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.

June 2024 Jun 2024
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Saturday, June 15, 2024
Saturday Seminar at The Learning Garden presents: Propagation from Soft Cuttings
Jun 15 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center

Do you want to expand the quantity of annuals, perennials, and shrubs in your garden or overwinter your favorite annuals for next summer’s planting? Propagation from cuttings is a fun and easy way to do this. This program will cover simple steps for soft- and semi-hard (summer) cuttings. You will learn how to select and prepare the cuttings, use rooting hormones and rooting media, and see some simple ways to prepare different propagation containers for light and humidity. You can go into the Learning Garden, take some cuttings, put them in propagation chambers, and take them home as your plant propagation experiments.

Please dress appropriately to be outside in the garden.

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration using Eventbrite is required.

Read more
Categories: Garden Events
Native Bees Adult Program
Jun 15 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Honeybees are a well-known pollinator, but have you ever heard of mason bees, one of our more efficient pollinators? Or learned more about the bumble bee, known for it’s “buzz pollination” that helps flowers bee more productive? Join native bee experts Jill and Brannen from Spriggley’s Beescaping to learn more about the native bees in our area and why it’s so critical that we support them.

Read more
Categories: Garden Garden Events
Sunday, June 16, 2024
Backyard Mushrooms: Growing, Wild Harvesting and Medicine Making
Jun 16 all-day
The Forest Farmacy

June 14, 2024 · 4pm – June 16, 2024 · 12pm EDT

Everything you need to start growing mushrooms at home in one fun, camp out weekend!

Agenda:

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Mushroom Forest Walk

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Low-Tech Mushroom Cultivations Hands-on Workshop

Includes: Cardboard Spawn, Spore Prints, Wood Chip beds, Straw Inoculation and Log Plugging. Also a tour of the farm – indoor and outdoor grow facilities.

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Mushroom Medicine Making

Mushroom Cultivation Weekend Workshop & Campout

Fascinated by Fungi

…..not sure where to start?

We got you.

Always wanted to grow your own mushrooms but not sure where to start? Come camp out on our beautiful forest farm for the weekend and go home ready to start growing delicious and nutritious gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.

You will learn how to grow fantastic fungi at home whether you live in a city apartment or in a backwoods yurt. You will learn sustainable cultivation techniques that require very little equipment, produce an abundance of mushrooms and help the rest of your garden grow more fully.

What you get

  • Start growing mushrooms at home immediately
  • Feel confident in low-tech methods to grow gourmet and medicinal mushrooms including: Oysters, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, King Trumpets and Shiitakes
  • Understand the health and medicinal properties of key mushroom species
  • Take home an inoculated log and a mushroom grow kit that you have created
  • 5 organic, vegetarian, farm-to-table meals (featuring mushrooms of course!)
  • 2 nights of camping on a 30 area forest farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Chris Parker’s 30 years of mushroom cultivation experience and engaging teaching style will answer all your questions, help you feel confident and inspired to put it all into action when you get home.

We will wander through our forest farm looking for wild mushrooms and eat meals featuring delicious fungi and vegetables from our organic garden and other local farms.

Before you go we will show you how to make mushroom extractions so you can forever supply yourself with high quality, health promoting mushroom medicines.

Topics Covered

  • Outdoor cultivation
  • Low Tech cultivation methods
  • Wild mushroom forest walk
  • Making mushroom double extractions
Read more
Categories: Garden Garden Events
Tools to Support Liberation
Jun 16 all-day
online w/Bountiful Cities

Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/o/tickets/forms/edit?ticketingId=d65860b2-f8dc-4438-bef5-191cf74bb9dc&#advanced-parameters

Read more
Categories: Community Donations Garden Events
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 16 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
Monday, June 17, 2024
Asheville Ideas Fest 2024
Jun 17 all-day
UNC Asheville

The Third Annual Asheville Ideas Fest is June 17-20, 2024.

When the inaugural Asheville Ideas Fest launched in June 2022, it was a watershed moment when 450 friends from around the country came together with world-class thinkers and doers to engage in meaningful discussions. The program evolved in 2023, and now 2024 promises to be an even more impactful gathering.

Asheville Ideas Fest is for curious citizens who want to engage with other deep thinkers on topics that matter. You may find your deeply held beliefs challenged on these important topics, and we invite you to lean into those moments, approaching them with an open mind and genuine curiosity.

—

This year will include three core themes:

The Thriving American City: Revitalizing Communities through Connection and Growth

In an era of rapid urbanization and evolving societal needs, we will examine strategies that encourage human connection and promote sustainable growth, creating a blueprint for thriving cities. Join us for an engaging day of panel discussions and intensive workshops that evaluate the essential elements of revitalizing American cities and communities.

The Edges of the Unknown: Seeking Enlightenment through Exploration

Ideas Fest panelists and speakers will contemplate the mysteries of space, depths of the ocean, and what lies beyond our current scope of understanding. Using a lens of exploration and curiosity, we will navigate uncharted physical and spiritual territories as we seek to unlock secrets that lie at the edges of the unknown. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged in this unique journey of discovery.

House of Cards or Hallowed Halls: Our Polarized Union and the Future of Democracy

Dive into the heart of contemporary political discourse with Ideas Fest. We will examine the polarized landscape of our union and explore the critical challenges facing democracy today. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the structural, cultural, and societal factors shaping the future of our democratic institutions.

—

In addition to dynamic panel discussions with audience Q&A, afternoon workshops with panel speakers provide further opportunities to explore the themes and develop your ideas. Our program consists of a phenomenal lineup of speakers and a laser focus on generating civil discourse on topics that ignite conversations.

Read more
Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking Community
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 17 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Asheville Ideas Fest 2024
Jun 18 all-day
UNC Asheville

The Third Annual Asheville Ideas Fest is June 17-20, 2024.

When the inaugural Asheville Ideas Fest launched in June 2022, it was a watershed moment when 450 friends from around the country came together with world-class thinkers and doers to engage in meaningful discussions. The program evolved in 2023, and now 2024 promises to be an even more impactful gathering.

Asheville Ideas Fest is for curious citizens who want to engage with other deep thinkers on topics that matter. You may find your deeply held beliefs challenged on these important topics, and we invite you to lean into those moments, approaching them with an open mind and genuine curiosity.

—

This year will include three core themes:

The Thriving American City: Revitalizing Communities through Connection and Growth

In an era of rapid urbanization and evolving societal needs, we will examine strategies that encourage human connection and promote sustainable growth, creating a blueprint for thriving cities. Join us for an engaging day of panel discussions and intensive workshops that evaluate the essential elements of revitalizing American cities and communities.

The Edges of the Unknown: Seeking Enlightenment through Exploration

Ideas Fest panelists and speakers will contemplate the mysteries of space, depths of the ocean, and what lies beyond our current scope of understanding. Using a lens of exploration and curiosity, we will navigate uncharted physical and spiritual territories as we seek to unlock secrets that lie at the edges of the unknown. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged in this unique journey of discovery.

House of Cards or Hallowed Halls: Our Polarized Union and the Future of Democracy

Dive into the heart of contemporary political discourse with Ideas Fest. We will examine the polarized landscape of our union and explore the critical challenges facing democracy today. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the structural, cultural, and societal factors shaping the future of our democratic institutions.

—

In addition to dynamic panel discussions with audience Q&A, afternoon workshops with panel speakers provide further opportunities to explore the themes and develop your ideas. Our program consists of a phenomenal lineup of speakers and a laser focus on generating civil discourse on topics that ignite conversations.

Read more
Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking Community
Farm Beginnings® Program: Farmer program applications open
Jun 18 all-day
Organic Growers School

Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.

Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.

The OGS Approach

Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.

We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

View a sample of the full course schedule here.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden Garden Events
Tools to Support Liberation
Jun 18 all-day
online w/Bountiful Cities

Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/o/tickets/forms/edit?ticketingId=d65860b2-f8dc-4438-bef5-191cf74bb9dc&#advanced-parameters

Read more
Categories: Community Donations Garden Events
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 18 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
Introduction to Medicinal Herbs
Jun 18 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Have you ever heard about medicinal plant tinctures and teas, but aren’t sure what exactly they’re used for? If so, then this class is for you! Join Rachel Meriwether as we learn about a variety of plants, both native and non-native, that can be used to relieve a number of everyday health concerns or add an extra boost to your day. You only need to bring yourself, your curiosity, and something to write on! The information presented in this class is intended for educational purposes and should not be considered an endorsement of or recommendation for any medical treatment. Please consult your health care provider before pursuing any herbal or homemade treatments.

Read more
Categories: Garden Garden Events
Pitch Party
Jun 18 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Southern Appalachian Brewery
The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Hatch Innovation Hub, Van Winkle Law Firm, BRCC Small Business Center, Southern Appalachian Brewery and Big Frog Custom T-Shirts have partnered to present this small business opportunity.
Pitch Parties are designed to offer entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch ideas for a new business, expansions, and reorganization. Each participant will be allowed up to one minute to make a quick pitch, after which the participant will receive feedback from the audience.
Read more
Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Asheville Ideas Fest 2024
Jun 19 all-day
UNC Asheville

The Third Annual Asheville Ideas Fest is June 17-20, 2024.

When the inaugural Asheville Ideas Fest launched in June 2022, it was a watershed moment when 450 friends from around the country came together with world-class thinkers and doers to engage in meaningful discussions. The program evolved in 2023, and now 2024 promises to be an even more impactful gathering.

Asheville Ideas Fest is for curious citizens who want to engage with other deep thinkers on topics that matter. You may find your deeply held beliefs challenged on these important topics, and we invite you to lean into those moments, approaching them with an open mind and genuine curiosity.

—

This year will include three core themes:

The Thriving American City: Revitalizing Communities through Connection and Growth

In an era of rapid urbanization and evolving societal needs, we will examine strategies that encourage human connection and promote sustainable growth, creating a blueprint for thriving cities. Join us for an engaging day of panel discussions and intensive workshops that evaluate the essential elements of revitalizing American cities and communities.

The Edges of the Unknown: Seeking Enlightenment through Exploration

Ideas Fest panelists and speakers will contemplate the mysteries of space, depths of the ocean, and what lies beyond our current scope of understanding. Using a lens of exploration and curiosity, we will navigate uncharted physical and spiritual territories as we seek to unlock secrets that lie at the edges of the unknown. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged in this unique journey of discovery.

House of Cards or Hallowed Halls: Our Polarized Union and the Future of Democracy

Dive into the heart of contemporary political discourse with Ideas Fest. We will examine the polarized landscape of our union and explore the critical challenges facing democracy today. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the structural, cultural, and societal factors shaping the future of our democratic institutions.

—

In addition to dynamic panel discussions with audience Q&A, afternoon workshops with panel speakers provide further opportunities to explore the themes and develop your ideas. Our program consists of a phenomenal lineup of speakers and a laser focus on generating civil discourse on topics that ignite conversations.

Read more
Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking Community
Farm Beginnings® Program: Farmer program applications open
Jun 19 all-day
Organic Growers School

Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.

Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.

The OGS Approach

Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.

We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

View a sample of the full course schedule here.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden Garden Events
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 19 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
Thursday, June 20, 2024
Asheville Ideas Fest 2024
Jun 20 all-day
UNC Asheville

The Third Annual Asheville Ideas Fest is June 17-20, 2024.

When the inaugural Asheville Ideas Fest launched in June 2022, it was a watershed moment when 450 friends from around the country came together with world-class thinkers and doers to engage in meaningful discussions. The program evolved in 2023, and now 2024 promises to be an even more impactful gathering.

Asheville Ideas Fest is for curious citizens who want to engage with other deep thinkers on topics that matter. You may find your deeply held beliefs challenged on these important topics, and we invite you to lean into those moments, approaching them with an open mind and genuine curiosity.

—

This year will include three core themes:

The Thriving American City: Revitalizing Communities through Connection and Growth

In an era of rapid urbanization and evolving societal needs, we will examine strategies that encourage human connection and promote sustainable growth, creating a blueprint for thriving cities. Join us for an engaging day of panel discussions and intensive workshops that evaluate the essential elements of revitalizing American cities and communities.

The Edges of the Unknown: Seeking Enlightenment through Exploration

Ideas Fest panelists and speakers will contemplate the mysteries of space, depths of the ocean, and what lies beyond our current scope of understanding. Using a lens of exploration and curiosity, we will navigate uncharted physical and spiritual territories as we seek to unlock secrets that lie at the edges of the unknown. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and challenged in this unique journey of discovery.

House of Cards or Hallowed Halls: Our Polarized Union and the Future of Democracy

Dive into the heart of contemporary political discourse with Ideas Fest. We will examine the polarized landscape of our union and explore the critical challenges facing democracy today. Engage in thought-provoking discussions about the structural, cultural, and societal factors shaping the future of our democratic institutions.

—

In addition to dynamic panel discussions with audience Q&A, afternoon workshops with panel speakers provide further opportunities to explore the themes and develop your ideas. Our program consists of a phenomenal lineup of speakers and a laser focus on generating civil discourse on topics that ignite conversations.

Read more
Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking Community
Farm Beginnings® Program: Farmer program applications open
Jun 20 all-day
Organic Growers School

Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.

Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.

The OGS Approach

Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.

We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

View a sample of the full course schedule here.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden Garden Events
Tools to Support Liberation
Jun 20 all-day
online w/Bountiful Cities

Liberation Tools is a cooperative subset of the 501c3 nonprofit Soul & Soil Project based in the unceded Tsalagi (Cherokee) territory of Western North Carolina.
Our mission is to build a collective that sustainably and skillfully crafts quality tools used for growing food, and freely distributes them to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. To support these efforts, we sell these tools for twice the cost of producing one, thereby allowing people with accumulated wealth to access high quality tools by also paying for an identical tool to be sent to a BIPOC land steward.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/o/tickets/forms/edit?ticketingId=d65860b2-f8dc-4438-bef5-191cf74bb9dc&#advanced-parameters

Read more
Categories: Community Donations Garden Events
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 20 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

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Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors
Dye Garden Series: Hands-on Dyeing with Weld, A Brilliant Yellow
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension , Buncombe County Center

Learn how to set up an organic indigo vat and witness the magical creation of blue when dyeing a cotton bandana.

IN-PERSON DEMONSTRATION

Location: NC Cooperative Extension , Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road , Asheville, NC 28806

Presenters: Pat Strang and Joyce Tromba, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers

In this class at the dye garden we will talk about the best way to prepare your fiber for natural dyeing, how to extract pigment from a plant and how to dye your fiber. We will be dyeing with Weld, one of the heritage colors that has been used for thousands of years. It produces a bright, clear yellow that is lovely on its own and also perfect for overdyeing.

We will be sharing weld seeds from our plants for anyone who wants to grow it; you can plant it as late as August for harvesting next year. Everyone will also take home a cotton bandana that they have dyed.

Requested $10 donation to cover cost. Cash is appreciated.

Wear appropriate attire as some of this presentation will be held outside.

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Registration: Seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Garden Garden Events
Dye Garden Series: Hands-on Dyeing with Weld, A Brilliant Yellow
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension , Buncombe County Center

Learn how to set up an organic indigo vat and witness the magical creation of blue when dyeing a cotton bandana.

Location: NC Cooperative Extension , Buncombe County Center, 49 Mount Carmel Road , Asheville, NC 28806

Presenters: Pat Strang and Joyce Tromba, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers

In this class at the dye garden we will talk about the best way to prepare your fiber for natural dyeing, how to extract pigment from a plant and how to dye your fiber. We will be dyeing with Weld, one of the heritage colors that has been used for thousands of years. It produces a bright, clear yellow that is lovely on its own and also perfect for overdyeing.

We will be sharing weld seeds from our plants for anyone who wants to grow it; you can plant it as late as August for harvesting next year. Everyone will also take home a cotton bandana that they have dyed.

Requested $10 donation to cover cost. Cash is appreciated.

Wear appropriate attire as some of this presentation will be held outside.

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Registration: Seating is limited and registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522

Read more
Categories: Art & Craft Garden Garden Events
Gardening in the Mountains presents: Fanciful Fairy Gardens
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center

Mary Martin, Bullington Gardens volunteer, and John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer in Buncombe County will present how to create a fairy garden. Learn how Burlington Gardens in Hendersonville creates a magical fairy garden each summer.

Virtual event and registration is required.

A free virtual event registration is required.

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Categories: Garden Events
Gardening in the Mountains: Fanciful Fairy Gardens
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
online w/ N.C. Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center

FREE ONLINE EVENT

Presenters: Mary Martin, Bullington Gardens volunteer and John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer in Buncombe County

Do you know where fairies spend the summer? Did you know it’s down at Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville, where they have a Fairy Trail just full of delightful fairies, gnomes, and llamas? Join us as we visit there to explore the wonderful,whimsical world of fairy gardens. You’ll see how fairy houses and villages are imagined and constructed, learn fascinating facts about fairies, and leave inspired to indulge your inner child (or grandchild) in your own garden creation.

Registration: The talk is free but registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Zoom seminar access: After registration, you will receive an email with instructions and a link to join this online live broadcast via Zoom. The ability to access Zoom through a computer, tablet or smartphone with a reliable internet connection is necessary to attend.

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Categories: Garden Garden Events
Online Seminar: Fanciful Fairy Gardens
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
online

Presenters: Mary Martin, Bullington Gardens volunteer and John Bowen, Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer in Buncombe County

Do you know where fairies spend the summer? Did you know it’s down at Bullington Gardens in Hendersonville, where they have a Fairy Trail just full of delightful fairies, gnomes, and llamas? Join us as we visit there to explore the wonderful,whimsical world of fairy gardens. You’ll see how fairy houses and villages are imagined and constructed, learn fascinating facts about fairies, and leave inspired to indulge your inner child (or grandchild) in your own garden creation.

Registration: The talk is free but registration is required. Please click on the link below to register. If you encounter problems registering or if you have questions, call 828-255-5522.

Zoom seminar access: After registration, you will receive an email with instructions and a link to join this online live broadcast via Zoom. The ability to access Zoom through a computer, tablet or smartphone with a reliable internet connection is necessary to attend.

Read more
Categories: Garden Garden Events
The Learning Garden presents: Dye Series: Hands on Dyeing with Weld, A Vibrant Yellow
Jun 20 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
NC Cooperative Extension, Buncombe County Center

: In this class at the dye garden we will talk about the best way to prepare your fiber for natural dyeing, how to extract pigment from a plant, and how to dye your fiber.
We will be dyeing with Weld, one of the heritage colors that has been used for thousands of years. It produces a bright, clear yellow that is lovely on its own and also perfect for over-dying. We will be sharing weld seeds from our plants for anyone who wants to grow it; you can plant it as late as August for harvesting next year.
Everyone will also take home a cotton bandana that they have dyed. We request a donation of 10 dollars to cover our cost, and cash is appreciated.

Wear appropriate attire as some of this presentation will be held outside.

The talk is free, but seating is limited and registration is required.

Read more
Categories: Garden Events
PROpel AVL Grow Series
Jun 20 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

In our June installment of the PROpel AVL GROW series for young professionals, Erin Vandermore presents “Closing the Gap: Mastering Intergenerational Communication in the Workplace”

In today’s multigenerational workforce, effective communication is crucial to success. With each generation bringing its unique set of values, beliefs, and technological preferences, it can be challenging to navigate communication styles in the workplace. In this presentation, we will explore the different generations currently in the workforce and their communication styles. We will also discuss tips on how to effectively communicate with each generation and bridge the generational gap.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the different generations currently in the workforce and their communication preferences
  • Identify potential challenges in communicating across generations
  • Learn strategies for bridging the generational gap and promoting effective communication in the workplace

 

About the presenter: 

Erin Vandermore, MA, LCPC, LCMHC, is a transformative thought leader, licensed therapist, and pioneering wellness coach with over 14 years of experience in the fields of mental health and life coaching. As the founder of Age of Uncertainty Coaching, Erin has dedicated her life to helping individuals discover their unique skills and talents—those often overshadowed by self-sabotage. Her empathetic lens, cultivated through her personal journey as a mom, a survivor of pre-eclampsia, and an individual living with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Anxiety, allows her to connect with clients on a deeply human level.

12:00-1:00pm – GROW Session

Sandwiches, salad and chips will be catered by Del Vecchios!

Please register for this event in order to help us plan accordingly.

About PROpel AVL:
Designed for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 in the Asheville/Buncombe area, PROpel AVL provides outstanding professional leadership development opportunities through educational seminars, service opportunities and networking.

Stay connected with text alerts! Text #propelavl to 828-827-5332 for updates and reminders about PROpel AVL programs.

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Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking
Business After Hours
Jun 20 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Emergency Tech Repair

Come join us for Business After Hours at Emergency Tech Repair!

Feel free to bring a gift to be raffled off as door prizes towards the end of the evening. Bring your business cards for networking and a chance to win prizes!

 

Please take a look below at our members who have renewed for another year!

Carolina Outdoor Lighting

Chris Dwyer Painting

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers

Hulie Sues BBQ and Grill

Loving Food Resources

Matcha Nude

Mountain Drainage Solutions

Recline & Unwind Social Spa

 

This event is offered as a benefit for Chamber membership. We welcome you to come and check us out! Please contact Jessica Kanupp, our Member Development Specialist, at [email protected] if you’re considering a Chamber membership.

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Categories: Business & Networking Business and Networking
Friday, June 21, 2024
Farm Beginnings® Program: Farmer program applications open
Jun 21 all-day
Organic Growers School

Farm Beginnings® is training the next generation of farmers in the many skills required to start and expand a successful farm business: passion, clear goals, production experience, financial and marketing know-how, and more.

Farm Beginnings® will help you build these skills through one year of farmer-led training, mentoring, and networking. We support individuals in clarifying their goals and strengths, developing agricultural skills, and growing profitable, equitable, and ecologically sound farm businesses.

The OGS Approach

Guided by our commitment to social justice, our programming is led by farmers and mentors active in food, farming, or social justice. By empowering people with skills, knowledge, and access to resources, together we can build a more diverse, equitable food system that enriches the environment and creates a thriving food and farming community.

We use a holistic management frame, farmer-led classroom sessions, on-farm tours, mentoring, and an extensive farmer network. The topics of equity and justice in the food systems are woven into the curriculum, including examples of realistic approaches within the scope of your business models.

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

What does Farm Beginnings® include?

The 200+ hr, year-long program consists of:

  • Training on holistic management, farm business, marketing & financial planning

  • Sessions taught by regional, experienced farmers

  • One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network membership

  • Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

  • Access to field days with regional partners

  • Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

  • Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

  • 15 hr mentorship with an experienced farmer mentor

View a sample of the full course schedule here.

Read more
Categories: Education Garden Garden Events
Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden
Jun 21 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
NC Arboretum

What is Bonsai?

Bonsai is a challenging and rewarding horticultural activity, in which ordinary plants are grown in an extraordinary way. Through rigorously applied cultivation techniques, trees, shrubs, vines and even herbaceous plants are kept in a miniaturized state, developed into artistic shapes and then displayed in special containers.

What makes the Arboretum’s bonsai endeavor unique among all other public collections in the United States? Regional Interpretation. Visitors will find the Arboretum’s bonsai collection of more than 100 specimens carefully cultivated with a Southern Appalachian accent. The collection draws inspiration from the traditional roots of bonsai, but takes the form of a contemporary, Southern Appalachian influenced American garden. Plantings in the landscape include species and cultivars of American, European and Asian origin.

 

The Bonsai Exhibition Garden

Established in October 2005, The North Carolina Arboretum’s Bonsai Exhibition Garden is a world renowned garden that displays up to 50 bonsai specimens at a time. Represented are traditional Asian bonsai subjects such as Japanese maple and Chinese elm, tropical plants such as willow-leaf fig and bougainvillea, and American species such as bald cypress and limber pine. Of particular importance are the plants native to the Blue Ridge region, such as American hornbeam and eastern white pine, which enable the Arboretum to bring the thousand-year tradition of bonsai home to the mountains of Western North Carolina. Interpretive signage throughout the garden conveys information about the art and history of bonsai, and the Arboretum’s own creative approach to it.

 

Outdoor Bonsai Exhibition Garden

  • Bonsai on Display Mid May – November; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
  • Garden Open Year Round
  • Parking Fees
    • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
    • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
    • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
    • Members: Free

    Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Read more
Categories: Family Fun Garden Garden Events Outdoors