Wild Hope Farm is one of many farms opening their doors for the SC Ag & Art tour. The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is a free, self-guided tour of farms and farmers markets featuring local artisans at every stop.  The tour will be rolling into 10 South Carolina counties over every weekend in June!

See website linked here for more information!

Live Music + Local Eats to Celebrate Summer

Hi Farm Loving Friends!

Save the Date for Wild Hope Farm's annual Pickin' Party! We are super excited to announce that this year's party will be in honor of the South Carolina Nature Conservancy's 50th Anniversary*.

We invite you to join us at the farm for a evening celebration of all things local! From farm-fresh food and drinks, to a great lineup of guitar pickin' musicians, and a special demonstration from the Nature Conservancy, this is an event you (and your friends/family/kids) do not want to miss! Picnic tables and bales will be set up by our hay-wagon stage overlooking our 10-acre pond. BYO picnic blanket. Dan the Pig Man is our BBQ vendor and Legal Remedy Brewery will have beer for purchase highlighting some flavors from the farm.

3 - 4 PM Early bird activities (yoga, farm tour, trail walk)
4 - 8 PM Music & food by the water

Best,
Farmer Peanut

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES – We are inviting Corporate and Community partners to receive company promotion and recognition, event display space, complimentary tickets. Contact Farmer Peanut at katherine@wildhopefarm.com for more information!

A huge THANK YOU to those who are already helping to make this event happen!

*The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is the leading conservation organization working in all 50 states and more than 70 countries to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. TNC’s mission is to preserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.  Since its founding in 1951, we have built a tremendous record of success protecting more than 119 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide, and now operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. 

The Nature Conservancy has been part of South Carolina’s conservation tradition for 50 years, since its first project in 1969 established the Beidler Forest Sanctuary in partnership with the National Audubon Society.  Since then, TNC has successfully preserved more than 370,000 acres across the state.  In addition to land protection, the South Carolina chapter has programs in river conservation, prescribed fire, land management, invasive species control, and coastal conservation. We provide a multitude of services that protect and restore nature, promote the sustainable use of nature, and expand support for nature, all of which have major implications for people and communities. Visit www.nature.org/sc50  to learn more!

Yoga + Reflections + Plant Based Diet Talk & Demo

Located in the countryside an easy 40 minutes from downtown Charlotte, Wild Hope Farm is the perfect getaway for a day centered around intentional living. This retreat is designed to help you relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect more deeply to yourself and  to the beautiful nature that surrounds us. At the farm, you will find yourself strolling around our wooded trails, picturesque silos, rolling pastures lined with old oak trees and 10-acre pond. The one day session includes the following: 

• 8:30 am : Arrival, introductions, welcome by the farmhouse 

• 8:45 - 10:15 am :  All Levels Slow Flow Yoga and Guided Meditation to Soft Music, led by Kayla Frank*

• 10:15 - 11:00 am : Trailwalk

• 11 - 12:30 pm : Flower Crown Ritual - Paying homage to May Day, May 1st, the halfway mark between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, in unity our celebration will honor our power and feminism. In unity, we will relax and connect while learning to weave your very own flower crown. There is something very special about women sitting and creating together and everything is carefully demonstrated so even beginners will experience joy in their creation. Following our workshop, we will honor Mother Earth her land and bounty with a meditation ritual.

• 12 - 1 pm : Plant based nutrition food talk & demo luncheon with Edwina Willis-Fleming

This intimate gathering is for women of all ages, stages, backgrounds, and abilities. Bring your own mat.

Please wear clothing comfortable for yoga, an extra outer layer, and sneakers for walking the trail.

The cost of the event covers food, amenities, provisions, and provides a stipend for your instructors. 

*Kayla is inspired by physical activity that balances strength, mindful movement, and self-awareness. She believes tapping into our minds and bodies and moving in ways that serve our body, will promote higher feelings of love for ourselves. Kayla encourages everyone not only to “move” their bodies daily but to adjust their lifestyles, hobbies and physical activities in a way that elevates their sense of pride for the beautiful, authentic life they are living. Kayla leads weekly classes at Noda Yoga, Ebb & Flow Movement Studio, Burn Boot Camp South Park and for NC Yoga Bar. Kayla enjoys working as a consultant to small female-owned wellness companies and non-profits. Kayla and her husband, Curtis, live in Charlotte with their two pups!

Wild Hope Farm’s Peanut Belk is presenting to the Charlotte’s Sierra Club on Sustainable Farming. Come learn how we use regenerative agriculture and permaculture design in our diversified vegetable, laying hen, and flower farm in Chester, SC.

At Wild Hope Farm we are farming as stewards of the land, working with natural cycles to create a healthy ecosystem of healthy soils, animals, community and nutritious food. In addition to our production fields we have over 200 acres of woodland trails, open pastures, ponds, and wetlands that serve as a home to over 200 different types of species. Join us for a guided bird walk with Bob Olson* around the farm to get to know some of the many bird species that make their home at Wild Hope Farm.

All levels of birders are welcome - please bring your own binoculars and a camera if interested!

*Bob Olson is a semi-retired engineer that likes to spend more time outdoors than in.  His birdwatching started with a cheap pair of binoculars, a bird book, and a backyard sunflower feeder.  After identifying the frequent backyard birds, he branched out to other areas, attended bird walks, joined clubs, and just started paying closer attention to all of the different types of birds and the habitats where they live.  Bob’s love of bird watching also coincides with his love of backpacking.  Over a 14 year period, he section hiked the entire Appalachian Trail and observed 123 bird species along the way. Check out his book on Amazon, “Hiking the Appalachian Trail – One Section at a Time”.  Over the years, Bob has gone on many bird watching adventures and tallied over 450 bird species in North America. He notes that bird watching is not for everyone, but it sure is a good excuse to get outside and appreciate nature.

Visit Wild Hope Farm’s booth at the Catwaba Land Conservancy's 3rd Annual Pop-up Picnic! The event is a celebration of local farms, food and conservation.

Come spread a blanket and enjoy a relaxing evening outside with family and friends at The Mint Museum Park. Pick up a pre-ordered picnic basket, bring your own picnic meal or enjoy dinner from the New Wrap Order food truck.

Reserve your ticket today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-pop-up-picnic-tickets-56503916736

Join us Sunday, April 7th for an informative tour of our farming operations at Wild Hope Farm. During the walking tour you will get to see our produce wash and pack area, propagation greenhouse, compost heat extraction system, water retention pond, field production, solar systems and more! We will discuss on our sustainable (and soon to be certified organic!) approach to growing diverse vegetables, flowers, and laying hens. Farm manager, Shawn Jadrnicek* will discuss techniques we have developed to saving time and money on the farm. 

Please wear close-toed shoes. Children are welcome!

After the tour, those interested can enjoy a self-guided trail walk around our pond and back woods. 

*Shawn Jadrnicek is the author of The Bio-Integrated Farm: A Revolutionary Permaculture-Based System Using Greenhouses, Ponds, Compost Piles, Aquaponics, Chickens and More.  He has nourished his interest in sustainability through 22 years of work as an organic farmer, nursery grower, extension agent, arborist and landscaper, and now manages Wild Hope Farm in Chester SC.

Wild Hope Farm's Shawn Jadrnicek and Katherine Belk will co-present at the 2019 MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Join us for a talk on Farm Designs and Techniques to Save Time and Money. 

Learn new tools, techniques, and designs to make farming easier. Ideas for farm between 1-20 acres include an automated CSA pickup system from a refrigerated trailer, produce and bin washing system using electric pressure washer, gravity rollers for produce washing, greenhouse heating using passive solar and hot compost, pastured poultry systems, and five new techniques making organic no-till more effective and extending the crimping season.

Read more about the conference and register through this link: https://mosesorganic.org/conference/

Wild Hope Farm’s Peanut Belk is presenting in Wing Haven’s Winter Lecture Series on Sustainable Farming. Come learn how we use regenerative agriculture and permaculture design in our diversified vegetable, laying hen, and flower farm in Chester, SC.

Wild Hope Farm is hosting the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s (CFSA) workshop on organic certification. This day will include all the basics you need to know to decide if organic certification is for you and how to start the certification process. We will discuss regulations for crops and livestock, the step-by-step process of certification, writing an Organic System Plan, required record keeping, and the resources available to farmers transitioning to organic certification. Participants will learn how to assess what steps they need to take on their own farms to be ready for organic certification.

A catered lunch will be provided and after lunch, we will take an in-depth tour of Wild Hope Farm with a focus on learning how to prepare your farm and management systems for organic certification. 

Juice Cleanse + Farm Tour + Trail Walk + Plant Based Demo

Located in the countryside of Chester, SC, Wild Hope Farm is the perfect getaway for a day centered around intentional living. This retreat is designed to help you relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect more deeply to yourself and to the beautiful nature that surrounds us. At the farm, you will find yourself strolling around our wooded trails, picturesque silos, rolling pastures lined with old oak trees and 10-acre pond. The one day session includes the following:

• 10:00 am : Arrival, introductions, welcome by the greenhouse

• 10:30 - 11:30 am : Farm tour, kale harvest & juicing demo with Edwina Willis-Fleming*

• 11:30 - 12:15 pm : Trailwalk

• 12:15 - 1 pm : Digestive flow yoga with Kayla Moose**

• 1 - 2 pm : Plant based nutrition food talk & luncheon with Edwina

• 2 - 3 pm : Essential Oils talk & demo with Kayla

This intimate gathering is for men & women of all ages, stages, backgrounds, and abilities. Please wear clothing & sneakers comfortable for walking the trail (bring an outer layer).

The cost of the event covers food, amenities, provisions, and provides a stipend for your instructors. 

*Edwina is  a Hippocrates Health Educator, certified to teach organic, plant based nutrition. She believes in the huge benefits of incorporating enzyme rich organic plants in your daily life. All diseases begin with inflammation which is mostly delivered from the gut. Learning to tune in and listen to your body by actively responding to its signs of discomfort is key to avoiding disease and leading a vibrant, healthy life. Our bodies and genes are very individual and Edwina loves to share her passion that we can take control of our health using food as they medicine. Edwina can be contacted at willisfleming@me.com for individual consultations incorporating mind, body and food. 

*Kayla is inspired by physical activity that balances strength, mindful movement, and self-awareness. She believes tapping into our minds and bodies and moving in ways that serve our body, will promote higher feelings of love for ourselves. Kayla encourages everyone not only to “move” their bodies daily but to adjust their lifestyles, hobbies and physical activities in a way that elevates their sense of pride for the beautiful, authentic life they are living. Kayla leads weekly classes at Noda Yoga, Ebb & Flow Movement Studio, Burn Boot Camp South Park and for NC Yoga Bar. Kayla enjoys working as a consultant to small female-owned wellness companies and non-profits. Kayla and her husband, Curtis, live in Charlotte with their two pups!

Wild Hope Farm's Shawn Jadrnicek and Katherine Belk will co-present at CFSA's 2018 Sustainable Agriculture Conference in Durham, NC. Join us for a talk on Farm Designs and Techniques to Save Time and Money. 

Learn new tools, techniques, and designs to make farming easier. Ideas for farm between 1-20 acres include an automated CSA pickup system from a refrigerated trailer, produce and bin washing system using electric pressure washer, gravity rollers for produce washing, greenhouse heating using passive solar and hot compost, pastured poultry systems, and five new techniques making organic no-till more effective and extending the crimping season.

Read more about the conference and register through this link: https://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/sac/

Piedmont Culinary Guild has partnered with CEFS (Center for Environmental Farming Systems) for this chef and farmer pairing - a celebration of year-round local food. As a part of the event, Wild Hope Farm is partnering with Chef Ashley Boyd at 300 East to prepare a meal fresh from the farm. The evening will also feature multiple food artisans, local brewers, distillers, and wineries.

Attendees will enjoy the wonderful tasting event as they stroll through Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, enjoy live music, and listen to speakers who will talk on food-related topics.

Looking to get grounded? Get your hands dirty with us in this piece of paradise right outside the Queen City! We are open to volunteers every Funday Friday 9am-12pm. 

Things to remember:

• LET US KNOW IF YOU PLAN ON COMING, contact our volunteer coordinator.
• Activities may include harvesting, packing CSA shares, arranging flowers, packing for the Matthew's Farmers market, weeding, cleaning bins, dead-heading flowers, transplanting, etc. 
• Weather can vary from rain to shine, so come prepared with big hats, long sleeve shirts, boots or tennis shoes (whatever is most comfortable for you) and sunglasses. 
• In the summer, you will sweat a lot so bring water and you can refill here!
• Be prepared to LEARN and LAUGH A LOT with your farm crew. 
• Bring your lunch and have a picnic by the pond and/or take a self-guided walk on our trails. 

If Fridays do not work for you--that is okay! Contact our volunteer coordinator and she can find a time that works for you. Please do know that on the weekend the farm crew will be taking time to rejuvenate or host events, so the farm will not be open for volunteering (unless specified on the event description)!

Volunteer Coordinator:

Molly Belk

mollybelk94@gmail.com

(704)-807-1570

Get inspired by the beautiful landscape that surrounds us at Wild Hope Farm - a flower garden nestled between two picturesque silos, cattle grazing on rolling pastures, and a lively pond ecosystem. Join us on the farm for a morning watercoloring workshop au plein air led by the teaching artist, Deborah Neuhs. Students will be taken step by step through the watercolor building process to explore and create paintings using watercoloring techniques. Following the workshop, students will enjoy a farm fresh picnic lunch.

All materials are provided including watercolor paint, brushes, chairs and paper.

FAQ

Is this a kid-friendly event? This class is open to adults and kids of all ages - a family-fun event!

Do I need to have experience in painting? You do not need to have prior painting or watercoloring experience although experienced painters are welcome. Please message us with any questions!

What can I bring into the event? Be sure to wear loose comfortable clothes but make sure they are old in case paint gets on them. Feel free to bring lite snacks and drinks as you desire! But most of all bring all your creativity!!

About Your Instructor

Deborah Neuhs, Teaching Artist

Since 2001 Deborah Neuhs has owned and operated Handcrafted Art, LLC where she works as a teaching artists throughout Charlotte, NC and the surrounding areas. She teaches private and group art classes to elementary, middle and high school students and teaches on a contract basis with public, private and charter schools, libraries, the Mint Museum of Art, Matthew’s Community Farmer’s Market and community centers. She worked as the resident artist at Park Road Montessori from 2000 to 2002, founded and ran the Charlotte Fiber Guild from 2000 to 2002 and is currently president of a non profit, The Charlotte Area Foundation for Music and Handcrafted Art, Inc. 501(c)(3). Giving back is an important part of Handcrafted Art's mission and the Foundation gives Deborah the opportunity to share her gifts with others who many not otherwise have art classes.

In addition to teaching, Deborah has been weaving custom textiles for interior designers with Aboutcolor, LLC since 2002. She weaves trims that are used to embellish interior fabrics and furniture. In 2018 she purchased the company and updated the name to Aboutcolor Home to reflect the companies vision for making beautiful ornaments for the beautification of homes and betterment of those who dwell in them.

Join us Saturday, August 11th for an informative tour of Wild Hope Farm and a workshop on Planning your Fall Garden.

Event Details

2 - 2:45 PM TOUR (optional)

The walking tour will include information on what’s in season, how our small scale farm operates, and organic agriculture. Please wear close-toed shoes. Children welcome!

3 - 5 PM FALL GARDENING WORKSHOP ($30 per person)

Learn how to start and maintain your fall vegetable garden while saving time and energy and working with nature.  

• Part 1 (45 min) Designing the garden: Assess solar energy, drainage and soil and learn how to build a simple automated drip irrigation system. Hands on activity: sun chart/app, water level, drip system construction.

• Part 2 (45 min) Planting basics: Learn how prep soil and plant seeds and transplants. Hands on activity: sheet mulching with compost, transplanting and direct seeding by hand and with earthway seeder.

• Part 3 (30 min) Garden maintenance: Learn how to efficiently combat weeds, pests and diseases with an overview of problems for common vegetables and organic solutions. Hands on activity: collinear hoe.

LIGHT SNACKS AND BEVERAGES WILL BE PROVIDED.

INSTRUCTOR: Shawn Jadrnicek is the author of The Bio-Integrated Farm: A Revolutionary Permaculture-Based System Using Greenhouses, Ponds, Compost Piles, Aquaponics, Chickens and More.  He has nourished his interest in sustainability through 22 years of work as an organic farmer, nursery grower, extension agent, arborist and landscaper, and now manages Wild Hope Farm in Chester SC.

Join us for Farm to Brew on Monday, August 6th! It's a Four Course Beer Dinner with a selection of produce sourced and paired with LRB Beer! Hear from the farmers, chefs and brewers as they present this incredible dinner. Menu to be announced.

Tickets are $75 per person and available in house ONLY at LRB. You must come by LRB to purchase a ticket. 

Join us for a dinner by Chef Bruce Moffett celebrating our local harvest & beers, the longest hours of daylight, and the magic of Midsummer. This farm-to-table dinner will take place at Resident Culture Brewery and will feature delicious eats from Wild Hope Farm, North Corner Haven, Orrman’s Cheese & Community Culinary School of Charlotte.
 

We are excited to host an Organic Farming Workshop for the Catawba Farm and Food Coalition! The Catawba Farm and Food Coalition facilitates and supports the development of a secure and sustainable food system in Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, York Counties and the Catawba Indian Nation.

During the workshop you will visit the farm to learn more about our organic growing practices from the one and only, Shawn Jadrnicek!

Shawn has nourished his interest in sustainability through work as an organic farmer, nursery grower, extension agent, arborist, landscaper, and manager of Clemson University's Student Organic Farm. From his earliest permaculture experiments with no-till farming in the Santa Cruz Mountains to his highly functional bio-integrated designs in the Southeast, Shawn has learned how to cultivate food in a variety of climates and landscapes. He shares his creative solutions through teaching, consulting, design work, and his book.

Live Music + Farm fresh food

One of the more special aspects of farm life is getting to share what we're up to and the beautiful setting with people we love! Please join us at the farm for a summer celebration of delicious food made from farm-fresh ingredients and live music. Red Oak BBQ & Catering will sell food from their truck and Resident Culture Brewery will pour beers while a collective of Asheville based musicians pick the guitar. BYO wine. Kids under 10 are free! 

FOR EVERY TICKET SOLD, WILD HOPE FARM WILL DONATE A PORTION OF PROFITS TO PROVIDING FRESH FOOD IN THE LAKEWOOD COMMUNITY OF CHARLOTTE.

Picnic tables and bales will be set up by our hay-wagon stage overlooking our 10-acre pond - bring your own picnic blanket! Feel free to bring your own instrument and camping tent for some late-night jamming.

3 - 4 PM Optional Yoga led by Kayla Moose or Farm Tour led by Shawn Jardnicek for the early birds or Flower Arranging with Sarah Belk
4 PM - 8 PM Enjoy live music while playing lawn games, sipping beer and enjoy farm fresh eats

Bands include but are not limited to :

• Dyado

• Noah Proudfoot

• Brackish Water Jamboree

See you at the farm!

Best,

Farmer Peanut

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES – We are inviting Corporate and Community partners to receive company promotion and recognition, event display space, complimentary tickets. Contact Farmer Peanut at katherine@wildhopefarm.com for more information!

A HUGE thank you to those who are helping to make this event possible! 

Yoga + Plant Based Diet Talk & Demo + Trail Walk + Farm Tour + Meditation

Located in the countryside of Chester, SC, Wild Hope Farm is the perfect getaway for a day centered around intentional living. This retreat is designed to help you relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect more deeply to yourself and to the beautiful nature that surrounds us. At the farm, you will find yourself strolling around our wooded trails, picturesque silos, rolling pastures lined with old oak trees and 10-acre pond. The one day session includes the following:

• 11:00 am : Arrival, introductions, welcome by the farmhouse - green juices provided

• 11:30 - 12:30 pm : Yoga by the pond led by Tarra Dahlke (bring your own mat or use one of our free mats)

• 12:45 - 1:45 pm : Plant based nutrition food talk with a demo luncheon by Edwina Willis-Fleming

• 2 - 3 pm : Trail walk & greenhouse tour with Farmer Peanut

• 3:15 - 4 pm : Guided meditation by Mary Powers

• 4:15 - Bonfire and cocktail / Lenny Boy kombucha on deck, light appetizers provided

This intimate gathering is for men & women of all ages, stages, backgrounds, and abilities.

We are excited to gather Piedmont Culinary's Tastemakers Group at Wild Hope Farm for an informative and fun afternoon exposing the roots of our local sustainable food system. 

We'll kick off the visit with a tour of our farming operations where we're using organic practices and permaculture design to grow fresh vegetables, flowers, and pasture raised laying hens. Farm manager, Shawn Jardnicek will talk about building a bio-integrated farm that reduces energy use and increases time efficiencies through innovative design. You'll get a sneak peak at our automated farm share delivery service and learn how we are extracting the heat from our compost to power our greenhouse! 

This talk extends beyond the farm to our local culinary partners - The tour will be followed by a cooking demo from a local chef and beverages supplied by Legal Remedy Brewery. The event is open for children of all ages. We will have t-shirts, reusable bags, and farm share for purchase! 

This is a private event for the Tastemaker's group, to attend you must become a member through this link.

Join me Saturday morning from 10-12 pm at The People's Market at Dilworth for some fresh veggies and yummy homemade bread. You can expect to find brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, sour dough bread, kale, collards, mustard greens, turnips, beets, and colorful carrots!

'Tis the Season! We'd like to invite you to join us in preparing for the holidays with some of the best food trucks across the state, live music, and a bounty of amazing Plaza Midwood & local shops with artisanal gifts galore. Wild Hope Farm will have a booth at Resident's Culture's Holiday Bazaar where you can find your yummy root vegetables, kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, and our mouth watering sour dough bread!

Our market will run from 12-4 pm but the party will continue into the night. 

GET YOUR FALL VEGGIES ON! Stop by Lenny Boy for some FREE 10 am yoga followed by the Wild Hope Farm pop-up market from 11- 2 PM. 

We will have a diverse assortment of fresh produce and a limited supply of our popular sour dough bread and yummy, colorful eggs. Come early to get the good stuff! 

Including but not limited to broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, red beets, kale, rainbow chard, collards, turnips, mustard greens, and more!

Wild Hope Farm will have a booth at Catawba Land Conservancy's Taste for the Land fundraiser. The event will celebrate local farms, local food and land conservation, featuring seasonal hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, signature cocktails, live music by Dead Man’s Banjo and an onsite farmers market.

Our last Lenny Boy market was a success so... Let's do it again! Avoid the grocery store rush on Sunday and hit up our 2nd pop-up market from 11-4. We will have an assortment of fresh veggies and a limited supply of our popular sour dough bread and colorful eggs. Come early to get the good stuff! 

Follow up your 9 AM cardio core or 10 am yoga boot camp with some fresh, Wild Hope Farm produce at Functional Fit Charlotte. We will have our booth set up for you to buy vegetables, eggs, and bread after classes so that you can start your weekend off right! 

Come to Charlotte's south end brewery and enjoy our fresh fall harvest! Start your Saturday right with free yoga followed by a kombucha and delicious + nutritious produce from Wild Hope Farm.