he 2021 Local Food Guide, ASAP’s annual free publication for finding local food and farms, hits newsstands this week. This definitive resource lists Appalachian GrownTM certified farms, farmers tailgate markets, restaurants, and travel destinations throughout Western North Carolina and surrounding counties in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. You can also view a digital version of the print Guide at asapconnections.org/guide.

The 2021 print edition of the Local Food Guide includes:

• 200+ Appalachian Grown farms, plus charts to easily locate farms offering u-pick, farm stands, lodging, visitor activities, and CSAs;

• 80+ farmers tailgate markets, plus information about holiday markets and a list of markets that operate in the winter;

• 80+ partner businesses, including restaurants, groceries, wholesalers, artisan producers, and travel destinations.

Articles and photography throughout the Guide highlight the unique farm stories and beauty of the region. This year’s Guide features The AppaLatin Farmstead, Colfax Creek Farm, Headwaters Market Garden, Kituwah Farm, New Roots Market Garden, and TK Family Farm. A primer on eating seasonally includes simple, vegetable-focused recipes.

As part of ASAP’s Appalachian Grown program, staff connects with markets, farms, and businesses to update listings each year. The Local Food Guide offers the most accurate, up-to-date information for consumers. ASAP also maintains the online Local Food Guide at appalachiangrown.org throughout the year. This database, including 1,350 listings, is searchable by products, locations, activities, and more.

Find Local Food Guide copies at farmers markets, visitors centers, libraries, community centers, groceries, restaurants, and other partner businesses throughout the region. They are also available to pick up in the lobby of ASAP’s office in Asheville at 306 W. Haywood St., Monday to Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Contact ASAP if you need help locating a copy in your area.

The 2021 Local Food Guide is made possible with support from the USDA, Buncombe County Strategic Partnership fund, The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Pisgah Health Foundation, and Asheville Regional Airport.

ABOUT ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT)

ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters, and build healthy communities through connections to local food. To learn more, visit asapconnections.org.

DigiMarCon At Home 2021 is your chance to …
– Hear from some of the most audacious and thought provoking speakers in the digital marketing, media and advertising industry.
– Gain insight into emerging strategies, the latest innovative technologies, and best practices to move your business to the next level.
– Network with thought leaders, collaborate with your peers and build your professional network.

The 6th annual DigiMarCon At Home, the Premier Virtual Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference will be held April 28th to 29th, 2021, available live stream and on-demand. Join your peers online for 2-days jam packed with digital marketing best practices, latest trends, practical solutions, strategy and networking.

Immerse yourself in topics like digital strategy, programmatic advertising, web experience management, usability / design, mobile marketing & retargeting, customer engagement, user acquisition, social media marketing, targeting & optimization, video marketing, data science & big data, web analytics & A/B testing, email marketing, content marketing, conversion rate optimization, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, geo-targeting, predictive analysis & attribution, growth hacking, conversion rate optimization, growth marketing tools, marketing & sales automation, sustainable growth strategies, product marketing & UX / UI and much, much more!

At DigiMarCon At Home 2021, you will receive all the elements you need to achieve digital marketing success! Conventional thought will be challenged, new ways of thinking will emerge, and you will leave with your head, notebooks and professional toolkit full of action items and ideas to lead and supercharge your agency / team / account to even greater success.

Be a part of DigiMarCon At Home 2021 and discover how to thrive and succeed as a marketer in a rapidly evolving digital world.

See why people keep coming back year after year to this must-attend event! Register and secure your seat today.

For more details visit https://digimarconathome.com.

#WNCFORTHEPLANET

April is Earth Month, and for all of you looking for ways to help our beautiful mother Earth, we’ve got you covered. This year 6 of the partnering environmental organizations have gathered various way for you to enjoy nature, learn new things about the environment, and help protect our local ecosystems. By participating in some of these activities, you can be entered to win a bundle of goodies. Here’s how it works:

1. Click on each bingo square to learn more about that activity.
2. Use this printable bingo card to track the activities you complete.
3. Once you’ve completed a row or column on the bingo card, email your filled out bingo card to [email protected]
4. For every row or column that you complete you’ll get one entry into the drawing for a swag bag prize bundle.

FABRICated presents an intergenerational look at new boundaries in art and craft through works that merge fiber-based processes with other media, like painting, sculpture, and blacksmithing. Each of the seven artists explores ideas of the body, identity, and their unique, personal stories by using a medium with a rich history of craft. Stitching, in and of itself, is slow and methodical and invites the audience to slow down and look carefully at the physicality of the thread, the textures of the fabric, and the paint and the found objects that are introduced into the mix. The result is an exhibition that questions the nature of what constitutes women’s work, the relationship of fine art and craft, and how these elements can come together to form a new kind of community conversation. FABRICated presents the work of two established artists, Virginia Derryberry (Asheville, NC) and Marcia Goldenstein (Knoxville, TN), along with five emerging artists who are exploring new boundaries in art and craft and, by so doing, open up an exploration between an older and a younger generation.

Each year, thousands of residents and visitors take part in evaluating what’s best and brightest about a very wonderful place — Western North Carolina. With spring in full bloom and months of lockdown behind us, voting for what you love most about your community is a restorative affirmation.

Buncombe County Recreation Services dedication to low- and no-cost recreational programming and equitable access to quality outdoor spaces is reflected in its mission statement: Connect Communities. Preserve Culture. Change Lives. Among the ballot categories, we offer some suggestions for your consideration.

VOTE NOW >>

Kids

• Place for Outdoor Fun – Buncombe County Parks
• Playground – Lake Julian Park
• Place for Birthday Parties – Buncombe County Parks

Outdoors

• Picnic Spot – Lake Julian Park
• Fishing Spot – Lake Julian Park

Farm, Yard, & Garden

• Orchard – Sand Hill Native Tree Orchard
• Community Garden – Sand Hill Community Garden

Pets

• Outdoor Place to Take Your Pet – Buncombe County Parks

Uniquely Asheville

• Place to Connect With Nature Within Asheville City Limits – Buncombe County Sports Park
• Holiday Event (Winter/Spring) – Festival of Lights at Lake Julian Park
• Bumper Sticker – I ♥ Parks (Buncombe County Recreation Services)

Regional

• Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors (Swannanoa/Black Mountain) – Charles D. Owen Park
• Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors (Weaverville/Woodfin) – Ledges Whitewater River Park

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Wednesday Governor Cooper laid out a timeline for lifting the current pandemic restrictions. The state expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity, and mass gathering restrictions by June 1 with stable trends and continued vaccination success. The Governor plans to issue an Executive Order next week outlining safety restrictions for the month of May. To date, the state has administered over 6.5 million vaccines. 46.9 percent of adults are at least partially vaccinated, and 35.1 percent are fully vaccinated. More than 76 percent of people 65 and older have had at least one shot. With vaccine now widely available across the state – often with no wait for an appointment, all North Carolinians 16 and older can plan to take their shot. The state anticipates lifting the mask mandate and easing other public health recommendations, once two-thirds of adult North Carolinians have received at least one vaccine dose and if trends remain stable. State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to follow the state’s mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often.

Now more than ever, access to broadband is critical to participate in online learning, access medical care via telehealth, search for jobs, or simply to stay in touch with family and friends. Buncombe County Public Libraries (BCPL), in partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Library Laptop Loan Program on April 16, 2021, as many in our community rely on their local library for connectivity.

With grant funding provided by the State Library of North Carolina through the CARES Act, BCPL is responding to the needs of patrons during the coronavirus pandemic by bringing digital tools such as Wi-Fi and tablets into the community. “We are excited to launch this program and look forward to working with folks to let them know about this opportunity and how it can help bridge the digital divide, especially in rural and low-income communities,” says Library Director Jim Blanton.

Following the launch of the program BCPL will have laptops/hotspots or hotspots only, that patrons 18 and over, with a Buncombe County library card in good standing may check out for one month at a time. Call the Ask-a-Librarian line at (828) 250-4700 to request a device. There is no charge for the service but charges may be incurred for late returns or losses. This program is alignment with the 2025 Buncombe County Strategic Plan and supports an educated and capable community.

The fine print:

• One unit per household (unit defined as laptop/hotspot combo or hotspot only)
• Only patrons 18 and over with a Buncombe County library card in good standing may check out
• One month checkout limit
• $1/day that it is late
• $100 charge if laptop is not returned or lost
• $30 charge if hotspot is not returned, lost, or returned damaged
• $20 if laptop power cord is not returned or lost
• Patrons must call to request a device
• Devices can be sent to any Buncombe County Library for pick up
• Borrowers will sign a user agreement before borrowing the equipment
• Devices cannot be renewed and will be disabled when they are one week overdue
• Devices must be returned inside (no drop boxes)
• Borrowers will be asked to fill out a survey upon return of equipment
• If laptop is stolen or not returned after two weeks overdue, a police report will be filed
• All laptops include Microsoft Office Suite and will have basic computer skills training videos/information loaded on to its desktop

A BCPL technology troubleshoot team will be available to assist patrons over the phone with any issues that come up with this equipment. The operational hours of this team will be from 10 a.m. until the library closes each day.

Summer is around the corner and lifeguards are in high demand. Sign up to take our spring, Red Cross certified, lifeguard course today. Class is available to ages 15 and up.

Contact Kitty Schmidt, Director of Fitness and Aquatics to register.

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

This beautiful spring weather makes it easy to get out and train for our virtual Run for Justice 5K which kicks off next month!  Register today to participate anytime between May 29th through June 12th on a route of your choice and then join us for our awards ceremony June 12th!  Everyone who registers by April 30 will receive a Run for Justice t-shirt.

Three ways to sign up

1. Register for $25 per participant  (you can add a donation to support Pisgah Legal if desired)
2. Peer to Peer Fundraising:  Invite your friends and family to donate $1,$5 or more for each kilometer you walk or run.
3. Be a Sponsor:  Sponsor as an individual, a couple, a group or a business. Sponsors receive race entries, t-shirts and recognition. (Find out more about sponsor benefits here)

Check out our registration page for more details, a fun explainer video and FAQs.

ACTION ITEM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting input on its efforts to address climate change. Specifically, comments are being solicited on how the agency can expand its efforts for climate-smart agriculture and forestry systems. The feedback collected will be used to develop recommendations for how the USDA will increase its efforts to tackle climate change through its various programs and authorities. Comments are due by April 29.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.