With the last of February’s snow melted and gone, it seems Western North Carolina has begun to shake winter’s grasp.
Dozens of springtime photos have popped up on social media (and fromhere.org) in the past week, boasting gardeners’ spring starts — tiny seedlings of soon-to-be spinach, snap peas, sprouts.
And as the wishful thinking for warmer weather slowly becomes reality, local farmers and gardeners are gearing up for the growing season ahead — starting with a meet-and-greet at the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project‘s fifth annual Community Supported Agriculture Fair.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, residents will get to shake hands with the growers responsible for the region’s farm-to-table cuisine, learning more about CSA programs and products.
Held at Jubilee! Community, 46 Wall St., in downtown Asheville, the free event gives locals the opportunity to become a CSA subscriber — receiving fresh, locally grown food every week during the growing season — or possibly even to share the cost of produce with their workplaces or congregations.
ASAP holds two CSA fairs each year: one focused on Asheville and Buncombe farms, and the other for High Country in Boone.
And the fair isn’t just an opportunity to say hello to the producers of our nourishment — ASAP will be offering cooking demonstrations, based on locally grown springtime goods, as well as activities for children and families.
Following the educational portion of the fair, guests are invited to attend the after-party just a short walk down the street at Early Girl Eatery. Early Girl has long been an advocate of local agriculture.
Included in the price of the $20 ticket is one glass of beer or wine and a buffet-style spread of small-portioned Early Girl favorites, with heavy emphasis on food sourced from the fair’s participating farms. The menu features spinach potato cakes, small quiches, kale salad, Korean chicken and Monte Cristos — a fried ham and cheese sandwich.
ASAP’s Community Supported Agriculture Fair
WHAT: Meet-and-greet with 14 local farms, CSA subscription info.
WHERE: Jubilee! Community, 46 Wall St., Asheville
WHEN: Thursday, March 12, from 3-6 p.m., free.
A Celebration of CSA
WHAT: Small-bites after-party for the CSA Fair
WHERE: Early Girl Eatery, 8 Wall St., Asheville
WHEN: Thursday, March 12, from 6-8 p.m., $20.
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