Looking for Permies in the Asheville NC area

Hi, I'm looking to meet and network with other like minded folk in the Asheville area. I'm not new to farming but I feel that I still have so much more to learn and would like to meet people with similar interests in my area. I have an 18+ acre farm where I'm growing mostly fruit and berry tress shrubs and vines but am at some point wanting to incorporate birds, goats and a pig or two. As well as a market garden. I'd also be interested in bartering help wether labor or machinery. Or possibly trading nursery stock. If anyone is interested, I'd really like to meet you. Thanks, Daniel

Hey Daniel, I believe we spoke a before the first of the year. We are building a goat barn with goats arriving early February. Perhaps a time in March we could see about plant trades and setting up work trade. I've been gardening for over a decade and sometimes I feel like I nothing.
We've been out three years and working towards farming full time, hopefully within a year.
Hope more folks chime in...I know they are out there =)
~Sena

I lived in Asheville for many years before recently moving to Arkansas. WNC is certainly a hub for the sustainable farming movement and your find lots of like-minded people there. The first thing that comes to mind is the Herb Festival weekend that will take place sometime this spring at the WNC Farmer's market, (the big, year-round one just off I-40.) You'll meet lots of friendly, local growers, many who are selling obscure, rare plants starts in addition to normal herbs and vegetable plants.

https://asapconnections.org/  Check out ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) to see what they offer. They publish a little booklet a few times a year that you'll find scattered about with the free tourist magazines. They'll have one this spring listing many of the farms and growers in the area. Check the locations to see who your neighbors are then go meet them. Good luck!
And, Sena, you are right. I suspect there are a few WNC folks lurking about on permies.  :)

Carol, your post reminds me of this!
https://ncfarmlink.org/property/sahc-farmer-incubator-program

Daniel you may want to post on NC Farm Link. There could be someone who wants to grow that's looking for work trades too.

That Herb Fest is amazing and HUGE.

Hey there! I’m Graeme, a 33yo engineer.  My family of three is moving to the Asheville area sometime toward the end of this year and beginning of next. We are currently living in New England creating as much edible cooperation with our surroundings as we can. We’ve got a growing orchard with apples, pears, peaches, paw paw, and edible dogwood; a few dozen herbs for eating and medicinal use (my wife is a skilled plant medicine woman); and this year we are transitioning our annual veggies to mostly perennials to reduce upkeep labor.

We’re looking to move to a plot of land around Asheville to make into a permaculture dream land; would you be interested in leasing some of your 18 acres and we can develop that dreamland together? If not, we would be happy to share and work trade wherever possible once we have our own plot set up. Let’s talk! My work will be moving us down there, but not for several months at least, so there’s time to plan. Cheers!

Hey there!

I'm a gardener and currently living out of my van in Asheville, where I've been for 4 years. I'm looking to do worktrade on someone's permaculture/homestead/farm project for the season, where I can park my van in exchange for some hours every week working on the land. I probably can't do more than ~15 hours/week since I still have to run my gardening business a varying amount of days per week. I know a good bit about growing annuals/perennials, seed starting and greenhouse work, chickens, and have done some basic reading on permaculture principles but would love to do more hands-on work with it. I'm a novice carpenter but always down to get some work done! All I really need is a flat spot to park & water, maybe access to a shower/bathroom if you've got it, or a spot for a composting toilet. If this sounds like an exchange that could work out for you, I'd love to see what you've got going on and help out if I can!

Norma

Norma Amron wrote:Hey there!

I'm a gardener and currently living out of my van in Asheville, where I've been for 4 years. I'm looking to do worktrade on someone's permaculture/homestead/farm project for the season, where I can park my van in exchange for some hours every week working on the land. I probably can't do more than ~15 hours/week since I still have to run my gardening business a varying amount of days per week. I know a good bit about growing annuals/perennials, seed starting and greenhouse work, chickens, and have done some basic reading on permaculture principles but would love to do more hands-on work with it. I'm a novice carpenter but always down to get some work done! All I really need is a flat spot to park & water, maybe access to a shower/bathroom if you've got it, or a spot for a composting toilet. If this sounds like an exchange that could work out for you, I'd love to see what you've got going on and help out if I can!

Norma

Norma, have you seen the following post? It sounds like you all could be a great match!
https://permies.com/t/136206/experiences/mountain-homestead-making-west-Asheville

Hello, from an evolving-Permie in the Nantahala Gorge (West of Asheville).