Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Food Safety
2025-07-28 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virginia
This course will teach the practices that ensure the food you grow and harvest is safe to eat and free from harmful pathogens, contaminants, and toxins. Since food is grown in the soil and exposed to the environment, it’s important to take steps to prevent contamination from sources like pests, diseases, improper handling, and environmental factors.

This class is virtual and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Heart-Healthy Cooking (IN PERSON)
2025-07-29 17:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
This will be an in-person workshop with a guest instructor. The goal is to focus on foods that promote cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This style of cooking emphasizes the use of nutrient-rich, heart-healthy ingredients and healthy cooking methods.

The address will be announced soon.

Email Joe Kohn at jkhon@asdevelop.org if you are interested. We will confirm if there is a spot for you closer to the event.

AGROFORESTRY FARM TOUR SERIES: FOREST FARMING AT BORING ROOTS AND HERBS
2025-07-30 13:00 - 15:00 | Boring Roots and Herbs, 2815 Old State Hwy. 28, Dunlap, Tennessee, 37327, United States
Michael Boring is a second generation root and herb dealer in the Sequatchie Valley of Tennessee. This tour will include a great overview of an established forest farming site, as well as a brief demonstration of typical post harvest handling and cleaning of forest botanicals. Tour participants will see American Ginseng, Black Cohosh, Goldenseal, Mayapple and other forest botanicals growing under a natural overstory.

The tour will highlight the recent catalyzing agroforestry grant progress, and show sites currently being managed for forest-farmed medicinals, including goldenseal, ramps, and ginseng, in a 20-acre hardwood forest. The tour will also cover site and species selection, nursery stock challenges, and considerations for beginning forest farmers.

Registration is required. Click here to register.

ASD Veteran Coalition Meeting
2025-08-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-01-21 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-02-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-18 18:00 - 20:00 and 5 more dates | Michael Waltrip Brewing, 221 Moore Street, Bristol, Virginia, 24202
Are you a military veteran? If so, we’d love to have you attend our ASD Veteran Coalition meeting tonight at 6 pm. These recur every 3rd Wednesday – why not be a regular?

Location:

These meetings are generously hosted free of charge by Michael Waltrip Brewing, 221 Moore St, Bristol, VA 24201. Meetings are held in the room upstairs.

Goal:

Strengthen the veteran farming community by fostering meaningful connections, sharing practical knowledge and resources, and identifying collaborative opportunities that support the success and sustainability of veteran-led agricultural operations.

Awesome Extras:

Free appetizers and soft drinks

Great company!

Check out our programs and services for veterans – here

Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Cottage Law
2025-08-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
Come learn about cottage food laws. This allows people to prepare food in their own homes or small kitchens (rather than commercial facilities) and sell them to the public. It encourages entrepreneurship for those who want to make food as a side business or hobby, such as baking, preserving, or making jams and jellies.

This class is virtual and held through Zoom.

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Composting
2025-08-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
This lesson will explain why we compost, how to compost, and the many benefits of using your own compost in your garden.

This is a virtual class and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.

Agroforestry Farm Tour series: SILVOPASTURE AT CANEY FORK FARM
2025-09-25 09:00 - 14:30 | Caney Fork Farm, 7 Gibbs Circle, Carthage, Tennessee, 37030, United States
PLEASE NOTE: THIS TOUR LOCATION IS ON CENTRAL TIME. (9 AM CST = 10 AM EST)

Join us for a tour of a working silvopasture system where sheep rotationally graze a mix of grass species. This system supports soil health, forage growth, and livestock while contributing to carbon sequestration.

Participants will see tree plantings designed for biodiversity, habitat, and forage benefits. The site includes hard and soft mast-producing trees that support wildlife and grazing animals. The majority of the trees are chestnuts, but many more species are included as well. Trees integrated into the pasture provide shade for sheep, improved soil carbon storage, and enhanced forage production.

We will discuss the management of multi-species tree plantings and forage systems, focusing on their effects on soil fertility, pasture resilience, and productivity. This tour is for farmers, land managers, and researchers.

Registration is required. Registration coming soon!

Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Advanced Season Extension
2025-09-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
Learn about techniques used to extend the growing season for plants. This allows gardeners to grow crops for a longer period of time, either earlier in the spring or later into the fall.

This class is virtual and held through Zoom,

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Season Extension
2025-09-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
Learn about techniques used to extend the growing season for plants. This allows gardeners to grow crops for a longer period of time, either earlier in the spring or later into the fall.

This is a virtual class and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.

"Barn to Run" 4-Miler for Agriculture
2025-10-12 16:00 - 19:00 | Virginia
Join ASD as we celebrate 30 years of growing a stronger Appalachia through agriculture! This family friendly event will be held at The Meadows Sports Complex, 78 Cook Street, Abingdon, VA. Wear your best fruit or veggie costume or dress like your favorite farmer. The first 100 registrants are guaranteed an udderly radishing event t-shirt!

Wear your favorite fruit/veggie gear or farming coveralls!

All proceeds support ASD programming for agriculture education, workforce development, resource management, and food access.

Early Registration Fee: $35 (register by August 1)

Registration after August 1: $40

Kids Registration (12 & under): $10

Register Here

Bellair Farm Fall Festival
2025-10-25 09:00 - 17:00 | Bellair Farm, 5290 Bellair Farm, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902, United States
Join Bellair Farm for their annual celebration of local food and agriculture!

This event is FREE to attend, with outdoor activities, talks, vendors, food & music.

What to Expect:–Kid-friendly activities like tractor sitting and farm animal viewing, and barrel train ride!–Live Music from Elderberry Jam–Farm-to-Table plates by local chefs Bud Porter & Chris D’avino–Local Beer from Fine Creek Brewing Co. All beer sales support Appalachian Sustainable Development!–Barn Store stocked with seasonal, local produce, fruit, pasture-based meats, eggs and dairy, grocery items and more

Updates will be added as we confirm vendors and the full lineup of activities!

Grow your Own Intermediate Class: Regenerative Agriculture
2025-10-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
Come learn about regenerative agriculture, a farming and gardening approach focused on rebuilding and improving the health and biodiversity of the soil, ecosystem, and overall environment.

This class is virtual and held through Zoom,

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Herbs and Wild Edibles
2025-10-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia
This class provides a comprehensive list of garden and wild medicinal and edible herbs.

This is a virtual class and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.
