Organic Growers School is partnering with Food First and Altruvistas to offer their fourth Cuba Agroecology Tour and their first such trip in the summer from June 22 through July 1, 2021, with a focus on the country’s intensive sustainable agriculture practices. The tour, to be comprised of growers, community leaders, educators, and activists who are passionate about sustainable agriculture, will begin in Havana and travel to destinations such as Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, and Matanzas. The trip offers participants on-the-ground exposure to Cuban agriculture and the food sovereignty movement and will highlight their engagement with the global food system. The intention is for participants to acquire the knowledge and strategies to create just, sustainable, local, and healthy food systems in their own communities.

Cuba has had a focus on organic agriculture production methods since the 1970s. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 ended Cuba’s access to agricultural inputs overnight, propelling them into what is now known as the “Special Period”—a crisis of reduced resources and increased hunger. The country embarked on a massive and rapid conversion to agroecology in an attempt to boost food production. The tour will focus on small farmers, sustainable food systems, and national security. There are multiple opportunities in Cuba’s diverse agricultural landscape to learn many lessons and insights for the development of a secure and sustainable food system elsewhere.

“The purpose of this tour is not to romanticize or glorify Cuban agriculture,” says Sera Deva, Director of Programs with Organic Growers School and the trip organizer. “It is instead an opportunity to learn about what a country-wide commitment to sustainable, local agriculture can look like. It will broaden and deepen our region’s wisdom regarding alternative food systems. Our goals are to show our participants the importance of cooperative farming models and sustainable farming techniques, as well as encouraging them to think critically about practical and governmental structures that could support a thriving community of organic growers and consumers.”

Local partners will provide an overview of Cuban history, culture, politics, agriculture, and ecology. Additionally, the group will meet with specialists who will provide background on the country’s transition into agroecological farming practices and the national policies that prioritize organic farming and the remediation of hunger. With a firm commitment to sustainability and justice, this tour will connect participants to farmers, consumers, activists, NGOs, policymakers and experts working to transform the global food system.

Tour highlights will include the following:

• Discuss agroecology with Fernando Funes, co-author of Food First’s book Sustainable Agriculture & Resistance in Cuba.
• Visit community permaculture and agricultural education, and food conservation projects.
• Discuss changes in US-Cuba relations and how they might affect the future of tourism and agriculture in Cuba.
• Meet with the National Association for Small Farmers (ANAP) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Meet with a variety of small farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.

For the purposes of this trip, OGS is partnering with Food First, a “people’s think tank” dedicated to ending the injustices that cause hunger and helping communities to take back control of their food systems. Food First has been offering tours to Cuba for more than 20 years with the organizing assistance of Altruvistas, a socially responsible and philanthropic travel company that has facilitated 20,000 travelers to Cuba.

The cost of the trip is $2,950 and will serve, in part, as a fundraiser for Organic Growers School (OGS), a 501c3 non-profit organization. Thanks to a grant from the Christopher Reynolds Foundation, there are a limited number of partial scholarships for farmers and food activists to attend. This tour and all registrants will not be affected by recent political actions to restrict American travel to Cuba. Cuba is considered one of the safest destinations for travel, partially due to their diligent and holistic approaches to healthcare. Due to COVID-19, the traveling climate of the US (as well as tourist restrictions in Cuba) is changing daily. Cuba has implemented many of the same precautionary measures implemented around the world to minimize the spread of COVID-19 including social distancing, limiting travel to the island completely through the summer, and closing schools. In early November 2020, Cuba reopened its borders to travelers.

Potential tour participants can visit the OGS FAQ page which answers questions such as, “Why Cuba?,” “What are the legal considerations when traveling to Cuba?,” “Why ravel with Organic Growers School?,” “What does the tuition cover?,” and “What can I expect to experience?” Traveler testimonials from previous trips, the full itinerary, as well as a photo gallery can also be found on the website.

Joining a CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) program connects you directly with local farms in your community. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) offers several events and resources to learn more about CSAs, in which members buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest upfront and receive a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. ASAP will host a virtual CSA Fair on March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. In addition, Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available now at farmers markets and community centers throughout the region as well as digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

The virtual CSA Fair will feature farms providing CSAs in Buncombe County and the surrounding region. In addition to traditional produce farms, the fair will include farms with meat and flower CSA programs. The virtual fair will have a similar format as live fairs in the past—a relaxed setting where attendees can talk to farmers about their CSA programs, products, growing practices, and more. Attendees can sign up for CSAs during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair is free to attend, but participants do need to register for the event to get a Zoom link.

For farmers, the CSA Fair is a chance to build relationships, even if attendees decide not to purchase a share. “[The customers we meet at the CSA Fair] tend to really want to know the farmer and the food, meaning they are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying new things,” says K.P. Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm. “They are interested in knowing how and what we are growing, and really want us to be successful as a farm operation. We may get some customers from the fair and that’s great. But we also start building relationships with future customers.”

Participating farms at press time include Bearwallow Valley Farms, Blazing Star Flowers, Colfax Creek Farm, Creekside Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Olivette Farm, and Tiny Bridge Farm, with more farms to be added before the fair. Check asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair for updates and to register.

ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)

ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident from District 1. Meetings are currently held virtually at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 12.

Buncombians are the guiding star for Buncombe County Recreation Services. They inform us of how they use parks and what projects we should prioritize. The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board is an extension of that transparency, ensuring a two-way conversation is always happening when it comes to improving equitable access to recreation and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

There is a great amount of diversity among those who use Buncombe County parks and recreation facilities; the ultimate goal is an advisory group that reflects this. The board’s mission statement is: “Advocating for cultural preservation and changing lives through equitable recreation opportunities in public spaces, greenways, and parks.”

For a detailed position description and to apply, click here.

We need your input on naming the new section of greenway in the River Arts District! The proposed name is the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, in honor of the late historian, author and environmental activist Wilma Dykeman. Ms. Dykeman’s influential writings and passion for environmental and social justice helped shape the modern day movement for a cleaner French Broad River and a more vibrant, healthy riverfront. To learn more about Wilma Dykeman and the contributions she has made, click here.

An interactive map of the greenway is available here.

What could be better than picking up a monthly box of mouthwatering grassfed beef and pasture raised pork from Hickory Nut Gap Farm? Having it delivered directly to your front door, of course. Contactless, COVID-safe home delivery will be coordinated in partnership with Leading Green Distribution. Available ONLY as a three month prepaid subscription. Offered in Large (about 15lbs per month) and Small (about 10lbs per month) sizes to fit the needs of just about any household on a convenient monthly schedule. A selection of 100% Grassfed Beef, Pasture-Raised Pork and Pasture-Raised Chicken Monthly boxes contain (for example): steaks, roasts, sausages, ground meats, whole chicken, chicken breast, pork chops, bacon DISCOUNTED 10% OFF RETAIL Delivered right to your front door within the city limits of Asheville. 3 Month pre-paid subscription – also includes 10% off other Farm Store meat purchases

• Bars
• Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
• Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
• Indoor areas of Amusement Parks
• Movie Theatres
• Entertainment facilities (e.g., bingo parlors, gaming establishments)
• Sports Arenas and Fields*
• Venues*

• Restaurants
• Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries
• Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, bowling alleys, rock climbing facilities)
• Pools
• Museums and Aquariums
• Retailers
• Outdoor areas of Amusement Parks
• Salons, Personal Care, Tattoo Parlors

Another Cuba Trip! We’re excited to announce we have scheduled a second trip to Cuba for June 22nd – July 1, 2021 In the case of trip cancellation, a full refund or roll over of funds paid to future trips will be offered to all registered participants. Flexible payment plans are available.

This annual conference brings together student EcoReps, sustainability interns, and faculty and staff advisers from around the region for a weekend of peer leadership training and collaboration. This conference is a great opportunity to learn from your peers, share your successes (and get constructive feedback), and get inspiration you can bring back to your own campus.

Key topics in 2021 will include:

• Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in our work
• Effective Student Leadership/ Peer 2 Peer education
• Zero Waste initiatives
• Educational initiatives & events
• Adapting to COVID-19
• Translating student visions into institutional action

This conference will be held VIRTUALLY due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

Register
There is no fee to attend, however, you must register to participate in the virtual sessions. The registration deadline is Friday, March 19 at midnight.

Land Conservation Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways! Running from Hominy Creek Park in West Asheville all the way up to the planned extension through the Town of Woodfin, the Asheville greenway system provides many opportunities for recreation and connection. Special thanks to Connect Buncombe for creating this wonderful video highlighting our growing greenway system.

RGGI (aka REGGIE) is a cooperative effort among 11 Eastern states to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.  The pact requires polluters to reduce their carbon emissions and buy carbon credits as carbon limits gradually become more strict, speeding up the shift to clean energy. RGGI also generates revenue to help communities hit hardest by pollution from fossil fuels. You can learn more at RGGI.ORG. In March, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission is expected to vote on whether to join RGGI. Governor Cooper can push them to vote YES but he needs to hear from us. The Sierra Club has created an ACTION PAGE with a form that makes it easy to add your personal comments to an email message directed to Governor Cooper

Wednesday, March 3 – Pay What You Wish: Select your price from $5, $10, $15, $20, or $25.

Thursday, March 4 – Dinner and a Show: Order takeout or delivery from Mountain Madre at a 15% discount. For delivery: Order through Takeout Central.com (app available) and use the code NCSTAGE at checkout.  For takeout: Call 828-251-8879 to order and let them know you’re with NC Stage. You can pay over the phone or when you arrive. Curbside and in-restaurant pickup available. Wait times vary.

Friday, March 5 – Post-Show Talkback: Stick around for a bit after the show for a Q&A with the director and actors live on Zoom.

Saturday, March 6 – Post-Show Champagne Toast: Pick up your favorite bubbly curbside at Metro Wines (at a 15% discount when you say you’re with NC Stage) then after the show, stay on Zoom for a toast. Call 828-575-9525 and Metro Wines can provide recommendations and details regarding curbside pickup. You can pay over the phone or when you arrive.

Opening the Door to Change presents the history of education in Western North Carolina, with a particular emphasis on Madison County, from the mid-nineteenth century through the late twentieth. Here, learning has taken many forms, from in-home instruction, common, subscription, and religious schools, to colleges of farming and craft. The curriculum of these schools, as well as their very construction, and in some cases closing, was deeply entwined with the changing needs and values of the Western North Carolina Appalachian community.

 The exhibition focuses on the dynamic relationship between community values and education, with a special focus on how students and their families navigated the economic, geographic, and racial challenges to education. Trends and changes in curriculum, assessment, and classroom design will also be explored.

The virtual exhibition will feature didactic panels showcasing a survey of schools within Madison County and highlighting the effect community values had on the curriculum, function, and format of these institutions. Online visitors may also get a sneak-peak at an original film, produced by the Museum, presenting the oral histories of several Madison County residents sharing their personal recollections and memories of past school-days.

Additional films will spotlight the Historic Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School and Laurel School, with first-hand accounts from former students and teachers.

This virtual exhibition is sponsored by the Madison County Tourism and Development Authority.

Hosted by WitchCon
Join the largest online magical conference in the world, devoted to Witchcraft, Conjure, and Rootwork.

About this Event
March 5th to 7th, 2021, Brian Cain, Christian Day and the HEX Education Network present WitchCon Online, featuring over a hundred classes by over a hundred Witches and Conjurers from across the globe ready to share their time-honored wisdom and witchery.

WitchCon Online presenters are the preeminent masters of the magical arts and hail from across a rainbow spectrum of occult and spiritual practices. Their classes are personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic!

WitchCon Online 2021 registration includes admittance to all livestream video classes, rituals, and performances, each personally designed to help beginners, novices, and experts alike draw upon the power of magic. It also grants access to watch every class after the event has ended via our on-demand library so you don’t have to miss a magical moment!

The conference is livestreamed by the Hex Education Network on Crowdcast, a web-based platform with no need to download an app!
WitchCon Online attendees will love shopping live with our magical presenters, each showcasing powerful ritual tools, signed books, exquisite jewelry, and spellcrafts handmade by true practitioners in half-hour Live Sales. You don’t have to travel to the ends of the Earth to scour the witch markets: you can buy from enchanting artisans and score amazing tools and talismans from the comfort of your own home. Our Virtual Vendors’ Hall is free to the public as well!

The WitchCon Online Virtual Meet and Greet lets you meet and interact live on Zoom with WitchCon presenters and its hosts Brian Cain and Christian Day. This is a great way to get to know your favorite teachers and what’s even better is that it’s free and open to the public!