Mountain Gardens

Mountain Gardens, located at the foot of the Black Mountains in Western North Carolina, features the largest collection of native Appalachian and Chinese medicinal herbs in the Eastern US. Recently, it became a registered 501(c)3 educational nonprofit, continuing the vision of its founder, Joe, and recovering from a devastating fire that destroyed the old library. The garden is known for its diverse offerings, including native and oriental medicinal herbs, wild foods, perennial vegetables, and other ethnobotanicals.

Mountain Gardens emphasizes organic cultivation methods and a philosophy known as Paradise Gardening. This approach integrates the cultivation and uses of various species, focusing on the interconnectedness of plants, ecology, and human health. The garden serves as a demonstration site for medicinal plants, featuring an herb shop, pharmacy, extensive research library, seed collection, and plant nursery.

Mountain Gardens offers workshops where participants can learn to identify, propagate, cultivate, harvest, and prepare medicinal herbs and other useful plants. Hundreds of different plants grow in the gardens, many of which are available for purchase on-site or by mail. The garden also participates in the Asheville Herb Festival in the spring. Donations to support the garden's mission can be made directly or through GoFundMe.