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  • About
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Media
    • Newsletter
    • News & Announcements
  • PROGRAMS
    • CRAFT >
      • Workshop notes
    • Double Up Food Bucks >
      • Double Up Raffle
      • Double Up Week
    • Female Farmer Profile Project
    • Food Hub
    • LocalFAM
    • King Street Farmers' Market
    • Lettuce Learn School Garden Support
    • Winter Farmers' Market >
      • 2021-2022 Vendors
  • Get Involved
    • Join Us
    • Intern
    • Volunteer
    • Jobs
  • Support
    • Join >
      • Annual Mother's Day Campaign

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 monthly newsletter!

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!

5/25 & 6/06 On Farm Food Safety and Handling Workshops

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Hosted by Mountainwise Farm (5/25) and FIG Farm (6/6), these two workshops will cover washing, sanitizing, and post-harvest handling best practices, beginning in the field and ending in the distribution process. Both workshops will cover the same topics, and demonstrate two different wash/pack setups for small diversified vegetable farms or market gardens. NC Cooperative Extension Agents Elena Rogers and Richard Boylan will be in attendance to talk about safety and compliance with food safety laws, and how to protect yourself and your products by using good food safety practices. 

These workshops are targeted towards producers who provide produce for BRWIA's LocalFAM program, but all others are welcome.

​To learn more and register for the workshop hosted at Mountainwise Farm, click 
here.

To learn more and register for the workshop hosted at FIG Farm, click here. 

Composting Workshop at Against the Grain

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Learn about and discuss on-farm composting with Against the Grain Farm!

Against the Grain Farm is a certified Biodynamic and Organic farm located in Zionville, NC. With ten years of experience farming and developing their composting methods, Holly Whitesides and Andy Bryant will share the evolution of their compost recipe and their experience using different ingredient mixes. Participants will build a compost pile during the workshop, learn about taking and documenting compost temperature, and have the opportunity to ask questions throughout.
​
This workshop will be held on Sunday June 12th, from 2-4pm.
​​
To learn more and register for the workshop click here.

Goats 101 with Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy

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Interested in keeping goats? Learn the basics of goat farming with Heritage Homestead Goat Dairy!

Join us for an afternoon learning the ins and out of goat farming, including fencing, housing, feeding, breeding, milking and more. Bring your questions, and be ready to pet some goats!

The workshop will be followed by a potluck, bring a dish to share.


This workshop will be held Sunday June 26th 2-4pm.

To learn more and register for this workshop click here.

Rotational Grazing Workshop with Bub's Provisions

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Join us for an evening learning all about rotational grazing methods with Kade Castle of Bub's Provisions!

The workshop will run from 5-7pm with a potluck to follow, where you will get the chance to sample some of Kade's products. Bring a dish to share!

​To learn more and register for this workshop, click here.

Agrotourism Workshop at Apple Hill Farm

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Interested in working agrotourism into your farm's business plan? Join us for a workshop with Apple Hill Farm to learn all about agrotourism best practices! 

Join us for a farm tour and workshop from 5-7pm with a potluck after, so bring a dish to share.
​
To learn more and register for the event, click here. 

Bouquet Making Workshop at
​Springhouse Farm

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Join Springhouse Farm and Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture for an evening in the flower field! We will start the evening with a farm tour of Springhouse farm. This will be followed by a bouquet making workshop and everyone will have the opportunity to make their own bouquet. This will be followed by a potluck in Springhouse farm's new pavilion!

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The cost of the workshop is on a sliding scale from $10-$30. 

​Learn more and sign up here. 

 

IMPACT

In 2018, Blue Ridge CRAFT hosted 10 peer to peer workshops
​that engaged
115 aspiring, beginning, and established farmers.
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
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
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P.O. Box 67 | 969 W King Street
 Boone, NC 28607 | 828.386.1537
© 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.