Backyard Agrarian

"Seed School is an innovative 5-day school designed to help participants create new regional and sustainable seed production and distribution systems. The workshop trains gardeners, farmers, seed savers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, policy makers and anyone interested in turning the tide on the industrialization of our food and agriculture.

Many growers are still purchasing one-size-fits-all seed every year. They could (and should!) be saving seeds they grow selected for the qualities and characteristics that work best for them. Those seeds get planted the following year increasing regional adaptability and true sustainability. This is diversity at its best. And we all know the saying: The strength of any ecosystem is a function of its diversity.

Classroom time in this permaculture inspired program ranges from an introduction to genetics to modern database management (for those wishing to start a seed business or add a seed component to an existing organization). It is balanced with hands-on activities including harvesting, processing, germination testing and packaging seeds. Special guest presenters from permaculture and the seed industry as well as field trips round out your Seed School experience. Seed School takes place in the gorgeous Verde Valley in Arizona and on-location."

With your help we are building a permaculture farm located in Tilly, Arkasas. Our vision is to create a farm cooperative which we expect will be worker owned. We are in the process of building several small cabins with permaculture zones including gardens, animals, etc. We want to provide a hands on immersion experience for vacationers. 

Located just 1.5 miles from the Appalachian trail, Enota's entire property is certified organic with a 10 acre bio-dynamic garden and farm.   In our commitment to sustainability, we raise chickens, cows and goats which we milk daily,  miniature horses, rabbits and ducks.  Enota offer animal feeding and farm tours daily.

Enota is the perfect mountain escape to spend time with your friends and family.  Enota is a non-profit conservation facility committed to preserving our beautiful land with a number of accommodations including vacation rental cabins, full hook-up RV camping sites, pop-up and tent camping sites and a Retreat Center for conferences, groups, events and seminars.
  
Enota located at the highest private elevation in Georgia in a lush valley among the highest mountains in North Georgia, and boasts four breathtaking waterfalls, five bubbling streams, and two trout ponds, and is surrounded on all sides by the mountains of the Chattahoochee National Forest.  Drop by the beautiful old restored Lodge and share the warmth from the huge stone fireplace, shop in Enota's fair-trade gift shop and stop by our restaurant for home-cooked meals.  

We are a 6 acre CSA farm just minutes from Boulder, Colorado. We are Certified Naturally Grown & have a Permaculture based ethics. There is a Center for learning Permaculture as well as farming techniques. The classroom is 1800 sqft with an additional living area, kitchen, bathroom & 2 bedrooms that we rent out for a night on the farm. The Center is located on the back of our property facing a private pond and the Flat Irons. There are 2 Pygme Goats, 80 Chickens & 2 Herding Dogs here to greet you & play. We are only minutes from down town Boulder but feel as if we are miles & miles away! While being farmers we also are Stone Masons using old world Techniques to build with stone so it will last forever. Brian Scott, the Stone Mason, has built the welcome walls into Boulder as one of the projects for you to see.

Mountain Farm is a sustainable 24-acre lavender, blueberry and dairy goat farm in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Our small herd, hormone and antibiotic-free, includes registered Saanen and Nubian goats. Their fresh milk is collected each morning and then goes into the handcrafted soap we make right here on the farm. 

A variety of heavenly lavender blooms from June to September. The soothing fragrance in true essential oil form can be found in almost all of our artisanal bath and spa products. We also harvest lavender for our Culinary Line of herbs, salt, honey, vinegar and more! The lavender also creates a natural border for Mountain Farm's meditation labyrinth.

From May through October you can stay in Blueberry Cottage, our romantic cottage on a private piece of land at Mountain Farm. This is a perfect area to just get away or to plan a unique and natural wedding here at Mountain Farm.Visit a working farm: bottle feed kids in season, picnic on the property, enjoy refreshments from the Mountain Farm coffee shop, sit in the lavender field and inhale, cut-your-own lavender and U-Pick blueberries. 

Completely powered by the wind and sun, the award-winning Inn Serendipity Farm and Bed & Breakfast, operated by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, features hearty vegetarian breakfasts prepared with ingredients from the Inn's organic gardens. Recipes are from the innkeepers' book, Farmstead Chef.   Kivirist and Ivanko also co-authored ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance and write for numerous national magazines.

Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are innkeepers of the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, completely powered by renewable energy. This husband-and-wife duo are national speakers, marketing consultants and co-authors of Rural Renaissance and Edible Earth. They regularly contribute to projects for the non-profit organization, Renewing the Countryside, providing success stories and practical resources for rural entrepreneurs and farmers. Kivirist is also director of the Rural Women's Project and a distinguished W.K Kellogg Foundation Food and Society Fellow and Ivanko is the co-author and photographer for numerous multicultural children's books for the Global Fund for Children, including the award-winning Be My Neighbor and To Be a Kid. They share their organic farm in Browntown, Wisconsin with their son, a 10kW Bergey wind turbine, and millions of ladybugs.