Author Archives: didaniel

Cooling off in Canada, then back for Fire in Triangle

It’s so hot in North Carolina that I’m fleeing to Canada. Seriously. OK, so the trip was already planned. I hope to check out a few farms around Montreal and of course sample some farm-to-table fare. I haven’t done my … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Wake County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Llamas, alpacas, and tigers, oh my!

With school out, it’s time to take the family to FARMS! Children of all ages (as they say) love llamas and alpacas. (I was just kidding about the tigers in the headline.) Below are three of my favorite fiber stops … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Rockingham County, Watauga County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Calling all chicken lovers

Get yourself to Raleigh today for the annual Tour D’Coop, one of the nation’s leading chicken tours (according to me). If you miss it this year, then put it on the calendar for next year. You’ll get to see cool … Continue reading

Posted in Wake County | Leave a comment

With a glean in their eyes, helping the hungry

If you’ve thought about gleaning, i.e. harvesting field “leftovers,” now is a good time to start in the Triangle, as strawberry gleaners are urgently needed. (If you can’t help now, read the last paragraph for info about gleaning in general.) … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Johnston County, Wake County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Come toast NC beer and brewery guidebook

If you’re a fan of quality beer, belly up to tonight’s soiree at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, where craft brewer Erik Lars Myers will discuss and sign copies of his just-released guidebook “North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries” (John F. … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Durham County, Orange County | Tagged , | 1 Comment

NC growers sponsor berry fun contest

Here’s a cool thing. The North Carolina Strawberry Association is sponsoring a YouTube video contest, complete with a prize of a $100 Visa card. Not bad, huh? Deadline for most categories is June 30, and you’ll find all the info here. … Continue reading

Posted in Fruit, Organics, U-pick farms | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How can that even be?

As my partner, Lina, likes to say: How can that even be? How can NO North Carolina person or place be among the final nominees for James Beard awards? That’s just kooky. I guess we did so well in last … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Durham County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

And what a year it’s been!

Wow! Today marks one year since my “Farm Fresh North Carolina” guidebook was published by UNC Press. Since then, I’ve appeared at more than a dozen farmers markets and addressed many groups, and the book has received amazing coverage in … Continue reading

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It’s maple-tree tapping time again — yes, in NC!

It’s time to get sappy! Yes, it’s maple syrup-tapping time again — even in North Carolina! Maple Creek Farm outside of Burnsville, in the mountains, will host its fourth annual Maple Tour on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from … Continue reading

Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Yancey County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Help fund farm on wheels — and youthful idealism

Not to be all middle-aged about it, but I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling when learning about cool projects that energetic young idealists are doing. One of those projects is the nonprofit Sol Food Mobile Farm, in which … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Environmental, Gardening | Leave a comment

I’m goating* you on

I don’t think I’ve met a soul who isn’t smitten with goats (myself included). If you live in the Triangle or Triad, here are some great goat-loving opportunities that will let you get up close and personal with the ridiculously … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Durham County, Family travel, Goats, Randolph County | 2 Comments

School teaches women small-scale farming

Private farm schools are cropping up like cucumbers in August, it seems. Now we have one in North Carolina, one for women only. It sounds pretty cool. Here’s the press release, issued this month out of Chapel Hill: NC Women … Continue reading

Posted in Orange County | Leave a comment

Your chance to set the table at Durham’s CenterFest

Durhamites, Come talk food and drink on Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:30! The Durham Arts Council is holding focus groups for its expanded CenterFest, to be held this fall. One of the groups is all about food and beverage elements. … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County | 1 Comment

The best collard greens you’ll ever eat

Happy New Year from Farm Fresh North Carolina! Looking back, kudos to everyone who supported farmers and dedicated themselves to fresh food in 2011. And to those who bought my book, a special thanks! What a fantastic year I had promoting it … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Guilford County, Recipes, Wake County | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Culinary/ag education in Charlotte and beyond

Thought I’d share this recent email and my answer, as it contains some good farm-fresh culinary/agricultural education resources in Charlotte and beyond. Dear Diane, My brother is an aspiring chef living in Charlotte. He is very passionate about sustainable farming and farm … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Cooking, Food, Mecklenburg County | Leave a comment

Home Grown Hand Made videos are online

Wow, a big shout-out to Axel Foley of the The Peoples Channel and Durham Community Media for making videos of all the vendors at the group’s fall fund-raiser, Home Grown Hand Made, at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham. The one for Farm Fresh North … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Food | Leave a comment

Davidson County offers intro to sustainable farming program

This is a great program for people seriously interested in farming and within driving range of Lexigton, NC.  The Davidson County  Cooperative Extension is inviting prospective, beginning, and transitioning farmers to attend the 2012 Piedmont Farm School. The seven-month program is for individuals … Continue reading

Posted in Charlotte area, Farmers, Food policy, Gardening, Livestock, Organics | 3 Comments

It’s a Farm Fresh weekend! (holiday gifts, anyone?)

I don’t usually post my own events here (which are always listed under Author Appearances, above), but it’s such a big FFNC weekend that I thought I would. On Saturday, Dec. 3, I’ll start the day bright and early at … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, Orange County | Leave a comment

Meet the folks of ‘American Meat’

Suzanne at Cozi Farms in Saxapahaw wrote today to spread the word about a special event at the awesome Haw River Ballroom on Thursday, Dec. 8. They’re screening the new documentary film “American Meat,” along with a local foods feast … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County, Films | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Green-light specials at holiday markets

Thanksgiving shoppers can be grateful for the number of farmers’ markets holding special market events specifically for the holidays. Not only that, the Triangle and Western NC local-food communities have put together websites giving overviews of holiday markets.  The mountain version, organized … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Henderson County, Madison County, Orange County, Wake County, Watauga County | Leave a comment