The okra selected for the 2020 project, Aunt Hettie’s Red, boasts both regional roots and modern acclaim. Last September, the variety was crowned the best of 54 in “The Single Biggest Chef-Centered Okra Tasting Day Ever” contest staged by the Utopian Seed Project.
As coordinator of Bountiful Cities’ Asheville Buncombe Community Garden Network, Whitaker manages communication, educational programming and resources such as free seed and tool libraries for more than two dozen local gardening efforts. And after COVID-19 began impacting life in Western North Carolina, he’s seen an increase in the number of local residents interested in starting new community gardens.
The proposed two-story pavilion would provide cold storage, processing space, a value-added kitchen and more for local community gardens.
The goal looks the same for everyone involved: an equitable, resilient system where all community members have access to plenty of nutritious, fresh food.
On Thursday, Sept. 13, ASAP will bring farmers and restaurants together in its third annual Local Food Experience. Also: Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. rolls out a collaborative pizza series; Oak and Grist Distilling Co. celebrates its first bottle release; Asheville Community Garden Network hosts its annual dinner; and more.
Through a partnership with Patchwork Urban Farms, chef Gene Ettison is leveraging a new entrepreneurial venture to bring healthy meals and grocery options to Asheville’s food deserts.
For a second consecutive year, Sunny Point Café will host a benefit dinner for FEAST. Also: Green Opportunities seeks public input; Pisgah Coffee Roasters hosts its inaugural roastery tour; Famous Toastery opens in Asheville and more.
Asheville-area initiatives are seeking to connect food-insecure communities with fresh, locally grown food while also supporting WNC farmers.
Asheville City Council and mayoral candidates fielded questions about everything from childhood hunger to city-county food policy partnerships at a recent food-focused forum at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Polanco brings a fresh take on Mexican fare to the former Vincenzo’s space. Also, Warren Wilson College hosts the Regional Food Waste Summit, White Labs Kitchen & Tap opens on South Charlotte Street, chocolate comes to The Collider and Abby Artemisia hosts a workshop on foraging.
The Asheville Buncombe Community Garden Network will hold its first fundraiser, a garden tour and celebration, on Saturday, Sept. 16. Tour-goers will have the opportunity to visit four unique community gardens and take part in activities at each. A portion of proceeds will directly benefit the participating gardens.
“I’d like to share some local resources that make up a large part of the nonprofit contribution to our local food system in Western North Carolina.”
A coalition of local food activists, resilience planners and city of Asheville staffers are asking a hard question: In the event of a major disaster that disrupts the food supply for more than a few days, what will people in Western North Carolina eat? A recent workshop looked for answers to that question and brainstormed strategies for collaborative solutions for securing the region’s food supply in hard times.
Panel discussions and an educational presentation on Saturday, May 20, will look at disaster resiliency in Buncombe County and how residents can work toward creating a self-sustaining food system.
City staff were called to account for a communication failure that led to the removal of mature fruit trees at George Washington Carver Edible Park last month. City Council approved a land use incentive grant for affordable housing on Simpson Street, amended the process for requesting a variance from the city’s signage ordinance and approved modest changes to the rules that govern downtown street performances.
Local wellness, food and art vendors converged on Pack Square Park on Sunday to celebrate all things organic and sustainable.
Western North Carolina is home to a number of Earth Day-related festivities and programs. Here’s a rundown of some of the most notable events.
The Fine Arts Theatre hosts a Works in Progress screening, the Asheville Jewish Film Festival announces the titles for its spring film series and Transplanting gets its UK debut.
Now in its second year, Bountiful Cities’ Put Your Hoe Down fundraising event on Saturday, Dec. 5, will feature food by celebrated local chefs, cocktails, live music and dancing.
A new initiative of the Asheville-Buncombe Food Policy Council enlists the help of UNC Asheville students to track regional data and lay the groundwork for developing appropriate food policy for Asheville and surrounding communities.
Gardeners from across the state assembled for the third annual N.C. Community Garden Partners annual conference on Oct. 25, in the Sherrill Center at UNC Asheville. This year’s conference focused on “Growing Garden Connections” with panels centered on creating opportunities for collaboration and partnerships between gardens as well as community organizations.
