The Folk School garden, a campus centerpiece, got upgraded this year! Made possible by support through planned gifts and annual fund donations, these improvements ensure that our students and guests can continue enjoying vegetables used for meals in the dining hall, foraging for class materials, and using the garden as a gathering space on campus.

After months of planning, construction finished in October on a new high tunnel greenhouse that will allow for the production of greens throughout the winter, like arugula, lettuce, tatsoi, and mustard greens. In addition, the Folk School bought a walk-behind tractor that saves labor and allows more focus on planting, harvesting, and processing garden vegetables for increased use across campus in our studios and dining hall.

Along with this project, our garden crew is rehabilitating the propagation greenhouse to be rebuilt by the end of the year and preparing for construction next year on our new garden pavilion. We graded the ground and are building a form for pouring the concrete pad, and by the end of the year, we will stub out plumbing and electrical. Construction on the structure will happen during our 2024 Timber Framing Mentorship, where emerging artists will participate in a two-week residency led by John Campbell to learn timber framing techniques and gain hands-on knowledge.

These garden projects would not be possible without your support. Donating to your favorite spots on campus helps ensure they continue to be a place for students, instructors, staff, and our local community to enjoy. Get more information on donating to a campus project you care about by contacting giving@folkschool.org or calling 828-837-2775.

Barbie White
Development Manager