Sniffing Out Truffles: Winter Hunting Season Is Here! |
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What culinary delicacy grows underground, has an aroma like damp earth with notes of leather, garlic, and cheese, and is hunted using trained dogs? Truffles!
Our program began research on this elusive and fascinating fungus in 2010, establishing an orchard of inoculated hazelnuts at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. Winter is truffle hunting season, and our hunt in December showcased the skills of Petra Vasilik and her expertly trained dogs, Rosi and Stewie. We’ll continue hunting throughout January and February.
We’re also collaborating with our colleague, Inga Meadows, plant pathologist at NC State, to develop a convenient test to help orchardists confirm the presence of the desired Tuber species. Watch for our upcoming video series teaching growers how to perform the truffle DNA test!
Curious about truffle production in North Carolina? Visit our website for more information on truffles and our ongoing research:
https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/specialty-crops/black-truffle-project/
For more information on testing your orchard for truffle presence, visit:
https://meadows.wordpress.ncsu.edu/truffles/testing-service-4/
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A black winter truffle recently unearthed at a partner farm in NC.
Photo Credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2025. |
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New Year, New Newsletter
Happy 2025! We have migrated our program newsletter to a NC State supported platform and consolidated our email lists. You may be receiving this newsletter after not hearing from us in a while. Please indicate below if you'd like to continue receiving a monthly newsletter from the NC Alternative Crops and Organics program of Dr. Jeanine Davis in the Department of Horticultural Science, featuring learning and funding opportunities, program updates, and more!
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Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for these exciting opportunities to learn and grow with NC Alternative Crops and Organics!
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57th Annual Winter Vegetable Conference
Wed Feb 19 - Thurs Feb 20, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Asheville |
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NC organic tomatoes growing in a high tunnel.
Photo credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2025. |
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The annual Winter Vegetable Conference and NC Tomato Growers Meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Asheville. Last year we started a new track to focus on topics of interest to small and medium size farms, including organic agriculture, high-tunnels, new crops, and direct marketing. It was a huge success and will be part of the program again in 2025. The program, registration, sponsors, and more information can all be found at the link below.
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| Winter Vegetable Conference |
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Forest Farming Tour at Banks Mountain Forest Farm
Tues Feb 25, Hendersonville, NC
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This tour, rescheduled from Oct 1, 2024 will showcase how the owners of Banks Mountain Forest Farm have adapted their plans and approached recovery following Hurricane Helene. Free registration and more info at the link below:
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| Banks Mountain Forest Farm Tour |
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Forest Farming Office Hours (virtual)
Fri Feb 14, 12:00-1:30pm EST
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Growing Green Gold in Your Woods
Fri Mar 14 - Sun Mar 16, John C. Campbell Folk School
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Join Jeanine and Katie for a weekend of fun and learning about how to grow some of the most popular native woodland botanicals. Learn how to plan a forest farm or garden, how to grow and propagate, make a plant voucher specimen, and make some value-added products. More information can be found here:
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| Growing Green Gold Workshop |
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Organic Growers School Spring Conference
Fri Mar 14 - Sun Mar 16, Mars Hill University
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Resilience, Recovery, and Renewal is the theme for 2025 Organic Growers School Spring Conference. Registration is live for the annual conference, held March 14-16 2025, Mars Hill University. The event features 8 tracks, full-day workshops, new classes, respected teachers, and community spaces. We look forward to the Forest Farming and other tracks. Learn more and register at the link below.
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| OGS Spring Conference |
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Opportunities
Funding and volunteer opportunities this winter:
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The Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program is an initiative funded by 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.
Direct financial support is available through the program for farmers who seek to join our effort to mitigate climate change through use of agroforestry applications. Agroforestry practices sequester carbon, sustain productive and healthy farms and forests, protect water quality, regenerate soils, and enhance biodiversity.
The Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program is a competitive grants program focused on implementing the following agroforestry practices: Alley cropping, Forest farming, Riparian forest buffers and Windbreaks, Silvopasture, Urban food forest, and Windbreaks.
Learn more and apply here:
https://www.catalyzingagroforestry.org/cagp
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Volunteers seed spinach in the greenhouse on a recent community service day.
Photo credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2025. |
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There's still time to volunteer and assist farms affected by Hurricane Helene.
Our team, comprised of volunteers from the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center and the WNC Woodland Stewards, continues its hands-on efforts to help farmers recover. If you're interested in joining us for upcoming volunteer days, please sign up through the Organic Growers School, which is coordinating service day communications:
https://www.organicgrowersschool.org/helene-recovery/ways-to-support |
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Cleaning seeds is a great winter activity. We harvested this Achyranthes bidentata seed from our Chinese medicinal herb plots in 2024.
Photo Credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2025. |
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Support Our Work
Our work is made possible by your support. Please consider donating to the NC Alternative Crops and Organics Program to help us continue our efforts for a sustainable future. Every contribution counts—thank you for being part of our community!
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