To help its neighbors in Madison County manage these costs, local nonprofit organization Madison Has HEArT is hosting its third annual Fanciful Flea event on February 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Marshall Island Studios in downtown Marshall.
Home, sweet home: Mountain Housing Opportunities celebrates The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments
In its latest efforts to increase the availability of affordable housing, the nonprofit organization Mountain Housing Opportunities hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gift registry drive Thursday evening at its brand new apartment complex, The Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments, just off New Leicester Highway. MHO staff, partner organizations, sponsors, local and state government officials were […]
Ole Shakey’s to host food-focused benefit for Bountiful Cities
Now in its second year, Bountiful Cities’ Put Your Hoe Down fundraising event on Saturday, Dec. 5, will feature food by celebrated local chefs, cocktails, live music and dancing.
Eyes on the future: Saving WNC’s farms
Robin Reeves is the sixth generation to grow up on her family’s Madison County farm — a lineage that dates back to before the Civil War. Reeves spent much of her youth helping her parents raise cattle, burley tobacco and tomatoes as well as her extended family in Sandy Mush. As an adolescent, she sold […]
Arancini Italian Kitchen brings fresh casual to West Asheville
A new fast-casual Italian eatery is taking over the Haywood Road space previously occupied by Pineapple Jack’s.
Beer Scout: Brewing beyond gimmicks
With the launch of his new Weaverville brewery, Zebulon Artisan Ales, former Green Man brewer Mike Karnowski aims to tap into the rich history of brewing and revive beer recipes from ages past.
Any way you slice it: Asheville pizza makers dish about what goes into a great pie
People are opinionated about their pizza. Whether its New York-style thin crust, Chicago deep-dish or something completely different, everybody has their likes and dislikes. A few Asheville pizza makers recently told Xpress what they think it takes to create an amazing pie.
It takes a village: French Broad Food Co-op announces expansion proposals
The iconic community-owned food market and grocer has announced initial plans to expand its current space on the 60-100 block of Biltmore Avenue and is reaching out to community organizations and the city of Asheville to begin discussions on the possibility of a massive multiuse facility.
Food for thought: City Council candidates weigh in on local food policy
From improving food access to supporting urban agriculture, the six Asheville City Council candidates shared their views on local food issues at a recent forum hosted by the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council.
Wild sustenance: Lambsquarters provide backyard source of nutrition, flavor
Often considered a weed, locally prolific lambsquarter is actually a highly nutritious wild edible that we can harvest for free in our own backyards.
Survey findings may help stem the loss of farms in WNC
Making a living as a farmer is tough anywhere, but it’s particularly true in the North Carolina mountains. Western North Carolina lost 18 percent of its farms — more than 2,800 — in the 15 years between 1997 and 2012. And the majority of existing WNC farmers today are nearing retirement age — many of them without heirs who plan to keep the farm going.
One of a kind: Venture Local Fair celebrates Asheville’s unique character
There’s a crossroads between Buxton and Banks avenues, even though they don’t intersect. These blocklong, parallel, South Slope streets are lined with places to buy things, eat, drink and make merry: a chocolate factory, a doughnut shop, three breweries, two bars, a beer-and-wine store and the newest barbecue joint in town, among other businesses. The […]
Organic Growers School Harvest Conference returns for its second year
The Organic Growers School’s second Harvest Conference on Saturday, Sept. 12, offered 26 workshops focused on fall and winter growing, cooking, fermentation and preservation, self-reliance, herbal medicine and homestead skills.
LAST CALL for a nonprofit hero: $1,000 prize goes to Julian Award winner
Do you know a young person who works hard doing good for not much money? That deserving person may be eligible for Asheville’s first Julian Award, a $1,000 cash prize that will be given this fall at the kickoff of Mountain Xpress’ Give!Local campaign for local nonprofits.
Growing pains: Craft brewing comes of age
North Carolina has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol. However, alcohol has consistently been an economic driver in North Carolina, as it still is, with 130 craft breweries as of 2014 – the most of any Southern state. As the craft brewing industry in the region grows into a multimillion-dollar business, the desire to review the statutes and improve communication with state officials has come to the forefront.
Taqueria with a twist: Chef Patrick Abernathy talks Chupacabra
Chef Patrick Abernathy has spent the past 15 years working at notable Asheville eateries, but Chupacabra Latin Café in Reynolds Village is his first solo project.
Modernizing the market: New features and higher rent at the WNC Farmers Market
The agriculture department has released a master plan for the WNC Farmers Market calling for everything from LED fixtures and improved signage to a new brew pub, outdoor dining and increased rent for businesses leasing space from the state-run facility.
Resilient farming systems: How local foodsheds can brace for climate change
What does a drought in California have to do with Western North Carolina? Local experts say that the situation holds lessons for food systems throughout the country, including how to become more resilient in the face of climate change.
Mother Earth Produce wins big in Tap The Future semifinals
Local farm-to-door produce delivery service Mother Earth Produce won big last night in the the Miller Lite Tap The Future small-business competition semifinals in Atlanta, taking first place among a pool of 30 contestants and bringing home a $20,000 award.
Time for a bucolic bike ride: Cycle to Farm tour brings cyclists to the fields
The event, now in its fourth year, will take place on Saturday, July 18, and is organized by Velo Girl Rides in partnership with Ingles Markets and Black Mountain Parks and Greenways. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will support the creation of more greenways.