Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

Farmer Incubator Program

Hosted at SAHC’s Community Farm property outside Asheville, NC, this program provides an opportunity for beginning farmers and ranchers to hone their skills while launching or expanding entrepreneurial agricultural operations. It offers affordable access to land and resources for a limited period of time.

Farm Workshops

Workshop series offering educational resources for farmers across the region, from backyard growers to commercial operations. Diverse topics range from health and safety on the farm to hands-on design/build projects and livestock handling.

Organic Growers School

Farm Dreams

An entry-level, exploratory workshop helping aspiring farmers discover if sustainable farming is right for them.

Apprentice Link

An online matching and referral service that helps aspiring farmers find apprenticeship positions on organic farms in WNC for hands-on learning in organic practices. It also has a consumer component which helps organic-minded consumers find local organic farm products, called OGS Farm Network.

Farm Beginnings® Farmer Training

A comprehensive, 180+ hour, a year-long program focused on sustainable production methods, holistic business planning, and financial management.

Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training (CRAFT)

Offers practical, on-farm training in basic livestock, forest management, & crop farming practices through on-farm tours, and provides a farmer-to-farmer network of support.

WNC Farmlink

Farmland Matching Program

In partnership with NC FarmLink, WNC FarmLink maintains databases of both available farmland and farmers looking for land to facilitate our farmland matching program. We work with landowners and farmers to ensure an appropriate and lasting match is made through assistance in locating the necessary resources to negotiate a land tenure arrangement.

Farm Seeker Consultations

One-on-one consultations with farmland seekers on topics including farmland access, tenure, financing, production and marketing.

Farmland Owner Consultations

One-on-one consultations with farmland owners to find a farmer to lease, sell, or craft an alternative land use agreement to farm or steward their land and keep it in active agricultural production.

Partnerships

WNC FarmLink works with regional partners to create workshops, trainings, guides and other land access resources in an effort to support farmland access and preservation.

Resources

WNC FarmLink maintains an up-to-date resource list for farm seekers and landowners, which includes farm financing and legal sections.