April 22, 2024

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Today’s Forecast

61º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:48 a.m. | Sunset 8:09 p.m.

🌱 Let the good thymes roll

Rows of plants at a booth from Bluff Mountain Nursery as people walk around tables.

The festival is green as far as the eye can see. | Photo via Asheville Herb Festival

Over the course of three days, more than 25,000 people are expected to attend the Asheville Herb Festival. This Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28, they’ll wander rows of herbs + plants, browse herb-based goods, sample food, and attend workshops — and in doing so, they’ll continue a local tradition that has persisted since its founding in 1990.

Back then, it was just a small group of herb growers joining together to sell their stock at the farmers market. Now, its wild success is partially the result of a confluence of local factors, according to Andy Reed, the executive director of the WNC Herb Marketing Association (the nonprofit that oversees the festival).

Namely, those factors include an interest in natural foods and holistic medicine that sprouted in the 90s, Asheville’s growth as a foodie town, and lots of NC tobacco farms’ being sold and repurposed as vegetable and herb farms.

Beyond the cultural elements at play, though, the festival’s success, more than 30 years on, is a testament to the community that those original growers were able to nurture.

A crowd of people looks at a table of plants and herbs. — Browse the products from dozens of WNC vendors.
|
Photo via Asheville Herb Festival

Cultivating connections

And even though the festival is a great way for local farmers, growers, and makers to connect with customers and build their businesses, that community seems to be a large part of the point.

“I think the community itself is what you get out of the festival,” says board member Danni Speight, who operates Bluff Mountain Nursery with her dad, Tom, one of the festival’s founders.

Festival President Darsey Driver, who operates another founding vendor, Wildwood Herbal, agrees — “It’s full of a lot of joy. It brings all these different groups together, from kids getting excited about a pretty flower and hopefully inspiring them to start their own garden to people who have been gardening their entire life.”

“At the end of the day,” Driver adds, “it’s going to get a lot of people outside with their hands in the dirt, which is great.”

What's new at the festival?

Asked

Which of these plants IS NOT native to Asheville?

A. Turk’s Cap Lily
B. Foamflower
C. Leatherleaf Mahonia
D. Downy serviceberry

You won't be-leaf the answer

Events

Monday, April 22

Bike Lane Sweep | Monday, April 22 | 12 p.m. | River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St., Asheville | Free | BYOB (bring your own broom) to help clean up bike lanes of glass, nails, screws, and rocks — Pedal Cab Co. will bring trash bags.
Listening for Connection | Monday, April 22 | 1:45-3:15 p.m. | Hatch Innovation Hub, 45 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville | Free | Explore a pragmatic approach to the listening skills required for deepening human connection, whether in the workplace or your personal life.

Tuesday, April 23

Dark City Poets Society Publishing Workshop | Tuesday, April 23 | 6-8 p.m. | Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Free | Learn about the publishing process from John Himmelheber of Smoky Blue Literary and Arts Magazine, and Ivy Rosen of Black Mountain Press.
Hope Springs Eternal | Tuesday, April 23 | 6-10:30 p.m. | The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St., Asheville | $22.50 | Settle in for a lineup of musicians like Isaac Haden, Ovadya, and While Rome Burns in support of BeLoved Asheville.

Wednesday, April 24

Bikes, Beers, and Women Too | Wednesday, April 24 | 5-7:30 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing, 21 Craven St., Asheville | $30 | Leave the hands-on clinic with confidence in your ability to handle any flat tire on or off the trail.
Greenway Walking Club | Wednesday, April 24 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd., Asheville | Free | Make new friends while you wander the French Broad Greenway from Carrier Park — advance registration is required.

Tuesday, April 30

Making History: Guided Panel and Tasting with Highland Family Owners | Tuesday, April 30 | 6-8 p.m. | Highland Brewing Event Center, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville | Free | Join Highland Brewing’s family owners at this free moderated panel discussion + flight tasting to celebrate the 30-year history of Asheville’s first brewery.*

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Open

Last week, the new Embassy Suites Downtown Asheville hosted a grand opening for its accommodations and its rooftop cucina, Soprana. Located on the 7th floor of 192 Haywood St., the restaurant serves up brick-oven pizza, drinks, and mountain views.

Transit

City of Asheville staff recommended that the $300,000 originally allocated to a regional transit master plan be redirected to a Comprehensive Operations and Financial Assessment to evaluate transit performance and needs. The next presentation is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Thursday, May 9. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Ranked

No. 3. That’s where the WNC Farmers Market landed on Holidu’s list of the “Top 10 Farmers’ Markets of the US.” The ranking mentioned the high-quality fruits, veggies, jams, cheeses, and more — plus, features like the tropical greenhouse and the deli + cafe. Still in the market for a market? Browse our farmers market guide.

Development

Originally scheduled for the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 23, the public hearing for the Haw Creek Meadows project has been moved to the Tuesday, June 11 meeting. The project developer requested additional time to make plan changes, in response to ample community feedback at the last hearing. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Environment

Let the sunshine in. Buncombe County completed the installation of solar panels on the top floor of the College Street Parking Deck and the Sears Alley Parking Deck, which will help power County operations. The panels are part of the plan to reach 100% renewable energy for County operations by 2030. Learn about the eco endeavor.

Eat

Golden Hour announced a new dining experience, Jacob & Friends. The ongoing dinner series will center on menus created by Chef Jacob Sessoms and his local culinary comrades. Email to RSVP for the first event on Monday, May 6, featuring Anna Raymond of Counter Culture Coffee + Mike Tiano of Haw River Wine.

Cause

Dedicate your ‘do to a good cause. Ananda Hair Studio is hosting Cuts for Community on Sunday, May 5. Book your spot at the downtown location for donation-based, full-service haircuts or blowouts, with all proceeds benefiting Youth OUTright WNC.

Regional

Grandfather Mountain is expanding access to its beautiful views with the purchase of two vehicles that can accommodate visitors with wheelchairs or other mobility challenges. The UTV and the 14-person shuttle will allow groups to travel together and mean that some events will be accessible for the first time to people who use wheelchairs.

Home

Does your summer home preparedness checklist include having your HVAC cleaned + serviced? If not, you may be overpaying for energy thanks to grease, dirt, and dust buildup. See how affordable a 45-minute service session can be.*

Shop

Celebrate Earth Day with local makers

We’re giving local businesses two green thumbs up. This Earth Day, we’re getting in the sustainable spirit by highlighting our environmentally-friendly brands.

Try syrups from Sweet’s Elderberry or matcha from Matcha Nude to give green drink a double meaning. Need a stronger boost? Purity Coffee has you covered.

Bring the Earth Day celebration inside with an organic coconut wax candle. Pro Tip: Use the vessel as a planter after it’s fully burned. Speaking of reuse – check out these Pirani Stackable Tumblers designed to make convenience less wasteful.

Strut your sustainable style with a sweatshirt from Burlaep. If you’re looking for something to get your steps in (but just as environmentally-friendly; read: made from recycled bottles), give Seaav a glance.

Feel fresh from head to toe with personal care products from Parrotfish or perfumes + fragrances by Les Deux.

The Earth Day vibes don’t have to slow down here. See our full collection.

Want to win some Earth Day products? Be sure to enter our contest on Instagram.

The Buy

Colorful old fashioned glasses that are perfect for spring and summer. They have the look and feel of glass, but are made from unbreakable and BPA-free Tritan material, meaning they’re pool and party-proof.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

Because Asheville is such a small place, many of the articles we write here have some kind of personal connection — and the Asheville Herb Festival’s legacy is particularly close. My aunt and uncle owned a plant nursery in the area for a long time, and they were vendors at the festival for nine years, starting in the mid-90s. It was a joy to get to interview some people whose family names I had heard since I was a child, and I’ll definitely be attending the festival to acquire some new plants (who will inevitably meet their doom on my patio).

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