Regardless of whether or not you've been here before, this is home.
The Gathering organizers, the Celo Community, and the land, waters and sky of the South Toe River Valley welcome you.
We are a gathering where community, nature, and love are celebrated.
​We've included everything you need to know about preparing for our Gathering on this page.

 

Food

Three vegetarian meals will be provided on Friday and Saturday and two vegetarian meals on Sunday; we can also accommodate vegan, dairy -free or gluten sensitive requests, if you check the corresponding options in the cart at checkout. If you have any additional dietary needs, please come prepared.

We are grateful for your garden harvests, too.
Please contact Anne Knoflicek here at least 2 weeks before the event if you will be bringing culinary delights from your garden to share.

We will be serving our very own chickens on Saturday night for those who sign up in advance. These chickens grown at AMS and prepared during our Thursday workshop.  

The cost of the chicken is included in the registration.

 

Camping

On-site camping is available.  Camping is rustic and located at the soccer field. Park your car at the perimeter and camp in front of your vehicle keeping the interior of the soccer field open for the ceremony on Saturday night. Please respect other campers by holding to a 10 p.m. curfew on noise and/or bright outside light in the campground.

Please note: there are private homes in the area, so be sure you are in an approved spot before setting up camp.
Fires are not permitted.

Walk softly on the Earth. Protecting life is a sacred activity, so please treat land, plants, creatures and the people you meet with respect, taking nothing from the land but your connection to it.

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What to Bring

SUPPLY LIST
(a starter list)

> camping gear
> rain gear
> warm clothes (it can get chilly at night, even in August)
> personal snacks & drinks
> musical instruments
> ceremonial clothes for Saturday night
> seeds and/or plants to share
> wares to trade or sell (no commission is charged)
​> ​information and education to share

We have for many years held space for a casual Seed and Plant Exchange where there are free seed sharing supplies (envelopes, labels, markers, etc.) to facilitate exchange of heirloom and open-pollinated seeds and rooted cuttings, etc. of useful plants. You are encouraged to share exceptional varieties, either pre-packed or in bulk... Please provide some plant info such as where grown, growth habit, best uses, secret tips, etc. on the label. Our Exchange is really organized as a Seed Give-Away... you do not have to bring seeds to take seeds, but we appreciate any donations. Saving and sharing genetically diverse seeds is a radical act! Sow seeds and multiply! Contact Lee Barnes with any questions or special needs

 

Share Your Wares

Getting together is a time to share, building a wealth of relationships that will continue beyond the Gathering!

Here are some possibilities of how we might share our gifts:

Barter/Trade/Free Market
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​We've been known to open up the back of the Green Cay after Open Space on Saturday for vendors to spread out their trade-ware.  Vendors are responsible for setting up and taking down their items.

Healing Tent
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Running from Friday morning Through Saturday evening, we can set up a special tent for anyone who would like to donate their time and services to demonstrating the healing arts.

Selling of Wares for Money
​
We are not opposed to making money; if you have something that you would like to sell for cash rather than trade, you can set up around the perimeter of the lodge where meals take place for exposure.

 

Work-Trade and Scholarships

The Gathering is made possible by many people, organizations, and businesses that apply the permaculture principle of sharing the surplus.

​Our philosophy of sharing combined with keeping our costs down allow for the Gathering to be affordable.  

Here are some additional options to make the Gathering affordable for you:   
 

Personal Fundraising

Raising your own funds can be creative and empowering. And making a difference in the world is essentially a process of asking for help. With the time and energy you invest in this way, your experience at the SE Gathering will belong to you. You can create your own funding using some of these ideas:

Get sponsored - ask family, friends, or your place of faith to give you the funding.

Throw a fundraising party  - where you cook for your guests and tell them about the importance of the gathering to you; you pass the hat and they make a contribution.

Sell things you have that you don’t need – it’s amazing how much funding you can raise just by selling off items that you can move on - plants, clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.

Work for a Discount

ALL WORK-TRADE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED!

Work-trade is for a 4 hour shift in addition to the 3 hours everyone must volunteer for the weekend pass, Work-traders are also required to help with cleanup on Sunday (many hands make light work). If you work-trade, you must be present Friday morning through clean up on Sunday. For a list of work-trade positions, click here.

No work exchanges will be accepted via “walk-in.”

The work-trade spots will go fast, so please fill out the form as soon as possible. The deadline for submitting an application is June 7. You will be notified by June 14 if your application has been accepted.

Scholarships

General Scholarships – we are excited to offer scholarships to help bring folks to the Gathering who might not otherwise be able to attend.  If you would like to apply, please click here to complete an application.  Upon acceptance, scholarship recipients will receive a coupon code to adjust these prices in the registration cart. 

Scholarship Application

Celo/South Toe Resident Discount

All Celo residents are invited to attend the Permaculture Gathering, including the affinity circles and meals. We would like to encourage the local area people to participate in the Gathering, so we have created a special coupon that is good for half off any Day ticket. Saturday evening events (ceremony, campfires, drumming circles, etc.) are FREE for Celo/South Toe residents.

REQUEST RESIDENT DISCOUNT

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Still have more questions?

Ask Us

 

Location & Directions

The Southeastern Permaculture Gathering is located on the beautiful campus of the Arthur Morgan School. This 72 Acre campus located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains is surrounded by Celo Community and National Forest.

AMS is located near the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina, in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Black Mountains. The 105-acre campus, consisting mainly of woods and meadows, is an hour northeast of Asheville, 20 minutes from Burnsville and 40 minutes from Marion, North Carolina.

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About the Venue

The Arthur Morgan School provides a safe and loving environment where 27 day and boarding school students in grades 7, 8 and 9 learn to question and evaluate, think creatively and work cooperatively.  Students and staff honor the Quaker values of simplicity, responsibility, service, personal integrity, nonviolent conflict resolution and respect for self, others and the environment.

Directions

Do not rely on your gps to get to the gathering!
For Google directions, click here.

Directions from Asheville: Take US 19/23 (future I-26) north to Exit 9 for US 19E North. Turn right at the end of the off ramp, drive east through Burnsville to Micaville. Turn right onto NC80 South and go about six miles. Turn left onto Seven Mile Ridge Road, cross the bridge and turn right at the stop sign onto Hannah Branch Road (a gravel road). It is one mile to the AMS campus.

Directions from Marion (I-40): Take NC 226 North to US 70 West. Take US 70 West to NC 80 North, go seven miles past the Blue Ridge Parkway, then turn right onto Seven Mile Ridge Road. Cross the bridge and turn right at the stop sign onto Hannah Branch Road (a gravel road). It is one mile to the AMS campus.

Directions from Johnson City, TN: Take I-181 South to I-26. Take 23 to 19E. Turn left onto 19E North. Go through Burnsville to Micaville. Turn right onto NC80 South and go about six miles. Turn left onto Seven Mile Ridge Road, cross the bridge and turn right at the stop sign onto Hannah Branch Road (a gravel road). It is one mile to the AMS campus.

Reduce your carbon print and share the cost . . . CARPOOL!

 

Pet Policy

We're sorry, but for practical purposes NO animals are allowed to be brought to AMS or to the Gathering. 

 

Miscellaneous

Parking

Park only in designated areas.  Short term parking is available in the registration parking lot and provided while checking in. Day parking is in the designated area next where our tent camping is located.  
​If your vehicle is leaking oil or other contaminants, you must place a container under your vehicle.

Toilets

While a plumbed restroom is available for emergencies and for those with disabilities, we also provide private and comfortable composting toilets to alleviate the stress on the Arthur Morgan School's sewer system.

Drinking Water

Drinking water is available at the AMS kitchen. Our water comes from a well.

Bathing

There are bath houses for both men and women on the AMS grounds which you are welcome to use.

Flora & Fauna

AMS is home to a few species to watch out for. Do not sample any plants or fungi unless you are SURE they are edible! The most common biting insects are no-see-ums, tiny gnats at sunrise and sunset. There are mosquitoes, especially after wet weather, and there are a number of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.  If you have strong reaction to bee stings, please come prepared with an epi-pen or other treatment for allergic reactions. The best defense is long pants and sleeves. Use natural insect repellents​ ​

Illegal/Intoxicating Substances

Do not use or bring with you any illegal substances. Please refrain from excessive use of alcohol.

Phone

Please be advised that cell phone signals are not reliable out here. There is WiFi in and near the lodge and a landline phone for short calls.​

Swimming Hole
​& Sauna

There is a pond at AMS and we ask that you swim at your own risk. All children must be with an adult.

Safety

You are responsible for your own safety. Be responsible and pay attention.

Privacy

​Arthur Morgan School is nested within Celo community and there are several private residences located near the campground. Please be considerate when walking near private residences.

Trash & Sanitation

Use designated recycling and trash containers for your discards items. Use cans as marked. Be especially careful about diapers and bare-bottomed babies. Pack out disposable diapers, and empty cloth diapers into a toilet.

We can't wait to see you!

Register