Growing Local

Next time you cozy up with a mug of tea, take a minute to consider where those herbs and leaves came from. Asheville Tea Company could source ingredients from anywhere in the world, but gets many of its herbs from Rayburn Farm just two miles away. Listen in as farmer Michael Rayburn drops off a special delivery, and hear Jessie Dean of Asheville Tea Company blend it into loose leaf tea.

Spartanburg County School District Six embarked on a big project last year: starting its own farm. The school is already seeing results in its fields and cafeterias as farm-fresh broccoli, cabbage, and peppers arrive on lunch trays.

October is National Farm to School month. Hear two leaders of ASAP’s Growing Minds program talk about how kids can impact the local food movement.

Garlic is a powerhouse in the kitchen, but what does it take to grow these flavorful bulbs? Morgan Decker of Root Bottom Farm in Madison County, North Carolina gives us the lowdown on local garlic. Check out the WNC Garlic Fest on Oct. 7 in Asheville to taste some weird and wonderful treats, like garlic ice cream and garlic chocolate. http://www.wncgarlicfest.com Photo by Sarah Jones Decker

Take a trip to the Mills River farmers market to hear about local food activities for families, and meet parents and volunteers who inspire kids each week.

It’s tempting to pick every apple you find on a U-pick adventure. Don’t feel overwhelmed when you get home! Try these tips for making good use of the fruit.

There’s a hotbed of apple production hidden in the hillsides of Western North Carolina. Hear Perry Lowe III, a sixth generation orchardist, talk about apple farming traditions in the Brushy Mountains.

Children in Henderson County, North Carolina are kicking off fall in the garden with a new project that helps daycare centers teach gardening skills. The program supplements WIC's current efforts, including the demonstration garden pictured here.

Come along on an audio adventure to Franny’s Farm Camp. Hear the kids taste edible flowers and pet a pig for the first time. Learn about more farm camps in Western North Carolina at www.appalachiangrown.org And find ideas for helping kids engage with local food and farms all year at www.growing-minds.org

Eclipse madness has hit Western North Carolina and local farms are some of the prime spots to witness this rare celestial event. Reservations are required for an eclipse weekend Walnut Hollow Ranch in Hayesville: www.walnuthollowranch.com Or go to Darnell Farms on the morning of the 21st for a full day of food and activities. https://goo.gl/s7K3KR

The Harmon brothers are at a crossroads with their dairy. They’re getting older and don’t have kids to inherit the farm. So they made the owners of Looking Glass Creamery an offer they couldn’t refuse: buy the dairy and we’ll teach you how to run it. For the next year, the cheesemakers are living in an RV outside the Harmons’ home as they build a future together.

Eating local may seem as simple as buying tomatoes at the farmers market, but there’s a lot of theory to back up why these small acts add up to a resilient food community. Learn about the work of ASAP’s Local Food Research Center at asapconnections.org/local-food-research-center

When berry season hits Western North Carolina, local ice cream is just around the corner. Listen in on a special delivery at The Hop Ice Cream Cafe in Asheville, North Carolina, and hear how partnerships between farmers and ice cream makers help drive the local economy. Taste for yourself at a fundraiser for ASAP at The Hop on July 28 from 3-9pm. Special dairy and vegan flavors will highlight produce from local farms. Find out more: https://goo.gl/KnMPU2

Want to connect with local farmers? There are plenty of summertime farm to table events in Western North Carolina. Learn about a few in this podcast, and check out plenty more at www.fromhere.org Everyone is invited to sample local dishes from chefs, artisan producers, and farming families at ASAP’s Local Food Experience on August 24th at New Belgium Brewing Company in Asheville. Tickets and info: http://asapconnections.org/events/asaps-local-food-experience/ Photo by Sarah Jones Decker, Root Bottom Farm

Ever wondered how local tomatoes get from a farmer’s hands to the grocery store shelf? Take an audio tour of the Ingles Markets distribution center and meet William Shelton, a local farmer who has been growing produce for the grocery chain for nearly 20 years.

How do Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar become North Carolina farmers? With the help of a longtime farmer and his neighbors. Hear how Shiloh Avery and Jason Roehrig of Tumbling Shoals Farm pass on that same knowledge and kindness at their certified organic farm. Photo by Sarene Cullen

The community flocked to ASAP’s CSA Fair this spring and now it’s time to dig into all that farm-fresh food. We followed A Way of Life Farm in Sunshine, North Carolina through the CSA season and met some members who can’t wait to try each new fruit and veggie.

Kick off the summer road trip season on ASAP’s Farm Tour. Check out over 20 Western North Carolina farms on June 24th and 25th, 2017. Find tickets and information at www.asapconnections.org

What’s it like to run a creamery with your sisters? The women from Cane Creek Creamery in Fletcher, North Carolina share their family’s farm story during a visit to the creamery. See for yourself at ASAP’s Farm Tour, June 24 and 25. Tickets and information: www.asapconnections.org

Curious about ASAP’s Farm Tour? Hear this audio postcard from last year’s tour and meet some of the farmers and visitors who spent a glorious summer weekend at Western North Carolina family farms. The 2017 tour is June 24 and 25th in the Asheville area and surrounding counties. Find ticket information and learn about all the farms on the tour at www.asapconnections.org