Garden Journal

Year of living locally: Charlie Jackson of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project says, “All trend spotters point to local food as the biggest thing in food, and here in the mountains we have been way ahead of the curve on growing and promoting food for local consumption.” ASAP’s 2007 Local Food Guide is hot off the press, and Local Food Maps will be on the stands in May. ASAP also sponsors “Appalachian Grown,” a label that can only be displayed on food grown in WNC and the surrounding mountains by family farms. Since the program was launched, nearly 100 farms have become Appalachian Grown certified. On top of that, nearly 20 businesses, including local grocery stores, food cooperatives and restaurants, have agreed to participate in the program and use the logo to promote farm products from certified farms.

Herb fest: Time again for the annual WNC Farmers Market Spring Herb Festival. Sixty dealers will offer a wide selection of all types and sizes of herb plants. Join 20,000 other gardeners in the annual herbal frenzy this Friday through Sunday, May 4 to 6.

Amble on: Take a guided walk in the new Weaverville Nature Park with horticulturist and landscape architect Randy Burroughs. Native trees, plants, shrubs and flowers are featured, together with the animals they attract. Meet at the Weaverville Library on Saturday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call the library at 645-3592.

Garden benefit: Denise and Bob Stelloh invite the public to attend an Open Garden Party benefit for Blue Ridge Hospice and Palliative Care. The Stelloh’s landscape includes well over 1,000 azaleas, rhododendrons and other ornamental shrubs. The event is free, but contributions will be accepted. It takes place at 65 Sierra Drive off Ransier Drive in Hendersonville on Sunday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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About Cecil Bothwell
A writer for Mountain Xpress since three years before there WAS an MX--back in the days of GreenLine. Former managing editor of the paper, founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, Heartstone, member of the national editorial board of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies, publisher of Brave Ulysses Books, radio host of "Blows Against the Empire" on WPVM-LP 103.5 FM, co-author of the best selling guide Finding your way in Asheville. Lives with three cats, macs and cacti. His other car is a canoe. Paints, plays music and for the past five years has been researching and soon to publish a critical biography--Billy Graham: Prince of War:

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