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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: 

• 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

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​
Join our High Country Permaculture email group for plant swapping, permaculture discussion, resources, and more

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

Production Planning for Diversified Vegetable Farms 

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!

Register Here

Farm Tour Focus Group

When: October 26th, 5-6:30pm
Where: zoom

​​
Join BRWIA for a focus group with 2023 High Country Farm Tour farm participants, and help plan the 2024 Farm Tour! This is an important opportunity to give your input on an event that connects our community with local farmers. 

RSVP Here

Thanks to our 2023 Summer Workshop Series Sponsors!

Thanks to our 2023 Scaling Up:
Winter Workshop Series Sponsors!

 

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 (photos)
• Scaling Up 2023: High Country Food Hub Business Meeting & Keynote Address, presented by Ambrook Financial (photos, notes and presentation)
• Produce Safety Plan Development Workshop with CFSA & NC State Extension (photos, notes and presentation)
• Small Farm & Business Marketing Workshop with ASAP and Grapevine Local Food Marketing (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 (photos, notes and presentation p1, p2, and p3) 
• ​Allergen Control and Egg Safety and Handling Workshop with CFSA (slides and webinar recording)
• High Country Farm Worker Social at Springhouse Farm
• Postural Assistance Workshop for Farmers with Full Moon Farm & Music City GOATA
• Homestead Scale Permaculture Design at the Valle Crucis Lavender House (photos, notes and resources)
• Introduction to Medicinal Herbs at Laughing Springs Farm (photos, notes)
• Agritourism Workshop at Wild East Farm (notes)
• Fifth Annual Farm Olympics hosted by Springhouse Farm (photos)
• Accounting for Enterprise Analysis & Ambrook Software webinar (recording, notes, and slides)

2021 Workshops:

CRAFT events postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic

• ​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 

2022 Workshops:

• ​Scaling Up 2022: High Country Food Hub Business Meeting
• Record Keeping Workshop with Wild Hope Farm (recording)
• 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

​​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