Conservation • Education • Celebration
An educational site and working farm located just outside Asheville, NC, the SAHC Community Farm provides a continually evolving home for conservation projects and agricultural production. The 140-acre Community Farm started with the generous donation of just over 100 acres of farmland in 2010. Now, the site hosts an innovative Farm Incubator Program, Education Center, and more, providing a nationally recognized model for environmentally-friendly land management and productive agriculture.
In 2023, we successfully transformed eight acres of pasture fronting Mag Sluder Road into a silvopasture demonstration project. Silvopasture integrates trees, pasture, and forage into a single system. Incorporating trees into agriculture improves land health and increases carbon sequestration.
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Farm Incubator Program provides opportunities for entrepreneurial farmers to hone their skills while launching or expanding agricultural operations. The program offers affordable access to land and resources for a limited period of time.
SAHC’s Farmer Education Workshop Series offers educational resources for farmers across the region. These deeply affordable, informational sessions can benefit anyone interested in agriculture and gardening, from backyard growers to commercial operations. Our diverse topics range from health and safety on the farm to hands-on design and build projects.
We are grateful to the numerous volunteer groups who assist with land management, removing invasive species, and more at the SAHC Community Farm. From youth volunteers of the French Broad River Academy to Corporate Partner groups including Wicked Weed Brewing and Highland Brewing Company, these dedicated volunteers make a positive impact on our farm and community. To inquire about volunteer opportunities on the farm, email Outings Program Manager Travis Bordley.
The educational Discovery Trail loops across the entire farm property, weaving through each of the project areas on the farm – including active production, stream restoration, shorleaf pine reforestion, the silvopasture project, and more. Numerous volunteer groups over the years have assisted with trail improvements. Each month SAHC leads an informative guided hike along the Discovery Trail. Find the next scheduled farm tour on our Hikes and Outings page.
SAHC partners with a variety of youth after-school and summer camp programs to use the SAHC Community Farm as an educational resource. We can structure educational programs for a wide range of audiences, from elementary school students to college volunteers. For more information about potential youth education partnerships, reach out to SAHC’s Community Engagement and Education Manager LaKyla Hodges. Photo courtesy Buncombe County Schools, Timothy Reaves, from a 2023 summer program.
We restored over 3,000 linear feet of streams flowing into Newfound Creek in the French Broad River watershed, and created a protected buffer of 25 acres, planted with native grasses, trees, and shrubs to prevent future erosion. The SAHC Community Farm is located in SAHC’s French Broad River Valley Conservation Focus Area. The farm property sits less than a mile ‘as the crow flies’ from the French Broad River.
In our reforestation project area, we are creating a healthy shortleaf pine stand which offers wildlife habitat beneath an open forest canopy. We have planted over 2,500 native shortleaf pine seedlings and removed competing and invasive species, with the help of many volunteers. SAHC conducts controlled burns in the reforestation area, in partnership with forestry agencies, as part of our management process.
One of the favorite sights for farm volunteers or guests on our SAHC Community Farm tours is the charismatic family of shaggy Scottish “Highland Coos” in our pasture. These heritage breed cattle are a small family, with a new calf welcomed in 2023.
Our new Education Center facility offers space for workshops, meetings, anniversary celebrations, social gatherings and more. We renovated an existing structure on the farm property to create a versatile space. It includes a certified commercial kitchen, which can be used by local producers to create value-added products. To find out more about hosting your own event at the SAHC Community Farm, reach out to Weddings and Events Coordinator Kirin Battaglia. To find out more about using the SAHC Community Kitchen for your own production, contact Community Farm Manager Chris Link.
The Farmhouse is 9 miles from Asheville, creating an exceptional opportunity to connect with conserved land in a beautiful setting. This 2 BR, 2 BA renovated, ranch-style farmhouse on SAHC’s Community Farm is available for short-term rentals, including packages for weddings at the farm. Enjoy two living room spaces, expansive views from the deck and oversized windows, and more.
The SAHC Community Farm provides an exceptional space to celebrate your nuptials, with a scenic backdrop of rolling fields and distant mountains, updated facilities and amenities, and a commitment to long-term positive impacts through conservation. Each event hosted at the farm leaves a ripple of positive impact, helping to protect beautiful and ecologically important land for generations to come.
SAHC’s Community Farm is funded in part by grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (for Beginning Farmer Success – Farm Pathways to Long-Term Land Tenure), and a cost-share grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
