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Summer is moving right along, bringing warm days, full fields, and plenty of opportunities to get outside!
From productive volunteer workdays to upcoming workshops, webinars, and extension updates, there is plenty happening across our program. Keep reading to find ways to connect, learn, and get involved with the work happening in the field. |
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Balloon Flower (Jie Geng) (桔梗) (Platycodon grandiflorus). Jeanine Davis Program 2026. |
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Corn Bead Production for Artisan Resource Sustainability
Check out our press release to learn more about a corn bead project.
Click here to open our Corn Bead Press Release. |
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Western NC Woodland Stewards Group
Mills River, NC
August 4, 2026 9am-12pm EST |
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Join us for a hands-on educational volunteer opportunity at our NC State Forest Farming Demonstration Site.
This event takes place in-person at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center in Mills River, NC and is comprised of both beginning and advanced forest farmers.
Our next Woodland Stewards event will take place on Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, from 9am-12pm, followed by an optional picnic lunch.
Additional Woodland Stewards event dates are::
September 8th 2026 9am-12pm
Ginseng harvesting, sustainability, and update on research.
October 6th 2026 9am-12pm
Annual woodland stewards root harvest ~ and medicine making (new this year)!
November 10th 2026 9am - 12pm
Putting beds to rest and annual Forest Farming Planting Stock distribution
Please email Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu with interest in becoming a Woodland Stewards member and to RSVP for this event. |
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Aerial and Tea Grade Medicinal Herbs: Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling
Mills River, NC
August 5, 2026 2-4pm EST |
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Join us for our next WNC Medicinal Herb Growers event!
Learn about the best practices to maintain high-quality herbal ingredients for value-added products.
This event is open to everyone and takes place in-person at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center in Mills River, NC from 2:00-4:00pm EST.
Learn more and register at the Eventbrite link. |
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Tomato Taste Test: WNC Farmers Market
Asheville,NC
August 7, 2026 10am-2pm EST |
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We are hosting a Tomato Taste Test at the WNC Farms Market!
Come take part in a tomato taste test featuring research varieties bred by Dr. Dilip Panthee in the NC State University Department of Horticultural Science.
Your feedback helps ensure NC State releases varieties with excellent flavor!
Email Katie_Learn@ncsu.edu for more information |
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Forest Farming Office Hours
August 7, 2026 12-1:30pm EST |
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Join the Appalachian Forest Farmer Coalition and the NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program with NC State University Extension for Q & A, resources, and conversation about forest farming. All regions and experience levels are welcome.
All Forest Farming Office Hours take place on Zoom on designated Fridays from 12-1:30 pm EST. These zoom sessions are not recorded.
To register for Forest Farming Office Hours, please RSVP here or email Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu. |
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Chinese Medicinal Herb Volunteer Day
Mills River, NC
August 13th, 2026 9am-12pm EST |
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Chinese Herb Volunteers. Jeanine Davis Program 2026. |
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Our July Chinese Medicinal Herb Volunteer Day saw 7 volunteers, and our biggest turnout yet! We discussed what's blooming in the demo plots and how to manage seed collection in the coming months.
Our next volunteer day will be Thursday, August 13th from 9am-12pm.
To register for a volunteer day, please email Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu.
Please share with friends, students, and colleagues that may benefit from getting to know these plants more intimately. |
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Ginseng Regional Production Update
Asheville, NC
September 18th, 2026 9am-3pm EST |
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Join us for the latest updates on regional ginseng production and marketing.
Lunch and one ounce of high-quality stratified seed are included in the price of registration!
There have been some interesting changes in the world of ginseng production!
We are excited to have Dr. Jeanine Davis form the Department of Horticultural Science and Dr. Jim Hamilton from Watuga County Extension joining us.
Find more information and purchase tickets here! |
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Gather to Grow Forest Farming Conference
Blacksburg, VA
October 23-25th, 2026 |
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The 2nd Gather to Grow multi-day Forest Farming conference will be held in Blacksburg, Virginia on October 23-25, 2026!
The conference will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center on campus and will feature learning, networking, and growing with the community surrounding forest farming of botanicals, mushrooms, syrups, and decorative products in Appalachia. Keynote speakers, an industry panel, regional meet-ups, producer stories, and an expanded expo are all things to look forward to.
For more information visit the Conference Website.
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors to-date:
Barnes-Berry Family Trust
Traditional Medicinals
Rural Action
Native Botanicals
WishGarden Herbs
Please contact Margaret_Bloomquist@ncsu.edu with questions.
Early Bird tickets on sale through August 7th! |
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11th Annual Grower & Buyer Event
Mills River, NC
November 12th, 2026 2-6pm EST |
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Organic Seed Growers Conference
Asheville, NC
March 24-31, 2027 |
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Organic Seed Alliance in collaboration with NC State University is thrilled to announce the 2027 Organic Seed Growers Conference!
We will have separate Pre-conference (March 24-25), In-person (March 26-27) and Virtual (March 30-31) components, providing an interactive agenda of workshops, demonstrations, farm tours, lightning talks, art, seed swaps, affinity spaces, keynote presentations, and of course – celebration!
Tickets will go on sale soon.
Volunteer opportunities will be available and will provide free registration
Please contact Katie Learn in the NC Alternative Crops & Organics Program at NC State University with any questions or with interest in volunteer opportunities: osgc27@seedalliance.org. |
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Our multi-state TOMI-3 (Tomato Organic Management and Improvement) project recently published a disease survey to better understand grower's challenges.
If you are a tomato grower, researcher, or farm employee, share your opinions and experiences with us!
Link here: TOMI3 Disease Management Survey |
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Researcher in field. Jeanine Davis Program 2026. |
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This work is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. |
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More offerings from our partners:
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The Savanna Institute, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is seeking qualified Technical Assistance Providers (TAPs) to support producers participating in the Expanding Agroforestry Markets and Production (EAMP) project. |
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The primary goal of this Request for Qualifications is to establish a pool of experienced providers capable of delivering high-quality, regionally appropriate technical assistance to participating producers. Qualified providers will be added to the pool and may be contracted as producer demand and regional capacity needs arise.
Scope of Work
● Conduct consultations with project-approved producers
● Assess land, goals, and feasibility of agroforestry practices
● Develop agroforestry plans aligned with producer goals and site conditions
● Schedule and conduct on-site evaluations, as appropriate
● Document site conditions and recommendations
● Ensure all plans and recommendations align with State and Federal NRCS
standards and specifications
● Capture required data, metrics, and qualitative data, and submit required forms
and related documentation to support project reporting needs, as applicable
● Communicate regularly with Savanna Institute staff
● Participate in periodic coordination meetings and updates as needed
To be considered for this opportunity, please fill out the Application Form
For more information, visit the Program Page.
Please send any questions to adoptionpathways@savannainstitute.org. |
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Yale School of the Environment recently published a paper titled The case for rethinking harvest regulations for American ginseng: from age- to size-based harvest. |
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The study used field data to examine whether the current policy environment that governs the harvest of American ginseng—a valuable and threatened understory plant native to North American forests—is effectively supporting the conservation of the species. You may be surprised at the results! |
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Link to full paper here: Protecting wild populations and working landscapes: the case for transitioning to size-based criteria for federal regulation of American ginseng |
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Access a Free Temperate Tree Crop Guidebook! |
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Free practical guidebooks for temperate agroforestry and tree crop farmers with a focus on chestnut, honey locust, and yellowbud hickory. These in-depth resources cover genetics and cultivar selection, establishment and management, nursery stock, yield data, harvesting and processing equipment, and more.
Access these resources here. |
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