Calendar of Events

The Veterans Healing Farm, in collaboration with LivingWorks is offering
safeTALK, a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to
persons thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with
further help.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about
suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
 Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training.
 You will also be encouraged and empowered to talk openly with someone about
suicide through a 4-step model.
 Overcoming personal and community attitudes to seeking and providing help is a
key theme of this training.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 Over 800,000 people have attended this training since its inception.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
 Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how
you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
 Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide and connect them with further help.
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 15+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks safeTALK.
 It will prepare you to raise and respond to concerns about suicide in relationships
with family, friends, and co-workers.
 It will equip you to build a culture of safety from suicide in your organization or
community.
 You can play a vital connector role in what LivingWorks has called a Networks of
Safety.

There is no instructional cost to attend this class but each participant is required to
purchase the ASIST participant kit, $43.25 each, plus $3.00 shipping costs.

What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop
a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
 You will learn to apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this
SafePlan through a collaborative helping relationship.
 You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect
someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
 This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide
suicide first aid.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 More than one million people have attended LivingWorks ASIST globally over 35
years.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations and powerful videos to stimulate discussion and support
learning
 Extensive opportunities for skills practice
 Shared participant experiences that enrich learning
 Trainer-facilitated workgroups to optimize participation
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide, and to help them keep safe.
Commented [AY1]:
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 16+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks ASIST.
 It provides a suicide first-aid intervention model for relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers. It can also be incorporated into more formal helping roles
such as counseling, health care, crisis services, or chaplaincy.
 You can play a vital role in creating Networks of Safety from suicid

Nonprofits, schools, and community organizations, you’re invited to join a special training on Tuesday, October 4th, hosted by the Cleveland, Henderson, McDowell, and Rutherford County Chambers of Commerce and Meta’s Forest City Data Center. 

*Enjoy dynamic speakers and networking while spending a gorgeous WNC fall day rejuvenating*
HEAL presents professional development and networking opportunities as well as education for the general public.
Our conference addresses disordered eating and eating disorders recovery by presenting experts from various sectors of the industry.
This year we are hosting a 1/2 day of CE sessions and a 1/2 day retreat with care-for-the-provider sessions and connection!

Spend a relaxing afternoon immersed in flowers. Take in fall mountain views, tour the Blazing Star Flowers area, and learn about sustainable growing methods. Watch a demonstration to learn general design principals, then create your own centerpiece to take home. All levels of experience are welcome. Small group size. Light refreshments will be provided, and the $125 cost includes all tools and materials. Blazing Star Flowers is one of the entrepreneurial farm businesses in SAHC’s Farm Incubator Program.

Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush or are looking to refresh your watercolor skills, veteran artist and instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you everything you need to jump into—or jump back into—this relaxing medium!

In this explorative, four-week course, you’ll learn basic watercolor concepts, including paintbrush usage, color theory, color mixing, color application, composition, and other watercolor approaches and techniques. You’ll reference simple photos to practice your new skills and, over time, begin to develop or hone your unique painting style! The class will include informal critiques for greater learning and understanding.

No previous drawing or painting experience necessary!

Join Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on October 14th for a hike at Scott’s Ridge, a recently-protected 139-acre tract adjoining Pisgah National Forest. Participants will hike a moderately strenuous 3 mile loop through a heavily forested area. This loop will give participants a chance to marvel at the beautiful fall foliage while walking through a series of moderately sloped trails throughout the property.

Cost – $10 or Free to Members. Pre-registration is required.

If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Thank you for taking interest in our outing with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy!

I am sorry to say that our outing is currently full and we cannot accept any more attendees at this time. However, if you are still interested in the hike, please contact me at [email protected] and your name and email will be put on a wait-list. I will contact you if a spot becomes available.  If you have any questions, you can contact me at emily@appalachian.org. 

Thank you for your interest in hiking with SAHC!

Michigan-based Mosaic Artist Michelle Sider is presenting a one-time workshop this October in Asheville, N.C. Titled “Michelle Sider: Engaging. Dynamic. Realism” the three-day course will apply classical art guidelines, thoughtful design and modern art principles to encourage students to create stunning, realistic and expressive mosaics.

Sider is a visiting artist invited by Linda Pannullo Mosaics to present this program. It’s ideal for intermediate artists looking to elevate their skills. And for Sider, there’s no time like October to enjoy the natural beauty of this region. Much of her work is inspired by the fiery sunsets over Michigan’s lakes and graceful wildlife.

Linda Pannullo said she is “very excited to have an artist of this caliber for the first time in Asheville, North Carolina. I am always looking for ways to take my mosaics to the next level and this 3-day immersion with Michelle Sider – with her years of experience as an art teacher and mosaicist – will accomplish that.”

🍂Registration is now open for October’s Cozy Up for Fall Retreat!🍂

RELAX, RECHARGE & BE INSPIRED with our 2-hour live spiritual retreat.
Wednesday, October 19th 7 pm to 9 pm ET

https://soulkyst.com/virtual-spiritual-retreats/

Opening Meditation and Closing Visualization
Facilitated by Randi Botnick

EFT Pro Tapping Workshop
Facilitated by Karen Berzanski

During this retreat, you’ll learn how to use the mind-body tool, Pro EFT™ Tapping to:

Look at the past year and identify what you want to release and let go of
Get super clear on what you want and don’t want moving into the final months of the year
Leave with inspired ideas on how to create the most luxurious and pleasurable holiday season you’ve ever experienced.
Take these 2 hours of well-deserved relaxation time to slow down and reset, and experience personal breakthroughs.

For more details and to register: https://soulkyst.com/virtual-spiritual-retreats/

We will begin with a 1-hour small engine diagnostic, repair, and maintenance demonstration led by Community Farm Manager Chris Link. The workshop will be followed at 6 pm by a “Repair Cafe“, which helps folks repair household goods. This Repair Cafe session will be especially well-equipped for small engines and other farm/garden related jobs like blade sharpening, handle replacements, and power tool repair. FREE and open to the public

Halloween can be just as much fun for adults as it is for children—especially if you find creepy things fun to play with! Indulge your dark side this Halloween weekend by creating a creepy curiosity cabinet!

Curiosity cabinets were pieces of furniture or entire rooms where 19th century people displayed items they had collected in their travels or scientific investigations. These Victorians also had a fascination with the morbid and peculiar juxtapositions of people, animals, and things.

In this frighteningly fun workshop, mixed media artist Kate Corcoran will show you how to create a miniature curiosity cabinet that you can pull out each October or display all year round. In the process, you’ll learn how to compose, layer, and adhere mixed media materials: skills that you can apply to all mixed media projects!

Interactive workshop for adult beginners wishing for a stage to shine on (or behind), with a scriptwriting lesson and mock auditions using scenes from the feature script ‘BILLIE’S SONG, AN URBAN FAIRY TALE’.

This fun lesson and opportunity to get up perform is an introduction to the ‘BILLIE’S SONG’ Theatrical Readings Project being planned for Spring 2023. The script has half Black characters and half White (with a few roles that can be other). For the theatrical readings we will be recruiting community members from diverse neighborhoods to be both cast and creative team, with wardrobe, props, and set pieces all obtained in a community scavenger hunt or created by community members. The goal will be to rotate performance locations, from an art gallery to a church to a public housing community center to a storefront business, to draw-in people who wouldn’t normally turn out together.

Script Synopsis: Billie, a struggling working-class Black actress estranged from her family, becomes involved with Benjamin, an emotionally conflicted wealthy white man angling to secure a leadership position he has on a probationary basis. Initially, Billie and Ben amuse, then need and support each other. But the differences in their communities—and the personal demons they don’t reveal to each other—eventually put them up against each other in a potentially violent fight for survival (for Billie physical survival, for Ben spiritual vs face-saving survival).

“I think the script is wonderfully written, well-paced, fun, and serious without taking itself seriously. I especially love the ending!” – Erin Clare, Story Parlor founder, formerly Creative Director of the Austin Film Festival and its Writer Conference

Led by Trayce Gardner (Writer/Teacher/Guerilla Filmmaker/Community Organizer) and recent refugee from Brooklyn, NY, where she taught beginning scriptwriting and short filmmaking classes for seven years at New York City College of Technology’s Continuing Ed.

Looking for a great holiday gift? You’ve probably seen these super soft, super snuggly blankets in your favorite home goods store for over $100. Now you can make your own for a lot less, once you learn the technique. No knitting experience required!

Non-knitter Pam Robbins will step you through the process. First, she’ll show you how to “cast on” to start your project. Then, you’ll learn how to “knit” your blanket until it’s approximately 45”x 60”. Finally, Pam will show you how to “bind off” your piece to give it a professional look. And you’ll do all of this using just your hands; no needles required!

Looking for a great holiday gift? You’ve probably seen these super soft, super snuggly blankets in your favorite home goods store for over $100. Now you can make your own for a lot less once you learn the technique. No knitting experience necessary!

Purple Crayon owner Pam Robbins will step you through the process. First, she’ll show you how to “cast on” to start your project. Then, you’ll learn how to “knit” your blanket until it’s approximately 45”x 60”. Finally, Pam will show you how to “bind off” your piece to give it a professional look. And you’ll do all of this using just your hands; no needles required!

This holiday season, give your friends and family (or yourself) beautiful alcohol ink gifts that they can use to accessorize their home or wardrobe!

If you’ve been wanting to try a new and vibrant medium that works on a wide variety of materials and surfaces, you’ll love alcohol inks. As you drip, blow, and manipulate the brilliant colors of this art form, you’ll be amazed at the intricate patterns that emerge!

The multi-talented Deana Murchison will show you how to create beautiful, professional-looking artwork with very little effort. You’ll leave with at least one print, a ceramic coaster(s), a fashionable 11”x60” silk scarf, and a nifty stuffable cotton tote. Only you (and your fellow classmates, of course!) will know how quick and easy your masterpieces were to make!

No dyeing, drawing, or painting experience necessary!

Though we usually don’t get a lot of snow in Asheville, this super cute needle felted snowman is sure to get you into the holiday spirit! Join us for this fun workshop with fiber artist, Camille Daunno.

In just a few hours, you’ll learn the basics of needle felting, including what fibers are appropriate for creating a needle felted structure, how to build a three-dimensional piece (and how to shorten the process by using a Styrofoam ball), and how to embellish creations by needle felting details and attaching accessories.

You’ll leave the class with an adorable 8-1/2” free-standing snowman that will make a charming addition to any seasonal décor!

Camps are Mon-Thurs, December 19-23 and 26-29th from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, with a daily and weekly sign-up option!
The age group for these camp sessions is 6-11-years-old (K-5th grade).
Sign up for Session 1 here: https://ashevillescience.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5af64a890dd5e292ce82d197b&id=8f3d934c4e&e=16408a818c

Daily rates start at $60 per participant/day and $225 per participant/week!
To learn more, contact [email protected].

This announcement is revised from the original Dec 15th to Dec 22nd.
John Muir didn’t like the word ‘hike’. “We ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”
I am going to scout the Stone Mtn Tr in DuPont; A few of you are welcome to join me.
Hike Distance: 4.0 Total (optional) ascent: 675 ft
Pace: 1.5mph – because I’m an ol’ Codger.
Difficulty: Well established Tr. No water Xings.
Optional Climb to Stone Mtn is 600 ft ascent in 1 mile.
(I, and the more leisurely of us, will skip this part. ;-)
Drive time: 25 min/14 mi 1-way

Camps are Mon-Thurs, December 19-23 and 26-29th from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm, with a daily and weekly sign-up option!
The age group for these camp sessions is 6-11-years-old (K-5th grade).

Sign up for Session 2 here: https://ashevillescience.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5af64a890dd5e292ce82d197b&id=dd3c976dc2&e=16408a818c
Daily rates start at $60 per participant/day and $225 per participant/week!
To learn more, contact [email protected].