Stream erosion is a growing problem in Western North Carolina. When a stream bank on your property erodes, more sediment enters the waterway and the area and appearance of your land is diminished. Government publications and agencies offer guidance for property owners hoping to stabilize their banks and promote healthy stream ecology.
While tractors and mechanized farm equipment have now largely replaced draft animals, a small but passionate contingent of farmers in Western North Carolina continues to rely on them to help with the daily work around their farms and as a source of extra income at times.
The Nutty Buddy Collective is pioneering new models of sustainable, perennial agriculture by establishing long-term leasehold agreements with conservation-minded landowners. Once the use of the land has been secured, the collective plants fruit and nut crops that take several years to reach maturity.
Farming dreams can start big and end in disappointment. With its Farm Beginnings program, the Organic Growers School gives new farmers the business and practical tools to maximize their chances of success. And for those who already have a farm, whether as a business or a hobby, the Mountain State Fair offers myriad opportunities to show off the products of their labors.
Heritage livestock breeds have a lot to offer WNC’s small farmers. Fiber animals that evolved on small farmsteads are hardier and easier to manage than breeds developed for high yields and consistent characteristics. WNC farmers are exploring the advantages these heritage breeds offer, protecting them from possible extinction along the way.
Interest in biodynamic growing practices is strong both locally and across the nation. In a two-day workshop July 9-10, Barefoot Farmer Jeff Poppen will share practical and spiritual wisdom drawn from 30 years of biodynamic agriculture experience on his Tennessee farm.
Slow Food Asheville invites local gardeners to grow the heirloom bean this summer as part of a communitywide initiative that culminates with data gathering and a potluck celebration.
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features ZaPow Gallery’s outreach efforts following a drastic rent spike and Loren Cardeli’s Asheville-based attempt to change the global food system.
Sunburst Chef & Farmer will be one of 20 local farms welcoming the public to tour their operations and take home ultra-fresh food during ASAP’s annual farm tour.
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features botanical gardener Joe Hollis’ efforts to disperse his knowledge among online video viewers and hammered dulcimer player Joshua Messick’s new instrumental album.
Two upcoming talks at the North Carolina Arboretum will give local home gardeners, conservationists and bee lovers alike a rare chance to hear longtime environmental educator and landscape designer Heather Holm speak on using native plants to attract and support beneficial insects and wildlife.
Third-grade students at Estes Elementary School investigated the connection between the community and farms, discovering along the way that farms are more interesting than people might think.
Unlike conventional commercial greenhouses, Megan Riley’s new passive solar greenhouse requires no supplemental heat or electrically-powered ventilation. Riley says the greenhouse provides an ideal environment for her plants, resulting in robust, beautiful seedlings that reach planting size weeks ahead of schedule.
Hendersonville invites garden enthusiasts to kick off the summer with the town’s 23rd annual Garden Jubilee Festival on May 28-29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Over 170 vendors will line historic Main Street, offering a dizzying variety of plants, garden art, tools, outdoor furniture, planters, wind chimes and birdhouses.
“Be prepared” goes the Scouting movement’s mantra. And being able to face any challenge is often a goal of institutions. But the question is always: How? How can we be best prepared for whatever may come? The Boy Scout carries his pocketknife. Emergency services train for possible scenarios. Young people study to pass the big […]
E-Z Gardener plant sale raises money for scholarships Plants are popping up for a good cause in the River Arts District this Sunday, May 15. The Asheville E-Z Gardeners is holding their fifth annual pop-up plant sale, and hopes to raise $1,000 from plant sales for college scholarships to support students pursing horticultural studies. Hundreds […]
Out-of-towners who flock to Asheville for mountain views, world-class dining and a taste of Appalachian culture probably don’t often make a point of including a drive to northwest Buncombe County on their travel itineraries. Sparsely populated rural communities like Sandy Mush, Leicester, Newfound and Alexander tend to be pretty far off the radar for tourists — and even for […]
Waynesville honors one of mother nature’s most pungent offerings for the 86th year; Farm Burger adds a South Asheville location; and Belly Up Food Truck helps out those in need of food with a new pay-it-forward initiative.
Greenbrier shoots, or Smilax rotundifolia, get an early start on spring, but they’re still out and plentiful, ready to be snapped off and enjoyed raw or cooked.
With our growing season just getting underway in the mountains, we lucky enough to have the largest herb festival in the country about to take place right in our backyard. The 27th annual Asheville Herb Festival has been billed as the biggest herb focused event of its kind in the Southeast for the past 15 […]
What does a catchphrase like “sustainable tourism” mean here in Western North Carolina? How do you make it work at the ground level? Local businesses, organizations and public officials weigh in on what such a model might look like in the region.
