Back to the Earth
Volume
21
/ Issue 37
Cover Design Credit:
Kathleen Soriano TaylorCover Photography Credit:
Warren Wilson College
Fans of renewable energy, organic gardening, homesteading and green home building will be flocking to Mother Earth News Fair on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, for family-friendly vendors, workshops and events that focus on a back-to- the-earth lifestyle.
arts
Storyteller Connie Regan-Blake’s collection is inducted into the Library of Congress
When Asheville-based storyteller Connie Regan-Blake embarked on her career more than 40 years ago, there were only two storytelling festivals in the country. That was in the mid-’70s; “Now every…Small Bites: Free community tastings at MetroWines
This week: MetroWines transforms into a living estate-sale venue, a new Cajun restaurant comes to downtown and The Market Place has ramps.Smart bets: BEAT LIFE showcases
The Asheville Beat Tape Collective exists to connect local electronic musicians with national talent, often hosting multi-artist performances like the group's upcoming two-night stint at Asheville Music Hall.Smart bets: Tom Green
Catch the nationally known star at The Millroom, where he'll translate his odd sense of humor into a stand-up routine.Smart bets: David Joy
N.C. author David Joy's new His new novel, Where All Light Tends to Go, has garnered comparisons to “Breaking Bad,” “Sons of Anarchy” and “Justified.”The Photography of Hugh Mangum: beyond black and white
From the early 1890s until his death in 1922, Mangum, who was born and based in Durham, traveled all over North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, photographing anybody and everybody…Smart bets: Sir Richard Bishop
Bishop stumbled upon his latest challenge — a spellbinding parlor guitar — in Tangier, Morocco. This six-stringed muse inspired an improvised collection of seductive tunes titled Tangier Sessions, which showcases…The Broadcast will continue touring after this important local message
Coming out of a tumultuous year that saw two of its founding members depart, Asheville-based (though originally from Brooklyn) The Broadcast is gearing up for what looks to be its…The Resonant Rogues celebrate a new album
The band brings the energy of New Orleans back to Western North Carolina — releasing their new album, Here & Gone Again, at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Saturday,…food
Oasis: Mobile ceremonies bring tea to the people
How do we build a community around another beverage that has innate healing qualities?living
The United Religions Initiative hosts ‘Faith and Climate Change’ workshop April 18
An interfaith panel and workshop session presented by the United Religions Initiative of Henderson County will explore how six faith traditions can inform our actions on behalf of the planet…Mother Earth News Fair gets down and dirty in Asheville
Mother Earth News Fair returns to the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12, marking the fair’s second consecutive appearance in Asheville. The fair…Conscious Party: Throwback swing thing
Anam Cara Theatre Company strives to provide the community with progressive, thought provoking theater, incorporating music, art and the written and spoken word into their productions. Next up on its…For your health: A veterans benefit, a new program for elders and more
Wellness news and events in Buncombe County and beyond.movies
Screen scene: Local film news
This week: The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the first trailer for Asheville-shot Masterminds and a new video from the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.news
Habitat ReStore’s secrets to success: How one local retail shop became a national leader
Habitat for Humanity International recently ranked the Asheville ReStore second in gross sales among the parent nonprofit’s nearly 800 such retail shops. Habitat's corporate headquarters, which mentors stores in other…Honor system: Vance Monument restoration raises troubling questions
The upcoming restoration of the Vance monument is said to honor the memory of Zebulon Vance, Confederate military officer and wartime governor. But there’s another side to this story. By…The raw milk debate: An interview with food activist David Gumpert
During his decadeslong career, journalist, editor and author David E. Gumpert has written about everything from food rights to entrepreneurship to family history. But in recent years, he’s focused on…Letter writer: Do Ashevilleans really support local?
"I was, and am, extremely saddened by the closing of Katuah [Market] and have the utmost respect and appreciation to Swann for creating such a meaningful and healthy place.... But…Raw deal? Asheville’s taste for unpasteurized milk
Raw milk comes straight from the cow — it hasn’t been pasteurized (heated to high temperatures for specific lengths of time to kill potentially harmful pathogens). Though both the FDA…End of an era: Smokey’s Tavern closes after 60 years
Smokey’s Tavern brands itself as Asheville’s oldest continuously operating bar — “same location, same name, same everything” since the 1950s, says owner Gene Masters. But after 60 years of beer…Expect a big turnout at CleanUp Candler April 9 community meeting
Can a community initiative rise from the ground up, with no leaders and no set agenda? The answer is yes, and it’s apparent in newly affixed “Ole Town Candler” bumper…opinion
Public display of obstruction
Letter writer: Youth Art Exhibit coming in May
"In response to the query, “Where can we see local student artwork?" the Asheville City Schools Youth Art Month exhibit will open on Sunday, May 3, and run through Thursday,…Letter writer: WNC residents, look in the mirror for bad drivers
"I find this amusing, as, having lived on the East Coast, Rocky Mountains and West Coast, I have found Western North Carolina the least traffic-aware and most careless driving region…Letter writer: Oops, actually chelation therapy really does work….
"In integrative medicine, we integrate whatever works and make decisions in partnership with fully informed clients."Letter writer: The name of Isis goes back to ancient Egypt
"The name is not something new, nor is it related to the terrorist group. The name Isis goes back to ancient Egypt."Letter writer: Let the Energy Freedom Act pass in N.C.
"Having the citizens be able to choose what kind of power they will pay for is so very, very long overdue."