Appalachian Sustainable Development

Tazewell Community Health Fair
2024-11-22 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Tazewell County Fairgrounds- Nuckolls Hall, 515 Fairgrounds Rd., Tazewell, Virginia, 24651, United States
Join us at the Tazewell Community Health Fair on November 22nd at the Tazewell County fairgrounds from 11 am- 2 pm. This free event, generously sponsored by Aetna, will make sure you have what you need to stay healthy as we head into the holidays!

Enjoy valuable health resources for you and your family:

Get free vaccines, Narcan training, blood pressure checks & more

Learn about health resources available in Tazewell, including ASD’s Healthy Tazewell Initiative and the Growing Together Community Garden

Talk with onsite representatives from Aetna, Appalachian College of Pharmacy, ASD, Care Connections RX, Carilion, Cumberland Mountain Community Services, Cumberland Plateau District, Labor of Love Mission, Savida Health, United HealthCare & more

Plus, pick up a free Appalachian Harvest Food Box (250 available) and food cart (100 available), all sponsored by Aetna Better Health of Virginia. Food boxes contain turkeys and locally sourced produce. Labor of Love Mission will also be giving out dry goods. Come early – it’s first come, first served. We hope to see you there!

Wildcrafting Workshop: Wreath Making
2024-11-23 18:00 - 20:00 | ASD Greenhouse, 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, Virginia, 24202, United States
This November, we’re offering a series of classes for adults, showcasing creative uses for the bounties of nature. Come get creative with us and take home a new treasure carefully crafted by you, using some of the season’s loveliest natural elements!

In this Foraged Holiday Wreath class, we’ll use foraged materials already collected – like grapevine and evergreens – to create a beautiful door wreath. We’ll provide everything you need, including ribbon and wire, but you are always welcome to bring any accent materials you like (berries, ornaments, etc.).

We’ll have bottled water and an assortment of hot drinks like tea and hot chocolate. Also, there will be birdhouse gourds, t-shirts, and the phenomenal Appalachian Sustainabili-tea for sale.

Dress in layers, as the event is inside the greenhouse. You can get tickets using the button below or check out our Facebook Event Page listing.

Winter Business Intensive: Class 3- Business & Financial Management
2024-12-05 18:00 - 20:00
We will hear from KCARD’s Kellie Padgett about business and financial management. With years of experience working at KCARD as a Business Development Specialist, Kellie will provide students with best practices for starting and sustaining good business practices.

This class will cover enterprise budgets, assessing financial risk, and sustainable management for your agribusiness.

Homework:

Create an enterprise budget

Worksheets 1-19, 1-20, 1-21, 1-22, 1-23

Read Chapter 5 – Whole Farm Management

You can sign up here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-3-business-and-financial-management

Winter Business Intensive: Class 4- Markets & Moderating
2024-12-19 18:00 - 20:00
ASD’s Marketing Specialist, Dave Harbin, will provide a crash course on marketing your agribusiness – identifying target audiences, where and how to market your goods/services, and best management practices.

A panel of farmers and market managers will join us to discuss strategies and answer questions – panel moderated by Dave.

Homework:

Read Chapter 4 – Whole Farm Management

Worksheets 1-17, 1-18

Market Channel Assessment Guide in resource binder

You can sign up here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-4-markets-and-marketing

Winter Business Intensive: Class 5- Loans, Grants, & Support Programs
2025-01-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Virginia Highlands Community College
ASD’s grant writer, Della McGuire, will give a crash course on grant writing to support your agribusiness. ASD’s Business Development Specialist, Kylea Cooper, explains how she and ASD can help with these loans, grants, BBS applications, now and in the future.

ASD’s Regional Food Business Center Manager, Santiago Figaredo, will be available to answer questions about Business Builder Subawards.

Homework:

Research farm loan & grant programs

Familiarize yourself with Grants.gov

You can register here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-5-loans-grants-and-support-programs

Winter Business Intensive: Class 6- Climate Smart Agriculture & Resource Management
2025-01-16 18:00 - 20:00
ASD’s team of agriculture specialists will lead this course and provide a chance for each student to explore sustainability aspects they can implement on their own land.

Learn from experts in agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and climate resilience on ASD’s staff. You will be introduced to best management practices for resilience, environmental health, and economic prosperity.

We know extreme weather events are becoming commonplace, and you can implement practices to reduce the risks associated with these as well as reduce your inputs on your farm, keeping more money in your pocket while improving soil health, animal health, and ecosystem health.

Homework:

Explore Web Soil Survey and other mapping techniques

Worksheets 1-10, 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4

Draw a Farm Map

You can click here to register: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-6-climate-smart-agriculture-and-resource-management

Winter Business Intensive: Class 7- Funding & Support
2025-02-06 18:00 - 20:00
Cindy Fields of the Small Business Development Center and Sarah Scyphers of Farm Credit of the Virginias will join us to discuss how their respective organizations can help you with funding and support for your agribusiness.

Homework:

Survey

Read through info in resource binder

Write business plan to be shared at class #8

You can register by clicking here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-7-funding-and-support

Farm to Table Tasting at Platter & Pour
2025-02-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Platter & Pour, 511 State St, Bristol, Virginia, 24201, United States
Platter & Pour is delighted to partner with Appalachian Sustainable Development to host a locally inspired culinary experience, featuring station-style service and curated wine and beer pairings. Meet and mingle with area farmers and food producers who will be at the event to answer your questions about their operations. This event will emphasize the region’s agricultural wealth and sustainable producers, highlighting seasonal ingredients from local farms.

Guests will enjoy a station-style dining experience, moving between each culinary station to sample specially prepared dishes. A paired wine or beer will be offered at each station. Three drink tickets will be provided to each guest, allowing them to enjoy one glass of wine or beer at each of the three different stations. Additional drinks may be purchased at the bar.

Station 1 – Caribbean Pumpkin Crab Bisque

Featured Dish: A rich and creamy Caribbean-style pumpkin crab bisque, crafted from locally grown pumpkins and fresh milk sourced from Goshen Farm. The sweetness of the pumpkin and subtle brininess of the crab are balanced to create a hearty, smooth soup. Finely ground cayenne pepper will be available to spice up the dish.

Wine and Beer Pairings will be suggested.

Station 2 – Appalachian & Grayson Cheese Experience (vegetarian option)

Featured Dish: Indulgent and creamy macaroni and cheese featuring a rich blend of local cheeses and mushrooms sourced locally. Raclette-Style presentation with melted Grayson cheese draped over caramelized apples and a crepe triangle. Pork from Old Rich Valley Farm may be added for guests who prefer a heartier option, while keeping the dish vegetarian-friendly without it.

Wine and Beer Pairings will be suggested.

Station 3 – Stuffed Local Chicken & Roast Poultry Medley

Featured Dish: A combination of stuffed local chicken breast, roast legs and thighs prepared with sun-dried tomatoes, caramelized balsamic onions, creamy feta cheese, and fresh local microgreens. Served upon a bed of locally sourced salad greens, this dish offers a balance of tangy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors enhanced by the rich, tender, pasture-raised poultry from old Rich Valley Farms.

Wine and Beer Pairings will be suggested.

Station 4 – Dessert

Featured Options: A selection of bite-sized desserts for guests to enjoy at their leisure.

Wine and Beer Pairings available as a separate bar purchase.

70% of all ingredients sourced from farmers within a 250 mile radius of Platter & Pour. Substitutions may apply. Photography and videos may be taken during the evening. All event proceeds benefit Appalachian Sustainable Development. Special thanks to our friends at Platter & Pour who are graciously providing significant event underwriting. Event sponsor is Hard Rock, Bristol.

Each ticket purchase gives each guest 3 drink tickets. One ticket can be exchanged for wine or beer at Stations 1, 2, or 3. Guests may purchase additional drinks at the bar. Non-alcoholic beverages (water, coffee, tea) will be included and available upon request.

ASD Appalachia Regional Food Business Center Information Session #1
2025-02-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Appalachian Harvest, 280 Boone Trail Road, Duffield, Virginia, 24224, United States
ASD’s team will be hosting two informational sessions breaking down the Appalachia USDA Regional Food Business Center (ARFBC). We will go over:

How can ASD help me apply for funding to advance my business or launch my business idea?

What is the Regional Food Business Center?

Who are the partners carrying out the ARFBC?

What does the ARFBC provide to food and farm businesses?

You can sign up here.

ASD Appalachia Regional Food Business Center Information Session #2
2025-02-18 17:30 - 20:00 | Blue Mountain Therapy, 17507 Lee Highway, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210

Winter Business Intensive: Class 8- Business Plan Presentation, Feedback, & BBS Work
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00
Students will share their business plans with the class and get constructive feedback from their peers and ASD staff.

ASD’s RFBC staff will help students through their BBS applications, outline next steps, connect students to mentors and businesses, and review best management practices for their agribusiness.

You can register by clicking here: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-business-intensive-8-business-plans-and-business-builder-awards

Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Soils & Soil Health
2025-04-28 18:00 - 20:00
This lesson will provide you with an understanding of creating and maintaining healthy soil, and what healthy soil is. This is a virtual class through Zoom.

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Garden Planting
2025-04-29 18:00 - 20:00
This lesson will provide a guide to warm weather and cold weather crops, plus appropriate garden spacing. You will also learn about “companion plants,” plants you can utilize to help get nitrogen back into your soil. Plus you will learn the difference between sowing and transplanting seeds.

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

You can register here.

AGROFORESTRY FARM TOUR SERIES: FOREST FARMING AT BC FARM, IN ESTILL COUNTY, KY
2025-05-14 13:00 - 15:00
BC Farm is a beginning forest farming operation in Estill County Kentucky. Once a tobacco farm, owner Storey Slone is now slowly shifting towards sustainable production with a focus on integrating perennial agriculture systems. Storey currently grows in her gardens and high tunnel and has started converting the old tobacco field into a pollinator plot.

Storey hopes to cultivate woodland botanicals and non-timber forest products to meet nursery stock and landscaping demands, while also incorporating them into teas, tinctures, and other value-added herbal products.

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.

Farm to Table Supper with Sarah Soto and TC3 @ Kelly Ridge Farms, LLC
2025-05-19 18:00 - 20:30 | Kelly Ridge Farms, 30558 Old Saltworks Road, Meadowview, Virginia, United States
Springtime in Appalachia is magic and a drive out to the farm to enjoy a meal with friends old and new is the perfect stage for this popular experience. A limited number of guests will experience a three-course, locally sourced seasonal meal prepared and served family style by Abingdon Chef, Sarah Soto. Hosted by Kelly Ridge Farms, LLC, guests will enjoy a unique, curated menu that features ingredients sourced from local and regional farmers and food producers. Each course is perfectly paired with Tumbling Creek Ciders (pressed and fermented on the farm). This intimate dining experience will heighten your senses in every way.

Upon arrival, guests can mingle, browse the silent auction, or learn more about the farm on a complimentary farm tour at 5 pm, conducted by Tumbling Creek Cider Company co-owners. Cider will be available for purchase before and after the meal. Supper is sure to please and also inspire. The Table Side Starter: Local deviled eggs with honey mustard and bacon kick off your culinary journey. Appetizer: Rainbow wraps-Swiss Chard or Collards hold carrots, shallots, snap peas, cucumbers, and peppers with green goddess dipping sauce. Panzanella Salad: Local sourdough, tomato, basil, red onion, tender local greens, fresh mozzarella, and red wine Dijon vinaigrette. Entree: Dijon-crusted pork loin and roasted golden beets, turnips, and onions. Dessert: Strawberry rhubarb pie and coffee. Vegetarian choices available. Depending on the availability, the menu is subject to change. At least 70% of ingredients are sourced locally. Each course is expertly paired with locally sourced Tumbling Creek Ciders. Seating is first come-first serve. Layers and sturdy shoes are suggested. No tickets will be sold at the event.

Tumbling Creek Cider Company was formed by four friends in 2018, with a mission of creating high-quality apple-to-bottle cider focused on our local region and community here in Southwest Virginia. With a focus on hand-crafted cider, they built a production facility and then started grafting cider apple trees and building the orchard. In 2020, they opened their tasting room in Abingdon, VA. Learn more at: https://tumblingcreekcider.com.

Local artisan Amanda Sprinkle will be offering her baskets during the silent auction. Amanda began her journey with basketry in 1999. She was immediately drawn to the blend of artistry and functionality in the craft. She weaves using reed from the rattan plant, along with hardwood bases and handles made in the U.S. Amanda honors traditional techniques rooted in Appalachian and Indigenous cultures, and also experiments with contemporary designs to create baskets that are both functional and visually appealing. Basketry has a deep root in Appalachian culture, serving essential roles in farming, gathering, and storage. For Amanda, basketry is about more than creating objects; it’s about blending utility and beauty to bring something meaningful into people’s lives.Enjoy Haiku Brew coffee at this supper. Entrepreneur, Justin VanHoy will be with us serving his unique roasted coffee. coffee@haikubrew.com

100% of all proceeds benefit Appalachian Sustainable Development. Photos and videos will be taken during this event.

Click here to get your ticket.

Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Irrigation
2025-05-26 18:00 - 20:00
Our irrigation course will show you the different methods of creating irrigation systems, and how to implement them into our gardens. This class is virtual and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Garden Maintenance
2025-05-27 18:00 - 20:00
This lesson provides the fundamental understanding of WISP, which stands for Weed suppression, Integrated pest management, Soil health, and Plant health. You and your plants won’t want to miss it!

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

You can register here.

Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument: Sculpture Unveiling
2025-06-07 11:00 - 17:30 | High Knob Destination Center, 1147 Laurel Avenue SW, Norton, Virginia, 24273
Join us for the unveiling of the forest botanicals sculpture and the celebration of the region’s native forest botanicals. The day will feature an herbal-focused arts and crafts fair, food trucks, music, guided storywalks along the trail, giveaways, and so much more.

About the Sculpture

Located at the High Knob Destination Center, an in-progress sculpture created by the artist team of Nathan Wachacha David Bush (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) and William Rogers will celebrate the relationships that Appalachian peoples have long held with forest botanicals, stretching from pre-colonization to today.

Learn more about the Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument at https://forestbotanicalsmonument.org

Schedule of Events

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sculpture Unveiling at the High Knob Destination Center with remarks by the sculpture artist team of William Rogers of Cullowhee, North Carolina and Nathan Wachacha David Bush, a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from the Snowbird Community.

12:00 – 4:00 PM:

Vendor booths, live music, food truck, talks, and workshops

4:00 – 5:30 PM:

Guided Storywalk Trail hike, starting at the Norton Reservoir Trailhead parking lot

Classes and Hands-on Workshops

All classes and workshops are free. No pre-registration is required, but seating is limited so plan to arrive early.

12:45 – 1:15Eastern Woodland Peoples in Appalachian Virginia: Living Off the LandBy Victoria Persinger Ferguson

Presenter: Victoria Persinger Ferguson, Enrolled Citizen of the Monacan Indian Nation; Presidential Ambassador to Native Nations and Director Solitude/Fraction Site, Virginia Tech

Class Description: In this talk, tribal citizen Victoria Persinger Ferguson will discuss how the earth has sustained us and how we can learn from our Indigenous ancestors.

Bio: Victoria Persinger Ferguson is an enrolled citizen of the Monacan Indian Nation of Virginia. She serves as the Presidential Ambassador to Native Nations, Director of the Solitude/Fraction Site, and co-founder of the Indigenous Community Garden at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Ferguson was the manager and lead interpreter for the Monacan Indian Village at Natural Bridge State Park. She is an expert in the foodways and daily living habits of the Yesáh (Eastern Siouan-Speaking Peoples) through the early European colonization period, knowledge that is informed by first-person documentation, archaeological studies, and oral teachings passed down through her family. Ferguson regularly gives invited talks and demonstrations about Indigenous lifeways, dietary patterns, agricultural practices, medicinal plants, textiles, and crafts. She has been featured in the Virginia Department of Education’s film The Virginia Indians: Meet the Tribes, the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage’s ‘Women and Ginseng’ video series, and The Roanoker.

1:20 – 1:50Traditional Afro-lachian Herbalismby Ruby Daniels

Presenter: Ruby Daniels, Natural Resources Specialist, Herbalist, Forest Farmer, and Owner of Creasy Jane’s

Class Description: In this talk, herbalist and forest farmer Ruby Daniels will discuss African Americans’ history and relationships with plants of the Appalachian region.

Bio: Ruby Daniels is a Natural Resource Specialist with the USDA NRCS, a farmer, a manufacturer of herbal products, an herbalist, and the owner of Creasy Jane’s, an herbal products company based in Stanaford, West Virginia. Ruby founded Creasy Jane’s to provide education, herbal products, and fresh produce to her local community. She gained her knowledge from her elders in West Virginia and expanded her plant knowledge by attending Maryland University of Integrative Health. Ruby received a Master of Science in Therapeutic Herbalism, with a focus on Afro-lachian foods and herbs, field botany, and phytochemistry. She is a board member of the United Plant Savers and previously worked with a non-profit organization as a consultant in the Agroforestry industry. Ruby Daniels also works on cultural preservation and education focusing on African American relationships to the plants of Appalachia. Her mission through Creasy Jane’s is to educate the public about the power of plants and how to use them to support wellness.

2:00 – 2:50Forest Botanicals Propagationby Robin Suggs

Presenter: Robin Suggs, Herb Hub Procurement Manager at Appalachian Sustainable Development

Class Description: This hands-on class will cover the concepts of both rhizome division and seed propagation of your favorite forest botanicals.

Bio: Robin is the Procurement Manager at Appalachian Sustainable Development’s (ASD) Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub. In this role, Robin identifies and supports medicinal herb farmers to meet secured demand for sustainably grown and harvested forest botanicals, including American ginseng, goldenseal, black and blue cohosh, and field grown medicinal herbs, such as peppermint and nettles. Robin also leads seed to sale training with the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition (AFFC), as well as workforce development for the Wild Stewards Alliance (WSA). Before joining ASD, Robin was the sole proprietor of MoonBranch Botanicals, producing native medicinal plants and other non-timber forest products in the small community of Yellow Creek in far western North Carolina. His company supplied the natural products and medicines industry with high quality native raw bulk botanicals produced in their natural habitats.

3:00 – 3:50One Plant, Many Medicinesby Lori Briscoe

Presenter: Lori Briscoe, Founder of Appalachian Teas & Botanicals, HerbLAB and The Appalachian Apothecary

Class Description: One plant offers many gifts. Meet a few of my favorite herbs and learn how to make simple medicines like tea, folk tinctures, poultices and more.

Bio: Herbalist, writer, educator and creator Lori Briscoe is passionate about deepening the connections between plants, people and place. She is driven by a mission to help individuals experience what she calls the Magic & Medicine of Place. For the past 20 years she has been educating and inspiring adults and children to value and conserve Appalachia’s biological diversity and rich cultural heritage to empower a sustainable future for the region. Lori holds a B.A. in Anthropology, an M.A. in Appalachian Studies and Sustainable Development, and is a certified herbalist of the Appalachian School of Natural Health. Lori founded Appalachian Teas & Botanicals & HerbLAB to bring full circle her academic and deeply experiential approach to the wonder of the region. Her bioregionally grown and gathered herbs, tea blends and botanical products lift the body and spirit not only in Appalachia, but across the country.

Food Truck: Crunch Time Taco

Local and family oriented, the Crunch Time food truck offers amazing tacos and frozen yogurt. Let their family serve yours! For more information, visit their Facebook page.

Vendors

Madi Bop Shop

Custom art prints and crochet items relevant to the sculpture unveiling, including some coloring book pages!

For more information, visit Madi’s Facebook page or email Madi at madibopshop@gmail.com.

Appalcahian Teas & Botanicals

Regionally sourced and inspired tea blends and herbal products, education and more.

For more information, visit the Appalachian Teas & Botanicals website or email them at Apptandb@gmail.com.

CREASY JANE’S HERBAL REMEDIES

Combining Appalachian herbal traditional remedies, science and research, and spirit to formulate the best herbal remedies for our clients.

For more information, visit the Creasy Jane’s website or email them at CreasyJane@gmail.com.

Future Generations University

Future Generations University focuses on education and research related to agroforestry for both youth and adults. We work with service providers, producers and educators to increase awareness and opportunities.

For more information, visit the FGU website or email Heather at heather.harper@future.edu.

Monuments Across Appalachia Virginia

MAAV hopes to reimagine what constitutes a monument while commemorating histories and experiences that have been silenced, denied, or excluded.

For more information, visit moremountainstories.org or email Lauren at ltrice@vt.edu.

Cherokee Copper Art

Nathan Bush is a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians from the Snowbird Community. He is a blacksmith and coppersmith working on the revitalization of the pre-colonial style of copperwork and is Program Coordinator for the Cherokee Historical Association. Nathan is a Cherokee medicinal plant expert who learned from a young age about the uses of plants from his parents, Onita and Mark Bush, and his grandfather, Mose Wachacha. Nathan’s goal is to promote Cherokee arts and knowledge and to preserve copperwork as one of the Cherokee People’s traditional crafts.

LIKEN Network

The LIKEN Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network is a link-tank for communities – to build capacity to grow good livelihoods based on local assets, to monitor community health and wealth to avoid boom and bust, and to take evidence-based action for future well-being based on deep understanding of the past.

For more information, visit the Liken Knowledge website or email Mary Hufford at hufford@likenknowledge.org.

Appalachian Sustainable Development

ASD’s Agroforestry and Herb Hub team will be sharing information about agroforestry practices – like silvopasture, alley cropping, and forest farming – that provide growers with a variety of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Plus, the team will share information about the Appalachian Harvest Herb Hub, located in Duffield, VA. The herb hub’s goal is to help build and support a thriving and sustainable herbal economy in Central Appalachia, where plant conservation is achieved through profitable cultivation.

Stop by our booth to enter into a free giveaway prize!

Music

Earl White and Adrienne Davis are a dynamic duo from Floyd County, Virginia who have been icons in the old-time music and dance community for more than a decade. Earl’s energetic fiddle style upholds the Appalachian tradition while adding his trance-like sound and distinct bowing. He is well known for his extensive repertoire of traditional American fiddle tunes. Adrienne’s steadfast hand on the guitar completes their sound as she drives the bass notes and lays down rhythm. As a duet they perform concerts and instruct at many workshops throughout the United States.

Directions

The main event will take place at the High Knob Destination Center (HKDC),1147 Laurel Ave. SW, Norton, VA 24273.

Parking at the HKDC is limited to a maximum of 30 cars. Overflow parking is located at the high school (located at 109 Eleventh Street SW) with a free continuous shuttle provided back and forth to the HKDC. If the HKDC parking lot is full when you arrive, please park at the high school instead and wait for the next shuttle.

Important Links

Learn more about the Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument at https://forestbotanicalsmonument.org

Explore Norton, Virginia

Learn more about Monuments Across Appalachia Virginia

Project Partners and Sponsors

AGROFORESTRY FARM TOUR SERIES: SILVOPASTURE AT BELLAIR FARM
2025-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Bellair Farm, 5290 Bellair Farm, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902, United States
See a budding silvopasture that’s designed to take advantage of the edges of the farm to produce multipurpose trees for shade, ecosystem benefits, and fencepost material. This farm’s pragmatic design uses simplicity to gain big benefits with low complexity.

We’ll enjoy a farm tour of the silvopasture, riparian buffer plantings, and diverse animal systems, followed by networking and an Agroforestry Q&A after a brown bag lunch.

Learn more about Bellair Farm here.

Grow Your Own Beginner Class: Food Preservation (IN PERSON)
2025-06-24 17:00 - 20:00 | Pleasant View Church, 18416 Lee Hwy, Abingdon, Virginia, 24210, United States
This will be an in-person workshop, where we will have a guest come show us the basics principles of preserving our produce.

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.

Grow Your Own intermediate Class: Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
2025-06-30 18:00 - 20:00
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an environmentally friendly approach to controlling pests in gardening and agriculture. Instead of relying solely on chemical pesticides, IPM focuses on a combination of strategies to prevent, monitor, and manage pest populations in a way that is both effective and sustainable.

This class is virtual and will be held through Zoom.

You can register here.

AGROFORESTRY FARM SERIES: ALLEY CROPPING AT ASD'S NEW BRISTOL CAMPUS
2025-07-11 10:00 - 14:30 | ASD Greenhouse, 17444 Singingwood Lane, Bristol, Virginia, 24202, United States
The farm tour of ASD’s alley-cropping site is a great opportunity to witness a young system that’s already producing in a big way. This system, implemented in early 2024, is already producing woody cut florals, dahlia tubers, cut flower stems, and coppiced willow stems for weaving and conservation plantings. We’ll spend the morning on a walkabout of the site with live Q&A and time to network.

After lunch, we’ll head over to a new silvopasture site in Bristol, VA, to see a transitional alley-cropping-to-silvopasture installation. This site was designed for diversified, multi-story production, and integrates hazelnuts, hardwoods, and Virginia Pines with hair sheep, to support both ecosystem and animal health.

Registration is required. Click here to register.

Grow Your Own Intermediate Class: Food Safety
2025-07-28 18:00 - 20:00
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
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 | 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
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
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!
