Sunday - Solar Hot Water Heater Workshop – 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., See above.

2 - Sunday - The Ginseng Hunt - 1pm - 4pm, Eagle Feather Farm, Marshall NC. Presented by the Southern Appalachian School for Growing Medicinal Plants, with Robert Eidus. Registration is $50. For more information and to register, contact Lorie Groetzinger at (828) 350-9093 or lorie@northportbinding.com.

3 - Monday - Ohio Green Living Fayre - 11am - 6pm, Flying J Organic Farm, Johnstown, Ohio. Learn old-fashioned green living techniques like canning, maple syruping, weaving, and making your own cheese, and learn about alternative forms of sustainable energy available today. Buggy rides, games, fishing, hiking, vendors, workshops, food and music complete the Fayre. For more information contact Jay Warmke at jay@bluerockstation.com or visit www.ohiogreenliving.org

2 - Sunday - 6th Annual Heritage Walk & Festival, Historic Murphy, NC. Contact www.heritagepartners.org

6 - Thursday - Food Industry Overview - 6-9 PM. Part of a series of 5 classes culminating in a tasting and packaging expert panel will be held jointly by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka Campus in the fall. See more here or visit: http://abtech.edu/sbc/class_schedule.asp

7-16 - Friday - Sunday - NC Mountain State Fair, WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher, NC. Contact 828-687-1414

8 - Saturday - Organicfest, Downtown Asheville, NC. One of the nation’s largest regional organic food festivals (www.organicfest.org), will celebrate National Organic Harvest month on Battery Park and Otis Streets by the historic Grove Arcade. Everyone is invited to attend this annual event, now in its 6th year, open from 10 AM to 6 PM. Organicfest is organized by Pure Food Partners and co-sponsored by the City of Asheville Parks and Recreation Department and an array of local, regional and national businesses which promote healthy, organic foods and sustainable business practices. The finest organic foods and refreshments will be available. Environmental organizations will share information and provide help with organic living, organic gardening, organic farming and other earth care matters. Activities will include live music, dancing and drawings for organic goods and gift certificates and the festival will again feature the popular Organicfest Kids Parade at 1 PM. For further information please contact Debi Athos, 828-253-2267 or debi@organicfest.org

8 - Saturday - Heritage Harvest Festival - Thomas Jefferson’s Historic Farm, Monticello, Virginia. This first time festival is sponsored by Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. They have arranged an incredible line-up of speakers knowledgeable about organic production, heirloom plants, wholesome food, and gardening. Check out their website at www.heritageharvestfestival.com.

13 - Thursday - Food Industry Compliance and Legal Issues - 6-9 PM. Part of a series of 5 classes culminating in a tasting and packaging expert panel will be held jointly by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka Campus in the fall. See more here or visit: http://abtech.edu/sbc/class_schedule.asp

15 - Saturday - Farm Field Day - Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC. Contact 828-771-3756

17 – Monday – Farm Tour for Chefs - 9-1pm, Please join ASAP for an informal tour of Full Sun Farm in the Sandy Mush valley. Focusing on seasonality, this trip will include discussion of the wide variety of produce available through the growing season (including Full Sun’s 9 varieties of potatoes) and strategies for highlighting local on the restaurant level. To sign up please contact Molly at 236-1282 or molly@asapconnections.org

20 - Thursday - Branding your Food Product - 9am - 12pm (Note time difference.) Part of a series of 5 classes culminating in a tasting and packaging expert panel will be held jointly by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka Campus in the fall. See more here or visit: http://abtech.edu/sbc/class_schedule.asp

25 – Tuesday – Active Aging Week Farm Field Trip - ASAP and the Council on Aging of Buncombe County are organizing a farm field trip as part of Active Aging Week. The trip is for older adults in the community who want a chance to visit a working farm and enjoy the day in the country. We'll be visiting Thatchmore Farm in Leicester, where Tom Elmore and Karen Thatcher grow beautiful organic produce. We will meet on Sept. 25th at 10:45 a.m. at the Senior Opportunity Center on Grove Street in downtown Asheville and return by 2:00 p.m. For transportation through Mountain Mobility, you must register by this Friday, Sept. 7th. To take your own vehicle or carpool, register by Sept. 16th. Bag lunch is recommended. This event is not accessible for those in wheelchairs. To register, or for further information, please contact Libby Hinsley at ASAP by calling 828-236-1282.

25 -Tuesday - Food Expo and Trade Show - at Blue Ridge Food Ventures. Local Products made at BRFV will be available to buy and sample. Buyers, restauranteurs, and general public welcome. FREE at A-B Tech Enka Campus. Find more information at www.blueridgefoodventures.org.

26 - Wednesday - Ophelia's Fresh-from-the-Farm Outdoor Kitchen - 2-4 pm. Chef Jamie Allred from Ophelia’s Restaurant and Bar will create an “outdoor kitchen” at the Wednesday Downtown Farmers’ Tailgate Market, and cook up tasty delights using just-harvested produce, locally-raised free range meats, goat cheeses, and other goods from market vendors. Visitors will be also be able to sample dishes from Ophelia’s fresh-from-the-farm seasonal menu. The market is located in the parking lot next to the French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Avenue, downtown Asheville. This event is free and open to the public.

27 - Thursday - Packaging and Labeling your Food Product - 6-9 PM . Part of a series of 5 classes culminating in a tasting and packaging expert panel will be held jointly by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka Campus in the fall. See more here or visit: http://abtech.edu/sbc/class_schedule.asp

28-30 -Friday - Sunday - True Nature Country Fair – Deerfields, Mills River, North Carolina. The Organic Growers School brings you their inagural fall event. This celebration of life in connection with the earth will feature vendors of local, organic, and sustainable products and resources from throughout the Southern Appalachians, workshops on all facets of sustainable living, and children’s program, and live music, all in a pristine setting. Daily: $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12, free for children 2 years and younger. Vendor, exhibitor, presenter and volunteer inquiries welcome. Information at www.organicgrowersschool.org, 828.342.1849 or karen@organicgrowersschool.org.

29 – Saturday - Shop with the Chef - 8 am. Join Mark Rosenstein, owner/chef of The Market Place Restaurant, as he makes his morning rounds of the North Asheville farmers’ tailgate market recently relocated to the UNCA campus. Mark will introduce the farmers, offer produce selection and cooking tips, and share his philosophy of using seasonal, indigenous ingredients to create fine cuisine. Bring your shopping bag so you can buy what the chef buys . . . or make your own discoveries. Then off to his restaurant kitchen, where he will offer a cooking class and allow you to taste his preparations using the fresh market ingredients, some of which will appear on the menu that evening. Meet at the Saturday Market located in the large tiered parking lot near the entrance to the campus. Meet Mark at the top of the stairs at 8 am SHARP. The guided market tour is free and open to the public. Due to limited space in the restaurant kitchen, prepayment for the cooking class is required and registration is limited to 12 people. The cooking class fee is $25. To register, contact The Market Place. Directions to Farmer's Market: Enter the UNC Asheville campus at the traffic circle on W.T. Weaver Boulevard. Travel up the main drive and take the first right at the blue sign that reads Commuter/Faculty-Staff Parking Lot C. A campus map is available at www.unca.edu/campusmap/Summer_Map.pdf.

29 - Saturday - North Carolina Apple Tasting, WNC Farmers Market, Asheville, NC. wncfarmersmarket.org

29 - Saturday - Henderson County Curb Market Old Timey Day - Hendersonville, NC. Contact 828-692-8012, curbmarket.com

29 – Saturday - Backyard Orchards - Reems Creek Nursery, 70 Monticello Road, Weaverville, NC. Free, but please call 828-645-3937 to pre-register. Andrew Goodheart Brown, MS, owner of The Urban Orchardist, will discuss the benefits of growing fruit, site selection, appropriate varieties for organic fruit, and care of newly planted and previously established fruit. Andrew specializes in planning, pruning, revitalization and care; edible landscape design; permaculture and land-use; with a focus on organic approaches. Questions? Call Ruth Uffelman at 828-645-3937.

29 - 30 - Saturday - Sunday - 3rd Annual Southeast Women’s Herbal Conference - Camp Pinnacle, Hendersonville, North Carolina. All women interested in the healing powers of herbs should plan to attend this conference. Set at a rustic camp in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, this conference is an experience exposing you to the most knowledgeable herbalists in the eastern United States. Learn how to use and grow herbs, eat amazing fresh food, and sing and dance with like-minded women. This conference is sponsored by Red Moon Herbs. Learn more at redmoonherbs.com/womens_herbal_conference/index.php.

29 – Saturday - Inaugural Heritage Day Festival - Big Ivy Historical Park in Barnardsville, NC. Local sorghum, transformed into molasses the old-fashioned way—over an open fire—will delight you and the kids at Big Ivy’s first annual Heritage Day festival. Fresh apples will be pressed for cider and cooked up for butter in the open air. Here is your chance to tour a furnished 19th century log cabin, a detached old-time kitchen, and a 1900 schoolhouse. For a breath-taking experience, climb the open staircase to the top of the recreated 1934 Little Snowball Mountain Fire Tower where the view is spectacular. Learn how watchers monitored wildfires in the old days. Blacksmiths, woodworkers and quilters will demonstrate their skills and answer questions. Enjoy local food and entertainment! Admission and parking are free; watch for signs. The Center and Park are located two miles beyond the Barnardsville post office at 540 Dillingham Road. For further details, phone 626-3438.

October (Top)

4 – Thursday – Chef Fest – 9am-1:30pm at Vance Elementary. ASAP’s Growing Minds Program is looking for chefs that want to play an important role in the community – cooking with kids. This is an opportunity for local chefs to flaunt their skills, promote their restaurants and provide children with positive experiences with healthy fresh foods. Chef Fest is a one time, hands-on training for chefs to learn how to engage children of all ages, connect cooking with curriculum and promote locally grown farm products. This morning of cooking will be fully equipped with rambunctious elementary school children. Learn strategies on handling a group, as well as making cooking classes or demonstrations fun and educational. Gain experience with a variety of age groups and learn techniques from other chefs and educators. Here is your chance to help build the next generation of “foodies” while outreaching to your community. For more information contact Molly at (828) 236-1282 or molly@asapconnections.org

4 - Thursday - Final Exam Taste Test - 6-9 PM. Part of a series of 5 classes culminating in a tasting and packaging expert panel will be held jointly by the A-B Tech Small Business Center and Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka Campus in the fall. See more here or visit: http://abtech.edu/sbc/class_schedule.asp

6 - Sunday - Farm-to-Fork: A Niche-Based Livestock Marketing Workshop - 9am – 3pm (Local Foods Lunch and Farm Tour Included), Madison County Extension Center, Marshall, NC. Raising livestock, from beef cattle to meat goats, is a familiar farming activity throughout the Carolinas. While many farmers raise meat animals for their own consumption, more of the livestock raised for meat production leaves the region before reaching maturity for slaughter and processing purposes. However, an increasing interest in locally-grown food is driving consumer demand for meats and other farm goods that are raised and marketed directly to local buyers. The response to growing consumer interest poses several challenges for livestock producers, including understanding how navigate the legal requirements, knowing the existing slaughter/process infrastructure, and using direct-marketing methods.
Farm-to-Fork is a workshop designed especially for livestock producers, and speakers will range from marketing experts to livestock producers to retail buyers. This workshop will benefit participants with any level of interest and experience in selling goods directly to consumers or retailers. (For driving directions, go here) Pre-registration is required by September 22^nd; call (828) 884-3109 to reserve a seat!

11 – Thursday - Film: The Future of Food - UU Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl. Asheville, 28801 at 7:00 pm. Learn about what industrial agriculture has been doing to our food supply with unlabeled, patented, and GMO foods at Sustainable Asheville's monthly event. Shot on location in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, The Future of Food examines the complex web of market and political forces that are changing what we eat as huge multinational corporations seek to control the world's food system. www.sustainableasheville.org. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

12-21 - Friday - Sunday - Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Hiawassee, GA. Contact 706-896-4191. www.georgia-mountain-fair.com.

13 – 14 – Saturday and Sunday - Sustainable Agriculture Treasure Hunt – Various locations across Buncombe County. Organized and sponsored by Imladris Farm, Fairview, NC. Come explore the sustainable agriculture community of Buncombe County via a fun, challenging treasure hunt! Clues will lead you on a beautiful romp across Buncombe County, showcasing farms, a popular local restaurant, & a retail outlet. Successfully solving each puzzle will lead you to a location and an item to be purchased. Purchasing the correct item will reveal the next clue! The first three participants to bring all of the items to Imladris Farm will receive gift baskets featuring products from each stop. Participants should budget $25 for the complete treasure hunt, though you are encouraged to support local farms and businesses by purchasing additional items as you see fit. The first clue will be posted at www.imladrisfarm.com on Friday, October 12. Additional clues will become available at 7 a.m. on Saturday, October 13. Additional information is available at www.imladrisfarm.com.

13 - Saturday - United Plant Savers' Planting the Future Conference - 8:30am - 5pm, Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC. Wide array of instructors lead discussions and workshops on cultivation and conservation of native medicinal plants in the Southern Appalachians. Products, books and plants will be for sale. Sunday the 14th will include tours of leading botanical producers in the WNC mountains. For more information and to register before September 15th, contact United Plant Savers at (802) 476-6467 or plants@unitedplantsavers.org. For more information, visit unitedplantsavers.org .

13 - Saturday - Clemson University Sustainable Agriculture Program's Inaugural Harvest Festival! - 9am-1:30pm, Clemson University in the Botanical Gardens. Celebrating Sustainable Agriculture and small local farms. Guided tours of the Heirloom Vegetable Garden plots, Seed Saving Demonstration, Seasonal Vegetable Cooking Demonstration and Tasting, Small Farm Tools Exhibit, Green Composting Exhibit, Activities for Kids, Food, Music. Please contact Kelly Gilkerson for more information kgilker@clemson.edu or 864 656-5057.

13 - Saturday - Carolina Farm Stewards Upstate On-Farm Benefit Dinner – The Happy Berry in Six Mile, SC. Upstate On-Farm Benefit Dinner, a fundraiser for CFSA sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Focus the Nation. This dinner will provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to indulge in an exquisite six-course meal in a charming on-farm setting prepared by five well-known local chefs: Rodney Friedank of Restaurant O, John and Amy Malik of Liberty 33, Shane White of Keowee Keys, Val Lowe and Katie Tillman of Friends, and Patsy Sims of Walhalla Liberty Lodge. Each course will feature local meats, fruits and vegetables, cheeses, eggs and other farm fresh delights paired with fine organic wines. Attendees will dine amongst the scenery of a working farm, and have the chance to take a pre-dinner wine tour of the farm guided by owner Walker Miller and family. The event also includes old time music and Upstate folklorists to entertain guests during a pre-dinner social. Reserve a seat by contacting Cheryl at CFSA at (919) 542 2402, or online at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. Tickets are $100 per person for the six-course meal and social, and $150 per person to join the wine tasting and pre-dinner farm tour and also enjoy the dinner. A portion of the reservation price is a tax-deductible contribution to CFSA.

13 - 14 - Saturday and Sunday - First-Ever Upstate Farm Tour - 1-5 p.m. both days. Up to 20 local and organic farms in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties open their fields for thousands of visitors to celebrate the Fall Harvest by learning how local farmers produce healthy and fresh local food. Farm Tour buttons, which grant admission for a full carload to all farms on the Tour, can be purchased in advance for $20, or the days of the tour for $25, or each car can pay $10 per farm on the days of the tour (paid at each farm). Many farms will be selling fresh local produce, eggs, meat, bouquets, bedding plants and other products! To find out where to buy a button or to get more information, contact CFSA at 919-542-2402, visit www.carolianfarmstewards.org.

18 - Thursday – Strengthening Local Business – 5:30pm, Jubilee!, 46 Wall Street. As part of the Asheville Downtown Association speaker series, please join us for a provocative and practical presentation and discussion that will reveal the many cultural, economic and environmental benefits our community reaps from supporting local businesses. Jeff Milchen founded and directed the nation's first Independent Business Alliance in Boulder, CO before co-founding the American Independent Business Alliance to help other communities to organize successfully. He is highly-sought speaker, nationally-published writer and leading voice for community self-determination America's independent businesses. The Speakers Series is co-sponsored by The City of Asheville, Quality Forward, the WNC Chapter of the American Planning Association, Michael Figura, and Buy Local WNC. This event is free and open to the public.

20 – Saturday - Madison Farms Dinner: A Celebration in Support of Madison Family Farms - 6:00 – 8:00pm. Madison County Extension Center. $10.00 a plate. Help us celebrate local farms and thegreat food they produce. Menu: Stuffed Peppers, Meatloaf, Pork BBQ, Beef Roast, Broccoli, Broccoli and Cheese, Mashed, Baked and Roasted potatoes, Squash Casserole, Salads, Local Bread, Eggplant, and Baked Apples. Call 649-2411 to sign up by October 17th. Sponsored by Madison Farms and Madison County farmers.

20 - Saturday - 19th Annual Apple Harvest Festival - Waynesville, NC. Contact 828-456-3021, www.haywood-nc.com

20 - Saturday - Fall Color Combos - 10am at Reems Creek Nursery, 70 Monticello Road, Weaverville, NC. Free, but please call 828-645-3937 to pre-register. Larry Newlin will speak about great plant combinations for fall, including tips on color theory; which colors clash and which combine well ~ plus the most important aspects of flowering shrubs, perennials, and grasses; and blending plants of varying textures and forms to promote harmony and dynamism in the garden. Larry Newlin is Territory Manager for Imperial Nurseries, owned his own garden center for 20 years, and along with his wife, Lee, leads garden tours of public and private gardens.

20 – 21, Saturday and Sunday - Maggie Valley Arts And Crafts Show - 9 A.M. – 5 P.M. at The Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. There will be music, food, fun and great arts and crafts! Frog Holler Organiks will be there with a lot of new garden statuary to choose from, including: new garden gnomes and elves, ducks, swans, geese, bears, angels, squirrels, and many other requested items. Free Admission. Frog Holler Organiks, www.frogholler.net/homepage.htm.

28 - Friday - Pumpkinfest, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain, NC. Contact 828-669-0930.

November (Top)

2 – Friday – Farm Disaster Relief Training - from 9-12 am at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Center in Fletcher. Presenting will be Scott Marlow of the Rural Advancement Foundation International, based in Pittsboro, NC, and Kelly Springs, Henderson County Executive Director for the USDA Farm Services Agency. After lunch, Scott and Kelly will make themselves available to consult individually with growers and service providers who have further questions about the disaster relief programs discussed.
The agenda will focus on: (1.) What disaster relief programs are available for the freeze. (2.) What is available or likely to become available for the drought and how can farms best document damage. (3.) What steps people need to take next year and what they need to know about the direction agriculture disaster relief is moving.
The meeting will specifically address the FSA’s ad hoc disaster relief program recently announced for losses of income in crops and livestock in 05-07. It has a sign-up period starting October 15. This relief program is only for producers who had crop insurance or NAP. However, other elements of the meeting will be of interest to all growers, not only those who had insurance, so all are welcome. People who provide services to farmers are also welcome to come. This program is free of charge.

2 – 4 – Friday – Sunday - American Livestock Breeds Conservancy 30th Anniversary Conference - Several Selected Local Farms and the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Sanford, NC. Registration is now open for the 30th Anniversary Conference of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Traditional Breeds, Modern Skills. Sharing 30 Years of Breed Conservation. Come join ALBC in celebrating 30 successful years of conserving livestock genetic diversity. Programs will include hands-on workshops on husbandry, management, and selection of rare breeds at local farms, as well as seminars on rare breed production, processing, products, marketing, and breeding strategies. There will be time allotted for members to network and share their experiences, successes, and hopes. Plus, Friday and Saturday evenings will feature special meals with opportunities to taste rare breeds. The conference brochure is available for download on the ALBC website.

6 - Tuesday - Key Strategies for Farms to Succeed in Local Markets - from 9am-1pm at the Agricultural Conference Center in Boone, NC. A half-day training for farmers and others. Gain the tools, examples, and information you need to get into and succeed in diverse local markets. More information here.

8 – Thursday - Sustainable and Local Food: Community Discussion Panel - UU Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl. Asheville, 28801 at 7:00 pm. Panel of 6 local experts to discuss Local Food and Sustainability Issues. What does the average person need to know about food/agriculture, in coming years? How can Asheville increase its food security in a time of scarcer petroleum? How can more food be grown in the city? What food diversity is here in WNC and what is lacking? How can community gardens transform culture? These are some of the important questions to be addressed by a panel of local food experts at Sustainable Asheville's monthly meeting. Panelists include: Linda Blue, Director of the NC Extension; Stewart David of Asheville Vegetarians; Linda Lengnick of Warren Wilson College's Agriculture Program; Kate Slattery, outreach director for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP); Turtle, of Bountiful Cities Program (with six community gardens in Asheville); and Robert White, founder of the Pisgah View Community Peace Garden. Each brings a different perspective on food and sustainability. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

8 – Thursday - North Carolina Tree Farm Program Forest Landowner’s Workshop - The North Carolina Tree Farm Program announces a field forestry workshop at the Mountain Horticulture Center in Fletcher, NC from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Transportation to the Tree Farm will be provided by the NC Division of Forest Resources and a complimentary lunch will be served at the horticulture center prior to departure. The workshop is provided free of charge courtesy of the North Carolina Tree Farm Program and local supporters. Call Amanda Stone at the NC Cooperative Extension Service office in Buncombe County at 828-255-5522 or contact by email at Amanda_Stone@ncsu.edu to register for the workshop.

9 - 11 - Friday - Sunday - Sustainable Agriculture Conference - Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Durham, North Carolina. This will be the 22nd annual conference devoted to organic and sustainable food production in the Carolinas. For more information, visit ww.carolinafarmstewards.org.

24 - Saturday - Old Timey Christmas, Henderson County Curb Market, Hendersonville, NC. Contact 828-891-6585

24 – Saturday – Holiday Open House and Customer Appreciation Day - 11:00AM – 4:00PM, Split Creek Farm. Come spend the day visiting the farm animals, and let us help with your Holiday shopping. Shop at the Hen House for folk art, Christmas ornaments, and gifts. Other artists and crafts people will have booths set up in the farm yard also. Handmade jewelry, baskets, painted gourds and fiber arts are just some of the items available. Give your family and friends unique South Carolina produced gifts for the holidays (artisan goat cheese, goat milk fudge, goat milk soap, Carolina rice, Timm’s Mill grits and cornmeal, Bee Well honey, Split Creek Farm gourmet dog biscuits). Choose from a variety of gift baskets; or bring your addresses and gift cards, create your own baskets, and leave the rest to us. Split Creek Farm ships nationally on a daily basis. Our country porch kitchen will be open all day for the purchase of snacks, goat cheese pizza, and other appetizers using goat products. Split Creek Farm appreciates our friends’ and customers’ support. There is no admission charge for this event. Split Creek Farm, LLC 864-287-3921. Directions and more information here.

27 – Tuesday – Asheville City Market Informational Meeting - Buncombe County Cooperative Extension and Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project will be hosting an informational meeting for the new Asheville City Market on Tuesday, November 27th, from 7:00 to 9:00pm at the City's Public Works Facility, 161 S. Charlotte Street. Farmers and other vendors are invited. A timeline to opening, operational details, and vendor applications will be shared. Dessert provided.

December (Top)

1 and 8 - Saturday - Merry Christmas Greens Market, French Broad River Garden Club Foundation, Asheville, NC. Contact fbrgc.org

7 – Friday – Local Food Dinner - Chef Coleen Raulerson of The Morning Glory Cafe in Black Mountain will be hosting an all local food dinner to benefit Foothills Family Farms, a farmer's collective based in Old Fort. The dinner will be held at 6:30pm on Friday evening, December 7th at the Morning Glory Cafe and will feature foods from Foothills member/producers and other area farmers. The menu will include homegrown and pasture-raised beef, chicken and seasonal vegetables. A vegetarian option will be available. A full menu will be released in the coming days. There are a limited number of seats available by reservation only at $25/ person (includes salad, beverage and desert). There will be locally brewed beer available (hopefully) or feel free to BYOB. All the food, time and labor has been donated and all funds raised will benefit Foothills Family Farms capital campaign for organizational and facility development. Please contact Casey McKissick at casey@foothillsfamilyfarms.org to make your reservation or for more information.

8, 15, and 22 – Saturdays - The French Broad Food Cooperative Tailgate Market presents: The Fifth Annual Holiday Bazaar - 11:00AM to 4PM. For three Saturdays this holiday season the French Broad Food Co-op Tailgate Market hosts the Fifth Annual Holiday Bazaar. Located next to the French Broad Food Co-op (FBFC) at 90 Biltmore Ave, the Fifth Annual Holiday Bazaar features vendors from the FBFC Tailgate Market, joined by vendors from the North Asheville Market, other surrounding tailgate markets, as well as area crafters. The market will provide holiday shoppers with high quality, local food and non-food based gift items. From wreaths to goat cheese, sustainably-grown Christmas trees, candles, preserves, artisan breads, pastries, fruit cake, honey, chocolates, empanadas, tamales, fabric arts, soaps, salves and much more, sold by the person who grew or produced it, this Bazaar provides the opportunity to acquire meaningful gifts and give back to our community by buying local and direct.

8 – Saturday - Putting Small Acreage to Work Conference - Gastonia, North Carolina The conference presentations kick off at the Gaston County Police Department at 9:00 a.m., following registration at 8:30 a.m. The keynote speaker will feature Tim Will, of Foothills Connect, speaking on creating a unique internet-based produce market, aptly named Farmers Fresh Market, that links growers of locally grown fresh food products with Charlotte based restaurants and chefs. Class sessions will start promptly after registration. The program will include one general opening session and three breakout sessions. Three topics will be discussed concurrently during each of these breakout sessions. Participants will receive lunch and resource materials for all sessions. Fees for the conference are $20.00 per person or $30.00 per couple before December 3, 2007. Registration information for the conference is available at: http://gaston.ces.ncsu.edu/ or by contacting Lara_Worden@ncsu.edu or (704) 922-2118.

8 and 15 - Saturday - The Madison County Farmers and Artisans Christmas Market, The Madison County Farmers and Artisan Market will be having a Christmas Market on 2 Saturdays, December 8 and 15. The hours will be 10 am to 3 pm. The market will have 20 vendors, some of which will be fresh breads and sweets, goat cheese, fiber art, jams and pickles, pottery, handmade soap, and more. The location will be on the Campus of Mars Hill College at the Bentley Fellowship Hall which is beside the Broyhill Chapel. Contact Sandy Smith for more information, 680-9890.

11 – 12 - Tuesday – Wednesday - The 2007 Virginia Agriculture Summit, Rural Prosperity Through Agriculture: Agritourism & Value Added Marketing - the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, Virginia. Please consider sharing information on this event with your contacts interested in agriculture, agri-tourism, and value-added product development. For more information or to register, visit the web-site at www.agsummit.com or contact Brenda Fleming with Virginia Farm Bureau at 804-290-1155 or Brenda.fleming@vafb.com.

12 - 13 - Wednesday - Thursday - 22nd Annual Southeast Vegetable & Fruit Expo - Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Expo is put on by the North Carolina Vegetable Growers Association in partnership with the South Carolina Vegetable Growers Association. For more information, visit www.ncvga.com.

2007 Calendar