“Entrepreneurship, especially for a small farm business at its start, is a major balancing act between the manual labor involved and the hustle of developing social media content and promotional materials and all the daily logistics of running a business,” says Salley Williamson, owner of Piney Mountain Farm.
Alternate waters sources, diversification and collaboration help growing spaces survive and thrive.
From loss of infrastructure, crops and market outlets to erosion of precious topsoil, WNC’s farms are struggling to pick up the pieces left behind after the storm.
DIY projects for using fall’s bounty of peppers and chiles to spice up your pantry. Also, advice on growing Brussels sprouts in WNC and saving squash seeds.
On Saturday, Sept. 7, the Burton Street Community Association will honor the legacy of E.W. Pearson with free food, activities, music and more at the Buncombe County District Agricultural Fair. Also in this week’s food news: A new late-night hot dog eatery, Asheville Charcuterie Co.’s first brick-and-mortar space and more.
Fungi in the garden can be either helpful or harmful. Plus, tips for making the most of this season’s elderberry harvests and advice for planting fall carrot crops.
The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is gearing up for its annual Farm Tour in September. Also in local green news, a new solar lending program from Sugar Hollow Solar, the West Asheville Garden Stroll spotlights the Horney Heights neighborhood, N.C. Arboretum hosts Monarch Butterfly Day and more.
A few strategies for combating squash vine borers, coping with zucchini overload and combining cover crops with no-till gardening.
Taking a few simple steps this summer, from seeds to soil tests, will prevent potential issues in growing green beans.
A rainy spring brings molds and rot into the gardening mix. That’s OK, there are ways to ward them off.
We aren’t the only creatures who love berries. Learn how to keep birds and bears at bay.
Conserving Carolina’s fifth annual Habitat at Home spring photo contest is underway. Plus: Hendo Earth Fare returns to Hendersonville; G5 Trail Collective adds 10 new miles; and more!
The Veterans Healing Farm is seeking to raise $5 million to purchase a new location and expand its offerings year-round.
Replenishing the soil is first step to a successful growing season.
How to set gardening goals you can achieve without getting stressed out.
“The way [my bonsai] are constructed, it’s not based on what I was taught or what the books tell you to do,” says Arthur Joura, bonsai curator at The N.C. Arboretum. “It’s based on what I’ve seen in my own experience and run through the filter of my knowledge of art.
“Many first-time market shoppers can find the experience overwhelming or intimidating, so I would offer the suggestion of walking around the market first to get a sense of what’s available and make a plan for what you want to buy,” says Molly Nicholie, executive director of ASAP.
“Gaining 501(c)(3) nonprofit status has opened the market to new funding sources that we didn’t have access to before, while connecting us to the community in new ways,” says Lyric Antio, market director of the RAD Farmers Market
“The greatest lesson I’ve learned thus far is to reflect on my progress as I keep moving forward,” says Rachel Baran, owner and operate of Sun Dragon Flower Farm.
Wildfires screen sunlight, affecting plants photosynthesis. Another downside of the fires is it can keep some gardeners inside just when their gardens need them. Find out how to garden safely when the skies are smoky.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of MountainTrue, the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity, sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue to the U.S. Forest Service in relation to their Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan.
