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.

Saturday, April 27, 2024
Master Gardeners Plant Clinics
Apr 27 all-day
Various Locations

Again this growing season, the Extension Master GardenerSMPlant Clinics will be held at several locations and special events across the area.  At each Plant Clinic, Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer all of your gardening questions and address your related concerns. Feel free to bring plant or insect samples for identification and/or problem resolution.  You can pick-up soil test kits and receive information about in-person programs and activities at The Learning Garden and the Gardening in the Mountains online seminars.  Please stop by to learn more!

2024 Plant Clinic Locations

Asheville City Market. On the third Saturday of each month, April through September. Master Gardener volunteers will be at the Asheville City Market located at 52 N. Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801.  The specific dates will be April 20, June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21. We will not be at the City Market in May; instead, we will be at the Spring Fling Plant Sale (see below).

 

2024 Spring Herb Festival. In addition to City Market, the Master Gardeners Plant Clinic is returning to the 2024 Spring Herb Festival this year. Our table will be located at the entrance hall to the Davis Event Center at the WNC Ag Center on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27 from 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.,on Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. The WNC Ag Center is located across the highway from the Asheville Airport at 761 New Boylston Highway, Fletcher, NC 28732. A map and directions to the WNC Ag Center can be found by clicking: https://www.wncagcenter.org/directions.aspx.

Spring Fling Plant Sale. Be sure to look for the Plant Clinic tent at this year’s Spring Fling Plant Sale on May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Plant Sale will be located at the Interchange Building, 59 Woodfin Place, in downtown Asheville.

NC Arboretum Plant Sale. EMG volunteers will also staff Plant Clinics at the North Carolina Arboretum Plant Sale on May 31, and June 1, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The NC Arboretum is located at 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806. The Plant Sale and Vendor Market, May 31 and June 1, is open to all members and the general public.  For more information on the public sale, please refer to the WNC Arboretum website at https://www.ncarboretum.org.  NOTE: The Arboretum’s standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.

WNC Herb Fest
Apr 27 @ 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center
Friday-Sunday, April 26th-28th, 2024.
Friday & Saturday 8:30-5
Sunday 10:00-3:00
  • Free admission
  • Free parking
  • Free workshops
We welcome LEASHED SERVICE DOGS ONLY, please.
Drought-tolerant planting
In part because of changes in international climate patterns, the availability of sufficient water is often irregular in western North Carolina: rainfall can be abundant one year and almost nonexistent another. Some years have early, heavy rainfall, others are dry until mid-summer. But many popular herbs, having developed around the Mediterranean, are drought-tolerant, and experienced gardeners know that xeriscaping with drought-tolerant herbs and using captured rainwater is always a wise budgetary move as well as ecologically important.
Come celebrate the
FOURTH DECADE
of the Asheville Spring Herb Festival
Equine Yoga + Trail Ride with Cathy Woods
Apr 27 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tryon International Equestrian Center

 

Join Cathy Woods, Author of “Yoga for Riders,” creator of Body, Mind, Equine™ and international presenter, for a retreat day of yoga, equestrian mindfulness, and trail riding at Tryon International Equestrian Center located in beautiful Western North Carolina.

Spring Plant Sale
Apr 27 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens
Breakthrough Breathwork Meditation Workshop with Sound Baths
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am
Magictown Movement Studio

Embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and inner healing through our groundbreaking Breathwork Meditation Workshop including 2 Sound Baths! During this immersive experience you will be guided through a powerful Breathwork practice to help you massively release stress, heal past wounds and traumas, access deeper levels of awareness, and connect more profoundly to Source.

Led by two professional highly experienced facilitators with over 50 years experience between them, this workshop will
deepen your connection with your breath and unlock its incredible potential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Join a group of like-minded individuals on the path to self-discovery in a supportive nurturing environment on the beautiful island in Marshall on one of the world’s oldest rivers.

You may come to the full day (10am-4.30pm, $120 ) which includes two Breathwork Meditation Sessions with sound baths and a session of Self-discovery. You may also come to the first Breathwork Meditation Session with sound bath only (10am-1pm, $60) or the second Breathwork Session with sound bath only (1.30pm-4.30pm, $60).
Register at www.breakthroughbreathwork.com/events

Hybrid: Unlock the Power of Scent: Aromatherapy in Ayurveda
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
AyurPrana Listening Room

We invite you to embark on a journey that transcends the ordinary. Our webinar, “Unlocking the Power of Scent: Aromatherapy through the Lens of Ayurveda,” is a gateway to a world where the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda meets the therapeutic art of aromatherapy. In this enriching two-hour live session with Ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, BAM&S, MASc we will explore the profound connection between scent, healing, and whole mind-body balance. Discover how the therapeutic effects of smell can elevate your life, and gain the skills to incorporate these ancient sciences into your modern-day existence.

In this transformative webinar, you will explore the essence of gandha (Sanskrit for smell) and the profound impact it holds from an Ayurvedic perspective. Together, we will explore a range of herbal and essential oils used in aromatherapy, unlocking the wisdom to discern when and how to use them, tailored to your unique dosha – Vata, Pitta, or Kapha. By the end of this session, you will possess a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential of scent and how it can enhance your well-being.

What you will learn in this webinar is not just knowledge; it’s the power to heal, rejuvenate, and elevate your consciousness through the wisdom of Ayurveda and aromatherapy.

Topics we will cover in this webinar

In this webinar, we’ll embark on a transformative exploration together:

Gain insight into the profound concept of Ganda and how it influences your senses and overall well-being.

Explore the world of herbal and essential oils, learning when and how to use them to restore balance based on your dosha.

Discover the ancient Tanmatra philosophy and how it shapes your sensory experiences.

Engage in interactive discussions and Q&A sessions with our knowledgeable instructors.

World Tai Chi Day + Qigong Day
Apr 27 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Carrier Park

World Tai Chi Day & Qigong Day!

ALL are welcome at this FREE event that is open to the public on April 27th. You’ll meet up with others at the Carrier Park pavilion. Classes will be held from 10am – 3pm. This event is to help introduce new people to the various forms of Tai Chi, or Taiji, practice. Learn why the ancient form of Tai Chi offers benefits for everyone- no experience necessary.

Peace Gardens and Market Spring Fling
Apr 27 @ 11:00 am
Peace Gardens

47 Bryant St, Asheville, NC, United States, North Carolina 28806
See Facebook Event HERE
Join us in our yearly celebration of spring, the arts, the environment, sustainability, community & so much more.
🎉 Event Highlights:
🛍️ Dozens of local vendors offering unique hand-crafted goods
🍔 Local Food Trucks & The Hop Ice Cream to keep you fueled for the fun
🎵 Live Music performed in the gardens
🍃 Take home seedlings that are chemical-free and naturally grown
📅 Date: Saturday, April 27th
⏰ Time: 11 AM till dusk
📍 Location: Peace Gardens & Market
We’ll kick the day off with a puppet performance from Asheville Creative Arts for the kiddos of all ages!

Sunday, April 28, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
Apr 28 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Master Gardeners Plant Clinics
Apr 28 all-day
Various Locations

Again this growing season, the Extension Master GardenerSMPlant Clinics will be held at several locations and special events across the area.  At each Plant Clinic, Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer all of your gardening questions and address your related concerns. Feel free to bring plant or insect samples for identification and/or problem resolution.  You can pick-up soil test kits and receive information about in-person programs and activities at The Learning Garden and the Gardening in the Mountains online seminars.  Please stop by to learn more!

2024 Plant Clinic Locations

Asheville City Market. On the third Saturday of each month, April through September. Master Gardener volunteers will be at the Asheville City Market located at 52 N. Market Street, Asheville, NC 28801.  The specific dates will be April 20, June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 21. We will not be at the City Market in May; instead, we will be at the Spring Fling Plant Sale (see below).

 

2024 Spring Herb Festival. In addition to City Market, the Master Gardeners Plant Clinic is returning to the 2024 Spring Herb Festival this year. Our table will be located at the entrance hall to the Davis Event Center at the WNC Ag Center on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27 from 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.,on Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. The WNC Ag Center is located across the highway from the Asheville Airport at 761 New Boylston Highway, Fletcher, NC 28732. A map and directions to the WNC Ag Center can be found by clicking: https://www.wncagcenter.org/directions.aspx.

Spring Fling Plant Sale. Be sure to look for the Plant Clinic tent at this year’s Spring Fling Plant Sale on May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Plant Sale will be located at the Interchange Building, 59 Woodfin Place, in downtown Asheville.

NC Arboretum Plant Sale. EMG volunteers will also staff Plant Clinics at the North Carolina Arboretum Plant Sale on May 31, and June 1, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The NC Arboretum is located at 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806. The Plant Sale and Vendor Market, May 31 and June 1, is open to all members and the general public.  For more information on the public sale, please refer to the WNC Arboretum website at https://www.ncarboretum.org.  NOTE: The Arboretum’s standard $20 parking fee applies to all non-members.

Tools to Support Liberation
Apr 28 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

WNC Herb Fest
Apr 28 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Western North Carolina Agricultural Center
Friday-Sunday, April 26th-28th, 2024.
Friday & Saturday 8:30-5
Sunday 10:00-3:00
  • Free admission
  • Free parking
  • Free workshops
We welcome LEASHED SERVICE DOGS ONLY, please.
Drought-tolerant planting
In part because of changes in international climate patterns, the availability of sufficient water is often irregular in western North Carolina: rainfall can be abundant one year and almost nonexistent another. Some years have early, heavy rainfall, others are dry until mid-summer. But many popular herbs, having developed around the Mediterranean, are drought-tolerant, and experienced gardeners know that xeriscaping with drought-tolerant herbs and using captured rainwater is always a wise budgetary move as well as ecologically important.
Come celebrate the
FOURTH DECADE
of the Asheville Spring Herb Festival
Monday, April 29, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
Apr 29 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Learn + Grow ADULT + CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Apr 29 all-day
NC Arboretum

Plants Connect Us in Place

Throughout Southern Appalachia this month, the first spring ephemerals — floral harbingers of the colorful season to come — begin their journey toward the light. Trillium, Trout Lily, Bloodroot, Dicentra: All appear the most delicate of flowers, yet they are mighty enough to push through heavy layers of damp leaf duff to reach the sun’s rays. Usher in the brightening days like these first flowers with courses that extend the Arboretum’s mission to connect people with plants and learn more about what roots us in our special place in nature.

Eco Gardening: Principles in Practice | In Person Version – ONSITE, Three Sessions: Wednesdays, March 6, 20 & April 3, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Or  Asynchronous Version – Open March 6 through May 31.


Emergence: Spring Wildflower Walk | ONSITE | Saturday, March 9, 1 – 3 p.m. or Saturday, March 16, 1 – 3 p.m.


Lifelong Gardening | ONSITE | Wednesday, March 13, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.


Free! Lunch & Learn: Previewing the Cullowhee Native Plants Conference | ONSITE | Thursday, March 14, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.


Native Plants for the Vegetable Garden | ONSITE | Thursday, March 14, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.


Botany Basics | In Person Version – ONSITE, Six Sessions: Tuesdays & Thursdays, March 19 – April 4, 1 – 3 p.m. Or Asynchronous Version – Open April 4 through June 30.


Soil Health Check Up | ONSITE | Wednesday, March 27, 1:30 – 4 p.m.


Free! Arboretum Reads Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy | ONSITE | Two Sessions: Thursday, April 4 & 18, 3:30 – 5 p.m.


Registration is also open for our signature plant-based core classes in April. Join us for Spring Native Flora ID (field and blended field/online sections), Spring Native Tree ID (online, field and intensive versions). Plan ahead in April to learn about exotics at the Orchid Festival, April 12 – 14, held at the Arboretum, then return to learn about our native azaleas at the Native Azalea Day, April 27. 

Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
Apr 29 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Tools to Support Liberation
Apr 30 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

Adult Mental Health Series: Communication 101
Apr 30 @ 10:00 am
Enka-Candler Library

Want to learn more about managing depression and nervous energy? Got questions about medications or  emotional implications of chronic illness? Join Vaya Health’s Geriatric and Adult Mental Health Specialty team for a series of classes at the Enka-Candler and Leicester Libraries

Classes are free to attend, but registration is required. Please visit the Vaya Health calendar to register. Everyone is welcome.

 

Communication is the string that ties us all together. If that string isn’t strong enough or is broken, relationships tend to unravel. Effective communication cultivates strong relationships and supports one’s voice being heard. This curriculum is designed to look at ways to neutralize barriers and methods to enhance clear, concise, and deliberate exchanges.

FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
Apr 30 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hall Fletcher Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 
FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 1 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
May 1 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 1 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hall Fletcher Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 
FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Tools to Support Liberation
May 2 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

8 Week Series A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls
May 2 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls

Many older adults experience concerns about falling and restrict their activities. A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program designed to manage falls and increase activity levels.This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls.

You Will Learn To:
· view falls as controllable
· set goals for increasing activity
· make changes to reduce fall risks at home
· exercise to increase strength and balance

Who Should Attend?
· anyone concerned about falls
· anyone interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength
· anyone who has fallen in the past
· anyone who has restricted activities because of falling concerns

Classes are held once a week for 8 weeks for 2 hours each. Participants are expected to attend the entire series. Registration is required and will be limited.

This class will be facilitated by Heather Bauer, master trainer. The series is sponsored by the Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging.

Ephemerals, Mosses, + Ferns
May 2 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Want to learn more about mosses and ferns? What are the most common spring ephemeral plants?, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants. Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina.

Ephemerals, Mosses, + Ferns
May 2 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Henderson County Extension Agent and host of the Gardening in the Mountains Radio Show Steve Pettis will discuss the many flowers that grow in the Spring time in the forests of Western North Carolina. He will discuss some of the most common spring ephemeral plants’ biology, their pollinators and some of the interesting history of these special plants as well as mosses and ferns.

FEAST: School Garden Plant Sales
May 2 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hall Fletcher Elementary School
Please plan to support our FEAST program and long-term food security through edible education by buying your spring plants at one of these upcoming plant sales!
We empower youth and families to grow, prepare, and enjoy fruits and vegetables through hands-on cooking and garden education. 
FEAST classes focus on:

  • Problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
  • Increasing fresh, locally grown produce in everyday living.
  • Gaining confidence by exploring different ways to grow and prepare fresh produce.
  • Creating and changing recipes and substituting ingredients.
  • Learning how food and the environment affects the brain and body.
  • Connecting to Core Curriculum and Essential Standards in math, reading, writing, science, health, and nutrition.
SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS
Friday, May 3, 2024
ASAP: How Does Western North Carolina Shop for Food SURVEY
May 3 all-day
online

ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) has released a survey to learn more about how people in Western North Carolina shop for food and why they choose the food they do. The survey, part of a three-year project by ASAP’s Local Food Research Center, is for any resident of Western North Carolina over the age of 18, no matter where or how they shop for food. It can be completed online at surveymonkey.com/r/WNCFoodASAP or over the phone by calling ASAP at 828-236-1282. It should take approximately 8 to 12 minutes to complete and will be open through Oct. 31, 2024. Respondents are encouraged to share the survey widely with families, friends, and co-workers.

 

“By completing this survey, you are helping local farmers understand and connect with consumers,” said Amy Marion, ASAP Associate Director and lead researcher. “The challenges of our food system are constantly evolving. Improving it requires active participation from all community members. With this research we can better understand consumer values and the barriers they face, and help farmers and food producers improve communications with their customers and their communities.”

 

The survey is part of a three-year research project, “Connections in Direct Markets: Assessing the feedback loop between consumer values and farmers’ marketing strategies,” which will examine and improve communication and alignment between farmers and consumers in Western North Carolina. The research phase will also employ consumer focus groups, farmer interviews and case studies, and more targeted surveying. The broad consumer survey provides an update to the last consumer survey conducted by the Local Food Research Center in 2014. Results from the current research project will be shared in 2025.

 

ASAP founded the Local Food Research Center in 2011 to study the economic, environmental, and social impacts of localizing food systems. From its inception, ASAP’s programs and services have been grounded in research and evaluation, adjusting based on a strong feedback loop and observation of current conditions in the food system.

 

This project is supported in part by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2022-38640-37488 through the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number LS23-382. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.

Volunteer: Grace Covenant Community Garden
May 3 all-day
YWCA of Asheville

Spring has sprung, and at the YWCA that means that our talented Nutrition team is cooking up new ways to serve fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the children in our Early Learning and Empowerment Child Care programs. We are so grateful to be partnering with the wonderful volunteers who operate Grace Covenant’s Community Garden to receive produce grown specifically for our kitchen! The YWCA has been partnering with Grace Covenant for three years, and we have received over 1000 pounds of healthy, local produce from the garden.

YWCA Nutrition Specialist Melinda Aponte works hard to make the most of the bounty from Grace Covenant, and she also nurtures our own YWCA garden to teach kiddos in our childcare programs healthy habits and get them in the garden. Love the idea of helping to feed children fresh, healthy foods? Volunteer with the YWCA Nutrition team this spring and summer to help out in the YW garden space.

Chamber Challenge: 5k Celebrating Workplace Wellness
May 3 @ 4:00 pm
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber Challenge is designed to promote community wellness through friendly competition between businesses in the Asheville area. Encourage your co-workers, family and friends to participate. Whether you walk every step or sprint to the finish, we know you’re up to the challenge!

Saturday, May 4, 2024
In Time for Mother’s Day: DIY Self-Care Products
May 4 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Bullington Gardens

Looking for a chance to celebrate mom and make her a unique gift?  Or are you wanting to learn a new skill?  In this fun introductory class led by Judy Peacock, you will learn to make your own herbal self-care products including an oatmeal rose honey scrub, a rose clay mask, and herbal tea blend. It’s the perfect way to spend time with mom, or make something for yourself.  Each participant will take home a honey scrub, a clay mask blend, and an herbal tranquil tea blend.