02.22.2024

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Today’s Forecast

63º | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:09 a.m. | Sunset 6:18 p.m.

An abundance of area agriculture

Find farm-driven food with a Buncombe County CSA program

Enjoy a bounty from spots like Encompass Farm. | Photo via ASAP

This week is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Innovation Network’s annual CSA Week — but much closer to home, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) also declared Thursday, Feb. 15 through Friday, March 15 to be CSA Month.

And since we can talk local programs until the cows come home, we’re taking this time to introduce you to some Buncombe County CSAs.

Showing the way to CSA

But we don’t want to put the cart before the horse, so let’s start with a definition. In its basic form, a CSA allows an individual (let’s say you) to purchase part of a farm’s harvest at the beginning of the season — then once the harvest starts, the CSA functions like a subscription, allowing you to get a share of the farm’s produce or goods, usually weekly.

Some farms will deliver everything or set a pick-up location for your box, but there are also market-share CSAs that let you meet the farmers at a market to pick out your own goods and multi-farm CSAs that give more diversity of products. If your office is on board, you can even get a workplace CSA.

For the traditional spring + summer CSAs, it’s best to sign up between January and March to secure your share (hence ASAP’s declaration of CSA Month).

A farm in a green t-shirt speaks to two customers buying produce at the 2023 ASAP CSA Fair. — The CSA Fair lets you get produce particulars from the experts.
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Photo via ASAP

Finding your own farm

Buncombe has a bounty, so there is a lot to choose from around here — like produce from Olivette Farm, meats from Hickory Nut Gap, or even flowers from Blazing Star.

ASAP has a handy list of farms that offer pick-up in Buncombe, Madison, and Yancey counties. The list also gives you an idea of what kind of goods will be offered and whether the farm has a fall/winter CSA option.

If you’d rather meet your farm face-to-face before you decide, mark your calendar for Friday, March 8. ASAP is hosting a CSA Fair at YWCA of Asheville, where 10 area farms will show off their goods + answer questions.

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Events

Thursday, Feb. 22

Planning Your Vegetable Garden | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Buncombe County Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd., Asheville | Free | RSVP for Mary Alice Ramsey to teach you the ins and outs of mastering vegetable gardening, from planning to seed sources.
Poetry Workshop | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 2-4 p.m. | Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville | Free | Bring a poem or two to work on your literary craft with Weaverville Wordplay.

Friday, Feb. 23

Raising Black II: A Penny Meacham Production | Friday, Feb. 23 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10-$18 | Join the audience for this performance of resiliency and hope, exploring the ups and downs of life, and connections of community and faith.
Joe Pettis | Friday, Feb. 23 | 7 p.m. | Catawba Brewing Company South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Asheville | $15-$18 | Enjoy a night of laughs from the founder of 1UP Comedy and the veteran of television shows + 30 comedy festivals.

Saturday, Feb. 24

Twin Peaks Day | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. | DSSOLVR, 63 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville | Free | Enter the mysterious small town for interactive experiences like a murder mystery scavenger hunt, live music, and the release of Cherry Pie Coffee Donut Stout.
Adult Studio: No Stone Lithography with Ani Volkan | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | $91 | Delve into the planographic printing process to learn about the history of lithography, its basics, and its materials.

Sunday, Feb. 25

Raclette Brunch with Gourmand | Sunday, Feb. 25 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Botanist and Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St., Ste. 110, Asheville | $5 | Let all your cheese dreams come true with this special brunch of raclette, wine, and a curated menu of small bites — reservations encouraged.

Thursday, March 14

Pisgah Legal Services’ Justice Matters Tour | Thursday, March 14 | 12-1 p.m. | Pisgah Legal Services, 62 Charlotte St., Asheville | Free | Tour Pisgah Legal Services to learn about the programs, understand regional needs + see how civil legal aid can be an effective tool.*

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Announced

In a recent proclamation, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners declared February as Black Legacy Month. The declaration is intended to mark the month as a recognition of the struggles and celebration of the successes and contributions of Black Americans locally and throughout the country.

Community

Sound the alarm. The Asheville Fire Department is seeking community feedback as it develops its new strategic plan. It will use the survey to shape the future of the department, collecting perspectives and priorities to ensure the plan meets community expectations. Submit a response by Tuesday, March 19.

Arts

UNC Asheville’s Department of Art and Art History will unveil a retrospective exhibition of the work of Connie Bostic, a local artist and community activist who died in January. A panel discussion and reception will be held tomorrow, Feb. 23 at S. Tucker Cooke gallery in Owen Hall. You can view the works through Friday, March 29.

Edu

Asheville City Board of Education heard community comment on the potential consolidation of Montford North Star Academy with Asheville Middle School, which is intended as a cost-saving measure for the district but has garnered some parent concern. The Board will hold a second public hearing at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Active

Give it a good run. Asheville-based Glory Hound Events is hosting the Land and Lakes Relay through Buncombe, McDowell, and Burke counties. On Saturday, March 2, teams will set off from Warren Wilson College for a day-long, 60-mile race to Lake James. See the course map and register a four- or six-person team.

Civic

PC about this. Buncombe County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to donate surplus laptops to the Land of Sky Regional Council’s laptop refurbishment program. The laptops, which are those left over after the county refreshes employee devices, will be distributed to organizations like Operation Gateway.

Health

NC launched an additional phone line for those experiencing a mental health crisis or substance abuse. The Peer Warmline, reachable at 1-855-PEERS NC, 1-855-733-7762, and 988 — the national crisis lifeline — is staffed with peers living in recovery to support callers. This line is reachable 24/7.

Featured Deal

Fire up the grill, because Hickory Nut Gap is hosting a Truck Sale on Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Head to the farm to grab high-quality, highly-discounted meats, including sausages, steaks, pork loin, ground beef, St. Louis ribs, and more, at 20-50% off. Get more juicy details.*

Home

Getting organized? This 24-piece glass storage container set is perfect for meal prep or storing leftovers and is on sale through the weekend.*

The Buy

The Buy 2.22.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A memory foam knee pillow for side sleepers, which can help protect spine alignment and support knee joints while you sleep. Bonus: Choose standard or large for a pillow that’s sized right for your body.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

If your winter days need a little more whimsy, stop by Pack Memorial Library for an artistic display of everything from giant snails to dazzling disco balls to botanical monsters. The Mardi Gras Parade floats created by Street Creature Puppet Collective will be in the downstairs Youth Services and upstairs Adult Services departments between now and Tuesday, March 12. I think it’s worth a visit — but whatever floats your boat.

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