Greasy beans are a southern Appalachian specialty, little or unknown outside this area. According to Sow True Seed founder and owner Carol Koury, greasy beans have been grown in these mountains probably for as long as there have been whites in Appalachia.
Last weekend offered multiple chances to see the “Lunatic Farmer” himself, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms. Salatin has risen to notoriety through his appearances in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma and through his film appearances in Food, Inc. and Farmaggedon.
Representatives from 15 local farms set up displays and offered the public a chance to meet their farmers face-to-face at Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s fourth annual CSA Fair at Jubilee! Community on Thursday, March 13. Photo by Toni Sherwood
A crew of 60 men from Iredell County’s Union Grove Amish Church spent three days this week constructing a new workshop and equipment shed at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview. Click through to view a time-lapse video of the build.
Amid the gentle hills and rolling pastures that surround the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, local farmers left their work behind on Thursday, Feb. 27, to attend the WNC AgOptions 2014 Award Ceremony.
Last weekend more than 250 farmers and budding agricultural entrepreneurs gathered at Warren Wilson College for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s 11th annual Business of Farming Conference. Photo by Josh O’Conner
The Buncombe County Master Gardener Volunteers’ are looking for property that belongs to the city or county and can be contracted to the Buncombe County Agricultural Extension Office for an extended period of time (10+ years) to be used to serve the public of Asheville and Buncombe County as the Master Gardeners’ Demonstration Garden & Learning Center.
Miki Kilpatrick, co-owner of Homegrown Restaurant in Asheville, grew up canning tomatoes and pickles and freezing corn for winter. “Putting up,” as she calls it, was part of the seasonal routine back then.
At tonight’s meeting, Asheville City Council approved new rules allowing urban farming and produce sales throughout the city. Council also approved starting the search for a summer event to replace Bele Chere. On a less optimistic note, the public and city officials discussed increasing issues of crime, policing and homelessness in Asheville’s core.
Next Tuesday, Sept. 24, Asheville City Council will consider an overhaul of the city’s agricultural ordinances to allow for growing more food in more places. Council will also contemplate making official inquiries into partnering with private organizations to find an event to replace Bele Chere.
The average age of Western North Carolina farmers is 57 and creeping higher every year. Where’s the next generation of agriculture entrepreneurs? Fortunately, a new breed of growers in their 20s and 30s are bridging the gap and applying innovative approaches to 21st century farming.
The Lavender Festival near Burnsville will celebrate this classic herb with one last festival before Mountain Farm turns to dairy goats as its primary focus.
Enjoy an evening farmers market, treat yourself to an night of herbal pampering and learn about our region’s wildflowers. Photo courtesy of ASAP.
More than 1,000 people gathered at Pack Square in downtown Asheville on May 26 to protest Monsanto, a multinational agriculture biotechnology corporation, and the world’s largest producer of genetically engineered seeds and pesticides. The rally and demonstration were part of an international “March Against Monsanto,” involving 36 countries worldwide. (Photos by Jordan Foltz)
Just 1 percent of headlines these days cover environmental news, despite findings that 80 percent of readers, listeners and viewers want to hear more, according to the nonprofit initiative, Project for Improved Environmental Coverage. Asheville’s fortunate to be near the center of environmental studies, activism and interest — in part due to the work of such experts as Warren Wilson College professor/scientist Laura Lengnick.
Learn how to keep bees naturally, expand your farm and gaze at the night sky this weekend with CalCast. Podcast hosted by Kim Roney. Photo by Kristina Mercedes Urquhart.
Growers large and small will gather together to improve business skills and make contacts at Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Business of Farming conference, which will celebrate 10 years this spring.
Six western North Carolina nonprofits are among 28 state organizations that will share $5.85 million in grants from the N.C. Community Development Initiative over the next three years aiming to spark economic growth and job creation in some of the state’s most distressed areas.
Full Spectrum Farms needs your help picking veggies on their 34-acre property designed to support adults with autism.
Mountain BizWorks encourages novice and experienced farmers to turn their forests into money-making enterprises.
With local-food sales predicted to reach $7 billion this year, it makes sense for cities, counties, states and regions to focus on the local food company. To that end, the Appalachian Regional Commission is hosting a forum on the issue today and tomorrow, April 4, at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. As one participant noted via Twitter, “Sustainable farming only occurs when social responsibility, environmental stewardship and economic viability work together.”
