Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing, and thriving is even harder!
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
What makes the Journeyperson program unique?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
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Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
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Enjoy a ‘spooky’ twist on our monthly farm tour as we get into the holiday spirit! But don’t let this hike scare you. It will be a moderate 2.5-mile loop across the hills and pastures of the SAHC Community Farm, with plenty of stops along the Discovery Trail to talk about farm production and conservation projects on the property. You’ll learn about our stream restoration efforts, shortleaf pine reforestation project, and more. FREE for SAHC members, $10 for non-members.
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Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing, and thriving is even harder!
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
What makes the Journeyperson program unique?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing, and thriving is even harder!
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
What makes the Journeyperson program unique?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing, and thriving is even harder!
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
What makes the Journeyperson program unique?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Starting a farm is a formidable challenge, but keeping a farm business going, growing, and thriving is even harder!
The Journeyperson Program is designed for farmers who have been independently farming for three or more years and are serious about operating farm businesses in the Southern Appalachian region. This program will give you the space and time to work on your business’s scale, viability, and long-term direction while making connections that deepen peer-to-peer support.
Limited spots are available for the full program, and those who want to be eligible for our Savings Incentive Program and the professional development funds must commit to participating in all aspects of the program.
What makes the Journeyperson program unique?
Participants can use this program as a tangible step toward achieving their farm goals, and make significant contributions to the agricultural community and economy.
This program is designed to give tailored guidance and support for your farm business to answer questions of:
-
Scale
-
Market access
-
Land access
-
Risk management
-
Understanding cash flow
-
Enterprise innovation
Join us for the second Holiday Farm Fest at Ross Farm! 🎄🎁✨
Where: 91 Holbrook Road, Candler, NC, 28571
When: November 11th from 11:30 am to 4 pm
Cost: Free!
Come experience one heck of a unique venue! Our beautiful greenhouses will be transformed into a winter wonderland with unique plants, holiday music, hot beverages, goodies, and three greenhouses full of fantastic vendors ready to complete your holiday shopping list.
Join the holly jolly cheer with a community sing-a-long where Lauren Davis of @fiddyshadesofgreen and the rest of the Farm Fam will sing Christmas classics! This year, we’re singing Wham!’s ‘Last Christmas’ plus another classic.
We’ll be playing all of the holiday hits as you peruse our wonderful line-up of artisan craft and food vendors. Vendors include:
✨Your Mother’s Medicine
✨Cole Klutch Purses
✨Sabai Sabai
✨Mahila
✨New Moon Magic Studio
✨Yarned and Dangerous Crafts LLC
✨Appalachian Clay
✨Black Bear Woodworks
✨Pure Fire Foods
✨Jen Toledo Painting and Drawing
✨True Earth Herbs
✨Stray Cat Goods
✨Autumn & Olive Handmade
✨Mamaws Mudcrafts
✨Appalachian Wyld Botanicals
✨The Botany Garage
✨Early-Zald Photography
✨Max Trainque Glass
✨Machine Creek Studio
✨Fringe and Folly
✨Tree to Table Wood Works
✨Hemp3d
✨Silas Sauce
✨Lucent Heart Designs
Appalachian Standard will be there selling CBD, including our four brand new holiday boxes with exclusive releases in each just in time for the celebration.
We’ll also have a scavenger hunt for the kids and a few other surprises! Parking is available onsite but can be limited so we recommend that you carpool. This is an indoor event.
Stop by the farm for some holiday cheer!
Join RiverLink and Kudzu Culture for a hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to protect river cane, harvest kudzu, and make a kudzu vine wreath to take home! Please complete this form to RSVP (maximum of 15 participants for this workshop). Registration is required.
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During this workshop, we will meet in SAHC’s certified, commercial-grade kitchen. The kitchen provides a resource for farmers in our Farmer Incubator Program and community members to prepare a variety of value-added products. Not sure what you want to produce? The SAHC V.A.K. (Value Added Kitchen) is an affordable option if you want to test products as well! By offering value-added products, farmers improve their economic productivity and extend their market season through the entire year. Community Farm Manager Chris Link will lead the workshop, explaining the elements of the kitchen at SAHC’s Community Farm, steps involved in creating a value-added product, and how to get started producing. Just after this workshop, participants will have the option to stay afterward for the Food Safety and Kitchen Sanitation Class, the first step in accessing the kitchen for your own production. Cost: Workshop is FREE, and the food safety class costs just $30.
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Learn about how to grow mushrooms at home, basic fungal biology, and the top wild mushrooms to collect in the forest. Presented by Steve Pettis, Henderson County Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show,
Bonsai is a Japanese term that means “planted in a container.” Bonsai is the art of growing beautiful small trees that actually mimic full-sized trees, and is a tradition that has been carried out for over a thousand years.
Join Bob Thatcher of the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society to learn more about the history, care, and appreciation of Bonsai! Bob will talk about how to get started, covering the basics of the cultivation and maintenance of bonsai trees. Thanks to the Friends of the Weaverville Library for sponsoring this program.
This free program will be at the Weaverville Library on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. and everyone is invited.
This winter and spring join us for an introduction to pollinators presented by Bee City USA Asheville. Pollinators are under threat, but there’s plenty we can do to help right in our backyards.
We’ll talk about:
- What is pollination
- The importance of pollination
- Pollinators & their identification
- The importance of pollinator habitat
The presenter for this program will be Athena Rayne Anderson who holds PhD in Ecology with a focus on native pollinators. Athena is also a Certified Pollinator Steward through the Pollinator Partnership and works with Bee City USA Asheville to promote the value of native pollinator plants.
Our pollinator programs will be:
Fairview Library
Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
Swannanoa Library
Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
Leicester Library
Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m.
Skyland/South Buncombe Library
Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m.
These programs are free and everyone is invited.
Pruning techniques are essential for promoting the health and productivity of plants. Different techniques can control diseases, stimulate new growth, and maintain aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Join us as horticulture expert John Murphy teaches the basics of pruning.
Healthy plants start with healthy soil! In this workshop, learn the basics of how soil works, how to manage weeds with minimal tilling, and the important role of organic matter and diversity in the health and productivity of your soil. Join us to discover:
- five guiding principles of good soil management
- how to implement these principles for a thriving garden
We will be conducting hands-on soil sample tests and discussing how to read a soil report, along with many other useful soil health tips and tricks!
Workshop participants will receive 10% off on same-day purchases at Fifth Season Gardening Asheville.
This winter and spring join us for an introduction to pollinators presented by Bee City USA Asheville. Pollinators are under threat, but there’s plenty we can do to help right in our backyards.
We’ll talk about:
- What is pollination
- The importance of pollination
- Pollinators & their identification
- The importance of pollinator habitat
The presenter for this program will be Athena Rayne Anderson who holds PhD in Ecology with a focus on native pollinators. Athena is also a Certified Pollinator Steward through the Pollinator Partnership and works with Bee City USA Asheville to promote the value of native pollinator plants.
Our pollinator programs will be:
Fairview Library
Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m.
Swannanoa Library
Saturday, Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
Leicester Library
Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m.
Skyland/South Buncombe Library
Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m.
These programs are free, and everyone is invited.
Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Greater Greenville Master Gardener Symposium. Featuring entertaining and informative speakers from near and far, the annual GGMG symposium is held on February 10th. Furthering their mission of educating the public, the symposium provides attendees with an inspiring and engaging day and an introduction to new ideas in the ever-changing world of horticulture.
Parking off of Eisenhower Drive.
Please join us for our next free Community Garden Network Workshop, where we will join Lauren “LB” Bacchus, Executive Director of Kudzu Culture, for a hands-on demonstration teaching how kuzu (kudzu root starch) is made. Kuzu has a long legacy of use in Asia, especially in Japan, as an ingredient in macrobiotic cooking. Kuzu is a strong alkaline, and has been traditionally used to make a soothing gooey drink called kuzuyu, among other foods such as noodles, mochi, breads, and soups. LB is an experimental fiber artist whose sculptural work is made from abundant, often invasive, plant material. LB is passionate about learning from traditional craft, and sharing research and processes with others, and has taught eco-art workshops for children and adults at a variety of schools in WNC. This workshop is presented in collaboration with The City of Asheville. For more info go to https://kudzuculture.net/. Please RSVP via the ticket link, and if you have any questions please contact Ta’rin’ii [email protected] or Isa Whitaker at [email protected].
Do you love growing tomatoes but find the variety choices overwhelming? Do you know what new varieties are recommended for WNC? Master Gardener Phil Roudebush and Dr. Reza Shekasteband from the NCSU Horticultural Research Station will discuss tomato types and varieties, culture, and disease resistance. They will also share new varieties and research from the NCSU Tomato Breeding and Genetics program and give you a glimpse into the future of tomatoes in WNC.
Calling all gardeners crazy about growing tomatoes! Learn best varieties to grow, their culture and disease management.
Gardening tools are key to successful pruning. You need the right tool for the right job, and you need to correctly maintain and care for those tools. Are you sure, for example, when to use your anvil pruners or your bypass pruners instead? This workshop will cover the different kinds of pruning tools, their uses, and their care. Ergonomic pruners and other tools will also be covered.
Bring your pruners, and loopers to learn how to clean and sharpen them.
Two days of educational programs, trade show featuring over 40 vendors and the annual meeting of the NC Tomato Growers Association
This is the largest commercial vegetable grower event in the region with a high quality educational program put together by vegetable extension specialist/agents at NC State University. We hope that you take advantage of this opportunity to learn about current issues associated with vegetables and take time with the representatives from agricultural companies and other businesses that support our industry during our 2-day trade show.
- New education track for small farms/direct market growers/organic production
- A sponsored lunch and awards program will be included at noon on Thursday.
- Pesticide credits will be available for attendees. (X,O, D, N)
- NC Private Applicator Recertification Class (V)
- Fumigation Recertification Class (Z)
- There will be a trade show again this year with a large number of sponsors and exhibitors setting up their displays for attendees to visit. Interested vendors should register early.
SPONSORS/EXHIBITORS
We welcome sponsors for our event. Sponsorships give you the opportunity to showcase your business and allow us to make this a special conference for attendees. Sponsorships also support scholarships. Details are included on the sponsorship ticket descriptions in the “get tickets” link above. If you need to be invoiced and send a check, please contact Ellen Moss at [email protected].
SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS
This year we will be holding a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction to support our scholarship fund. Raffle prices are $10/each or 12 for $100. During the conference see the Registration Desk to purchase your raffle tickets or for more information. Drawing will occur at the Tomato Growers Association Luncheon on Thursday. You Must Be Present to Win! If you are not interested in purchasing a raffle ticket or bidding on the silent auction, but would still like to support the scholarship fund, donations are greatly appreciated! Your generosity ensures that NCTGA continues to support future generations of farmers with an endowment fund used to offer merit/need-based scholarships. You can make a donation through this Eventbrite page via the donations ticket button. Details are included in the “get tickets” link above. If you need to be invoiced and send a check, or need a receipt for a tax deduction please contact Ellen Moss at [email protected].
Presenter: Mary Alice Ramsey, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
“As the Garden Sleeps, the Gardener Plans”. Join Mary Alice Ramsey as she presents Planning Your VegeGarden. Mary Alice has been growing vegetables in her home garden for years. She will highlight the basics of vegetable gardening planning, how to create the right-size garden and how to select which vegetables to grow. She will share information on garden tools and structures, seed and plant sources, getting started and keeping records.
Mary Alice’s Garden has been included in the Gardens of Fairview tours each spring and her garden was featured in Southern Living magazine in August of 2017.
Registration: The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. This will be an indoor program. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522
Presenter: Mary Alice Ramsey, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer
“As the Garden Sleeps, the Gardener Plans”. Join Mary Alice Ramsey as she presents Planning Your Vegetable Garden. Mary Alice has been growing vegetables in her home garden for years. She will highlight the basics of vegetable gardening planning, how to create the right-size garden and how to select which vegetables to grow. She will share information on garden tools and structures, seed and plant sources, getting started and keeping records.
Mary Alice’s Garden has been included in the Gardens of Fairview tours each spring and her garden was featured in Southern Living magazine in August of 2017.
Registration: The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. This will be an indoor program. Please dress appropriate for the weather.
If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.
Late winter is the perfect time to start planning for summer gardens and what better way to start than with the Basics of Vegetable Gardening class! Come prepared to learn about what it takes to start growing your own vegetables in our area. Join experienced teacher and former director, John Murphy, as he guides you through vegetable gardening basics.
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Shamanic Roots in Celtic Folklore: Southern Scotland
Join us for an enchanting online event as we delve into the mystical world of Shamanic Roots in Celtic Folklore, focusing on the captivating traditions of Southern Scotland. Discover the ancient wisdom and practices that have survived through generations, offering a unique insight into the rich tapestry of Celtic culture that endures in these lands.
Immerse yourself in a virtual journey through time, exploring the hidden realms of Scottish folklore. Our storyteller will share their knowledge and experiences, shedding light on the ancient shamanic practices that have shaped the region’s folkways.
From tales of mythical humans to ancient deities, this event will transport you to a world where magic and reality intertwine. Gain a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm.
Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the ancient wisdom of Southern Scotland. Don’t miss out on this captivating journey into the Shamanic Roots of Celtic Folklore!
Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.
Agroforestry and food forests are terms describing a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature for a variety of social and environmental benefits. If you don’t know much about agroforestry, we have great news — we are starting our second agroforestry project at the SAHC Community Farm.
Along with Contour Lines Corp we will be leading the planting of a 3-acre diversified food forest which will feature a number of fruit trees and native support trees planted on contour in a system of berms and swales. This is a unique demonstration project on conservation land, which will be managed in perpetuity so that we can all learn about the numerous benefits and beauty of perennial agroforestry and food forest systems.
Folks will receive a solid introduction on how to plan and plant a food forest agroforestry site that includes hundreds of fruit and support trees on a berm and swale contour system. Some species we will be planting include Black Locust, Willow, Cottonwood, Elderberry, Mulberry, Persimmon, Apple, Pear, Blueberry, Fig and Peaches.
Join us, rain or shine, for all or any part of the day to learn, observe, and take part in planting if you choose. Please bring a water bottle, gloves, raincoat/work clothes if you’re planting; tools will be provided.
Lunch will be provided midway between our morning classroom portion, and then the rest of the day will be hands-on work.
Pre-registration is requested. Suggested donation $20; no one turned away for inability to pay.
SAHC received a $6,000 Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant to support this project, and nonprofit organization Contour Lines Corp. (contourlines.org) is donating plant material, design and expertise for hands-on workshops to help execute the silvopasture project on the SAHC Community Farm. The Catalyzing Agroforestry Grants Program is an initiative funded by the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farming Coalition (ABFFC) and Edwards Mother Earth Foundation (EMEF) that is managed by Virginia Tech University in partnership with Rural Action, Appalachian Sustainable Development, The Yew Mountain Center, North Carolina State University.