Gardening in Harmony with Nature
Using peasant technology to make growing vegetables easy and fun
Spring 2024
Earthaven Ecovillage
Near Asheville, NC
My family’s gardening starts with a lush cover crop that protects the soil surface and feeds the web of life that exists in the soil. Using the example of Imani Garden, you will learn the techniques of establishing and managing both cover crops and weeds in the garden. Use of trellising to increase yields will be on display. Being autumn, we will see and enjoy the ripening harvests in the garden and evaluate the successes of the year.
Learn how using the natural behaviors of pigs, chickens, and other farm animals helps care for and maintain our garden. Beneath the soil surface, we feed the soil microbes so that they can in turn nourish our growing vegetables. From the surrounding forest, many critters also enjoy our gardens, sometimes more than we enjoy their presence. These interrelationships create a beautiful ecosystem in the garden that requires much awareness to keep in balance. The workshop discussions will help to unwind the complexities in the web of life and so you understand where we can be most effective as natural gardeners.
Relying on the resources on the land, we produce our own fertilizer solutions and pest control potions. You will see how we make and use these seemingly magical preparations. Drawing from the traditions of Korean natural farming, biodynamics, and permaculture, we have devised a system that requires minimal outside purchases, and produces exceptional vegetables. This will be hands-on, and you will come home with recipes to make your own.
Program
Saturday, October 7
- 10 am – noon: Earthaven Ecovillage tour
- Noon – 1 pm: Lunch – bring your own
- 1 – 4 pm: Presentation, garden tour, and instruction
Sunday, October 8
- 10 am – noon: Garden work experience
During the Sunday work experience, we will apply this knowledge gained on Saturday, as we complete seasonal tasks in the natural garden. This may include disassembling bamboo trellis, harvesting tomatoes and peppers, setting up fencing for pigs, and spraying herbal preparations on the growing plants.
The sweetness of the fertile soil will be alive in your hands, along with the sound of birdsong from the forest and the excitement of pigs and chickens. Time spent immersed in the garden will help to plant the seeds from Saturday’s session so you can use these practices in your own garden.
Sliding Scale Tuition
Because some people have more financial means than others, we have created a sliding scale fee system to accommodate a range of economic realities. The high-end of the scale reflects the value we believe the program holds, and the low-end offers a more accessible entry point.
By choosing a higher price point, you are helping make the program more accessible to others for whom the low-end may be cost-prohibitive. Please consider your needs and resources to determine what might be a stretch, but not a strain.
Cost
Earthaven tour and program: $55 – 85 sliding scale
Program only: $35 – $55 sliding scale
Camping is extra. No food is provided.
Logistics
Instructor
Instructor Adam is passionate about the remarkable world of peasant agriculture, which he has been following for the past 20+ years, traveling the earth and farming in different ecosystems. Along the way, Adam founded a grass-fed organic dairy in Western Colorado, planted several diversified subtropical fruit orchards in Southern California, and has been fortunate to study with teachers from Korea, Germany, Hawaii, and across the Americas. Adam is currently farming cooperatively Earthaven and is excited to share his passion for the natural world by teaching agricultural courses. 
Adam Klaus
Registration
Complete the registration form once per participant. It takes 5-10 minutes, and you will complete your enrollment with a credit card authorization.
After your enrollment is processed, you will receive several confirmations…
- An automatic confirmation of receiving your registration form
- A payment confirmation from our card processor
- Confirmation that your registration has been processed
Registration will open when the program is scheduled.