This weekend: The Piedmont Farm Tour
No surprise that spring is positively bursting with farm/food news. At the top of my list is the Piedmont Farm Tour in the Triangle this weekend, sponsored by the awesome Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA). Everything about this yearly happening is stupendous: you get to visit some 40 farms (don’t try to see them all!) for $25 a carload, the scenery is great, you’re helping a good cause, and it’s TONS OF FUN. If you come to Fickle Creek Farm (do!), you’ll find me there selling and signing books. (A portion of my proceeds will go to CFSA.) You’ll also find pigs and chickens and more! Added bonus: Pie Pushers’s amazing pizza (with Fickle Creek products!) will be for sale.
Another cool CFSA event you should get tickets for — by the deadline of April 24 — is the group’s inaugural Meet and Eat, a dining and network extravaganza at Margaret’s Cantina in Chapel Hill (it’s in my book!) on Sunday, May 1, from 4 to 6. Tix are $25 for an incredible and locally sourced, Southwestern-themed spread, and fun folks!
Bison burgers sourced from Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm (Farm to Fork Picnic 2009)
Also on sale are tickets ($60) to the annual and oh-so-yummy Farm to Fork Picnic, a fundraiser for farmer apprentice programs in Orange County. The event isn’t until Sunday, June 26, but tickets go FAST. I’m sad to miss it this year, but for a good reason. I’ll be in Asheville — at that region’s fantastic farm tour!
One more great offering from CFSA — an “IRS” we can celebrate instead of scorn! The nonprofit has started a much-welcomed Internship Referral Service to connect sustainable farms throughout the Carolinas with aspiring farmers looking for learning opportunities.
Local soft shell crabs were among the many Walking Fish deliveries in 2010
And, finally, exciting news from the sea! The Walking Fish Cooperative, a community supported fishery (CSF) that links fishermen on the NC coast to consumers in the Triangle, has just announced a Raleigh drop-off location. My family has subscribed on several occasions and we were very pleased with the bounty and the overall setup. If you’re interested in reading about the national movement, check out my 2010 article on CSFs for OnEarth magazine.
See what I mean? We’re just bursting all over!
Hey Diane,
Awesome line-up of events. Will you and Pie Pushers be at Fickle Creek Saturday and Sunday?
Johanna
I’ll be there both days for sure (despite Saturday’s unsavory forecast), but can’t speak for PP. My assumption is that they will be. Hope so, because that’s where I’m planning to go for lunch!
Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve been to this web site before but after browsing through a few of the articles I realized it’s new to me.
Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!