River Arts Tour
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.
Sunday, March
21, 2021
Winter Nantahala Gorge Train Tour Great Smokey Mountains Railroad
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Great Smoky Mountains while traveling along the Tennessee and Nantahala (nan-tuh-HAY-luh) River.The historic trellis bridge Fontana Trestle takes you across Fontana Lake and into the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. Onboard dining is available by selecting our First Class Seating option or pre-purchasing one of our boxed lunches, an amazing unique moving dining experience. Arrive at our layover destination in the heart of the Nantahala Gorge for a one-hour layover where you can relax by the river or enjoy sightseeing!
We are operating under all current COVID-19 safety guidelines and ask that you follow all protocols. Find the information HERE! *Please be aware dining options are currently not available at your layover destination. You are advised to enjoy onboard dining by pre-purchasing a box lunch meal option along with your train tickets.*
Plan on being here by 1 hour before your departure.
Monday, March
22, 2021
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
Growing Local Radio Series
2021 Early Spring Plant Sale!
The Garden Helpline Is OPEN. Master Gardeners Work Remotely to Answer Your Questions
This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.
Growing Local Radio Series
Growing Local is a radio series on WNCW on Mondays during Morning Edition at 8:45 am. Stories on Growing Local come from ASAP’s Local Food Research Center and feature local food and farms in the Southern Appalachians. Find past episodes archived at our website.
It’s that time of year again! We’re delighted to be able to offer a vast selection of cold-season veggies, herbs, and flowers for your gardens. We’ll have over 50 varieties available! A full catalogue of plants will be posted in the event soon.
As you all know too well, we all had to pivot last Spring due to COVID precautions. We’ll be keeping those same precautions in place this year:
* All attendees must wear masks and maintain 6 ft. distance from other gardeners/visitors.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
As always, we are grateful for your patronage/support, happy that our little plants get to find a home in our community, and will use the proceeds from the sale to support expanded programming in the Peace Gardens.
If you don’t already, follow us on instagram @peacegardener and @hood_huggers
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Tuesday, March
23, 2021
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
2021 Early Spring Plant Sale!
This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.
It’s that time of year again! We’re delighted to be able to offer a vast selection of cold-season veggies, herbs, and flowers for your gardens. We’ll have over 50 varieties available! A full catalogue of plants will be posted in the event soon.
As you all know too well, we all had to pivot last Spring due to COVID precautions. We’ll be keeping those same precautions in place this year:
* All attendees must wear masks and maintain 6 ft. distance from other gardeners/visitors.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
As always, we are grateful for your patronage/support, happy that our little plants get to find a home in our community, and will use the proceeds from the sale to support expanded programming in the Peace Gardens.
If you don’t already, follow us on instagram @peacegardener and @hood_huggers
Wednesday, March
24, 2021
Gardening Video: Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
2021 Early Spring Plant Sale!
The Garden Helpline Is OPEN. Master Gardeners Work Remotely to Answer Your Questions
Bird Friendly Gardening
Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website. Learn how to identify and manage common problems that can affect tomatoes at all stages of maturity. To access this video, click on the link below:
This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.
It’s that time of year again! We’re delighted to be able to offer a vast selection of cold-season veggies, herbs, and flowers for your gardens. We’ll have over 50 varieties available! A full catalogue of plants will be posted in the event soon.
As you all know too well, we all had to pivot last Spring due to COVID precautions. We’ll be keeping those same precautions in place this year:
* All attendees must wear masks and maintain 6 ft. distance from other gardeners/visitors.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
As always, we are grateful for your patronage/support, happy that our little plants get to find a home in our community, and will use the proceeds from the sale to support expanded programming in the Peace Gardens.
If you don’t already, follow us on instagram @peacegardener and @hood_huggers
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Join local Audubon Society member Tom Tribble to learn more about our native plants species and what you can do to make your yard a haven for birds!
Registration required.
Thursday, March
25, 2021
Gardening Video: Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
Virtual Arts + Crafts Home Tour
2021 Early Spring Plant Sale!
Tip-Based Walking Tour
Growing Blueberries for the Home Garden Bullington Gardens
ONLINE Lecture Series – “Bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum: More Than Meets the Eye”
Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website. Learn how to identify and manage common problems that can affect tomatoes at all stages of maturity. To access this video, click on the link below:
This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.
This year you can join us for the Arts & Crafts Home Tour from the comfort of your home! Tour Possum Trot and Dogwood Cottages in Albemarle Park and finish with Sondley House in Haw Creek. Due to location and accessibility, these homes would not normally be included in the tour, so this is a special treat!
It’s that time of year again! We’re delighted to be able to offer a vast selection of cold-season veggies, herbs, and flowers for your gardens. We’ll have over 50 varieties available! A full catalogue of plants will be posted in the event soon.
As you all know too well, we all had to pivot last Spring due to COVID precautions. We’ll be keeping those same precautions in place this year:
* All attendees must wear masks and maintain 6 ft. distance from other gardeners/visitors.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
As always, we are grateful for your patronage/support, happy that our little plants get to find a home in our community, and will use the proceeds from the sale to support expanded programming in the Peace Gardens.
If you don’t already, follow us on instagram @peacegardener and @hood_huggers
This insider excursion provides you with tips and local secrets about the best way to do Asheville on a budget! You will have a better understanding of how Asheville became the unique, quirky city you see now and learn everything we are doing to “Keep Asheville Weird.” This is the only walking tour provided that allows you to choose how much you think a walking tour is worth and pay whatever you like. We will follow the urban trail, stop along the way for some free honey tastings and finish the tour with some special beer tastings at one of the best local breweries in South Slope! At the brewery, you will also be able to participate in a free raffle where you receive gifts donated from local businesses like free salsa classes, local theatre performances, books and more! I want you to know and love my city as much as I do and I am excited to share this experience with you!
Pay what you want at the end!
Downtown Tour
We will meet at Pack Square where the road cuts through the park! I will be wearing a free walking tour Tshirt
My parking recommendations are either street parking in the square or the Aloft parking deck on Biltmore Ave. If it’s a weekend, there should be free parking on the streets but be sure to check the meter! Feel free to ask any other questions you may have!
We will meet outside of the Magentic Theatre and your guide will be wearing a blue T-shirt !
I recommend parking in the public parking lot directly beside the theatre for free parking close to the meeting spot!
Successfully grow and harvest tasty blueberries in your own home garden. Area Extension Specialized Agent Craig Mauney will share practices on getting blueberries established and growing well, how to prune, pest problems and which are the best varieties for our area. ZOOM class.
Join us for “Bonsai at The North Carolina Arboretum: More Than Meets the Eye,” a six-part series of online lectures led by Bonsai Curator Arthur Joura and special guests who will be taking an inspiring in-depth look into the ancient art of Bonsai and the creative ways in which the practice has been adapted here at the Arboretum.
The series kicks off this Thursday, January 28, at 4 p.m., and Adult Education is thrilled to present this first session FREE to Arboretum members!
Friday, March
26, 2021
2021 Summer Cuba Agroecology Tour
Driving Tour with Smith-McDowell House
Gardening Video: Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Growing Minds Farm to School Program Spring Garden Bingo
Haunted Asheville Tour
Self-Guided WNC Tours
Victoria: The Forgotten Town Walking Tour
Virtual Arts + Crafts Home Tour
2021 Early Spring Plant Sale!
Smith-McDowell House Museum Open for private, pre-booked tours
The Garden Helpline Is OPEN. Master Gardeners Work Remotely to Answer Your Questions
Organic Growers School is partnering with Food First and Altruvistas to offer their fourth Cuba Agroecology Tour and their first such trip in the summer from June 22 through July 1, 2021, with a focus on the country’s intensive sustainable agriculture practices. The tour, to be comprised of growers, community leaders, educators, and activists who are passionate about sustainable agriculture, will begin in Havana and travel to destinations such as Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, and Matanzas. The trip offers participants on-the-ground exposure to Cuban agriculture and the food sovereignty movement and will highlight their engagement with the global food system. The intention is for participants to acquire the knowledge and strategies to create just, sustainable, local, and healthy food systems in their own communities.
Cuba has had a focus on organic agriculture production methods since the 1970s. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 ended Cuba’s access to agricultural inputs overnight, propelling them into what is now known as the “Special Period”—a crisis of reduced resources and increased hunger. The country embarked on a massive and rapid conversion to agroecology in an attempt to boost food production. The tour will focus on small farmers, sustainable food systems, and national security. There are multiple opportunities in Cuba’s diverse agricultural landscape to learn many lessons and insights for the development of a secure and sustainable food system elsewhere.
“The purpose of this tour is not to romanticize or glorify Cuban agriculture,” says Sera Deva, Director of Programs with Organic Growers School and the trip organizer. “It is instead an opportunity to learn about what a country-wide commitment to sustainable, local agriculture can look like. It will broaden and deepen our region’s wisdom regarding alternative food systems. Our goals are to show our participants the importance of cooperative farming models and sustainable farming techniques, as well as encouraging them to think critically about practical and governmental structures that could support a thriving community of organic growers and consumers.”
Local partners will provide an overview of Cuban history, culture, politics, agriculture, and ecology. Additionally, the group will meet with specialists who will provide background on the country’s transition into agroecological farming practices and the national policies that prioritize organic farming and the remediation of hunger. With a firm commitment to sustainability and justice, this tour will connect participants to farmers, consumers, activists, NGOs, policymakers and experts working to transform the global food system.
Tour highlights will include the following:
- Discuss agroecology with Fernando Funes, co-author of Food First’s book Sustainable Agriculture & Resistance in Cuba.
- Visit community permaculture and agricultural education, and food conservation projects.
- Discuss changes in US-Cuba relations and how they might affect the future of tourism and agriculture in Cuba.
- Meet with the National Association for Small Farmers (ANAP) and the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Meet with a variety of small farmers and farmers’ cooperatives.
For the purposes of this trip, OGS is partnering with Food First, a “people’s think tank” dedicated to ending the injustices that cause hunger and helping communities to take back control of their food systems. Food First has been offering tours to Cuba for more than 20 years with the organizing assistance of Altruvistas, a socially responsible and philanthropic travel company that has facilitated 20,000 travelers to Cuba.
The cost of the trip is $2,950 and will serve, in part, as a fundraiser for Organic Growers School (OGS), a 501c3 non-profit organization. Thanks to a grant from the Christopher Reynolds Foundation, there are a limited number of partial scholarships for farmers and food activists to attend. This tour and all registrants will not be affected by recent political actions to restrict American travel to Cuba. Cuba is considered one of the safest destinations for travel, partially due to their diligent and holistic approaches to healthcare. Due to COVID-19, the traveling climate of the US (as well as tourist restrictions in Cuba) is changing daily. Cuba has implemented many of the same precautionary measures implemented around the world to minimize the spread of COVID-19 including social distancing, limiting travel to the island completely through the summer, and closing schools. In early November 2020, Cuba reopened its borders to travelers.
Potential tour participants can visit the OGS FAQ page which answers questions such as, “Why Cuba?,” “What are the legal considerations when traveling to Cuba?,” “Why ravel with Organic Growers School?,” “What does the tuition cover?,” and “What can I expect to experience?” Traveler testimonials from previous trips, the full itinerary, as well as a photo gallery can also be found on the website.
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| The residents of the Smith-McDowell House and grounds were woven in to the fabric of Asheville.
This driving tour begins at the Smith-McDowell House Museum on the campus of A-B Tech and continues through historic sites related to early occupants of the house. |
Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Tomato Problems, Diseases, and Pests
Check out the latest gardening video on the Buncombe County Master Gardener website. Learn how to identify and manage common problems that can affect tomatoes at all stages of maturity. To access this video, click on the link below:
This spring garden bingo card comes from our Growing Minds Farm to School Program, but anyone can play! Get a printable version of the card here or find more spring learning resources for kids here.
 |
| Asheville, and the surrounding mountains, have also hosted numerous writers, musicians, and folklorists who have promoted (if not possibly created) some of these legends. Perhaps these are some of the reasons lore permeates the streets, hills, and valleys of this mountain city. You can see many of these sites for yourself, if you dare. |
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| Western North Carolina is defined as much by the various chains and valleys within the Appalachian Mountains as it is by the various people here. The region contains large swaths of national forest lands and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It contains old rivers and old folkways, along with an increasingly large stream of transplants and temporary visitors. This virtual tour gives a broad overview of our region. |
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| Contained by its larger growing neighbor (Asheville), the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, and the Southern Railway line, the Town of Victoria existed from 1887 until 1905, when it was absorbed into Asheville. The community—which included the Smith-McDowell House and Fernihurst mansion—originally incorporated into a town to prevent unwanted development (particularly from the Vanderbilts). |
This year you can join us for the Arts & Crafts Home Tour from the comfort of your home! Tour Possum Trot and Dogwood Cottages in Albemarle Park and finish with Sondley House in Haw Creek. Due to location and accessibility, these homes would not normally be included in the tour, so this is a special treat!
It’s that time of year again! We’re delighted to be able to offer a vast selection of cold-season veggies, herbs, and flowers for your gardens. We’ll have over 50 varieties available! A full catalogue of plants will be posted in the event soon.
As you all know too well, we all had to pivot last Spring due to COVID precautions. We’ll be keeping those same precautions in place this year:
* All attendees must wear masks and maintain 6 ft. distance from other gardeners/visitors.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
* All plants are available on a sliding scale – if there’s a stick/label in it, then you pay from $3-$5/each…you get to decide.
* We’re using the honor system, so you pick out your plants, decide what you are going to pay, then either leave payment in donation bin or pay via CashApp.
* Green donation bin is located near the garden entrance by the turquoise tool shed. We accept cash or checks (payable to Hood Huggers International).
* Using CashApp? You’ll need to download the app and set up your account ahead of time, then click $, enter amount, click pay, and enter $HoodHuggers.
As always, we are grateful for your patronage/support, happy that our little plants get to find a home in our community, and will use the proceeds from the sale to support expanded programming in the Peace Gardens.
If you don’t already, follow us on instagram @peacegardener and @hood_huggers
We are OPEN Fridays and Saturdays
for private, pre-booked tours at:
10:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:00 PM
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