Appalachian
Sustainable Agriculture
Project
306 West Haywood Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Voice: 828-236-1282
Fax: 828-236-1280 Email
Us
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is
a
501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization.
e-Connections: April 2011
April 2011
Happy Birthday to You, Local Food Guide!
This year, our Local Food Guide hits the double digits; it turns 10! To mark the milestone and officially release the 2011 guide, we're hosting a party at Highland Brewing Company's new tasting room. Celebrate with us!
Pick up the guide hot off the press, enjoy Highland's brews with farm-fresh bites from Tupelo Honey Cafe (plus snag a copy of their new cookbook), dance to music from local act Uncle Mountain, and enter to win fantastic prizes, like a free Family Farm Tour button and restaurant and farmers market gift cards.
When:Saturday, May 7, from 4-8 pm (music from 6-8 pm)
Where:Highland Brewing Company's newTasting Room, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite H, Asheville
How:The party is free and open to the public. RSVP HERE. And spread the word to fellow local food enthusiasts; the more the merrier!
Already booked May 7? Browse the 2011 10th edition online atbuyappalachian.org.
Meet You at Market
The wait is over! After a long, dreary winter, area farmers tailgate markets have begun opening, and they'll continue to open througout May and June. Expect to find lots of herb and veggie plant starts, meats and cheeses; spring produce, such as asparagus, greens, and strawberries; and, of course, delectable baked goods at early markets. Find out when your neighborhood tailgate starts HERE. And find out what's fresh each week via our Facebook page, morning reports on WCQS, and in the Saturday Home & Garden section of the Citizen-Times. Or, browse the market listings (many updated with events and products weekly; look for the "What's Fresh!" sections) in our online Local Food Guide.
Are you an Appalachian Grown business serving or selling locally grown food products? You may not be taking full advantage of ASAP's support. We can help you pay for your marketing of local food, such as signage, rack cards, print or other media ads, or shelf/menu labeling. Through August of this year only, we'll be able to pay a 50% match of your spending on these promotions. Farmers: let your chef and grocer customers know about this opportunity to promote their relationship with you. For an application form, visit www.asapconnections.org/agmaterials.html
2 Days, 41 Farms, Countless Possibilities
We're talking about our Family Farm Tour - your opportunity to learn how food grows, taste farm-fresh treats, interact with farm animals, and get to know our community's food producers coming June 25 and 26! It will be here before you know it, and there is already lots of exciting news to share:
41 farms are participating this year; the most ever!
Of those, 18 are NEW stops.
Tour materials are nearly ready. We've created this year's button featuring the lovable Sally (at right), and the tour guide is at the printer; look for both items at locations like Greenlife, Earth Fare, Malaprop's, and select tailgate markets starting next month.
Stay tuned to our website in the weeks to come for all the details.
Q: What are you up to when you're not at board meetings? A: My big project is a book I'm working on for and with my daughters about food, cooking, living a healthy life and the (hopefully) funny pieces of our relationship. It's titled Bennie & Boomer: Reinventing the Home Cooked Meal in the 21st Century. The inspiration comes from my second daughter's desire to take control of her own food choices. I'm also teaching this year, particularly around local, seasonal offerings, such as my "What's In The Box" classes starting in May. The aim is to help CSA members make the most out of their farm shares, teaching them techniques and creative ways of using what they get each week.
Q: Why is ASAP important to you?A:The work of ASAP is essential to the continued success of the family owned and operated farm. In the big picture, one of the most important challenges we face today, locally and globally, is what we eat, where it comes from, who grows it, and how it is grown. Additionally, teaching our children to make good food choices is instrumental to their health, happiness and success in life. ASAP works on all these issues. I should say with integrity and focus. I am delighted to be a part of such a dedicated group of people.
Q: What's your favorite local food dish? A:The one I just cooked from local, seasonal ingredients and shared with friends!
get Local
ASAP's Get Local initiative brings together restaurants, chefs, and community members around the region to highlight and enjoy seasonal ingredients. April is dedicated to artisans; those creating fabulous farmstead cheeses here in our region!
In honor of the occasion, Get Local restaurants are getting cheesy! Square One Bisto will feature local cheeses throughout April on their small plate menu. And, Red Stag Grill will feature a special cheese board from Looking Glass Creamery with local jam and other goodies.
For more information about the program and a list of participating restaurants, click HERE. And tell us: How are you getting local this month? Share your story via Facebook or email.
Two Winesdays
To Go
Get Local and sample local cheeses at the final two Winesday events of the month, April 20 (featuring Spinning Spider Creamery)
and April 27 (featuring Yellow Branch Farmstead Cheese) to benefit ASAP. Both nights run from 5-8 pm. Simple Bread
will be there, too, because there truly is nothing better than cheese, bread, and wine, right?!
ASAP is the Wine Studio of Asheville's
featured nonprofit for April at their Winesday events. Winesdays
are just $5 and are an opportunity for area wine lovers to get together, socialize, and try new wines.
CSA Fair Fruitful
For the 18 farms who participated (some selling all the shares they had!) and the nearly 600 of you who attended, signed up, and will be receiving a weekly basket of fruits and veggies this season! Thanks for your help making it a big success; we hope to have the fair become an annual event.
Flip through an online photo album of the CSA Fair HERE.
Save the Date:
May 19
Posana Cafe will celebrate their third anniversary and include ASAP in the celebration! They plan to host a benefit for our Growing Minds program, as they graciously have every year since first opening. The restaurant will offer a special menu for the day that is sure to please. Watch our website, Facebook, and Twitter for more details.
Connect With Us
Social Media Follow us on:
Events
Read about all kinds of food and farming events on ASAP's calendar.
You are also invited to post your own.
List Serve We hope that you enjoy our monthly newsletter. You may also want to sign up for our daily list serve here.
E-Newsletter
If you were forwarded this email and would like to be added to our monthly e-newsletter mailing list, click here.
Contact Maggie
with e-newsletter comments and suggestions.
Looking for the weekly Fresh at Farmers Markets update? Find it at FromHere.org, ASAP's new community website, along with other news, photos, local food and farm events, and more. While you're there, join the conversation!
Curious about the difference your donation can make? Here are some examples of what ASAP can accomplish with your support:
-$1,000 helps farmers access new markets
-$500 brings a class of school children to a local farm
-$100 funds a cooking demo on how to prepare fresh foods
-$50 trains a farmer in new skills -$25 provides seeds and resources for school gardens
Click here to give your gift to ASAP today. Or, give on behalf of a loved one and tell the recipient about the good work that will be done in his or her name.
