Organic Living
“We do not inherit the planet from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
―Native American Saying
Organic Living refers to making life choices that are healthy for people, communities, and the planet. If you’ve heard about climate change, soil erosion, the declining health of our nation’s people, toxins in the food supply, or any other alarming news stories that are making you think more critically about current events and your lifestyle, OGS can help!
March 13-21, 2021 • Online
The Spring Conference is a one-of-a-kind event that offers regionally specific workshops on organic growing and sustainable living. We will open registration and publish the 2021 schedule, class and workshop descriptions, and instructor bios in mid-December 2020.
Find Organic Food
Organic Growers School is dedicated to providing information on conscientiously grown food in the WNC region. To be included in this listing, Organic Growers School has vetted each farm to determine that they are 1) actively engaged in the local community and 2) using organic and/or sustainable production methods. Organic Certification is not required, but we ask that farms and farmers are “in-the-know” and conscientiously practicing organic standards.
Begin searching for fresh local food by entering a keyword or filtering by products produced!
Consulting Services
Available Year-Round
OGS offers a variety of consulting services with hourly follow-up support and reduced fees available, including 1) assessment of land that you own or want to purchase; 2) assessment of your farm, garden, or homestead; and 3) guidance for your land-based project.
Help create a thriving food & farming community.
Your donations help fund scholarships and programs for farmers.
Stay Informed With Our Blog
Stinging Nettle, aka Urtica dioica, has been used for food, medicine, and fiber dating back to the Bronze Age! Nettle can grow up to 8 feet tall and has a square, fibrous stem with deep grooves running down it. The dark green leaves are ovate and sharply toothed with...
OGS Implements Sliding Scale Pricing for Spring Conference 2023
Introducing Sliding Scale Pricing for Spring Conference, 2023! For the past 30 years, the Organic Growers School Spring Conference has served as a gathering place for growers in Appalachia to connect, learn from one another, and deepen connections to land and...
Transparency in Numbers: Spring Conference Financials
Thirty years ago, a group of passionate volunteer WNC growers came together to present the first Organic Growers School Spring Conference to learn from each other about growing in the Southern Appalachians. Since then, OGS has grown into a 501(c)3 non-profit...
Cuba Agroecology Tour 2022 – What to expect
We have two dates for our Cuba Agroecology Tour! January 3rd-12th, 2023 and April 4th-13th, 2023 The January tour date deadline is November 20th, head to this link to find out more and register! What to expect on your journey Pam Dawling, an important member of the...
Lunar Whale Herbs CRAFT Tour
It was a rainy day at Lunar Whale Herbs. We gathered under shelter for welcome and introductions. Noel, our farmer host, was excited and enthusiastic about sharing her farm journey despite the weather. Lunar Whale Herbs is one of the farms at the Southern Appalachian...
CRAFT Tour at The Wild Way Farm
I arrived at The Wild Way Farm on a rainy morning in June. I was greeted by the lovely Clara, a flock of ducks, and a large dog named Finn. We planned for a 10am tour and were happy when the rain stopped right on time. We began our tour as we typically do with...
CRAFT Tour- Forest Farming at Thatchmore Farm
Tom Elmore hosted the Forest Farming Tour on June 5th at Thatchmore Farm. A 10-acre, certified organic farm in Leicester, NC, with 2 acres in organic vegetables, 1 acre in container ornamentals and Christmas trees, and 2 acres in fruit, nut, and mushroom production....
CRAFT Tour at Our Friendly Allies Herb Farm
CRAFT Farm Tour Recap with Herb Farm, Our Friendly Allies by Stephanie Vinat Tucked away in the winding roads and mountains of Marshall is Our Friendly Allies - a certified organic herb farm run by the wonderful and warm Kelsey Green. Our CRAFT Tour members...
Starting Seeds at Home- Steps to Success
If you’ve caught spring fever and are eager to get growing, you’re in luck! Many avid gardeners started planting cool weather crops a couple of months ago, but don't worry, it's not too late! Now is the perfect time to start warmer weather crops like squash,...
HCM Interview with Merlon Harper
The Organic Growers School's upcoming series, Holistic Crop Management, is a six-part webinar series, which includes live virtual meetings, resources, and videos. Webinars will feature farmers and agricultural resource specialists. Holistic Crop Management kicks off...
