Growing Local

Fraser fir trees thrive in Western North Carolina and are often called the Cadillac of Christmas trees. Learn what it takes to grow these iconic trees in this week’s Growing Local.

2020 was a challenging year for farmers markets. Hear how farmers market managers worked together to provide safe places for the community to shop for local food.

With the holidays around the corner, some local farmers are stepping out of the soil and into the kitchen. Gather around the table to hear how farmers from Tumbling Shoals Farm, TK Family Farm, and Candy Mountain Farm celebrate the season.

Local farmers have been working all year to bring a fall feast to your table. Meet the farmers who grew the bounty on your Thanksgiving plate in this episode of Growing Local.

TK Family Farm is named for the family’s three “knucklehead” kids, but they’re not joking around when it comes to farming. Hear about their trellised apple orchard in Polk County, NC and why patience is key to their farm’s success.

Community Supported Agriculture was a popular option when the pandemic began in March. Hear why farms saw an influx of members and how they adjusted their CSAs to meet demand.

Farmers markets are a little different during a pandemic, but having fun with local food is still going strong. Hear how the Transylvania Farmers Market and ASAP are finding creative ways to offer market activities online.

The food pantry at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marion, NC has seen a significant increase in people seeking nutritious food during the pandemic. Hear how Ol’ Turtle Farm is contributing to the health of the community by participating in ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program.

Trout are picky creatures that require precise temperatures, protein-rich food, and excellent water quality to thrive. Hear how Sunburst Trout Farms, a third-generation family farm, works in harmony with nature to farm and process rainbow trout.

Workplace CSAs are picking up steam as employers seek out ways to support the health of their employees. Hear about the City of Asheville’s pilot CSA program and how it’s impacting city staff and the farmers from Mighty Gnome Market Garden (formerly known as Stonecrop Garden).