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Blue Ridge Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT) cultivates meaningful mentor relationships between aspiring and experienced farmers.
We believe that the educational and professional development of tomorrow’s growers and producers informs the health of our diverse local-food system and rural economy.
Based upon CRAFT models like Organic Growers School's WNC CRAFT and similar apprenticeship networks, Blue Ridge CRAFT connects aspiring farmers with experienced farmers and encourages innovative on-farm educational and professional experiences. Providing tools to established farmers that will enhance their mentorship abilities is central to Blue Ridge CRAFT's efforts. CRAFT first emerged in New York's Hudson Valley in 1994 as "a cooperative effort of local organic and biodynamic farms organized to enhance educational opportunities for farm apprentices." And, it has since spread to many other communities. Each organization is unique, but dedicated to the advancement of tomorrow's growers. To learn more about other CRAFT organizations, click here. In the fall of 2014, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture was approached by established farmers seeking a way to provide structured education and training to their on-farm apprentices. Through further input from the community, Blue Ridge CRAFT was formed with the goals of:
As we work together to form a more resilient and just food system and local economy, Blue Ridge CRAFT believes that is imperative that we encourage candid, meaningful conversations, form durable and inclusive partnerships, engage best practices, and excite innovation and creativity. |
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When: May 14th, 5-8pm
Where: Springhouse Farm, 533 Silverstone Rd., Vilas NC Join BRWIA and Springhouse Farm for a High Country farm worker social! Bring a dish to share if you can (if not, still join us please!) and meet farm workers, interns, and apprentices from across the High Country! Beer will be provided thanks to Booneshine Brewery! This event will also be an opportunity to learn how to apply for BRWIA's Female Farmer Education Scholarship, and learn about resources that are available to beginning farmers and people pursuing careers in agriculture. |
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When: May 21st, 1-3pm
Where: 252 Poplar Grove Rd, Boone, NC 28607 Join Full Moon Farm and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture for a coaching session with Lloyd Robinson of Music City GOATA! The purpose of the GOATA (Greatest Of All Time Athletes) training method is to realign your body's movement patterns for pain relief, increased mobility, and long term physical health. The session will focus specifically on farmer-oriented movements and pain patterns such as: walking long distances, squatting, lifting, carrying totes, driving a tractor, leaning over a pack table, plus anything you'd like to include as an area of concern. Space is limited, so don't forget to register! |
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When: June 8th, 3-6pm
Where: The Valle Crucis Lavender House, 175 Frank Mast Rd, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Join NC Cooperative Extension, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, and our presenting sponsor and host, the Valle Crucis Lavender House, for a homestead-scale permaculture workshop! Participants will learn the basic principles of permaculture, and how to apply them to a homestead-scale property. They will be able to see these design principles in action and hear from local permaculture experts, Richard Boylan and Taylor Drouet. Space is limited, so don't forget to register! |
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When: July 14th, 5-7pm
Where: Laughing Springs Farm, 838 Howards Creek Church Rd., Boone NC Join BRWIA and Laughing Springs Farm for an evening of learning about medicinal herbs! Led by Nora Rodli, co-owner and operator of Laughing Spring Farm, the workshop will cover information about a range of medicinal herbs that can be grown in the High Country, how they can be used, and how to prepare them. Space is limited, so don't forget to register! The workshop will last for two hours, and conclude with a potluck where participants can chat about workshop content, ask questions, and build community around herbal medicine! Bring a dish to share if you'd like, but please join us for the potluck regardless. |
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When: September 14th, 5:30-7:30pm
Where: 841 Sand Ridge Rd., Millers Creek NC Looking for advice on streamlining your current production planning process, or planning for a variety of market channels? Join BRWIA and Tumbling Shoals Farm to learn about production planning best practices for diversified vegetable farms! Participants will get to tour the farm and learn from Shiloh and Jason's experience developing production plans, and will leave the workshop with a better understanding of how to develop their own plan for the following season. Space is limited, so don't forget to register! |
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2023 Workshops:
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2022 Workshops:
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2021 Workshops:
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2020 Workshops: CRAFT events postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. 2019 Workshops:
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2016 Workshops:
2015 Workshops
2018 Workshops
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2017 Workshops:
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