Appalachian Sustainable Development

Winter Business Intensive: Class #7
2022-02-03 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States
The Winter Business Intensive is the second session in the SWVA Field School. The session is made up of 8 FREE intensive classes designed to help set beginning farmers on the path to a successful career in agriculture production.

During these classes, students will participate in topics such as business planning, sustainable practices, financial management, marketing, and more. By registering for this event, you are registering for all 8 classes.

Please contact Jenni Roop with any questions: jroop@asdevelop.org or call (276)623-1121

Class Schedule:

Class # 1: November 4th, 2021 – Introductions & Getting Started

ASD will introduce the program, support staff, coursework and expectations, allowing time for each participant to speak about their farms and goals.

Class #2: November 18th, 2021 – Visioning & Assessing Your Resources

Students will reflect on their mission and values prior to creating a business plan. *ASD will provide resources for the review of personal and family lifestyle needs and deeper understanding of creating financial goals.

Class #3: December 2nd, 2021 – Farm Infrastructure & Natural Resources

Students will discuss the benefits of viewing their farm as a whole integrated system, with consideration of environmental, economic, and social resources needed for success. *Students will assess their farm’s resources and be introduced to conservation and support services.

Class # 4: December 16th, 2021 – Markets & Marketing

Students will learn how to identify appropriate sales outlets and specific local and regional customers. *Training on how to use low-cost platforms to market products effectively will be provided.

Class #5: January 6th, 2022 – Business & Financial Management

Students will get introduced to financial planning, recordkeeping, and filing taxes with an overview of budgets, cash flow analysis, and profit and loss sheets. *ASD will provide guidance for recordkeeping to make filing a farm’s Schedule F tax form easier.

Class #6: January 20th, 2022 – Sustainable Production Planning

ASD will share benefits of some sustainable production strategies: high tunnels for season extension, rotational grazing, and cover crops & soil health. *This class will highlight programs offered by other support organizations that cover these practices.

Class # 7: February 3rd, 2022 – Entrepreneurship & Risk Management

Students will learn the steps to set up their business and manage risk on their farm. *Information includes getting a Farm Number, business license, insurance considerations, business structures, and estate planning.

Class #8: February 17th, 2022 – Loans, Grants & Financial Support

Students will have a fairly robust farm business plan outlined, which will be very useful when applying for loan or other support programs. *ASD will provide a variety of opportunities: state and federal grants, cost-share, and loan programs available to farmers with a special focus on the Farm Service Agency’s micro-loan program for beginning farmers.

March 3rd, 2022: – Closing Gathering, Present Business Plans

Winter Business Intensive: Class #6
2022-01-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Hive Life Beekeeping Conference 2020
2022-01-07 08:00 - 2022-01-08 19:30 | Sevierville Convention Center – Sevierville, Tennessee 37876, 202 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville, Tennessee, 37876, United States
When?

January 7th & 8th 2022Where?

Sevierville Convention Center – Sevierville, Tennessee 37876Limited Seating.Last year we sold out within a few weeks and we have even more interest this year so if you want to be sure you get a spot you will want to reserve your ticket as soon as possible.

What is included and how much does it cost?

Your ticket includes both Friday and Saturday with 5+ sessions per day and round table question and answer time! Speakers are Bob Binnie, Ian Steppler, Kamon Reynolds, Kent Williams, Rick Sutton, Greg Rogers and more. Speaker topics and itinerary will be upcoming.Other special guests include: Randy McCaffrey – “628 Dirt Rooster”, Fredrick Dunn, Jeff Horchoff – “Mr Ed”, Natalee from “Beekeeping Like a Girl”, and more.A full catered lunch is included both days!Coffee and doughnuts will be provided both mornings!No outside food or beverages are permitted inside the building (convention centers rule not ours) but there are several water fountains and the venue will have concessions available in the afternoon for purchase as well 3 restaurants within walking distance.

All inclusive tickets for both days are $180 if paid by check.We are only accepting payment by check at this time.If you don’t have paper checks your bank should be able to mail one for you.We will also have special conference pricing from Kelley Beekeeping, Dadant, Apimaye, Hill Co Beekeeping, Premier Foundation, Lorob Bees Vaporizers, The Hive Butler, and several more!

If you have a vendor or product you want to see there tell them to email us at Hivelifeconference@gmail.com

(We will be messaging you in the future on preorder deals that the companies offer and the “at conference deals”) Can my whole family come?The conference is for Adults and children 10 years & older only. BUT there is an indoor water park at the attached hotel and many other attractions (info on discounted attraction tickets below) and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park nearby so if you do want to bring your family there are tons of fun things for them to do in the area.What Airport is closest?If you are flying, the McGhee Tyson airport in Alcoa (just outside of Knoxville, TN) is the closest airport.

Where can I stay?There are many options near the convention center. Below are some options that are discounted for the event. There is a hotel attached to the convention center that we are working with to get discounted rates but since it is a resort (with an indoor waterpark) it will likely still be over $100 per night and we will let attendees know the details in an upcoming Email.Conference discounted rate for “The resort at Governors Crossing” (5 miles away) available online here:https://www.resortatgovernorscrossing.com/groupbooking.php?id=00114Starting at $80.67 per night. (Indoor water park area included in cost)

Another option is the Sleep Inn (3.8 miles away). Just let them know when you call that you are with the Hive Life conference and ask for the discounted rate for those dates. Approximately $60 per night with tax depending on what night(s) you stay and your room choice.Sleep Inn1020 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862Phone Number: (865) 429-0484https://www.choicehotels.com/tennessee/sevierville/sleep-inn-hotels/tn460?mc=llgoxxpxWant to stay in the area a few extra days to see the smokies or other attractions?Here are some discounted attraction tickets that we were able to get just for Hive Life conference attendees: https://getdiscounttravel.com/attractions

Winter Business Intensive: Class #5
2022-01-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Winter Business Intensive: Class #4
2021-12-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Winter Business Intensive: Class #3
2021-12-02 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Winter Business Intensive: Class #2
2021-11-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Winter Business Intensive: Class #1
2021-11-04 17:30 - 19:30 | Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator, 451 French Moore Jr Blvd, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Farm to Table Supper
2021-10-04 18:00 - 20:30 | Kelly Ridge Farms, 30558 Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview, Virginia, United States

Forest Farming Intensive: Propagation to Processing
2021-09-17 17:30 - 2021-09-18 16:15 | Appalachian Harvest, 280 Boone Trail Road, Duffield, Virginia, 24224, United States

Seed to Medicine Chest 2021: Sweet Medicine
2021-08-14 13:00 - 15:30 | Faith in Action Community Garden, 798 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States
Seed to Medicine Chest is designed by ASD’s Agroforestry team to share knowledge with you about growing and creating your own herbal remedies, from seed to finished product. Our amazing presenters include Michelle Bouton, founder of the HERBalachia Herbalist Training School, and Robin Suggs, experienced forest farmer and Procurement Manager at ASD.

Last year, we made Seed to Medicine Chest a virtual event (see recordings of S2MC 2020 here) and were able to reach people across the country, and the globe! This year, we are looking forward to offering 3, in-person, outdoor workshops, at the Faith in Action Garden in Abingdon, VA.

To ensure social distancing measures, we are offering only 15 spots per event. Additionally, this event will be BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair), so we can keep everyone safe and lower the cost of attendance. We will be adhering to the most recent CDC guidelines at the time of the workshop to ensure the safety and well-being of all attendees. At this point, please be prepared to wear a mask for everyone’s continued protection.

Tickets will be $30 PER SESSION, per person, which means you need to buy a ticket for EACH SESSION you are interested in attending. Each session will comprise of 2 segments; a segment on cultivation and management of herbs and a segment on creating your own herbal products.

Seed to Medicine Chest 2021 Sessions offered at checkout:

Session 1: $30, Saturday, July 17, 1:00pm – 3:30pm:

Herbal Pestos: Tasty Nutrition & Managing and Foraging Wild Greens (Wild pesto/How to ID/managing populations)Learn how wild weed pesto’s can help our bodies transition from winter sluggishness to vibrant spring green energy! (A great option while we wait until it’s safe to plant basil!) Taste several variations on the traditional Italian pesto recipe; take home pesto samples and recipes.

Session 2: $30, Saturday, July 31, 1:00pm – 3:30pm:

Herbal Bitters: Digestive Mocktails & Managing and Foraging Wild Bitters (How to ID/managing populations)Liquid herbal bitters can be a strong ally to support our digestive system. They trigger the body to create digestive enzymes, secrete bile, and balance acid levels in the stomach. Taste several bitters mocktails to show they can be very tasty; take home bitters samples and recipes.

Session 3: $30, Saturday, Aug 14, 1:00pm – 3:30pm:

Sweet Medicine: Herbal Glycerites for Kids and Pets & Home Drying of Roots and Herbs for StorageSometimes getting herbs into our babies (and fur babies) can be a challenge: herbal glycerites are great, as the taste is so pleasant. Taste herbal glycerites and learn which herbs are best used in this process of medicine-making. Take home glycerite samples and recipes.

Please note that you can also select the “Donation” ticket at checkout if you would like to support ASD’ Agroforestry Program beyond the price of your tickets, which covers event costs. Your donation will help support medicinal herb farmers and conserve at-risk plants in Appalachia.

Please see the following rules and expectations we will require attendees to follow during these events.

Masks required unless proof of full vaccination can be providedSanitation supplies will be available (hand sanitizer, alcohol spray)Event will occur rain or shine, wear weather and garden appropriate clothing and shoesBYOC (Bring Your Own Chair!)No animals, including pet llamasTickets are per person, not for per family group or partnersPlease be advised that there are no bathrooms available on site though we will be located near a number of public businessesWe will not be issuing refunds for this event

We are excited for you to join us!

Please email forestfarming@asdevelop.org with any questions.

Seed to Medicine Chest 2021: Herbal Bitters
2021-07-31 13:00 - 15:30 | Faith in Action Community Garden, 798 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Learning Landscapes Garden Work Day
2021-07-28 15:00 - 17:00, 2021-07-10 09:00 - 12:00, 2021-06-30 15:00 - 17:00 | Haynesfield Elementary SChool, 201 Bluff City Highway, Bristol, Tennessee, 37620, United States

Learning Landscapes Garden Work Day
2021-07-21 15:00 - 17:00, 2021-07-10 14:00 - 17:00 | Bristol YWCA, 106 State Street, Bristol, Tennessee, 37620, United States

Seed to Medicine Chest 2021: Herbal Pestos
2021-07-17 13:00 - 15:30 | Faith in Action Community Garden, 798 Hillman Highway, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States

Fruit/Apple Orchards
2021-07-01 17:30 - 19:30 | Kelly Ridge Farms, 30558 Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview, Virginia, United States
Visit Tumbling Creek Cider Company’s expanding orchards to learn about cider apple varieties, propagation, planting, maintenance and how to re-establish the apple industry in our region. We’ll tour the Old Orchard where we are rejuvenating 50 year-old trees and have planted many 3 year-old trees, the New Orchard as a high-density trellised system and the tree nursery. The tour will end at the cider barn to sample some of our hard cider.

Integrating Multiple Operations
2021-06-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Kelly Ridge Farms, 30558 Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview, Virginia, United States
Integrating operations is key to incremental success in farming. Farms aren’t about single product lines, but about how you can design your operations to support each other and build your assets (and soils) for the long haul. Shift away from extractive farming methods and focus on long term success. I will discuss our experience (both successes and failures) with building synergy in farm operations. Topics under discussion will include livestock (pigs, sheep, horses, chickens), alternative feeds, composting, pasture maintenance, kid rearing, specialty crops (such as hops), integrated processing services, fertigation, and more.

Specialty Produce: Finding Your Niche
2021-06-03 17:30 - 19:30 | Creative Seeds Farm, 422 W Glade Street, Glade Spring, Virginia, United States
With local food in high demand, this course will help you determine what type of crops will help you stand out in a crowded market place. We will also cover how to market your crops to a variety of customers as well as tips and tricks on how to maximize your production.

High Tunnel Season Extension
2021-05-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Blue Door Garden, 23413 Walden Rd, Abingdon, VA, Abingdon, Virginia, United States
Since 2004 Tom and Deni Peterson at Blue Door Garden have been using hoop houses to “extend the season”. As cut flower growers, they use hoop houses to force early successions of ranunculus, anemone, snapdragons, campanula, sweet peas and sunflowers.The hoop house also provides season long protection from weather for growing lisianthus, eucalyptus, lavender, dusty miller and rosemary. In the fall season, the hoop house provides extended protection for snapdragons, stock, and whatever else we can squeeze into the space. Come explore several different types of hoop house styles and participate in a discussion on the pros and cons to managing hoop house structures.

No-Till Farming and Soil Health
2021-05-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Harvest Table Farm, 28413 Smyth Chapel Rd, Meadowview, Virginia, United States
Learn techniques of no-till farming and witness the benefits of growing healthy soil with us at the Harvest Table Farm. We will discuss the why and how for a no-till approach and demonstrate simple, easy methods to transform your growing spaces.

Virtual Bingo: FUNdraiser Benefitting ASD
2021-02-25 20:00 - 21:00 | Virginia
Support Appalachian Sustainable Development’s (ASD) Agroforestry program and win great prizes!

Join us on Zoom for Virtual BINGO on Thursday February 25, 2021 at 7pm EST from the comfort of your own home. Tickets: $20

Each night, BINGO will last for approximately 1.5 hours, with 7 prizes. Prizes range from $20-$150 value! Prizes are from the Damascus VA, Abingdon VA, and Bristol VA/TN region. Gift card prizes will be mailed, all non-gift card prizes will need to be picked up from ASD’s Bristol, VA office.

Prizes for ASD’s Virtual Bingo donated by:

Abingdon Olive Oil Company, Blackbird Bakery, Delta Blues BBQ, Salt of the Earth, White Birch Juice Company, Wolf Hills Coffee, Tumbling Creek Cider Company, Food City, and Kroger

To play: You must have a computer, internet connection and a zoom account (instructions on how to set up a free zoom account are included in your ticket purchase).

Disclaimers:

No refundsOnly one ticket per personPlayers absorb ticket fees and taxesWinners are required to pick up non-gift card prizes or they will be forfeited (By March 10)Shipping address required at check out to receive mailed gift card prizes

Register Here
