Calendar of Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Sessions taught by regional, experienced Farmers

• One-year WNC CRAFT Farmer Network Membership

• Completing and presenting an individualized farm plan

• Access to Field Days with regional partners

• Entry to ASAP’s Business of Farming Conference

• Entry to OGS’s Spring Conference

• 15 hr mentorship with an experienced Farmer Mentor

View a sample of the full course schedule here.

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

Locations

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

• • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

• • Dawn – Dusk

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

• • • • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
      • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

• Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
• 90-Minutes – tours run daily
• 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
• $39 per person (ages 13+ only)

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas! Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century. Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and our popular Cajun seasoned Pulled Pork BBQ with Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce cooked in our special spices and slow roasted to perfection! During the month of October, 9am departures will feature the option of a delicious Cheesy Shrimp & Grits or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole while 2pm departures will be served the popular BBQ meal.

Join us for a fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

The Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain-Swannanoa is presenting its first Field of Honor®. A field of American flags dedicated to military and first responders will be flying from September 11 – September 30th at the lot between the Black Mountain United Methodist Church and Harwood Home for Funerals (200 W. State Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711). An opening ceremony will be held on Monday, September 11 at 1:00 at the field location and a closing ceremony will take place at 11:00 on September 30 to retire the flags. All funds raised by this event will be distributed to non-profit organizations and used for scholarships in the Black Mountain/Swannanoa area. Donations can be made at: https://www.healingfield.org/blackmountainnc23

Included with admission

Back by popular demand, The Vanderbilts at Home and Abroad exhibition offers guests:

• An opportunity to view rarely-seen treasures from the Biltmore collection
• A first-hand look at the Vanderbilts’ lifestyle
• Deeper insights into George, Edith, and Cornelia’s personalities, both at home and on their extensive travels

Access to exhibitions at The Biltmore Legacy is included with Biltmore daytime admission.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

LEAF isn’t just for kids! Join us in the Mezzanine while you wait for your youth to finish their class or just to hang out!

Dive into the mighty world of Pinot Noir with a comparative look at six wines of differing origins and styles. Learn all about this finicky, fascinating grape that we all love. We’ll explore classic regions like Burgundy and the Willamette Valley as well as take a look at some lesser known, up-and-coming areas for Pinot like the coastal region of South Africa.

Discover what it is that makes Pinot so difficult in the vineyard and how the best winemakers achieve success even in tough years. See what a difference harvest times,  fermentation techniques, and barrel aging make on a final wine and find out which styles are your absolute favorite. Of course, we’ll also look at how Pinot pairs at the dining table and the incredibly wide range of flavors and textures of food that marry well.

Tax & Gratuity Included • Tickets are Transferable
Limited Seating • 21 and over

Are you excited about the creation of the future Pisgah View State Park in Buncombe County? What amenities and recreation opportunities would you like to be available in this NEW state park? Let your voice be heard. The first of three public input meetings on park planning will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26 from 4 to 7 pm at the Upper Hominy Volunteer Fire and Rescue Dept in Candler. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is proud to be one of the many partners involved in bringing the dream of this new public park to fruition, and we are excited to see the park planning process proceed. The Division of Parks and Recreation is preparing a master plan for Pisgah View State Park, and Equinox Environmental has been contracted to create the plan. Members of the public are encouraged to attend, dropping in at any time, and expect to spend 20-30 minutes to review, discuss and weigh in on their preferred recreational amenities for the park. If you cannot attend the meeting in person, you can submit input via online survey.

Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute § 143-318.10 this will be an in-person meeting which the public can access by any of the following means found at  https://publicinput.com/r0806

Great news for poets and poetry lovers: Dark City Poet’s Society is returning to the Black Mountain Library. DCPS is a completely free poetry group that is open to poets of all ages and experience levels. Join us at the Black Mountain Library from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month for our (respectful) critique group. DCPS will meet at BAD Craft from 6-7 p.m. on the third Tuesday for our monthly open mic Poetry Night. Find out more on Instagram @darkcitypoetssociety or contact the Black Mountain Library.

Open Play

Time scheduled for organized drop-in, pick-up, and open community games at locations around Asheville. For more info, contact [email protected] or (828) 259-5800. All are free unless noted.

Basketball

Open Play

Time scheduled for organized drop-in, pick-up, and open community games

Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, starts September 5

• Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30-9 p.m.
• Sunday, 12-5 p.m.

Join Molly Rose and Eleanor Underhill for an evening of songs and stories
from their decades-plus years of touring and recording together.

A decade ago, chart-topping recording artists Underhill Rose were the first musical group to kick off The
Magnolia Concert Series at Flat Rock Cinema. On Wednesday, October 4th 2023 they will be the first
musical act to welcome back LIVE music at Henderson County’s only true listening room, The Flat Rock
Cinema.
Harmonies. Soul-touching lyrics. Eye-catching stage presence. Underhill Rose has become synonymous
with beautiful music, charming personalities, and rippling success. Since 2009, the band from Asheville,
North Carolina has independently released four albums, with two landing in the top of the Americana
Music Association Airplay Chart and Roots Music Report Chart, all the while garnering critical acclaim
from around the globe.
Get to know the joyful soaring voice of Molly Rose and her acoustic guitar and the distinctive styling of
Eleanor Underhill’s open-back banjo and salty-blues vocals. Their close harmonies and charisma make
most think they are sisters, and with their song-centered original compositions, Underhill Rose creates
music that is real and inspired. See them on PBS Television, hear them on nationally syndicated radio
and at live performances, and you will know how Underhill Rose has carved out a distinctive place in the
Americana-folk scene.
Molly Rose and Eleanor Underhill’s friendship is the result of a chance meeting at a makeshift
performance of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” between classes at Warren Wilson College.
Their affinity for the music they make has kept them together for more than 10 years. Underhill Rose
has since blossomed into an internationally-recognized band known for blending aspects of Americana,
R&B, country, and bluegrass into an authentic sound that is all their own—“Heartfelt Country Soul.”
Armed with a fresh sound and an extraordinary ability to blend a multitude of musical genres, Underhill
Rose will touch your heart.
The Flat Rock Cinema, in its current location for over 17 years, screens first run movies four days a week,
two shows a day. The unique Bistro-Café environment provides for a world-class film viewing
experience. New owner Bryan Byrd and local musician and sound guru Ryan Price have partnered to
bring LIVE Music back to Your Flat Rock Cinema with “pilot” shows in October 2023 with the goal of
having weekly LIVE music in 2024. Tickets are available at FlatRockCinema.com and at the box office
located at 2700 Greenville Highway at Flat Rock Square. The full Bistro food and beverage menu will be
available during LIVE Music, including wine and local brews. The full menu is available at
FlatRockCinema.com

Dr. Adam Rothman, Professor of History, Georgetown University

Dr. Rothman is the director of the Center for the Study of Slavery and Its Legacies and co-editor of the recent book Facing Georgetown’s History: A Reader on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation, which details the university’s history of enslavement and its recent efforts to confront its past. In his autobiography, Coach John Thompson writes about Georgetown’s slaveholding legacy, especially the sale of 272 enslaved people in 1883 that was made to save the financially struggling university. Aside from tracing the descendants of the 272 individuals, Dr. Rothman’s research explores how institutions and communities confront their shameful pasts.

LIVESTREAM ACCESS AVAILABLE

tickets at GOO GOO DOLLS – The Big Night Out Tour Tickets | Asheville, NC | Rabbit Rabbit (etix.com)

Gates open at 5:30pm
All Ages – under 12 requires venue approval
RAIN OR SHINE
CLEAR BAGS ONLY

Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free.

Ping-Pong Tuesday Tournament, 7pm-9pm, Players of all skill levels gather at Shakedown Kava Lounge (Hendersonville’s kava
bar) every Tuesday for the kava bar’s weekly Table Tennis Tournament, Games to 11, best of 3, double elimination, paddles
included, winner receives eternal glory and a $25 bar tab, Entry is free, Shakedown Kava Lounge, 706 7th Ave, Hendersonville,
ShakedownLounge.com