Learn how Appalachian Flavor grows with biochar and compost! In this class you will learn how to: make biochar, use our distributing compost method, what ratios to add as a soil amendment, how compost can be a natural insecticide, and how it will increase your garden production.

What is Biochar?

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that’s made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (also called biomass) in a controlled process called pyrolysis. Although it looks a lot like common charcoal, biochar is produced using a specific process to reduce contamination and safely store carbon. Acting as a sponge it can hold nutrients while also filtering heavy metals and toxins from the soil. A common soil type in WNC is clay soils. Clay soils tend to shrink and swell and repel water, making it hard for plants to thrive. Biochar aerates the soil naturally! This means it allows water and air to flow to the root systems so that plants can grow without limitations caused by compact clay.

What is compost?

Compost is created by organic matters breaking down naturally. This creates a nutrient rich material that can be added to dirt and soil to improve their quality. It is a great way to find use for your food scraps and yard waste. Instead of adding it to our overflowing landfills, add it to your compost and watch your plants thrive!

Classes will be approximately 3 hours long. Each of our classes will tailor to fit your schedule and availability. We can hold these teachings in your own yard, kitchen, or farm. Once you sign up for a class, we will contact you to check your availability for the class.

Thank you for continuing your education with one of the most valuable lessons: improving the quality of our soil for optimum plant growth!

Learn how to safely and properly preserve and ferment your own food. We use a closed-loop system to make the most of our harvest so nothing goes to waste. Now you can hang out with us and learn the same techniques from our flavor hunters!

Canning is a method to preserve food in jars at high temperatures for a long period of time. The high temperatures kill microorganisms and inactivating enzymes that could cause food to spoil. The heating process pushes air from the jar, creating a vacuum seal as the food cools. There are specific temperatures, and pressures that must be met in order to have the food preserved correctly; otherwise it will spoil.

In addition to the canning process, you will also learn how to ferment your own food. Fermenting is another way to preserve your food! Fermented foods are defined as foods or beverages produced through controlled microbial growth and the conversion of food components through enzymatic action. High in probiotics, helpful with heart health, lowering glycaemic responses, and loaded with vitamins and minerals, this is a great way to not only preserve your foods but also to get the most out of them.

Join this class if you are interested in learning how to preserve and ferment your food. Classes will be approximately 3 hours long. Each of our classes will tailor to fit your schedule and availability. We can hold these teachings in your own yard, kitchen, or farm. Once you sign up for a class, we will contact you to check your availability for the class.

Thank you for continuing your education with one of the most valuable lessons: preserving and fermenting your food!

Learn how to save yourself a bunch of money and increase the amount of fruit yield all at the same time. Our fruit tree propagation techniques are a bit different and for good reason. Let us show you how you can grow more fruit than you know what to do with, with very little effort.

Pruning is a great way to help the long-term growth of any tree and increase yield. It allows you to get rid of branches or growths that are restricting the tree, along with any diseased or damaged limbs. The goal is to create a healthy manageable tree that is convenient to harvest and maintain.

Instead of throwing away the extra limbs after pruning, we will also teach you how we root those limbs to create another tree!

This class is worth every bit to learn the ways in which you can create more trees, of the trees you love, with a very simple and easy-to-do process!

Classes will be approximately 3 hours long. Each of our classes will tailor to fit your schedule and availability. We can hold these teachings in your own yard, kitchen, or farm. Once you sign up for a class, we will contact you to check your availability for the class.

Thank you for continuing your education with one of the most valuable lessons: proper pruning to create abundant healthy trees!

How nice would it be to be able to identify if plants are edible or not? What plants are medicinal versus not?

Our Flavor Harvesters will privately show you how to identify the edible or medicinal: plants, trees, bushes, and flowers. All within the local area of Western North Carolina. Collectively our team has over 40 years of experience in a variety of foraging disciplines.

Sign up for our plant walk and learn all about how to harvest food in your own backyard! Classes will be approximately 3 hours long. Each of our classes will tailor to fit your schedule and availability. We can hold these teachings in your own yard, kitchen, farm, or local park. Once you sign up for a class, we will contact you to check your availability for the class.

These classes are for our team to meet with you personally, or for you to come to our farms. You are more than welcome to include your friends.

You can also opt-in to have a physical and/or digital map made of your property by our team.

Thank you for continuing your education with the most valuable lessons: multiplying food sources by knowing the land and edibles!

Learn how to affordably grow your own fruit jungle! From your low lying fruits, such as strawberries, to your tall fruit trees, such as paw paws, and everything in between; we have spent years figuring out which varieties of fruit grow best in WNC. Not only do we know what gives the best flavor and yield, but we also know the ideal conditions so they can thrive with the least amount of work. This class we will come to your farm and map out the best locations to start your fruit jungle. We will take into account your personal preference of flavor and harvest times so you have a fruit forest that is personalized for you!

Our goal is to help you map out a fruit jungle that makes you never want or need to go to the grocery store again!

Thank you for continuing your education with one of the most valuable lessons: becoming independent for your food sources! With fruit that taste better than store bought!