SAHC Community Farm

Conservation • Education • Celebration

Farm life never stops. Our ever-evolving 140-acre farm and education center in Alexander, NC continues to expand with exciting new programs and hands-on experiences. If you have not been out to see the farm recently, we welcome you to join one of the monthly guided farm tours, or sign up for a session in our Farmer Education Workshop Series! Visit Appalachian.org for the most up-to-date outings and workshop schedule.

Growing and Growing

Earlier this year, we successfully transformed eight acres of pasture fronting Mag Sluder Road into a silvopasture demonstration project. Silvopasture integrates trees, pasture, and forage into a single system. Incorporating trees into agriculture improves land health and increases carbon sequestration.

Silvopasture is shown to reduce soil greenhouse gas emissions by 35-50 percent over open pasture, to build soil, improve water quality and increase rates of annual tree growth. With support from Contour Lines, Inc. and assistance from multiple volunteer groups, we planted over 4,000 trees and shrubs on contour to create a wooded pasture area that will benefit livestock and prevent erosion. Cover crop plantings will help protect water quality and prevent erosion as the trees mature.

“This is a one-of-a-kind agroforestry project in our area, and continues our focus on using the Community Farm for both education and productive agriculture,” says Associate Director Kristy Urquhart. “We presented two informational workshops during the establishment phase of this new silvopasture area, and it will continue to serve as an educational demonstration plot. Guests on our Discovery Trail hikes, workshop participants, and folks who are interested in establishing their own agroforestry projects will be able to see how the silvopasture area matures and creates multiple layers of benefits.”

SAHC received a Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant to support the project, an initiative funded by the Appalachian Beginning Forest Farming Coalition (ABFFC) and Edwards Mother Earth Foundation (EMEF) that is managed by Virginia Tech University in partnership with Rural Action, Appalachian Sustainable Development, North Carolina State University and SilvoCulture.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina provided grant funding to support the silvopasture project as well as new signage for the interpretive Discovery

Trail, fencing for pasture areas to improve access along the trail, and updated equipment in the certified commercial kitchen within the Education Center building on the farm.

SAHC’s Community Farm Kitchen can be used by participants in our Farm Incubator Program as well as other local producers to create value-added products. Shelf-stable products such as sauces and canned goods can help farmers extend their market season and enhance economic stability. Currently, local producer Nathan Schmidt uses the space to create his line of hot sauces, Silas Sauce –silassauce.com.

This fall we restarted in-person sessions in our Farmer Education Workshop series, with a Whole Farm Planning and a Value-Added Products Workshop in SAHC’s Community Kitchen. For more information about workshops and the process to access our commercial kitchen, contact Community Farm Manger Chris Link at chris@appalachian.org.

Farm Incubator Program

“SAHC’s Farm Incubator Program provides land access, infrastructure, networking, and consultation for entrepreneurial farmers who have a solid plan for a farm business but need a little boost to launch or reach the next level,” continues Kristy. “It’s like a business incubator for farm businesses. Producers can spend up to five years in the program as they build their customer base and refine their techniques.”

Suzanne Nolter of Blazing Star Flowers (Blazingstarflowers.com) will be growing with us for another year. Blazing Star Flowers is a small flower farm and floral design studio serving the Asheville area with sustainable flowers and lush, gardeninspired arrangements. You can find her arrangements and spectacular blooms at BlazingStarFlowers.com.

Volunteer Projects

Thank you to our Corporate Partners at Wicked Weed Brewing for their ongoing support of conservation, and for getting hands-on experience in a volunteer work day at the farm. We hosted volunteers from Wicked Weed Brewing for a garlic planting session this fall, and enjoyed working in the silvopasture project area with them as well.

Youth volunteers from the French Broad River Academy continue to serve in multiple projects across the farm. Thank you all for your volunteer efforts!

Resident Highlanders

Hi hoooo - Highland Cooooo! A calf was recently born to the Scottish Highland Coo family on the farm — and the shaggy mom, dad, and baby continue to delight visitors and volunteers. These heritage breed Scottish Highland cattle are one of the most popular sights on our monthly Community Farm hikes!

If you haven’t been out to visit the farm recently, we invite you to join us. Sign up for our e-News at Appalachian.org to receive more frequent updates on news on upcoming events.