Ten years ago, a small seed was planted on 25 acres of land in Western North Carolina — a seed that has since grown into a thriving forest school community. The Asheville Farmstead began with a simple vision: to nurture children’s natural curiosity through hands-on, heart-led learning in the outdoors. After ten years of operating […]
Continue readingCultivating Gratitude in Early Childhood
At Asheville Farmstead School, we believe that gratitude grows just like anything else — when it’s nurtured with care, attention, and connection. Gratitude is one of the simplest and most powerful social-emotional skills we can help children develop. It teaches awareness, empathy, and joy — helping children feel connected to themselves, to others, and to […]
Continue reading2024 Fiscal Year Annual Report
Our Annual Report for the 2024 fiscal year is here! Read the full report here
Continue readingBack-to-School Day at The Farmstead: Setting the Stage for a Wonderful Year
As summer winds down and the excitement of a new school year builds, we wanted to share about our Back-to-School Day! This special gathering happens just before the school year begins and offers families, students, and teachers the chance to reconnect, prepare, and share in the joy of the season together. At its heart, Back-to-School […]
Continue readingWe’re Hiring: Come Grow With Us at the Farmstead 🌱
There’s something really special about working at the Farmstead. Maybe it’s the way the fog lifts over the field in the morning, or the sound of laughter echoing through the trees, or the quiet magic of watching children build resilience and confidence in the mud. Whatever it is, we know it starts with people — […]
Continue readingA New Forest Classroom Rises: Honoring Legacy, Building the Future
In 2024, we were fortunate to receive a generous grant from Dominion Energy, which allowed us to bring a long-held dream to life: a new nature oasis classroom tucked deep within our 25-acre campus. Thanks to this support, we purchased a stunning Atlas High Wall canvas tent from local outdoor gear legends, Diamond Brand Gear—a […]
Continue readingCelebrating Our Journey with The Cedarsong Way: A Look Back and Ahead!
At Asheville Farmstead School, we believe in lifelong learning and the power of nature-based learning to foster deep connections with the natural world. We want to take a moment and reflect on our incredible journey we’ve taken with The Cedarsong Way. From early training to becoming a leader in teacher education, our relationship with Cedarsong […]
Continue readingForest School Winter Gear: Cotton, Wool, and Fleece Layering
BRRR! We came back from our Winter Break to some very cold weather for us in WNC, days where the high was not above freezing and days with the wind blowing that cold air around. And I thought this created the perfect opportunity to talk about our Winter layering for students as well as talking […]
Continue readingNavigating Growth with SBA’s THRIVE: A Roadmap for the Farmstead’s Future
During the Summer of 2024 I was looking and researching leadership professional development opportunities to participate in during the Fall. Not long into my research I found a program offered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) called THRIVE Emerging Leaders. I was so excited to see that they were still taking applications for 2024, and […]
Continue readingThanksgiving: A Cherokee Perspective: Green Corn Ceremony and National Day of Mourning
Thanksgiving, as traditionally celebrated in the United States, is often portrayed as a harmonious feast between Pilgrims and Native Americans, but this narrative omits the complex and painful history experienced by Indigenous peoples, including the Cherokee. To understand Thanksgiving from a Cherokee perspective, we need to consider their unique cultural traditions, history of colonization, and […]
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