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.
Pardee UNC Health Care is accepting applications for the 2021
Junior Volunteer Summer Program through Wednesday, April 21. The 2021 summer session begins
at orientation on Friday June 18, or Friday, June 25, and continues through August 6. Students can
complete the applications and forms found online.
As junior volunteers, students will learn the value of community service and will get
exposure to the health care setting. Responsibilities include but are not limited to escorting patients
and visitors to their destinations, transporting patient and visitors in wheelchairs, volunteering in the
Orchards Café, and assisting various other departments. Junior volunteers are expected to work at
least four hours per week, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. They will not
volunteer on weekends.
To be considered for a junior volunteer position at Pardee, applicants must meet the
following requirements:
Be at least 14 years old by April 1, 2021
Complete and return all application documents to Karla Reese by April 21
Attend the required orientation meeting on Friday, June 18 or Friday, June 25 from 9:30 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m. Volunteers must complete one of these orientations in its entirety, no
exceptions.
You may email your Application to Karla Reese at [email protected] or print and mail it to:
Karla Reese c/o Pardee UNC Health Care
Volunteer Services – Box 2
800 N. Justice Street
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Per hospital policy, junior volunteers will be required to wear a mask during the entirety of their
shift. There is a limited number of volunteer opportunities. For additional information, contact
Karla Reese at (828) 696-4240.
Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is
managed by UNC Health. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several
locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician practice network, a
cancer center, four urgent care locations and six orthopedic clinics. For more information or to find
a physician, visit www.pardeehospital.org.
Pardee UNC Health Care is accepting applications for the 2021
Junior Volunteer Summer Program through Wednesday, April 21. The 2021 summer session begins
at orientation on Friday June 18, or Friday, June 25, and continues through August 6. Students can
complete the applications and forms found online.
As junior volunteers, students will learn the value of community service and will get
exposure to the health care setting. Responsibilities include but are not limited to escorting patients
and visitors to their destinations, transporting patient and visitors in wheelchairs, volunteering in the
Orchards Café, and assisting various other departments. Junior volunteers are expected to work at
least four hours per week, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. They will not
volunteer on weekends.
To be considered for a junior volunteer position at Pardee, applicants must meet the
following requirements:
Be at least 14 years old by April 1, 2021
Complete and return all application documents to Karla Reese by April 21
Attend the required orientation meeting on Friday, June 18 or Friday, June 25 from 9:30 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m. Volunteers must complete one of these orientations in its entirety, no
exceptions.
You may email your Application to Karla Reese at [email protected] or print and mail it to:
Karla Reese c/o Pardee UNC Health Care
Volunteer Services – Box 2
800 N. Justice Street
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Per hospital policy, junior volunteers will be required to wear a mask during the entirety of their
shift. There is a limited number of volunteer opportunities. For additional information, contact
Karla Reese at (828) 696-4240.
Pardee UNC Health Care is a not-for-profit community hospital founded in 1953 and is
managed by UNC Health. The hospital is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several
locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician practice network, a
cancer center, four urgent care locations and six orthopedic clinics. For more information or to find
a physician, visit www.pardeehospital.org.
Join GreenWorks staff and TreeKeepers at the Sand Hill native tree nursery. Tasks will change week to week and may include mulching, pruning, repotting trees, repairing the hoop house, tending to plants and more!
Bring any snacks, beverages, or personal care items that you need. GreenWorks will provide all other gear and tools. Dress for the weather and make sure to use sun protection!
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Janet McKee, Speaker, Best-Selling Author, High Performance™ Success Coach, Wellness Expert and CEO of SanaView, is on a mission to inspire and teach you proven and effective ways to Embrace a Better Life; a life that is richer, happier, healthier, and more fulfilling. “Sana” is Latin for “wellness” and her organization provides a “view” into enjoyable ways to dramatically improve your life.
After obtaining her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and climbing the corporate ladder in several Fortune 500 companies, Ms. McKee became passionate about helping others achieve stress-free successful lives by pursuing a wellness degree from Columbia University. After working for many years to help people achieve greater levels of wellbeing, Ms. McKee expanded her expertise by researching how psychology impacts a person’s ability to achieve personal and professional goals. Based on this work, she has achieved the status of being selected as one of only 200 elite Certified High Performance Coaches™ in the world and has received the honor of being awarded membership into the National Association of Experts, Writers and Speakers.
Ms. McKee is the creator of the innovative and acclaimed Accelerated High Performance Program and emPower 3 Leadership + Lifestyle Retreat designed to help others fuel their passion, positivity and purpose. Through her Stressless Success Shift™, she inspires others to break negative patterns and achieve greater success. She is a vibrant and inspirational speaker who is known for captivating audiences through the use of real-life stories that engage, entertain, uplift and empower people with real solutions that they can begin to use immediately to realize their dreams.
Whether you consult with Ms. McKee directly, or hire her to speak to your organization, or peruse her multitude of online courses and inspirations, you are certain to become more knowledgeable, uplifted and motivated to improve your life.
As the founder of SanaView, Ms. McKee has released her new best-selling book titled, Stressless Success: The Surprising Secrets to a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity, along with her own recipe book titled, Fabulous Recipes for Vibrant Health, and co-authored a best-selling book with Brian Tracy and other experts titled, Ready, Set, Go!. Ms. McKee is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary, Bethany’s Story about the healing power of food. Because of her passion for healthy living, Ms. McKee spends her free time helping to develop SanaView Farms, her 52-acre historic landmark organic farm nestled in the Laurel Mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she teaches ways to regenerate our land and our health through natural living and eating. A true powerhouse of positive energy and motivation, Ms. McKee is poised to dramatically improve the lives of everyone she touches.
Teaching proven methods to achieve greater levels of energy, engagement, joy and confidence are the keys to her success in helping others.
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Individuals, community organizations, and other groups of volunteers are invited to help clean up Lake Julian Park (37 Lake Julian Rd. in Arden) and along Heywood Road on Saturday, Apr. 24. Projects include roadside trash removal, landscaping, wetland remediation, lake surface litter skimming, and more. The park-wide cleanup celebrates Earth Day and the growing global movement to restore ecosystems and forests, conserve and rebuild soils, improve farming practices, protect wildlife populations, and rid waterways of plastics.
“Buncombe County parks saw record-breaking visitation in 2020,” according to Peyton O’Conner, Director of Buncombe County Recreation Services. “As the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down, the one avenue for maintaining peoples’ physical and mental wellbeing were parks, open spaces, greenways, and trails. Hopefully, this increased usage will lead to increased advocacy. Our citizens are the best defense in preserving our unique collection of outdoor spaces for current and future generations of Buncombians against pollution and natural disasters caused by climate change.”
Advance registration is required. This is a free event, but space is limited in accordance with current North Carolina guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19. All attendees are expected to follow public health guidance during the event.
Volunteers will be provided with cleanup supplies, but should wear clothes that can get dirty. Volunteers who bring their own watercraft will be allowed to skim trash from the lake surface.
Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
The foundation and first step to anyone’s first-aid knowledge. Learn life-saving knowledge with us this day.
Learn:
-AED usage
-CPR for adults
-First-aid
-Severe bleeding first-aid including tourniquets
For The People Academy is an inclusive high level skills training company working out of Asheville. Our goal Is to create heroes in our own communities.
Like getting a puppy for the first time, having a gun in the house comes with a lot of unexpected responsibilities.
Whether you bought a gun in the last year (or your partner did without telling you) learn how to be safe around them. An introductory course, this class will go over the basics of firearms ownership and safety.
We provide training guns for all of our students to practice with. This class has no range portion. You do not need gun or ammo to take it.
Learn:
-Firearms safety
-How to handle a firearm
-How to make a firearm “safe”
-How to store a firearm
-Caring for a firearm
-Common safety mistakes
-Defensive considerations
-How to train
-Ownership legality
This is a 6 Week Series from 3/23/21 through 4/27/21.
Organic Growers School is excited to offer this curriculum and training opportunity to Southern Appalachia for a second year in partnership with Certified Naturally Grown.
Manage for Your Farm’s Future:
Growing a viable farm business is sustained by continuous learning of the land and your products. In this workshop series, growers across Southern Appalachia and beyond will gain tools to manage their crop production for whole-farm success.
Regionally Specific Tools:
The Holistic Crop Management series focuses on the growing regions of Northern Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, Western North Carolina, and Southwestern Virginia. Webinar sessions will feature farmers and agricultural experts from these areas. Through curated group activities in the virtual setting, participants will be able to build a network with experienced growers who know farming and the land.
Workshop Structure:
In response to the need for virtual learning opportunities during the pandemic, we have restructured this workshop series from in-person workshops to a six-part webinar series, which includes a mixture of videos, resources, and live virtual meetings. The curriculum uses Certified Naturally Grown standards as the guidelines for holistic principles, and each session will consist of discussion-based exploration of soil health, pest management, disease control, and weed maintenance, along with several components of the Holistic Management framework.
Participants are not required to be Certified Naturally Grown or Certified Organic to join the webinar; however, the skills gained in these sessions will equip farmers to take on certification confidently should they choose. While this webinar series focuses on farming in the Southern Appalachians, farmers from any region will gain valuable knowledge and are invited to join.
Join GreenWorks staff and TreeKeepers at the Sand Hill native tree nursery. Tasks will change week to week and may include mulching, pruning, repotting trees, repairing the hoop house, tending to plants and more!
Bring any snacks, beverages, or personal care items that you need. GreenWorks will provide all other gear and tools. Dress for the weather and make sure to use sun protection!
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Janet McKee, Speaker, Best-Selling Author, High Performance™ Success Coach, Wellness Expert and CEO of SanaView, is on a mission to inspire and teach you proven and effective ways to Embrace a Better Life; a life that is richer, happier, healthier, and more fulfilling. “Sana” is Latin for “wellness” and her organization provides a “view” into enjoyable ways to dramatically improve your life.
After obtaining her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and climbing the corporate ladder in several Fortune 500 companies, Ms. McKee became passionate about helping others achieve stress-free successful lives by pursuing a wellness degree from Columbia University. After working for many years to help people achieve greater levels of wellbeing, Ms. McKee expanded her expertise by researching how psychology impacts a person’s ability to achieve personal and professional goals. Based on this work, she has achieved the status of being selected as one of only 200 elite Certified High Performance Coaches™ in the world and has received the honor of being awarded membership into the National Association of Experts, Writers and Speakers.
Ms. McKee is the creator of the innovative and acclaimed Accelerated High Performance Program and emPower 3 Leadership + Lifestyle Retreat designed to help others fuel their passion, positivity and purpose. Through her Stressless Success Shift™, she inspires others to break negative patterns and achieve greater success. She is a vibrant and inspirational speaker who is known for captivating audiences through the use of real-life stories that engage, entertain, uplift and empower people with real solutions that they can begin to use immediately to realize their dreams.
Whether you consult with Ms. McKee directly, or hire her to speak to your organization, or peruse her multitude of online courses and inspirations, you are certain to become more knowledgeable, uplifted and motivated to improve your life.
As the founder of SanaView, Ms. McKee has released her new best-selling book titled, Stressless Success: The Surprising Secrets to a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity, along with her own recipe book titled, Fabulous Recipes for Vibrant Health, and co-authored a best-selling book with Brian Tracy and other experts titled, Ready, Set, Go!. Ms. McKee is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary, Bethany’s Story about the healing power of food. Because of her passion for healthy living, Ms. McKee spends her free time helping to develop SanaView Farms, her 52-acre historic landmark organic farm nestled in the Laurel Mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she teaches ways to regenerate our land and our health through natural living and eating. A true powerhouse of positive energy and motivation, Ms. McKee is poised to dramatically improve the lives of everyone she touches.
Teaching proven methods to achieve greater levels of energy, engagement, joy and confidence are the keys to her success in helping others.
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Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Asheville GreenWorks Neighborhood Tree Keeper Training is a 2-day virtual workshop series with 1 in-person, socially distant learning day, designed to teach you everything you need to know to care for the urban trees in your community. We are looking for applicants who are at least 18 years old and live in Asheville or the surrounding area. After completion of both workshops, participants will join our cohort of Neighborhood Tree Keepers to help us care for and plant trees in the places we love to live!
**Participants MUST complete all workshops in order to join our Neighborhood Tree Keeper program.**
4/29/2021:
12-1:15: Benefits of an Urban Forest- Scott Alba (Board Certified Master Arborist)
1-2:15: Trees 101- Scott Alba (Board Certified Master Arborist)
4/30/2021:
12-1:15: Tree Planting and Care- Eric Bradford (AGW Director of Operations)
1:15-2:15: TreeKeeper Roles & Responsibilities- Kris Medic (Board Certified Master Arborist)
5/1/2021: In-person learning day
12-12:30- Meet and Greet
12:30- 2- Nursery Tour & Training
These workshops are being performed for the residents of the City of Asheville in partnership with the City of Asheville
We’ve expanded our Gardening Series to cover three seasons!
All classes will be fully ONLINE.
Our Gardening Series will feature 2 classes for each season: Spring, Summer & Fall.
You can purchase each season individually, or buy all three for a discounted rate.
Register here: https://organicgrowersschool.org/gardeners/gardening-series/
Summer:
May 3rd and 10th, 2021
6:00-7:30pm EST
Topics: How to build Sensational Compost, Forging a new relationship with Weeds, Crops for Summer, Watering, Fertilizing, Pollinators and Companion Plants
The ideal volunteer tutor is someone seeking to make a one-year commitment of two hours per week to help someone else make the change of a lifetime. For our volunteer tutors, an education background is helpful, but not necessary. The most important qualities are patience, an open mind, and resourcefulness. Tutors also need to be non-judgmental and sensitive to cultural differences. A GED or high school diploma is required. Ideal tutors enjoy seeing concrete outcomes from their efforts and sharing in the life-changing successes of others. See our full tutor position description here.
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Janet McKee, Speaker, Best-Selling Author, High Performance™ Success Coach, Wellness Expert and CEO of SanaView, is on a mission to inspire and teach you proven and effective ways to Embrace a Better Life; a life that is richer, happier, healthier, and more fulfilling. “Sana” is Latin for “wellness” and her organization provides a “view” into enjoyable ways to dramatically improve your life.
After obtaining her MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and climbing the corporate ladder in several Fortune 500 companies, Ms. McKee became passionate about helping others achieve stress-free successful lives by pursuing a wellness degree from Columbia University. After working for many years to help people achieve greater levels of wellbeing, Ms. McKee expanded her expertise by researching how psychology impacts a person’s ability to achieve personal and professional goals. Based on this work, she has achieved the status of being selected as one of only 200 elite Certified High Performance Coaches™ in the world and has received the honor of being awarded membership into the National Association of Experts, Writers and Speakers.
Ms. McKee is the creator of the innovative and acclaimed Accelerated High Performance Program and emPower 3 Leadership + Lifestyle Retreat designed to help others fuel their passion, positivity and purpose. Through her Stressless Success Shift™, she inspires others to break negative patterns and achieve greater success. She is a vibrant and inspirational speaker who is known for captivating audiences through the use of real-life stories that engage, entertain, uplift and empower people with real solutions that they can begin to use immediately to realize their dreams.
Whether you consult with Ms. McKee directly, or hire her to speak to your organization, or peruse her multitude of online courses and inspirations, you are certain to become more knowledgeable, uplifted and motivated to improve your life.
As the founder of SanaView, Ms. McKee has released her new best-selling book titled, Stressless Success: The Surprising Secrets to a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Prosperity, along with her own recipe book titled, Fabulous Recipes for Vibrant Health, and co-authored a best-selling book with Brian Tracy and other experts titled, Ready, Set, Go!. Ms. McKee is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning documentary, Bethany’s Story about the healing power of food. Because of her passion for healthy living, Ms. McKee spends her free time helping to develop SanaView Farms, her 52-acre historic landmark organic farm nestled in the Laurel Mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she teaches ways to regenerate our land and our health through natural living and eating. A true powerhouse of positive energy and motivation, Ms. McKee is poised to dramatically improve the lives of everyone she touches.
Teaching proven methods to achieve greater levels of energy, engagement, joy and confidence are the keys to her success in helping others.
The ideal volunteer tutor is someone seeking to make a one-year commitment of two hours per week to help someone else make the change of a lifetime. For our volunteer tutors, an education background is helpful, but not necessary. The most important qualities are patience, an open mind, and resourcefulness. Tutors also need to be non-judgmental and sensitive to cultural differences. A GED or high school diploma is required. Ideal tutors enjoy seeing concrete outcomes from their efforts and sharing in the life-changing successes of others. See our full tutor position description here.
Our volunteers:
- Improve the quality of living for animals in Henderson County.
- Make a difference in their community through our community programs like our Spay/Neuter Incentive Program and Meals on Wheels Pet Pals.
- Provide support for all departments and serve on our board and committees.
- Help raise crucial funds in our Thrift Store.
It’s easy to get started!
- Fill out the Volunteer Application.
- Attend a Virtual Volunteer Information Session to learn more about Blue Ridge Humane Society and current volunteer opportunities.
- Pick a Volunteer Assignment! Decide what volunteer position works best for you! Some assignments can get started right away and some require prior orientation and training such as animal handling training that you can get started on.
- Start Volunteering! Get started in your position. Our volunteers make a huge impact in Henderson County to ensure both pets and their people are happy, healthy, and thriving. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all we do without them.
The City of Asheville has partnered with Asheville GreenWorks to launch the Adopt-A-Spot program. Businesses, organizations, or individuals can choose a City-owned piece of property that they wish to adopt. The responsibility of the adopter will be to maintain either an edible or pollinator garden in this location. The program provides recognition of adopters through dedicated signage at the site. Make a positive impact on Asheville by promoting stewardship of publicly owned places.
Types of Spots to Adopt
As the inaugural Bee City, Asheville is an ideal location for planting pollinator habitats. Pollinators are responsible for ¾ of the world’s food supply and are vitally important to the health of our local urban forest. Pollinator plantings are both beautiful and ecologically sound features of the landscape, attracting butterflies, birds and bees into urban areas. A list of pollinator-friendly plants and local nurseries where they can be purchased can be found at www.beecityusa.org.
Establishing & Maintaining Orchards and Edibles
Fruit producing trees and shrubs growing in neighborhoods, parks and greenways provide fresh, accessible food to Ashevilleans. Through the Adopt-a-Spot program, your group can play a role in developing the urban food forest in Asheville. Projects can range from planting a small patch of blueberries or an entire orchard of fruit trees. The list of recommended edible trees and shrubs and local nurseries where they can be purchased can be found at www.ashevillegreenworks.org
Invasive Plant Removal
Invasive exotic plants disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displace native plant and animal species, and degrade our biological resources. Aggressive invaders reduce the amount of light, water, nutrients and space available to native species. Some cause increased erosion along stream banks, shorelines and roadsides. Common invasive species in this area include kudzu, knotweed, English ivy and privet. Many Adopt-a-Spot projects will require invasive plant removal to prepare the land for planting and to prevent invasives from taking over existing and new plantings.
Planting in Bulb-Outs
Bulb-outs are areas that extend from the sidewalk along the sides of the street. They are typically in place at cross walks or on street parking. These areas can typically be accessed from the adjacent sidewalk. Through Asheville’s Adopt-a-Spot program, bulb-outs can be used for planting edible and/or pollinator gardens. Volunteers must use extra caution when working along streets and roadways.
Our volunteers:
- Improve the quality of living for animals in Henderson County.
- Make a difference in their community through our community programs like our Spay/Neuter Incentive Program and Meals on Wheels Pet Pals.
- Provide support for all departments and serve on our board and committees.
- Help raise crucial funds in our Thrift Store.
It’s easy to get started!
- Fill out the Volunteer Application.
- Attend a Virtual Volunteer Information Session to learn more about Blue Ridge Humane Society and current volunteer opportunities.
- Pick a Volunteer Assignment! Decide what volunteer position works best for you! Some assignments can get started right away and some require prior orientation and training such as animal handling training that you can get started on.
- Start Volunteering! Get started in your position. Our volunteers make a huge impact in Henderson County to ensure both pets and their people are happy, healthy, and thriving. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all we do without them.
Ever wanted to try your hand at blacksmithing? Here’s your chance to experience the basics of shaping hot steel with a hammer and anvil in our unforgettable Blacksmithing and Brews workshop. You’ll fire up the forge with our seasoned educator Mo, who’s been teaching hands-on living history at Earthshine for over sixteen years. He’ll guide you every step of the way, helping you work a piece of rough steel into a one of a kind, hand crafted knife form you can take home. You’ll stoke the coal fire, hammer glowing metal straight from forge, and learn all kinds of history, lore, techniques, and tricks about the craft.
After the workshop, you can enjoy a local brew on the front deck of our main lodge overlooking Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge. You can take it easy, soaking up the mountain views while you sip, or keep working to refine your project, taking it from the rugged, fresh out of the fire look to a smoother, cleaner finish. We’ll even throw in a take-home kit with a few essential tools you can use to turn your project into a piece of art worth displaying.
No experience is needed and all equipment is provided. Ages 13+ are welcome, but you must be at least 21 to be served beer. If you’re under 21, we’ll provide lemonade, tea or sparkling water. Each person participating will take home their own wrought iron crude knife form that can be used as a letter opener or simple spreading utensil.
We’ll emphasize safety procedures throughout the entire program. Each participant will have their own set of safety equipment throughout the program, including gloves and safety glasses. Face coverings are required whenever participants cannot be 6 feet apart. Equipment is sanitized after each class.
Join us in kicking off the Spring season with this special introductory price! Our workshops last between 1-2 hours and include all information and materials needed to create a fun, living terrarium. This class is perfect for beginners or experienced crafters! Instruction covers learning about air plants, care tips, design principles, and more. We include everything needed to create your terrarium, from the container and plants to fun additions like shells, driftwood, gemstones and crystals, figurines, and more. A gift box and care instructions are included to ensure your success. Participants are welcome to bring (waterproof) figurines or other design additions that they’d like to incorporate into their terrarium. Please register and purchase tickets at www.Vivid-Event.com . This is our most popular class and registration fills up quickly! Food, beverages, and alcohol will be available for purchase through our host venue, 828 Market on Main (180 N. Main St, Waynesville NC)
The City of Asheville has partnered with Asheville GreenWorks to launch the Adopt-A-Spot program. Businesses, organizations, or individuals can choose a City-owned piece of property that they wish to adopt. The responsibility of the adopter will be to maintain either an edible or pollinator garden in this location. The program provides recognition of adopters through dedicated signage at the site. Make a positive impact on Asheville by promoting stewardship of publicly owned places.
Types of Spots to Adopt
As the inaugural Bee City, Asheville is an ideal location for planting pollinator habitats. Pollinators are responsible for ¾ of the world’s food supply and are vitally important to the health of our local urban forest. Pollinator plantings are both beautiful and ecologically sound features of the landscape, attracting butterflies, birds and bees into urban areas. A list of pollinator-friendly plants and local nurseries where they can be purchased can be found at www.beecityusa.org.
Establishing & Maintaining Orchards and Edibles
Fruit producing trees and shrubs growing in neighborhoods, parks and greenways provide fresh, accessible food to Ashevilleans. Through the Adopt-a-Spot program, your group can play a role in developing the urban food forest in Asheville. Projects can range from planting a small patch of blueberries or an entire orchard of fruit trees. The list of recommended edible trees and shrubs and local nurseries where they can be purchased can be found at www.ashevillegreenworks.org
Invasive Plant Removal
Invasive exotic plants disrupt the ecology of natural ecosystems, displace native plant and animal species, and degrade our biological resources. Aggressive invaders reduce the amount of light, water, nutrients and space available to native species. Some cause increased erosion along stream banks, shorelines and roadsides. Common invasive species in this area include kudzu, knotweed, English ivy and privet. Many Adopt-a-Spot projects will require invasive plant removal to prepare the land for planting and to prevent invasives from taking over existing and new plantings.
Planting in Bulb-Outs
Bulb-outs are areas that extend from the sidewalk along the sides of the street. They are typically in place at cross walks or on street parking. These areas can typically be accessed from the adjacent sidewalk. Through Asheville’s Adopt-a-Spot program, bulb-outs can be used for planting edible and/or pollinator gardens. Volunteers must use extra caution when working along streets and roadways.
Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.
Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.
Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.
Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.
NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.
To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.
Our volunteers:
- Improve the quality of living for animals in Henderson County.
- Make a difference in their community through our community programs like our Spay/Neuter Incentive Program and Meals on Wheels Pet Pals.
- Provide support for all departments and serve on our board and committees.
- Help raise crucial funds in our Thrift Store.
It’s easy to get started!
- Fill out the Volunteer Application.
- Attend a Virtual Volunteer Information Session to learn more about Blue Ridge Humane Society and current volunteer opportunities.
- Pick a Volunteer Assignment! Decide what volunteer position works best for you! Some assignments can get started right away and some require prior orientation and training such as animal handling training that you can get started on.
- Start Volunteering! Get started in your position. Our volunteers make a huge impact in Henderson County to ensure both pets and their people are happy, healthy, and thriving. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish all we do without them.