Asheville-area initiatives are seeking to connect food-insecure communities with fresh, locally grown food while also supporting WNC farmers.
Commissioners push forward with for-profit EMS contract
A 22-page report sparked an approximately two hour discussion during a Board of Commissioners meeting on April 17 about the merits of allowing a for-profit EMS system to operate in Buncombe County.
Matthew Fox headlines upcoming Creation Spirituality Community gathering at Jubilee!
The international gathering of the Creation Spirituality Community, held April 26-29 at Jubilee! in Asheville, features a keynote by renowned theologian Matthew Fox, a concert by Abraham Jam and over 20 workshops by wisdom leaders from around the world.
Commissioners hear plea from immigrant community
Starting on April 14, CIMA and other local advocacy groups received word that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were detaining people in the Asheville area.
To-go box revival redux: Resuscitating restaurant leftovers with Ashley English and Nate Allen
Don’t trash that doggy bag! Asheville culinary experts have some creative ideas for giving new life to leftover restaurant meals.
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Alyssa Sacora cans food from her garden to carry on a tradition
Alyssa Sacora grows and cans much of her own food to increase the year-round quality of her diet and as an environmentally friendly strategy for long-term storage. She also does it as a way of carrying on a long-standing tradition in her family.
Nicholas Letts brought the sharing economy to Asheville with tool library
While reducing the environmental impact of purchasing tools that member households may need only infrequently is a key goal for the Asheville Tool Library, the nonprofit has an even bigger vision. Founder Nicholas Letts says he hopes the library levels the economic playing field by reducing expenses and promoting collaboration.
Woodson Branch School offers a nature-based education to youths
Nature-based schools are catching on around the country. The Woodson Branch Nature School, located in Hot Springs and Marshall, is a local manifestation of the trend, which emphasizes outdoor learning and unstructured outdoor play.
Danu Macon dreams of planting 1,000 fruit trees in WNC this year
Danu Macon plans to plant 1,000 fruit trees in Western North Carolina in 2018.
Local cleaning services turn to natural products
Studies show that commercial cleaning products can be harmful to our health. Local house cleaners have switched to natural products as a result of their own adverse experiences using chemical cleaning agents.
Making the grade: WNC’s college dining programs get high scores for sustainability
Increasingly, U.S. colleges and universities are working to make their institutions as environmentally sustainable as possible. These efforts cover a broad spectrum, from a recycling initiative at Stanford University that diverts 65 percent of the school’s solid waste away from landfills to Cornell’s plan to be carbon-neutral by 2035, as noted in The Princeton Review’s annual ranking […]
Workshops focus on caring for Asheville’s urban forests
Asheville GreenWorks, the Tree Commission and the city have joined forces to host a four-part workshop series on tree care this spring.
Local gardens collaborate to help neighbors in need
The Western N.C. Alliance of Gardens That Give is a collaborative effort among local gardens that grow food to reduce food insecurity in this region. The organization welcomes prospective new members to attend its next quarterly meeting, held Monday, April 16.
Conscious Party: Green Built Alliance Disc Golf Tournament
The fundraiser for the sustainable design nonprofit takes place April 14 at Lake Julian Park.
DeWayne Barton feeds both mouth and spirit at the Burton Street Peace Garden
The Burton Street Peace Garden started out as a community experiment, says founder DeWayne Barton. Today, the space serves a variety of needs and purposes, nourishing bodies and souls on what was once a trash-strewn vacant lot.
Boone Guyton’s car is powered by the sun
When Boone Guyton and Claudia Cady take to the road, they are driving on energy gathered from the sun by their home solar panel system. The couple made the switch to an electric vehicle as a personal step to fight climate change.
Local experts take a hard look at sustainable weight loss
Losing weight is hard, and keeping it off may be even harder. Local experts share information and tips to help sustain a healthy weight after taking off some pounds.
Wildly prolific: Cooking with WNC’s native spring perennials
Some of Western North Carolina’s freshest spring ingredients are found outside the garden.
Little miracles: Look now for spring ephemeral wildflowers
“In April, a lush carpet of green emerges from the forest floor, and an astonishing array of flowers opens to the bright sunshine.”
CTS contamination has poisoned more than drinking water
For nearly 30 years, the CTS of Asheville Superfund site has been a source of physical and social toxicity for the surrounding community. With remedial efforts to address the source of contamination finally underway, residents, activists and others reflect on the triumphs and tribulations of the decades-long battle for a clean-up and accountability.