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.

March 2021 Mar 2021
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Saturday, March 6, 2021
Find Your Farm Share! CSA guide available now
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Joining a CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) program connects you directly with local farms in your community. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) offers several events and resources to learn more about CSAs, in which members buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest upfront and receive a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. ASAP will host a virtual CSA Fair on March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. In addition, Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available now at farmers markets and community centers throughout the region as well as digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

 

The virtual CSA Fair will feature farms providing CSAs in Buncombe County and the surrounding region. In addition to traditional produce farms, the fair will include farms with meat and flower CSA programs. The virtual fair will have a similar format as live fairs in the past—a relaxed setting where attendees can talk to farmers about their CSA programs, products, growing practices, and more. Attendees can sign up for CSAs during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair is free to attend, but participants do need to register for the event to get a Zoom link.

 

For farmers, the CSA Fair is a chance to build relationships, even if attendees decide not to purchase a share. “[The customers we meet at the CSA Fair] tend to really want to know the farmer and the food, meaning they are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying new things,” says K.P. Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm. “They are interested in knowing how and what we are growing, and really want us to be successful as a farm operation. We may get some customers from the fair and that’s great. But we also start building relationships with future customers.”

 

Participating farms at press time include Bearwallow Valley Farms, Blazing Star Flowers, Colfax Creek Farm, Creekside Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Olivette Farm, and Tiny Bridge Farm, with more farms to be added before the fair. Check asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair for updates and to register.

 

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.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Garden Garden Events
Free Energy Upgrades for Qualifying Homeowners
Mar 6 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government
Income-qualifying households in Buncombe County are eligible for free energy-saving weatherization upgrades to their homes through the Energy Saver’s Network (ESN). The ESN sends volunteers to local homes to install many types of upgrades depending on the needs of the home. The work can take anywhere between one and three hours, and includes:
  • weather stripping
  • air register and duct sealant
  • water pipe insulation
  • low-flow water fixtures
  • light bulb replacement
  • custom interior storm windows
  • repairing minor air leaks
  • smoke alarm installation, and more.

In 2019, the ESN completed 200 projects, clocked 1,879 volunteer hours, and installed upgrades to homes resulting in 2,341 less tons of CO2 and over 108,000 total kWh savings per year for all of its clients. ESN’s goal is to provide upgrades to 200 homes per year.

ESN is a nonprofit organization founded on a dual mission: to help people and combat climate change. The organization envisions a sustainable future where communities are free from the worst impacts of fossil fuel history. If you want to know if you qualify, are looking to volunteer, or want more information, you can visit energysaversnetwork.org, send them a message on their Facebook/Instagram page, or call Hannah Egan at 828-585-4492.

The Energy Saver’s Network is made up from a partnership with Asheville’s Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club, Buncombe County Government, and the City of Asheville. This also includes partner organizations that help find people to serve or for volunteers, like the Blue Horizon Project, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Eblen Charities. Make a phone call today to see if you quality for free upgrades to your home.

Sponsor Logos

Read more
Categories: Community
Join the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board
Mar 6 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident from District 1. Meetings are currently held virtually at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 12.

Buncombians are the guiding star for Buncombe County Recreation Services. They inform us of how they use parks and what projects we should prioritize. The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board is an extension of that transparency, ensuring a two-way conversation is always happening when it comes to improving equitable access to recreation and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

There is a great amount of diversity among those who use Buncombe County parks and recreation facilities; the ultimate goal is an advisory group that reflects this. The board’s mission statement is: “Advocating for cultural preservation and changing lives through equitable recreation opportunities in public spaces, greenways, and parks.”

For a detailed position description and to apply, click here.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Volunteers
Name that Greenway Survey
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ RiverLink

We need your input on naming the new section of greenway in the River Arts District! The proposed name is the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, in honor of the late historian, author and environmental activist Wilma Dykeman. Ms. Dykeman’s influential writings and passion for environmental and social justice helped shape the modern day movement for a cleaner French Broad River and a more vibrant, healthy riverfront. To learn more about Wilma Dykeman and the contributions she has made, click here.

An interactive map of the greenway is available here.

Preview of interactive map.

 

Read more
Categories: Community
National Day of Unplugging
Mar 6 all-day
Offline w/ National Day of Unplugging

Copy+of+Blue+Man+Group.png

National Day of Unplugging is an awareness campaign that promotes a 24-hour respite from technology annually observed the first weekend in March. For more than a decade, schools, religious institutions and businesses have used our resources to inspire healthy life/tech balance for their communities. Participation is open to anyone who wishes to elevate human connection over digital engagement.

Join us for National Day of Unplugging from sundown-to-sundown March 5-6, 2021.

Read more
Categories: Community Outdoors
North Carolina COVID-19 Restricts to Ease Beginning February 26th
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ Henderson County Chamber
Governor Roy Cooper announced Wednesday, February 24 that with the improvement of COVID numbers in North Carolin and the continued increase in vaccine distribution, the state will begin easing COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order 195 will take effect Friday, February 26th at 5 pm and will remain in effect until March 26th at 5 pm.
Executive Order 195 lifts the Modified Stay at Home Order requiring people to stay at home and businesses to close to the public between 10 pm and 5 am. The number of people who may gather indoors has increased from 10 to 25. The 50-person outdoor gathering limit remains unchanged. The curfew on the sale of alcohol for onsite consumption will be moved from 9 pm to 11 pm.
Some businesses, including bars and amusement parks, will now be open for patrons indoors with new occupancy restrictions. Venues and arenas will have increased occupancy both indoors and outdoors.
Executive Order No. 195 has two general categories of occupancy restrictions: 30% capacity and 50% capacity. Because indoor spaces have a higher risk of spread for COVID-19, indoor facilities in the 30%-occupancy category may not exceed two hundred fifty (250) people per indoor room or indoor space.
 30% Capacity Limit (may not exceed 250-persons in indoor spaces)
  • Bars
  • Meeting, Reception, and Conference Spaces
  • Lounges (including tobacco) and Night Clubs
  • Indoor areas of Amusement Parks
  • Movie Theatres
  • Entertainment facilities (e.g., bingo parlors, gaming establishments)
  • Sports Arenas and Fields*
  • Venues*
*Indoor event venues with more than 5,000 seats may be excepted from the 250 person limit if they follow additional safety measures up to 15% capacity.
50% Capacity Limit
  • Restaurants
  • Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries
  • Fitness and Physical Activity Facilities (e.g., gyms, bowling alleys, rock climbing facilities)
  • Pools
  • Museums and Aquariums
  • Retailers
  • Outdoor areas of Amusement Parks
  • Salons, Personal Care, Tattoo Parlors
Safety protocols such as masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing will continue to be important as people adjust to the new order, health officials said.
Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Online Education Series: South Asheville Cemetery Part 2
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Anne Chesky Smith, Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Historical Association, continues the story of the South Asheville cemetery. Located in the Kenilworth neighborhood, the cemetery was originally a place to bury enslaved people and following the Civil War continued as a burial site for African Americans until the 1940s. This video recounts the story of the Bailey family and their lives after emancipation and while they were enslaved by the Smiths and McDowells.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Professional Networking Group for Veterans
Based on member interest, we are exploring adding a new Professional Networking Group specifically for veterans. Our Professional Networking Groups are dedicated member professionals who gather weekly to develop relationships, learn about each member’s business, and share leads and business ideas. Only one representative per industry is permitted.

For this group, participants would be a business that is veteran-owned or someone in a management position attending who is a veteran.

If interested, please contact Member Development Specialist Jessica Kanupp at [email protected] for more information. 
Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Community
Shiloh Peace Garden Food Pantry + PPE Supplies for those In Need
Mar 6 all-day
Shiloh Peace Garden

Community Collaboration Helps Neighbors in Time of Need

Food insecurity has risen significantly across the country due to pandemic-related job losses and struggles, and in Buncombe County local food pantries are popping up to help feed neighborhood families.

A collaborative, community-led project between Bountiful Cities, St. James AME Church, East End Valley Street Neighborhood Association, and Shiloh Community Association has neighbors helping neighbors to get non-perishable food and personal protective equipment (PPE) right where it’s needed most.

To serve people in need in the community, there are two new food pantries located at St. James AME Church and the Shiloh Peace Garden. Both pantries were handmade by Asheville local, Max Mandler of Mandler Construction. The pantry at St. James AME is dedicated to the memory of Bernadette Thompson, a longtime community activist and faithful member of the church for many years, and features artwork by local artist Jenny Pickens.

Community members will find both pantries stocked with non-perishable, nutritious food and free masks, hand sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and other items that will assist individuals in staying safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Upkeep and stocking the pantry will be a joint effort among the sponsoring organizations and the community-at-large. Thanks to CARES funding, Buncombe County government was able to help with initial supply efforts. The pantries will be open seven days a week and are set up to be self-serve. Everyone is welcome to utilize the pantries for both food and PPE needs.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Silver Airways Non Stop Flight from GSP to Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa
Mar 6 all-day
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport

Silver Airways coming to GSP in March
Silver Airways announced three new routes from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa.
All are nonstop and will be available twice a week, starting with routes to Orlando on March 18, routes to Jacksonville on March 19 and routes to Tampa on March 21.
Rates start at $59 per leg for all routes.
Read more
Categories: Community
Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways!
Mar 6 all-day
Online w/ RiverLink

Land Conservation

Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways! Running from Hominy Creek Park in West Asheville all the way up to the planned extension through the Town of Woodfin, the Asheville greenway system provides many opportunities for recreation and connection. Special thanks to Connect Buncombe for creating this wonderful video highlighting our growing greenway system.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Tell Gov. Cooper to Join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
Mar 6 all-day
Online

NC - Cooper RGGI Graphic.png

RGGI (aka REGGIE) is a cooperative effort among 11 Eastern states to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector.  The pact requires polluters to reduce their carbon emissions and buy carbon credits as carbon limits gradually become more strict, speeding up the shift to clean energy. RGGI also generates revenue to help communities hit hardest by pollution from fossil fuels.

You can learn more at RGGI.ORG.

In March, the N.C. Environmental Management Commission is expected to vote on whether to join RGGI. Governor Cooper can push them to vote YES but he needs to hear from us. The Sierra Club has created an ACTION PAGE with a form that makes it easy to add your personal comments to an email message directed to Governor Cooper
Read more
Categories: Community
Sunday, March 7, 2021
American nonstop flights in JUNE from AVL to Boston, Chicago and Washington DC
Mar 7 all-day
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
merican Airlines and Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) are growing together again!  In anticipation of increasing interest in travel to the Asheville area, American is launching new daily nonstop service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) as well as new Saturday service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in time for summer.
Service to DCA begins June 3 and will operate through Sept. 7. Flights to BOS and ORD both begin June 5, and will operate through Nov. 6 and Sept. 4, respectively. All flights will be operated on regional aircraft equipped with 76 seats in a two-cabin configuration.
With the addition of these new routes, American will operate a record of 12 peak day flights at AVL.
“American continues to show significant commitment to the western North Carolina market,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority. “It is exciting to welcome these new routes this summer, which are great new options for travelers. The connectivity American offers is very important to the quality air service available at AVL, and I thank them for their amazing partnership.”
“As more customers look for opportunities to get away and explore the great outdoors, American is eager to expand travel options to the Asheville region,” said Brian Znotins, Vice President of Network Schedule and Planning for American. “In-airport and on board, our team has taken every effort to ensure the well-being of customers throughout their travels while offering more flexibility and choice than ever before.”
NEW ROUTE SCHEDULES
ROUTE
DCA > AVL
AVL > DCA
ORD > AVL
AVL > ORD
BOS > AVL
AVL > BOS
DATES OF OPERATION
June 3 – September 7, 2021
(Daily)
June 5 – September 4, 2021
(Saturdays)
June 5 – November 6, 2021
(Saturdays)
FLIGHT TIMES
Dep DCA: 2:45pm | Arr AVL: 4:20pm
Dep AVL: 5:00pm | Arr DCA: 6:35pm
Dep ORD: 1:20pm | Arr AVL: 4:14pm
Dep AVL: 6:00pm | Arr ORD: 7:12pm
Dep BOS: 10:05am | Arr AVL: 1:00pm
Dep AVL: 1:40pm | Arr BOS: 4:30pm
American offers nonstop flights from AVL to:  Charlotte, N.C. (5-7 daily departures), Chicago, Ill. (Saturdays, summer seasonal), Dallas-Fort Worth, Tx. (twice daily), and Washington, D.C. (daily, summer-early fall).  Flights can be booked at www.aa.com.
Read more
Categories: Community Other
Find Your Farm Share! CSA guide available now
Mar 7 all-day
Online w/ ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Joining a CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) program connects you directly with local farms in your community. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) offers several events and resources to learn more about CSAs, in which members buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest upfront and receive a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. ASAP will host a virtual CSA Fair on March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. In addition, Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available now at farmers markets and community centers throughout the region as well as digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

 

The virtual CSA Fair will feature farms providing CSAs in Buncombe County and the surrounding region. In addition to traditional produce farms, the fair will include farms with meat and flower CSA programs. The virtual fair will have a similar format as live fairs in the past—a relaxed setting where attendees can talk to farmers about their CSA programs, products, growing practices, and more. Attendees can sign up for CSAs during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair is free to attend, but participants do need to register for the event to get a Zoom link.

 

For farmers, the CSA Fair is a chance to build relationships, even if attendees decide not to purchase a share. “[The customers we meet at the CSA Fair] tend to really want to know the farmer and the food, meaning they are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying new things,” says K.P. Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm. “They are interested in knowing how and what we are growing, and really want us to be successful as a farm operation. We may get some customers from the fair and that’s great. But we also start building relationships with future customers.”

 

Participating farms at press time include Bearwallow Valley Farms, Blazing Star Flowers, Colfax Creek Farm, Creekside Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Olivette Farm, and Tiny Bridge Farm, with more farms to be added before the fair. Check asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair for updates and to register.

 

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.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Garden Garden Events
Free Energy Upgrades for Qualifying Homeowners
Mar 7 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government
Income-qualifying households in Buncombe County are eligible for free energy-saving weatherization upgrades to their homes through the Energy Saver’s Network (ESN). The ESN sends volunteers to local homes to install many types of upgrades depending on the needs of the home. The work can take anywhere between one and three hours, and includes:
  • weather stripping
  • air register and duct sealant
  • water pipe insulation
  • low-flow water fixtures
  • light bulb replacement
  • custom interior storm windows
  • repairing minor air leaks
  • smoke alarm installation, and more.

In 2019, the ESN completed 200 projects, clocked 1,879 volunteer hours, and installed upgrades to homes resulting in 2,341 less tons of CO2 and over 108,000 total kWh savings per year for all of its clients. ESN’s goal is to provide upgrades to 200 homes per year.

ESN is a nonprofit organization founded on a dual mission: to help people and combat climate change. The organization envisions a sustainable future where communities are free from the worst impacts of fossil fuel history. If you want to know if you qualify, are looking to volunteer, or want more information, you can visit energysaversnetwork.org, send them a message on their Facebook/Instagram page, or call Hannah Egan at 828-585-4492.

The Energy Saver’s Network is made up from a partnership with Asheville’s Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club, Buncombe County Government, and the City of Asheville. This also includes partner organizations that help find people to serve or for volunteers, like the Blue Horizon Project, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Eblen Charities. Make a phone call today to see if you quality for free upgrades to your home.

Sponsor Logos

Read more
Categories: Community
Join the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board
Mar 7 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident from District 1. Meetings are currently held virtually at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 12.

Buncombians are the guiding star for Buncombe County Recreation Services. They inform us of how they use parks and what projects we should prioritize. The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board is an extension of that transparency, ensuring a two-way conversation is always happening when it comes to improving equitable access to recreation and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

There is a great amount of diversity among those who use Buncombe County parks and recreation facilities; the ultimate goal is an advisory group that reflects this. The board’s mission statement is: “Advocating for cultural preservation and changing lives through equitable recreation opportunities in public spaces, greenways, and parks.”

For a detailed position description and to apply, click here.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Volunteers
Make a Difference in Your Community: Buncombe County Boards + Commission Vacancies
Mar 7 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Boards, committees, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.

Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.

Featured board vacancies

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council

The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking a youth member. There is one vacancy for a person under 18 and is also a member of the State Youth Council.

Parks, Greenways, & Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident of  Buncombe County, District 1. The deadline to apply has been extended to March 12, 2021.

 

Read more
Categories: Community
Online Education Series: South Asheville Cemetery Part 2
Mar 7 all-day
Online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
Anne Chesky Smith, Executive Director of the Western North Carolina Historical Association, continues the story of the South Asheville cemetery. Located in the Kenilworth neighborhood, the cemetery was originally a place to bury enslaved people and following the Civil War continued as a burial site for African Americans until the 1940s. This video recounts the story of the Bailey family and their lives after emancipation and while they were enslaved by the Smiths and McDowells.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Southeastern Student Sustainability Conference
Mar 7 all-day
Online

SSC_Pic1

 

This annual conference brings together student EcoReps, sustainability interns, and faculty and staff advisers from around the region for a weekend of peer leadership training and collaboration. This conference is a great opportunity to learn from your peers, share your successes (and get constructive feedback), and get inspiration you can bring back to your own campus.

Key topics in 2021 will include:

• Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in our work
• Effective Student Leadership/ Peer 2 Peer education
• Zero Waste initiatives
• Educational initiatives & events
• Adapting to COVID-19
• Translating student visions into institutional action

This conference will be held VIRTUALLY due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

Register
There is no fee to attend, however, you must register to participate in the virtual sessions. The registration deadline is Friday, March 19 at midnight.

Read more
Categories: Business and Networking Community Donations
Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways!
Mar 7 all-day
Online w/ RiverLink

Land Conservation

Take a tour of our French Broad River Greenways! Running from Hominy Creek Park in West Asheville all the way up to the planned extension through the Town of Woodfin, the Asheville greenway system provides many opportunities for recreation and connection. Special thanks to Connect Buncombe for creating this wonderful video highlighting our growing greenway system.
Read more
Categories: Community Education
Vaccine Update Buncombe County Group 3 Waitlist Opening March 10
Mar 7 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Frontline Essential Workers group 3

To get more information on vaccine distribution for Group 3 and beyond, text BCAlert to 99411. Read more about the frontline essential workers in Group 3 at the NCDHHS website.

Read more
Categories: Community Health & Wellness
American Red Cross Be a hero Roll up a Sleeve
Mar 7 @ 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Asheville Blood Donation Center

March is Red Cross Month, and for more than 130 years, heroic American Red Cross volunteers have provided hope and urgent relief to families in communities across the country.
This March the community is invited to join in the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross and be
someone’s hero by rolling up a sleeve to give blood.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds to respond to
patient emergencies. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients,
and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all require blood.
All blood types are needed.
Be a hero in your community by rolling up a sleeve….

To make an appointment or to learn more, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor
App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood
Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Completion of a RapidPass® online health history
questionnaire is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. To get started, follow the
instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App. A blood donor card
or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who
are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh
at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High
school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height
and weight requirements.

Read more
Categories: Community Donations Health & Wellness
Monday, March 8, 2021
Find Your Farm Share! CSA guide available now
Mar 8 all-day
Online w/ ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)

Joining a CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) program connects you directly with local farms in your community. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) offers several events and resources to learn more about CSAs, in which members buy a “share” of a farm’s harvest upfront and receive a weekly box of fresh produce or other farm goods. ASAP will host a virtual CSA Fair on March 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. on Zoom. In addition, Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available now at farmers markets and community centers throughout the region as well as digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

 

The virtual CSA Fair will feature farms providing CSAs in Buncombe County and the surrounding region. In addition to traditional produce farms, the fair will include farms with meat and flower CSA programs. The virtual fair will have a similar format as live fairs in the past—a relaxed setting where attendees can talk to farmers about their CSA programs, products, growing practices, and more. Attendees can sign up for CSAs during the fair or follow up with farmers later. The fair is free to attend, but participants do need to register for the event to get a Zoom link.

 

For farmers, the CSA Fair is a chance to build relationships, even if attendees decide not to purchase a share. “[The customers we meet at the CSA Fair] tend to really want to know the farmer and the food, meaning they are a bit more adventurous when it comes to trying new things,” says K.P. Whaley of Tiny Bridge Farm. “They are interested in knowing how and what we are growing, and really want us to be successful as a farm operation. We may get some customers from the fair and that’s great. But we also start building relationships with future customers.”

 

Participating farms at press time include Bearwallow Valley Farms, Blazing Star Flowers, Colfax Creek Farm, Creekside Farm, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Olivette Farm, and Tiny Bridge Farm, with more farms to be added before the fair. Check asapconnections.org/events/csa-fair for updates and to register.

 

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.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Garden Garden Events
Free Energy Upgrades for Qualifying Homeowners
Mar 8 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government
Income-qualifying households in Buncombe County are eligible for free energy-saving weatherization upgrades to their homes through the Energy Saver’s Network (ESN). The ESN sends volunteers to local homes to install many types of upgrades depending on the needs of the home. The work can take anywhere between one and three hours, and includes:
  • weather stripping
  • air register and duct sealant
  • water pipe insulation
  • low-flow water fixtures
  • light bulb replacement
  • custom interior storm windows
  • repairing minor air leaks
  • smoke alarm installation, and more.

In 2019, the ESN completed 200 projects, clocked 1,879 volunteer hours, and installed upgrades to homes resulting in 2,341 less tons of CO2 and over 108,000 total kWh savings per year for all of its clients. ESN’s goal is to provide upgrades to 200 homes per year.

ESN is a nonprofit organization founded on a dual mission: to help people and combat climate change. The organization envisions a sustainable future where communities are free from the worst impacts of fossil fuel history. If you want to know if you qualify, are looking to volunteer, or want more information, you can visit energysaversnetwork.org, send them a message on their Facebook/Instagram page, or call Hannah Egan at 828-585-4492.

The Energy Saver’s Network is made up from a partnership with Asheville’s Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club, Buncombe County Government, and the City of Asheville. This also includes partner organizations that help find people to serve or for volunteers, like the Blue Horizon Project, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and Eblen Charities. Make a phone call today to see if you quality for free upgrades to your home.

Sponsor Logos

Read more
Categories: Community
Join the Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board
Mar 8 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

The Buncombe County Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident from District 1. Meetings are currently held virtually at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Fri., Mar. 12.

Buncombians are the guiding star for Buncombe County Recreation Services. They inform us of how they use parks and what projects we should prioritize. The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board is an extension of that transparency, ensuring a two-way conversation is always happening when it comes to improving equitable access to recreation and enhancing the quality of life in our community.

There is a great amount of diversity among those who use Buncombe County parks and recreation facilities; the ultimate goal is an advisory group that reflects this. The board’s mission statement is: “Advocating for cultural preservation and changing lives through equitable recreation opportunities in public spaces, greenways, and parks.”

For a detailed position description and to apply, click here.

 

Read more
Categories: Community Volunteers
Make a Difference in Your Community: Buncombe County Boards + Commission Vacancies
Mar 8 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Boards, committees, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.

Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.

Featured board vacancies

Juvenile Crime Prevention Council

The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council is seeking a youth member. There is one vacancy for a person under 18 and is also a member of the State Youth Council.

Parks, Greenways, & Recreation Advisory Board

The Parks, Greenways, and Recreation Advisory Board has a vacancy for a resident of  Buncombe County, District 1. The deadline to apply has been extended to March 12, 2021.

 

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Categories: Community
Need to Appeal Your Tax Value?
Mar 8 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for the tax year 2021 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 28, 2021. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 1, 2021 has thirty days from that notice date to file an appeal.

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Categories: Community Education
Vaccine Update Buncombe County Group 3 Waitlist Opening March 10
Mar 8 all-day
online w/ Buncombe County Government

Frontline Essential Workers group 3

To get more information on vaccine distribution for Group 3 and beyond, text BCAlert to 99411. Read more about the frontline essential workers in Group 3 at the NCDHHS website.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness
Virtual Exhibit: Douglas Ellington
Mar 8 all-day
Online w/ Western North Carolina Historical Association

Asheville’s economic and building boom of the 1920s created a rarified atmosphere unique within Western North Carolina.  Douglas Ellington is known as the architect who changed Asheville into an Art Deco showplace. With his ability to combine architectural styles he produced a series of one of a kind buildings—buildings which changed the face of Asheville—the City Building, Asheville High School, First Baptist Church and S&W Cafeteria. Douglas Ellington: Asheville’s Boomtown Architect presents a look at his iconic Asheville creations along with other buildings he completed throughout his career in other cities.

 

 

WINNER of a 2014 Griffin Award for Excellence in Education from the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County

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Categories: Community Education
Blue Ridge Honor Flight, Advent Healthcare join forces to Vaccinate Veterans
Mar 8 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Fletcher Valley Market

 

 Blue Ridge Honor Flight has teamed up with AdventHealth Hendersonville to administer vaccinations to veterans who have not yet received a shot. 

We will not be doing a drive-thru event. They will be greeted in the parking lot/front portico and directed through the process to receive the shots inside the clinic.

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Categories: Community Health & Wellness