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What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.
The City of Asheville’s goal is to:
- Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
- Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
- Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups
Who can apply?
Eligible recipients of NMG funds must meet the following requirements:
- Must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits
- Completed or in the process of completing their “Neighborhood Registration Form”
- Are a neighborhood-based organization (Neighborhood Associations, Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Coalition, and Resident Organizations in Tax Credit Funded Communities)
What types of projects can be funded?
Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program aims to fund projects or programs that produce shared benefits with the goal of improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:
- Be achievable within 12 months on contract execution
- Occur within Asheville’s city limits
- Provide a public benefit and be accessible to all members of the community
- Be planned, organized and implemented by community members
- Must provide a dollar-for-dollar match
- At least 50% of the match must be matched in volunteer hours
- Cash, in-kind donation of goods or services can be used to make up the other 50% match
Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas. There are a variety of projects that can be supported with NMG including: landscaping, murals. community art, cultural festivals, traffic calming, public safety, marketing and branding, organizational development and more.
How can your neighborhood apply?
Applications will be open for submission March 27 – May 27, 2023.
You can apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant by following these steps:
- Confirm your neighborhood’s eligibility.
- Review the NMG Program Policies.
- Select your neighborhood’s project.
- Submit a completed application.
- Register as a Vendor with the City of Asheville.
Have questions?
eer hours, in-kind donation of goods or services)\
Calendar of Events
Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.
Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.
The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!
Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!
This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?
Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!
We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!
To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849
Questions? Please email [email protected]!
Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!
|
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR |
|
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
There are over three TRILLION trees in the world! Some take a short time to grow and some take longer. Join NC Museum of Natural Sciences as we talk about how trees grow, fast or slow, and share pictures of some of the oldest trees right here in North Carolina and beyond!
Use the link below to register for this event! Please note that this event is virtual!
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrd-yhqj0jH9QoUpinOboU-ChUoy61YFve
Enrollment is now open for two adult improvisation acting classes offered by Hendersonville Theatre (HT). Classes will be taught by professional improvisation actor and comedian Emily Swindal. Both classes are open to anyone over the age of 18, regardless of experience level.
Improv Level One: Communicate. Collaborate. Play. meets on Wednesdays from April 5 to May 24. Tuition is $180. In the class, students will work at getting comfortable on stage while having fun doing it. Students will learn to have compassion for themselves and their classmates as performers as they learn the fundamentals of improvisation and develop support and spontaneity. Together, they will learn the importance of “yes-and-ing,” heightening the absurdity and raising the stakes. They will also cover the differences between short form and long form improv. This is a short form class similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?
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What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.
The City of Asheville’s goal is to:
- Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
- Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
- Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups
Who can apply?
Eligible recipients of NMG funds must meet the following requirements:
- Must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits
- Completed or in the process of completing their “Neighborhood Registration Form”
- Are a neighborhood-based organization (Neighborhood Associations, Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Coalition, and Resident Organizations in Tax Credit Funded Communities)
What types of projects can be funded?
Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program aims to fund projects or programs that produce shared benefits with the goal of improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:
- Be achievable within 12 months on contract execution
- Occur within Asheville’s city limits
- Provide a public benefit and be accessible to all members of the community
- Be planned, organized and implemented by community members
- Must provide a dollar-for-dollar match
- At least 50% of the match must be matched in volunteer hours
- Cash, in-kind donation of goods or services can be used to make up the other 50% match
Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas. There are a variety of projects that can be supported with NMG including: landscaping, murals. community art, cultural festivals, traffic calming, public safety, marketing and branding, organizational development and more.
How can your neighborhood apply?
Applications will be open for submission March 27 – May 27, 2023.
You can apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant by following these steps:
- Confirm your neighborhood’s eligibility.
- Review the NMG Program Policies.
- Select your neighborhood’s project.
- Submit a completed application.
- Register as a Vendor with the City of Asheville.
Have questions?
eer hours, in-kind donation of goods or services)\
The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!
Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!
This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?
Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!
We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!
To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849
Questions? Please email [email protected]!
Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!
Camps for all passions and interests
Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.
Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.
Tailored Camps
Build your own camping experience according to your interest.
| Summer Counselor Application 6/1 – 7/31 Ages 17 years 6 months – 99 $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session 6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1 6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Exoplanet Exploration 6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM Grades 8th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Secrets of a Spy Station 6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM Grades 6th – 8th $1,700.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2 7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Above & Beyond 7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Milky Way Trailblazers 7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
|
LEARN MORE THIS YEAR |
|
Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.
Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected! |
Immerse yourself in plant taxonomy with our native spring wildflowers as the focus of this field-intensive workshop. Study the relationships between plant families, and discuss field identification characteristics and habitat markers. Learn how to utilize dichotomous keys and field guides. Plan to be outside for the duration of this event and walk up to 2 miles.
The specific location and any additional instructions will be made available to registrants one week in advance of this event.
Online: Zoom Webinar
No cost due to sponsor support
What are the most important factors to consider when looking at purchasing an existing business? Likewise, if you want to sell your business, do you know the right price, the right prospect, or even how to go about finding a buyer? This seminar looks at this transaction from both sides, giving the buyer and seller the most important things to consider when interested in buying or selling a business.
Speaker(s): TenBiz
Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce
Webinar info will be emailed after registration.
We are seeking volunteers to assist us in our small after school program for children in West Asheville in low-income housing. We provide a safe and nourishing environment, healthy snacks, and creative activities. Our program currently meets during the school year on most Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:00-5:00pm. You may volunteer for one or two days a week.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist with serving snacks
- Interact with children during activity time
- Supervise games and outdoor free time
- For people with background in education, there is also an opportunity to assist with curriculum development and program planning and administration
Requirements:
- Background check
- Orientation booklets will be provided
- Masks are required if unvaccinated
Want to know how to write like they do on SNL? Would you like to level up your comedy knowledge? Learn the basics of sketch comedy writing! We’ll talk about the history of sketch, and the differences between the famous sketch and improv schools based in NYC, Chicago, and LA. Want to learn about the crossover of skills practiced in sketch writing and improv? Are you interested in learning some of the differences between British and American humor? Are you curious about the similarities between sketch and satire? (Think: The Onion.) We’ll talk about it! We’ll read a variety of sketch scripts, break them down into parts, and learn the mechanics. We’ll watch a number of sketches together, practice identifying the formula, and specifically labeling what’s funny about them. We’ll also practice idea generation and pitching. Hold onto your hat!
About the Teacher
Emily Swindal lived in New York City for 8 years as an actor and improv comedian and relocated to Hendersonville during the pandemic. Emily has studied and performed improv and sketch comedy writing at NYC’s Magnet Theater and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre NY. Emily has performed with an assortment of improv teams. Some of her past instructors include Elana Fishbein, Peter McNerney, Ross Taylor, Michael Lutton, and Nicole Drespel. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory. Emily can’t wait to meet you.
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What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.
The City of Asheville’s goal is to:
- Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
- Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
- Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups
Who can apply?
Eligible recipients of NMG funds must meet the following requirements:
- Must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits
- Completed or in the process of completing their “Neighborhood Registration Form”
- Are a neighborhood-based organization (Neighborhood Associations, Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Coalition, and Resident Organizations in Tax Credit Funded Communities)
What types of projects can be funded?
Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program aims to fund projects or programs that produce shared benefits with the goal of improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:
- Be achievable within 12 months on contract execution
- Occur within Asheville’s city limits
- Provide a public benefit and be accessible to all members of the community
- Be planned, organized and implemented by community members
- Must provide a dollar-for-dollar match
- At least 50% of the match must be matched in volunteer hours
- Cash, in-kind donation of goods or services can be used to make up the other 50% match
Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas. There are a variety of projects that can be supported with NMG including: landscaping, murals. community art, cultural festivals, traffic calming, public safety, marketing and branding, organizational development and more.
How can your neighborhood apply?
Applications will be open for submission March 27 – May 27, 2023.
You can apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant by following these steps:
- Confirm your neighborhood’s eligibility.
- Review the NMG Program Policies.
- Select your neighborhood’s project.
- Submit a completed application.
- Register as a Vendor with the City of Asheville.
Have questions?
eer hours, in-kind donation of goods or services)\
The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!
Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!
This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?
Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!
We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!
To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849
Questions? Please email [email protected]!
Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!
Camps for all passions and interests
Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.
Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.
Tailored Camps
Build your own camping experience according to your interest.
| Summer Counselor Application 6/1 – 7/31 Ages 17 years 6 months – 99 $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session 6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1 6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Exoplanet Exploration 6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM Grades 8th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Secrets of a Spy Station 6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM Grades 6th – 8th $1,700.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2 7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Above & Beyond 7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Milky Way Trailblazers 7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
UNC Asheville students in the Department of Business Consulting Practicum course will present their work with local business, The RunnerBox & The RiderBox, at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 28, at The Wedge Brewery at Foundation.
The RunnerBox & The RiderBox, which curates subscription boxes and gift boxes for runners and cyclists, was founded by professional athletes Laura Jorgensen and Courteney Lowe; the company is a two time recipient of a Venture 15 award, which ranks the fastest growing startups in Asheville. Students in the Consulting Practicum course, taught by Associate Professor of Business Susan Clark, partnered with The RunnerBox & The RiderBox to help them develop a strategic business plan to scale to the next level of production, sales and success.
“I designed the course to provide students with the opportunity to shadow an entrepreneurial team, in a collaborative setting, for an entire semester,” said Clark. “This team-based apprenticeship approach to working on a real enterprise opens their experience to the world of business and entrepreneurship while building a strong bridge to the business and entrepreneurial community. This approach creates a win-win-win outcome: students gain knowledge of how to grow and run a business, local entrepreneurs are assisted with scaling their operations, and the jobs created are often filled by students once they graduate, which all contribute to the vibrancy of the regional economy,.”
The event will feature the students’ presentation of their final deliverables to The RunnerBox & The RiderBox, followed by a happy hour. For more information, contact Susan Clark at [email protected].
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We’re offering TWO grade levels this summer for our workshops:
- Younger Ages (Rising First – Third Grade) and
- Older Ages (Rising Fourth – Tenth Grade)
Pricing
First Student: $350 per week
Sibling & Multiple Week Camp Discounts are available
Madagascar Workshop
June 12-16 & July 17-21
Get read to MOVE IT, MOVE IT!
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins in this crack-a-lackin’ adventure from New York City to Madagascar.
Matilda Workshop
June 19-23 & July 24-28
It’s time to act like REVOLTIN’ CHILDREN!
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Shrek Workshop
June 26-30 & July 31-August 4
Come and let your FREAK FLAG FLY!
It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.
The Little Mermaid Workshop
July 10-14 & August 7-11
Discover what it means to be PART OF YOUR WORLD!
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.
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-
What are Neighborhood Matching Grants?
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) helps Asheville’s neighborhood-based organizations fund various improvement projects by providing a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $5,000. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between neighbors, cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, and create projects for the benefit of their communities.
The City of Asheville’s goal is to:
- Build neighborhood capacity and increase civic participation
- Empower neighborhoods to self-determine improvement projects
- Create and strengthen partnerships between the City and community groups
Who can apply?
Eligible recipients of NMG funds must meet the following requirements:
- Must represent a specific geographic location within Asheville city limits
- Completed or in the process of completing their “Neighborhood Registration Form”
- Are a neighborhood-based organization (Neighborhood Associations, Homeowners Associations, Neighborhood Coalition, and Resident Organizations in Tax Credit Funded Communities)
What types of projects can be funded?
Asheville’s Neighborhood Matching Grants program aims to fund projects or programs that produce shared benefits with the goal of improving the neighborhood’s quality of life. Any project that is submitted must meet the following criteria:
- Be achievable within 12 months on contract execution
- Occur within Asheville’s city limits
- Provide a public benefit and be accessible to all members of the community
- Be planned, organized and implemented by community members
- Must provide a dollar-for-dollar match
- At least 50% of the match must be matched in volunteer hours
- Cash, in-kind donation of goods or services can be used to make up the other 50% match
Neighborhoods are encouraged to submit creative project ideas. There are a variety of projects that can be supported with NMG including: landscaping, murals. community art, cultural festivals, traffic calming, public safety, marketing and branding, organizational development and more.
How can your neighborhood apply?
Applications will be open for submission March 27 – May 27, 2023.
You can apply for a Neighborhood Matching Grant by following these steps:
- Confirm your neighborhood’s eligibility.
- Review the NMG Program Policies.
- Select your neighborhood’s project.
- Submit a completed application.
- Register as a Vendor with the City of Asheville.
Have questions?
eer hours, in-kind donation of goods or services)\
The Education program at Flat Rock Playhouse is undergoing a name change! We are excited to streamline our program and we can’t wait to share the news with you!
Our new name will be Playhouse Jr.!
This new name will encompass many things. You might ask….what is Playhouse Jr.?
Playhouse Jr. means many things and we are excited to share this news with our community!
We are introducing a new software system for our Playhouse Jr. families! This new system will make your life easier! Once you have registered you are in our system for good. That means that once you register all you have to do is access your account to purchase any classes and camps moving forward. No need to register every time!
To register for our new system and to enroll in classes please visit this link: https://app.jackrabbitclass.com/regv2.asp?id=548849
Questions? Please email [email protected]!
Want to register over the phone? No problem! You can call our Education Director, Lauren Hopkins at (828)693-0403 ext. 246 starting Monday March 6!
Camps for all passions and interests
Summer STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Residential summer camps for kids in grades 6th-12th on topics like astronomy, robotics, cryptography, and 3D modeling and printing, and more. Including our premiere camp experience, Above and Beyond.
Weekend STEM & Astronomy, and Space Exploration Camps
Curriculum or astronomical event based camps for educators and scout leaders.
Tailored Camps
Build your own camping experience according to your interest.
| Summer Counselor Application 6/1 – 7/31 Ages 17 years 6 months – 99 $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Full Summer Session 6/11 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 1 6/11 2 PM – 6/30 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Exoplanet Exploration 6/11 4 PM – 6/22 10 AM Grades 8th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Secrets of a Spy Station 6/25 4 PM – 6/30 10 AM Grades 6th – 8th $1,700.00 |
REGISTER |
| Counselor in Training Application – Mini Session 2 7/2 2 PM – 7/27 10 AM Ages 16 years 6 months – 18 years 6 mont $0.00 |
REGISTER |
| Above & Beyond 7/2 4 PM – 7/13 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
| Milky Way Trailblazers 7/16 4 PM – 7/27 10 AM Grades 9th – 12th $3,960.00 |
REGISTER |
Homegrown Dreams is an entry-level, exploratory workshop designed to help you incorporate small-scale, self-sufficiency and sustainability into all aspects of your life. Whether you own or rent a home, or live in a rural or urban setting, you can move towards more self-reliance NOW!
Wherever you are along the spectrum of self-reliance, join us for the exploratory workshop to:
- Enhance your confidence, skill, and excitement to create the lifestyle you imagine.
- Uncover your personal values, skills, and resources
- Chart a path to move forward over the next 1 to 5 years in your homestead plans.
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Homegrown Dreams 2023 Panelists
Homegrown Dreams includes a panel of local homesteaders and a regional expert on soil, climate, rainfall, typography, vegetation, wind, and how that affects and determines life, farming, and building in our region.
George Brabant
George grew up on and in the St. Lawrence River, Thousand Islands, New York. He was immersed in nature from a young age, experiencing all four seasons and their rhythms. He moved to Lake Placid for a couple years and then to high in the Colorado Rocky mountains. After a decade and a half of skiing, kayaking, fishing, and hunting in the Rockies, George landed in Asheville NC, making a living as a remodel contractor. He discovered Permaculture as a result of losing his brother and reading the works he left behind. He started to question our way of living and how sustainable it is.Permaculture was explained to George as using nature as a guideline. The edge of the forest turns full and green every year with no help from humans. It happens from a symbiotic relationship between plants, animals, and fungi. He started running with this philosophy and turned our property into a Permaculture Food Forest. He bought chickens and ducks, removed all grass, and installed swales, ponds, and fruit trees. A year in, he sought help from more experienced minds and took a permaculture design course and became a certified instructor. Now they are giving classes, tours, and having other local permaculture and gardening instructors do tours of our farm as well. Their food forest is named Phat Ninja Farm.
Era Keys
Era is a queer, non-binary permaculture educator, consultant, and designer. They have experienced living and working in Permaculture since 2013. In the past 9 years, they have lived on and managed permaculture farms and permaculture design businesses, educated in North Florida, Puerto Rico and Oregon, and lived in an EcoVillage based in permaculture. They currently reside in Marshall, NC with their family where they are creating a permaculture homestead. Their ultimate goal is to produce high quality permaculture education and tools that are accessible and digestible for the everyday person, so that we may weather the ever-evolving challenges of today’s world.Homegrown Dreams Instructor
Brandon Greenstein
Brandon Greenstein is the Director of Sustainability Consulting for Organic Growers School, developing new initiatives to provide services to home-growers. His background is in renewable systems, earth works, energy, water, and permaculture. He provides consulting, design and technical services for the creation of integrated systems. Brandon has been homesteading, including off-grid living and food production, in the western NC mountains for 20 years.Organic Growers School also offers Farm Dreams, a day-long program similar to the Homegrown Dreams, but geared towards those wanting to be commercial farmers. The difference is that Farm Dreams is focused on an enterprise model, where income generation is a significant part of the equation.
Join the East Asheville Library and Buncombe County Special Collections for a screening of the documentary The Mystery of George Masa followed by a Q&A session with the documentarian, Paul Bonesteel, founder of Bonesteel Films. This free event will be Saturday, April 29 at 10 a.m. at the East Asheville Library.
The Mystery of George Masa details the life of Masahara Iizuka, a Japanese immigrant who came to the Asheville in 1915, where he focused his camera and his passions on preserving the beauty of the wilderness he discovered. Eighteen years after his arrival, his death left behind thousands of photographs and an impressive legacy that included a role in the founding of two great national treasures, The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Appalachian Trail.
Paul Bonesteel is a filmmaker from North Carolina with a commitment to telling stories that illuminate and inspire. His other documentaries include Muni, a story about Black caddies turned golfers during the Jim Crow Era, The Day Carl Sandburg Died, and America’s First Forest: Carl Schenck and the Asheville Experience.
After the film, please be sure to visit the exhibit Masa’s Mountains: An Exhibit of The Work & Legacy of Photographer George Masa on display throughout the month of May at the East Asheville Library.
To dive deeper into the story of George Masa and view even more of his photographs visit Buncombe County Special Collections in person at Pack Memorial Library or online.
We’re offering TWO grade levels this summer for our workshops:
- Younger Ages (Rising First – Third Grade) and
- Older Ages (Rising Fourth – Tenth Grade)
Pricing
First Student: $350 per week
Sibling & Multiple Week Camp Discounts are available
Madagascar Workshop
June 12-16 & July 17-21
Get read to MOVE IT, MOVE IT!
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins in this crack-a-lackin’ adventure from New York City to Madagascar.
Matilda Workshop
June 19-23 & July 24-28
It’s time to act like REVOLTIN’ CHILDREN!
Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Matilda’s school life isn’t completely smooth sailing, however – the school’s mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don’t abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils’ saving grace!
Shrek Workshop
June 26-30 & July 31-August 4
Come and let your FREAK FLAG FLY!
It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.
The Little Mermaid Workshop
July 10-14 & August 7-11
Discover what it means to be PART OF YOUR WORLD!
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid, Ariel, longs to leave her ocean home — and her fins — behind and live in the world above. But first, she’ll have to defy her father, King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking.