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Blue Ridge CRAFT 

about
Farm Labor Link
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
IMPACT
 

Interested in staying up-to-date on CRAFT related content? Sign up for our mailing list!

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: 
  • Connecting aspiring farmers with established farmer-mentors in the High Country
  • Providing structured educational opportunities and training to aspiring farmers
  • Providing labor-management education and assistance to established farmers

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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Workshops and Events

Scroll down to view upcoming workshops and events, or
​click here to view past workshops, recordings, and notes

Interested in hosting a workshop or skill sharing event? Send us a pitch here!

Understanding your Soil: sampling, interpretation, and management workshop

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​When: March 2nd, 5-7pm
Where: Bald Guy Brew
Register HERE

Not sure why your pasture isn’t recovering between rotations, or why your crops are growing slower? You may need a better understanding of your soil.  Participants will leave this session with a soil testing kit, and will understand how to sample soil, interpret the results, and utilize local resources to further their quests for stronger soil. Light dinner will be provided thanks to our sponsors at Seven Springs Farm Supply!


​Allergen Control and Egg Safety and Handling Workshop

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When: March 7th, 5-6:30pm
Where: virtual, zoom link provided after registration
​Register: HERE

Farmers who raise or handle allergens (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, wheat, and soy) need to be aware of the potential risks and how to minimize cross-contact contamination. This includes fruit and vegetable growers and livestock producers. An allergen control program is an excellent way for producers to ensure a safer product and help protect their businesses from liability. During this workshop, producers can develop custom allergy control programs for their businesses with the help of local food safety expert Sara Runkel of the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions to ensure that their plans fit the needs of their farm. This workshop will also discuss managing food safety risks and NC regulations for egg producers.


Thanks to our Scaling Up:
Winter Workshop Series Sponsors!

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IMPACT

In 2022, Blue Ridge CRAFT hosted 17 peer to peer workshops
​that engaged
 157 aspiring, beginning, and established farmers.
2023 Workshops:
  • ​Winter Vegetable Production & Marketing at Opossum Bottom Farm
  • Scaling Up 2023: High Country Food Hub Business Meeting & Keynote Address, presented by Ambrook Financial (view notes and presentation)
  • Produce Safety Plan Development Workshop with CFSA & NC State Extension (view notes and presentation)
  • Small Farm & Business Marketing Workshop with ASAP and Grapevine Local Food Marketing (view notes, presentation p1 & p2, and ASAP's Farmer Toolkit)
  • Understanding your Soil: sampling, interpretation, and management workshop with Watauga County Cooperative Extension and Watauga County Soil & Water (view notes and presentation p1, p2, and p3) 
  • ​Allergen Control and Egg Safety and Handling Workshop with CFSA (view presentation and webinar recording)







































2022 Workshops:
  • ​Scaling Up 2022: High Country Food Hub Business Meeting
  • Record Keeping Workshop with Wild Hope Farm
  • Restaurant Roundtable: Selling to chefs, restaurants, & wholesale buyers
  • Greenhouse Production and Propagation Workshop at Tumbling Shoals Farm
  • Mushroom Inoculation & Production at Lively Up Farm
  • Black Fly Larvae Production at ASU REI
  • Integrated Sustainable Energy for Enhancing Farm Productivity at ASU REI
  • High Country Florist Meet & Greet at Common Good Co.
  • Composting Workshop at Against the Grain Farm
  • On Farm food safety and handling at Daffodil Spring Farm
  • On Farm food safety and Handling at Mountainwise Farm
  • Goats 101 & Farm Tour at Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy
  • Rotational Grazing Workshop & Farm Tour at Bub's Provisions
  • Agritourism Workshop & Farm Tour at Apple Hill Farm
  • Bouquet Making Workshop & Farm Tour at Springhouse Farm
  • Fourth Annual Farm Olympics hosted by Hedge Family Farm and Ripshin Goat Dairy
  • High Country Farmworkers Focus Group
2021 Workshops:
  • Scaling Up 2021: Post-harvest handling with Sarah Bostick
  • Scaling up 2021: Consumer Friedly Bulk Purchasing with Lee Menius
  • Scaling up 2021: Best Practices for Commercial Kitchens with Lynette Johnson
  • Egg Grading Workshop hosted by Watauga County Cooperative Extension
  • AgOptions and AgVenture Grant Application Review led by Watauga County Cooperative Extension
  • Season Extension Infrastructure at Full Moon Farm
  • Soil and Water Conservation:  biochar & keyline plowing techniques at Against the Grain Farm 
CRAFT events postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic


​2020 Workshops: CRAFT events postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.
​

2019 Workshops:
  • ​Producer Focus Groups: strategic planning, 2019-2022
  • Second Annual Farm Olympics at Against the Grain Farm
  • Scaling Up 2019: Honest Conversation about Farm Planning, Food Safety, Quality, and Resiliency with Trish Tripp
  • Scaling Up 2019: Untangling Food Safety Regulations and Best Practices for Commercial Kitchens with Currey Nobles & Lynette Johnston 
  • Scaling Up 2019: Using the Meat Calculator with Matt LeRoux
  • Winter Farmer Roundtable: Farmers' Market Success with Ken Dawson
2016 Workshops:
  • Seed Saving as an Enterprise with Against the Grain Farm and Thankful Fork Farm
  • Seed Saving 101 with Richard Boylan, Debbie Bauer, and Julia Showalter
  • Agritourism & Animal Health at Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy
  • Basic Horse Care 101 at Mountain Works Sustainable Development
  • Rational Livestock with Jay Coman at Stony Knob Farm
  • Postharvest Handling & Knowing your Markets at Tumbling Shoals Farm
  • Postharvest Handling & Knowing your Markets at Creeksong Farm
  • Integrated Pest Management & Whole Farm Planning at FIG and Octopus Gardens
  • Fruit Workshop with Kathy & Kent Bishop at Three B Farm
  • Small Farm Machinery Hands-On Demonstration 
  • Fruit Workshop at Moretz's Mountain Orchard & Farms
  • Farm Transition & Estate Planning at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center
  • Season Extension & Greenhouses workshop at Parkway School & Fog Likely Farm
2015 Workshops
  • Aspiring Farmer & Farm Apprentice Roundtable & Dinner
  • Established Farmer Listening & Planning Session
  • Accessing Farmland in the Mountains workshop at Watauga County Center
  • Workshop & Potluck with James Davis at Thankful Fork Farm
  • Workshop & Potluck with Brooke Walker & Susan Turman at Elk Ridge Farm
  • Workshop & Potluck with Shiloh Avery & Jason Roehrig at Tumbling Shoals Farm
  • Workshop & Potluck with Richard Boylan & Caroline Hampton at FIG Farm
  • Apprentice Pizza Making Social and Farm Tour at Waxwing Farm
  • Agritourism Workshop at Heritage Homestead Dairy
2018 Workshops
  • Farmers' Market Success! with Ken Dawson of Maple Spring Gardens
  • Planting the Seed for Self Care: Women in Agriculture Event with the Organic Growers School​
  • Raising Meat Goats with Nona and Jeff Cullen of The Abandoned Dogs Kiko Goats Farm
  • Using a BCS Tractor & Teaching Beginning Growers with Richard Caulkins of Harbin Hills Farm
  • Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW) at Against the Grain Farm
  • Farm Olympics at Tumbling Shoals Farm
  • Chicken Processing Workshop at Healing Springs Farm
  • NRCS Workshop at the Watauga Cooperative Extension 
  • Apprentice Gathering at Against the Grain Farm
  • Biochar: Renewable Energy Source for Heating Greenhouses Workshop ​at Against the Grain Farm and Springhouse Farm 
  • Farm Transition & Estate Planning Workshop at F.A.R.M Cafe
  • Vegetable & Meat Enterprise Budget Tools with Shiloh and Jason Avery of Tumbling Shoals Farm
2017 Workshops:
  • Fiber workshop at Laureland Greenhouse with Susan Graham and Amy Galloway 
  • How to Use & Maintain a BCS Tractor with Richard Boylan of Otus Branch Farm
  • Applying for Grants & Pawpaws with Susan Owen of Lily Patch Farm
  • Movie on a Barn at Springhouse Farm
  • Irrigation with Cory Bryck of New Life Farm
  • Integrated Pest Management with Richard Boylan, Francis Mangogna, Kathleen Petermann, and Eli Snyder  at Waxwing Farm and F.I.G. Incubator Farm
  • Quality of Life: Working & Living on a Farm with Matt Gundlach of Beatitude Gardens
  • Agritourism at Apple Hill Farm
  • Habitat Conservation with Susan Wright of Shady Grove Gardens
  • Biodynamics & Compost with "The Barefoot Farmer" Jeff Poppen
  • Labor Workshop with Alex Hitt of Peregrine Farm
  • Production Record Keeping and Bulk Ordering with Holly Whitesides of Against the Grain and William Lyons of Bluebird Farm
  • Farmers' Markets Workshop at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center
Donate to support our work
P.O. Box 67 | 969 W King Street
 Boone, NC 28607 | 828.386.1537
Email: info@brwia.org

© 2021 Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture | Most Rights Reserved

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture is a non-profit tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)3 of the IRS code (Federal ID # 34-2011588). 

Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the state.