The two-day event will offer guided, educational tours of the flower fields, pottery studio and wood-fired kiln along with other activities.
Rock climbing as therapy
Western North Carolina is a rock climbing mini-mecca, featuring faces such as Looking Glass, John Rock and Rumbling Bald. And for some, this fast-growing sport is a way of life. Together with traditional therapy, it’s played a key role in helping some climb out of depression.
E-coli Family Vacation
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
News Briefs: Buncombe maintains state’s lowest unemployment, bat fungus spotted in Madison County
Buncombe did see its unemployment tick up from the 2.8% April rate; the May rate was also higher than the 2.8% reported for the same month last year. However, the Department of Commerce noted that all of the state’s other metro areas also saw rate increases, and the Asheville metro area actually added about 1,900 nonfarm jobs in May.
Eat from the forest floor with foraged mushrooms
July marks peak season for gathering wild edible mushroom in Western North Carolina, and many tasty varieties are already popping up on local restaurant menus.
Diversification grants help a new generation of farmers maintain family land
WNC’s family farms are broadening their horizons to explore new avenues for income.
All-electric city buses face challenges
Questions linger about the buses’ capability to keep up with their diesel and hybrid counterparts on Asheville’s demanding roads. Issues with the length and battery life of the vehicles have led city officials to delay the planned purchase of three more electric units.
Wellness briefs: Women’s health report released, Yoga Festival returns
A new statewide report on women’s health was unveiled June 25 in Asheville. Mercy Urgent Care is now an in-network service provider for eligible veterans using Veterans Administration benefits. The Asheville Yoga Festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, July 25-28, and one-day passes and a discount for Buncombe County residents are now available.
WNC Farmers Market offers fresh produce year-round
The market, which is open daily, comprises 14 buildings spread over 36 acres.
Insurance coverage gap impacts children’s health
Health care advocates say improving children’s well-being requires providing access to health insurance and health care services for their parents. While the majority of Buncombe County’s children from low-income families are covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid, many of their parents lack coverage.
Prepare to Merge
ASHEVILLE, N.C.
Budding hemp industry holds its breath over potential flower ban
In late May, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation proposed banning all smokable hemp flower, in addition to more stringent regulation of hemp processing and a host of other precautions. Those changes are now under consideration in the General Assembly, where they could be enacted as part of the N.C. Farm Act of 2019.
News briefs: Thomas Wolfe Auditorium survey, WNC nonprofits receive $900K in awards
The questionnaire will advise the city on which updates and renovations of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium best serve community needs. Once the survey is completed, Earl Swensson Associates Architects will draft programming and conceptual designs for the building.
Western Carolina University hosts annual Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
The conference’s five days of field trips, lectures, workshops and networking opportunities has made it “a model for similar native plant gatherings around the country,” says organizer Bobby Hensley.
Green in brief: Asheville releases guide to climate resilience, RiverLink plans sale of French Broad land for restaurant
“Building a Climate-Resilient Asheville,” debuted during a June 19 meeting of the city’s Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment at The Collider, focuses on practical steps individuals can take to reduce their vulnerability to extreme weather.
Body positivity gains traction in Asheville
Body type preferences have fluctuated over the last 100 years, but activists in Asheville are encouraging women to be their own icons.
New Mission execs tout initial growth, promise continued investment
While returning repeatedly to messages of growth and their commitment to long-term investments in the region’s health care infrastructure, the CEO and CFO for HCA Healthcare’s new North Carolina division also responded to questions about the company’s business model, staffing and morale in a June 20 meeting with local media.
ASAP hosts its 11th annual Farm Tour
Drinking water, sunscreen, hat, closed-toe walking shoes, cash and a camera: These items are all on the “items to bring” checklist provided by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project to people embarking on the 11th annual ASAP Farm Tour on Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23. But the real key to a successful tour, according to tour coordinator Robin […]
Meditation centers in demand for peace, chance to disconnect
Local centers report that the silent meditation retreat business is booming. Ranging from a single day to a full two weeks off the grid, the retreats eliminate unnecessary external stimulation by emphasizing meditation, maintaining an inward focus — and, yes, disconnecting from all tech devices.
News Briefs: New police chief, updated Flatiron proposal
Updated Flatiron proposal to return to City Council Developer Philip Woollcott and building owner Russell Thomas will make another appearance in front of Asheville City Council members on Tuesday, June 25, to gain approval for an updated version of the Flatiron Building project. The original plan would have converted the building into an 80-room boutique […]
WNC farmers crack into the local market for pastured eggs
There’s high demand in Asheville’s restaurant scene for local, pasture-raised eggs, but for small farms, scaling an egg operation to wholesale presents many challenges.