 |
|
Lean Into Learning this Winter! It may be chilly out, but the work of a new season has begun. We’re leaning into learning this winter with a packed calendar of in-person and virtual workshops.
Photo Credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2026
|
Sharpen Your Toolkit with NC Alternative Crops & Organics
Read below for farmer funding opportunities, workshops, conferences, and an exciting research discovery! |
|
|
Opportunities:
Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program
The 2026 cycle of the Catalyzing Agroforestry Grant Program (CAGP) is open for applications!
Farmers and Forest Landowners: Submit your proposal before the March 3, 2026 deadline. Learn more about CAGP and other programs, and apply for the grant on the Catalyzing Agroforestry website. |
 |
RAFI 2026 Farmer Grants
RAFI’s grantmaking programs aim to support farmers across the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean islands in their efforts to access land and infrastructure, transition to sustainable practices, and recover from disasters and farm crises.
Find more about three upcoming grant opportunities for farmers on the RAFI website. |
 |
|
|
Events
Use this dormant season to invest in yourself. We’ve lined up a full schedule of in-person and virtual events to help you sharpen your expertise before spring hits.
Read below and register now for workshops on:
-
Specialty Crops: Organic tomatoes & woodland herbs
-
Land Management: Forest farming & native nurseries
-
Foundations: Advanced vegetable growing
|
 |
|
Wednesday & Thursday, February 25th – 26th, 2026
Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville, NC
This year’s program covers the essentials of production, business management, and marketing for vegetable growers.
-
Earn Credits: Educational sessions offer associated pesticide credits.
-
Network: Visit the trade show starting at 8:30 am to meet with industry representatives.
-
Give Back: Support the next generation of farmers by participating in our 50/50 raffle and silent auction for the NCTGA Scholarship Fund.
-
Celebrate: We’ll wrap up the day with a sponsored banquet and awards luncheon!
View the conference agenda and register today! |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Monday, April 13, 2026, 1:00-3:00 PM
95 Upper Red Oak Trail,
Hendersonville, NC
$15 Friends of Bullington Gardens, $20 General Public
Discover the delicate and fleeting world of ephemeral flowers that grace our landscapes with their beauty. Join Margaret Bloomquist and Meghan Baker to learn how to identify these early spring wonders, understand their unique lifecycles, and explore their roles in the ecosystem.
Register here for Spring Ephemerals! |
|
June 4–5, 2026
Special Events Building
Ag Progress Days Site
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA.
The inaugural Mid-Atlantic Agroforestry Conference is open for registration! This year’s event is focused on Forest Farming and Multifunctional Buffers.
The two-day event, hosted by Penn State, will feature:
Build connections in agroforestry, grow your knowledge, and increase your operation's productivity, sustainability, and ecosystem benefits!
Register at https://extension.psu.edu/mid-atlantic-agroforestry-conference |
|
|
|
Research Update
Intriguing Discovery in our NC State University Research Truffle Orchard! We are now harvesting not one, not two, but THREE different species of truffles.
Read on to learn more about this exciting news on our website!
|
 |
|
The first native Appalachian truffle harvested from the research truffle orchard on the research station in Western North Carolina.
Photo Credit: NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program 2026
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Copyright © 2026 NC State University, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you requested to stay informed of events and workshops offered by the NC Alternative Crops & Organics program, Dept. of Horticultural Science at NC State University.
Our mailing address is:
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759
By clicking unsubscribe below, you will unsubscribe from ALL NC State Extension newsletters. If you would like to unsubscribe from just this newsletter, please click here instead. Thank You!
Unsubscribe me from all NC State Extension newsletters |
|
|
|
