Despite the unique set of challenges it presents, WNC women are increasingly looking to agriculture as a business option.
Planting edible perennials increases food system resilience in WNC
Cultivating low-maintenance perennial food producers like asparagus, rhubarb and artichokes has benefits for both the soil and the gardener.
Fallen leaves offer great garden benefits
Local city governments offer leaf collection and processing services, but residents can also put their own fallen leaves to good use.
Bullington Gardens highlights dahlia collection with tours, wine event
Dahlias take center stage with events at the Hendersonville botanical garden.
Eliada Corn Maze marks 10 years with a fresh outlook and revival of farming past
A renewed focus on farming aims to provide STEM education opportunities for students while ultimately making the organization self-sustaining.
WNC hemp farmers and processors collaborate to evolve the industry
An ever-increasing interest in hemp’s medicinal and culinary applications is giving rise to new partnerships.
West Asheville Garden Stroll marks 10 years of growing community
The self-guided tour will feature a wide range of garden designs established both at older homes and newly constructed residences.
Invading Appalachia: Non-native plants introduced by gardeners threaten WNC ecosystems
Some commonly used gardening and landscaping plants cause big problems for WNC’s ecosystem.
A love of farming keeps WNC’s small dairy producers going
Although Western North Carolina’s small dairy farms face numerous challenges, the industry continues to be a robust contributor to the area’s economy.
Workshop explores benefits, practicalities of gardening with native plants
Bill Jones and Shelby Singleton Jackson of Carolina Native Nursery will speak about how to use native Western North Carolina plants to create environmentally friendly landscapes that conserve water, require minimal pesticides and fertilizer treatments and can withstand cold and drought conditions.
Tomato Festival features new varieties, growing tips
The 14th annual event offers educational opportunities along with taste-testing, free tomato sandwiches and more.
WNC seed companies work with local growers
Local farmers find another revenue stream in cultivating plants for seed.
Growing in small spaces with container gardens
Using repurposed containers and DIY soil amendments can make it easy and affordable to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit without a large garden plot.
Ozone gardens help monitor WNC air quality
Specific plant species can turn a garden into a living indicator of pollution levels.
Climate change may call for new gardening strategies in WNC
As shifting weather patterns begin to affect WNC, new gardening strategies and hardier plant varieties may be needed.
ASAP’s Farm Tour celebrates its 10th anniversary
Hayrides, fishing, wine tastings, cooking demos and berry-picking are just a sampling of the events lined up for this year’s tour, which showcases more than 20 small-scale, local farms.
Growing protein-rich foods in the WNC garden
From beans to squash, local experts talk about growing protein powerhouses in the home garden.
Workshop looks at building healthy soil with biochar
A class at Living Web Farms explores ways to inoculate carbonized charcoal with beneficial microbes and nutrients to yield a superior longterm fertilizer.
Mountain Transplants workshops offer gardening tips to WNC newcomers
From attracting pollinators to native landscaping, upcoming classes at the Henderson County Cooperative Extension Center will provide useful information for gardeners new to the mountains.
Asheville GreenWorks dishes the dirt on home composting
The monthly events, offered at various local locations, provide useful information on outdoor and indoor composting methods, including composting with earthworms.
Growing healthy food for kids at the Shiloh Community Garden
At the Shiloh Community Garden, generations gather to connect with one another and with the environment.