In photos: Mother Earth News Fair 2015

GROWING GREEN: Crowds of people converged on the 2015 Mother Earth News Fair Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, at the WNC Agricultural Center. Although official numbers were unavailable at press time, fair director Andrew Perkins estimates that 18,000 people attended this year's event, up from 16,000 in 2014. Photo by Tori Pace

Crowds of locals and visitors converged on the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, to take in the sights, sounds and tastes of the 2015 Mother Earth News Fair. A full roster of presenters from the WNC area and across the U.S. offered workshops and discussions on topics relating to renewable energy, organic gardening, homesteading, green building and sustainable living.

The barns of the Ag Center were filled with exhibitors offering demonstrations and displays featuring everything from quail to goats to camels. Hundreds of vendors were also on hand with booths highlighting farm and garden supplies, clothing, value-added food products and more.

This year marked the fair’s second trip to Asheville with future stops scheduled this spring and summer in Albany, Ore.; West Bend, Wis.; Seven Springs, Pa.; and Topeka, Kan.

Photos by Tori Pace

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6 thoughts on “In photos: Mother Earth News Fair 2015

  1. Edison Carter

    No pictures of the livestock exhibitors, or any information as to their presentations? I guess your crew didn’t walk that far down to the barns. To bad, as there were large crowds down there listening and learning about livestock in the sustainable lifestyle as well. The Mother Earth Fair wasn’t all about the retail vendors selling their “stuff” to eager, hungry consumers with cash to burn. Oh well….Maybe next year……

  2. Gina Smith

    Thanks for your comment, Edison. You make a great point — the livestock exhibits and presentations were fantastic, and I personally was at the livestock barns on Saturday live tweeting (with photos) about the displays and events. It is unfortunate that no photos of the livestock made it into this gallery. I appreciate you highlighting that important aspect of the fair, and I’ve amended the slideshow text to include mention of the livestock exhibits.

  3. Carmen

    I sure hope that there is something like this here in Arizona, this is one thing i will not miss to go to at all. Thanks for sharing.

    • Edison Carter

      I was curious if they had any knowledge as to how far people had traveled to attend, and I went to the show office and asked them just that. I learned from the management office that 80% of those in attendance came from out of state. I enjoyed this style and format of a “fair”, and I am impressed with its’ organization, and most grateful that it is in our backyard in Asheville. The attendance numbers along with the vendors and exhibitors were up from last year’s excellent first time show which translates that they will be back next year! Looking foward to it!

  4. Ricki Lindsay

    It was our first fair, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The presentations were first rate, as were the exhibits. The only critical thing I can say is, the car dealer was disruptive to several of the presentations and seemed really out of place. If they are invited back I would take measures to locate them away from any presentation tent.

    My hat is off to the organization team…splendid job!

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