Organic Growers School

Organic Growers School Transforming the food system through practical, affordable, and accessible education.

Organic Growers School is the premiere provider of practical and affordable organic education in the Southern Appalachians, building a vibrant food & farming community by boosting the success of organic home growers and farmers in our region. Our hands-on training, workshops, conferences and partnerships strengthen and celebrate each grower’s move towards self-reliance. MISSION
Organic Growers Sch

ool inspires, educates, and supports people to farm, garden, and live organically. VISION
We are building a mutually supportive network of prosperous farmers, productive gardeners and informed consumers engaged in creating healthy communities.

06/18/2026

Farm Beginnings applications for our 2026/2026 cohort are now open! 🎉

If you've been dreaming about starting a farm or taking your growing operation to the next level, Farm Beginnings is designed to help you get there.

This year-long, farmer-led training program combines whole-farm business planning, mentorship, on-farm learning, and a supportive network of fellow growers. This next generation of farmers will gain practical skills in marketing, finances, production, and holistic farm management while developing a farm plan that reflects their goals and values.

Farm Beginnings offers the tools, connections, and confidence to help you build a thriving farm business.

Apply today: https://hubs.la/Q04l-nZL0

This month, CRAFT Farmer Network members visited Rayburn Farms in Barnardsville to learn about growing ginger and turmer...
06/18/2026

This month, CRAFT Farmer Network members visited Rayburn Farms in Barnardsville to learn about growing ginger and turmeric in WNC and hear how Michael and Lauren Rayburn have evolved their farm over the years—from supplying herbs to local breweries to crafting specialty cocoa and tea blends.

More than anything, the afternoon was a reminder of what CRAFT is all about: farmers learning from farmers, sharing ideas, and building community together.

Thank you to Rayburn Farms for opening your gates and sharing your knowledge with us!

Join CRAFT and check out our next tour: https://hubs.la/Q04lS13F0

🌱 Partner Spotlight: Reems Creek Nursery, Inc.For more than 45 years, Reems Creek Nursery has helped WNC gardeners grow ...
06/13/2026

🌱 Partner Spotlight: Reems Creek Nursery, Inc.

For more than 45 years, Reems Creek Nursery has helped WNC gardeners grow beautiful, productive landscapes while fostering a strong connection to the community.

What began in 1979 as a small nursery in Bill and Wilma Penland's front yard has grown into one of the region's most beloved gardening destinations, offering organic growing supplies, sustainably raised veggie starts, native and pollinator plants, fruiting trees, herbs, and so much more.

Their commitment to helping people grow, learn, and connect with the land aligns closely with OGS's mission, and we're grateful for their partnership.

Thank you, Reems Creek Nursery, for helping cultivate a stronger local food and gardening community. 🌻

Interested in supporting hands-on organic education across Southern Appalachia? Learn more about becoming an OGS partner: https://hubs.la/Q04l8RFY0

What started as a hillside is becoming a thriving food-producing ecosystem. 🌱This past weekend, participants in our Grow...
06/11/2026

What started as a hillside is becoming a thriving food-producing ecosystem. 🌱

This past weekend, participants in our Growing Food on Slopes series put the finishing touches on the project they've been building together at Pearson Garden Food Hub.

After learning how to assess slopes, install water-harvesting infrastructure, and prevent erosion, the group spent this final session sheet mulching the swale system and planting serviceberries, aronia, mountain mint, coreopsis, shrubby St. John's wort, and coneflowers.

Along the way, they explored practical strategies for pest prevention, affordable plant propagation, and the long-term care needed to make a hillside planting resilient and low-maintenance.

A huge thank you to instructor Luke Costlow from Gribley Permaculture, and everyone who joined us throughout the series. We can't wait to watch this project grow.

06/05/2026

Thinking about adding medicinal herbs to your garden?

Our free resource, Ten Herbs Everyone Should Know and Grow, introduces ten versatile herbs that are useful, beautiful, and surprisingly easy to grow at home.

In this reel, we're highlighting just three:
🌼 Calendula is one of the easiest herbs to grow, producing bright flowers all season long. Its petals are often used in salves, oils, and other herbal preparations.

💜 Echinacea is a pollinator-friendly native perennial that adds color to the garden while supporting biodiversity.

🌳 Chasteberry (Vitex) is a hardy flowering shrub that thrives in sunny locations. Its berries have been used traditionally to support hormonal balance and reproductive wellness.

Want to learn about the other seven herbs, plus growing tips, harvesting guidance, and traditional uses? Read the free guide from our Resource Library: https://hubs.la/Q04jY0TQ0

Growing food on a hillside comes with its own set of challenges, but it can also unlock opportunities you might not find...
06/03/2026

Growing food on a hillside comes with its own set of challenges, but it can also unlock opportunities you might not find on flat ground.

Join us on June 6 for a hands-on Growing Food on Slopes workshop at Pearson Garden Food Hub, where we'll explore how to successfully plant and maintain annuals and perennials in sloped landscapes.

Learn practical strategies for:
• Plant spacing and care
• Critter-proofing your garden
• Erosion control
• Long-term maintenance for a thriving system

Whether you're working with a backyard slope or a larger property, you'll leave with ideas and techniques you can put to use right away.

June 6 | 9 AM–12 PM
📍 Pearson Garden Food Hub, Asheville

Register: https://hubs.la/Q04jZC2j0

Whether you're looking for fresh local food, searching for nearby farms, or navigating post-Helene recovery challenges, ...
06/02/2026

Whether you're looking for fresh local food, searching for nearby farms, or navigating post-Helene recovery challenges, we've built resources to help connect our community with the information they need.

Here are three tools worth bookmarking:

1. Find a Farmers' Market
Discover farmers' markets across WNC and support local growers.
Learn More: https://hubs.ly/Q04jGNv80

2. Find-a-Farm Directory
Connect directly with local farms, producers, and agricultural businesses in your area.
Learn More: https://hubs.ly/Q04jGPPB0

3. Disaster Recovery Resources
Access disaster recovery information, funding opportunities, technical assistance, and support for recovering farmers, gardeners, and communities.
Learn More: https://hubs.ly/Q04jGnqT0

These resources are free to use and designed to strengthen local food systems throughout Southern Appalachia.

05/27/2026

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Luke Costlow believes good land stewardship starts with observation, curiosity, and learning how natural systems already work.

As a permaculture designer and educator based in WNC, Luke helps landowners create resilient, regenerative systems that support both people and ecosystems, especially on challenging mountain terrain.

Join him for our final Growing Food on Slopes class on June 6, where participants will learn practical strategies for planting and maintaining productive hillside gardens, including erosion control, spacing, critterproofing, and long-term care.

If you’ve been curious about growing food on sloped land but weren’t sure where to start, this class is a great place to jump in.

Register: https://hubs.la/Q04hYRzL0

From compost systems and no-till practices to volunteer-powered food production, this month’s CRAFT Farm Tour at the Dr....
05/26/2026

From compost systems and no-till practices to volunteer-powered food production, this month’s CRAFT Farm Tour at the Dr. John Wilson Community Garden offered a thoughtful look at what community-centered growing can look like in practice.

Attendees explored how the garden organizes volunteers and interns to help grow and distribute fresh produce through partnerships with Bounty & Soul while also supporting pollinator habitat, soil health, and long-term food access in the region.

Thank you to the garden team for opening the space and sharing the systems, challenges, and lessons behind the work.

CRAFT tours continue throughout the growing season, bringing farmers and growers together to learn directly from one another in the field.

Learn more and join us for the next one: https://hubs.la/Q04hZKhs0

Heavy rain, exposed ground, and frequent soil disturbance can slowly strip gardens and farms of one of their most valuab...
05/20/2026

Heavy rain, exposed ground, and frequent soil disturbance can slowly strip gardens and farms of one of their most valuable resources: healthy soil.

Fortunately, small changes can make a big difference.

There are four organic, practical ways to help prevent erosion and strengthen soil naturally: planting cover crops, reducing tillage, planting deep roots, and building organic matter through compost.

Healthy soil absorbs water better, supports stronger plants, and creates more resilient food-growing systems for the long haul.

Which of these practices has worked best in your garden?

Address

38 Hawk Hill Road
Asheville, NC
28806

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18282147833

Website

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