Eat Your View
THE CREEKSIDE FARM EDUCATION CENTER
A WARM, WELCOMING SPACE FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING OR CORPORATE RETREAT. Adjacent to a working organic farm and surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery.
Everything you need including high speed connections and presentation tools.
Take a break from your meetings with a fun farm tour. Topics include sustainability, resilience, and our "grow more with less" philosophy that can be applied to any business. Less inputs, less labor, less environmental impact.
Resilience--learn how the farm “bounced forward” from a devastating storm to become stronger.
Discover over 100 years of farming history.
"How to feed the world in a changing climate" is an underlying farm tour theme based on Robert Turner's books and numerous published articles.
Come Learn and Have Some Fun
For over 10 years, The Creekside Farm Education Center has been a hub for training young farmers about agriculture and the business of farming. It also offers classes to the community on a wide range of topics such as cooking, canning, gardening and bee keeping. The farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that feeds 70 households from the surrounding fields.
The business of farming struggles with many of the same pressures that all business must contend with, including the rising cost of inputs, labor costs, competition, marketing and distribution. Learning about the basic principles of farm production and profitability can be a fun way for your group to look "outside the box" at your own business.
​
Facility Rental Costs:
The Education Center is available for full day ($1000) or half day rentals ($500).
​
If Mr. Turner's schedule permits, he can facilitate a farm tour and discussion on farm and business efficiency principles ($500). The tour includes barns, farm equipment, vegetable gardens and cow pastures (with a chance to meet Darla and Pedro, our wonderful miniature donkeys). Refreshments may be served at the lovely farm office and covered porch area.
​
Author Robert Turner can facilitate a discussion on farm business principles at your next meeting.
Robert Turner is a science writer focused on food and farming, environmental science, and new technologies that improve food security, food sovereignty, and community resilience.
​
"The world is moving way beyond electric cars and green homes. It's moving toward sustainability--sustainability to the point of self reliance." -Robert Turner
​
Robert Turner is a columnist for Mother Earth News and other magazines, and the author of two books related to food and sustainability. He is co-chair of the board at Organic Growers School, a leading source of farmer education and training in the Southeast, and vice chair of the Buncombe County Land Conservation Advisory Board.
​
BUILDING RESILIENCE in your Business
Mr. Turner has taken his 30 years of experience as a successful entreprenuer and owner of multiple businesses in diverse industries, and applied them to the business of farming.
​
The result is his mantra: "Grow more with Less". Less inputs, less labor, less land, and less harm to the environment.
​
Mr. Turner can discuss with your group the principles of Total Factor Productivity (TFP), which is essentially efficiency in farm operations using new tools and technology. As a science writer, many of Mr. Turners articles are related to new AgTech, such as digital satelite imaging, 'precision ag", lazer weeders, and robot tractors.
In a lively discussion about recent transformations in the food system and agriculture, most of his business principles can be applied to any business. Learn how to "grow your business with less."
Cows on the upper pasture, and old barn (circa 1932)
Creekside Farm is home to cows, chickens, gardens, bee hives and our lovable miniature donkeys.
The large vegetable field.
Full commercial kitchen.
Indoor and outdoor spaces
Flexible Space.
Seating for 48
Linens and tableware are available. Coffee Bar.
In a warm, intimate setting.
Upper pasture in winter, with Darla and Pedro.
Farm office, greenhouse and barns below, accessible with farm tour.
12 Month, Farmer-Led Training Program. Farm Beginnings
Many skills are required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more. Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. The program includes farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, and an extensive farmer network to help you clarify your goals and strengths, establish a strong enterprise plan, and start building your profitable and sustainable operation.
Learning the Farming Business at Creekside Farm
Creekside Farm supports new farmers and growers with the land, water, equipment, supplies and helpful instruction and education so that they can learn this important trade.
Educating our young people about healthy food and where it comes from is important, and we believe every kid should visit a farm at least once as part of a school farm tour.
Education is Critical to Our Food Security,
Food Sovereignty, and Regional Resilience.
Emily from ASAP gives a talk at the Creekside Farm Education Center
"The more we can innovate and gain efficiency for large and small farms here in the US, and add to the supply chain locally and regionally, the less we need to import from far away places."
Previous farm manager Melissa gives a cooking class in the commercial kitchen
"According to the USDA, half of our fruits and one-third of our vegetables come from foreign countries, mostly Central and South America (even in the summertime), and this is a region that continues to experience farm sprawl into forested areas."
Learn how to grow more with less in your business.
The “grow more with less” mantra is important because it means less harmful chemicals in our soils and in our waterways, less labor and so greater profitability for farmers, and it could mean less encroachment on rain forests and natural environments, which is critical to protecting the earths biodiversity.
The potential for saving the worlds rain forests and natural spaces is a key benefit in the push toward agricultural efficiency; to grow more with less inputs on the same (or even reduced) amount of land. How can these principles of efficiency inform your business?
Farm worker Nicholas after a hard days work.
Located just 3 miles from I-26 and Biltmore Park Town Square
for restaurants, taverns, shopping and theater.
​
Creekside Farm Education Center
339 Avery Creek Road, Arden, NC.