Category Archives: Charlotte area

Popular Charlotte-area farm tour is May 17 and 18

The sixth annual Know Your Farms tour takes places in the greater Charlotte area the weekend of May 17 and 18, from noon to 6 p.m. It’s a great way to get out of the city, breath some country air, … Continue reading

Posted in Cabarrus County, Charlotte area, Cleveland County, Lincoln County, Mecklenburg County, Rowan County, Stanly County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Flurry of farm-fresh fall festivities

Wow, there’s so much going on that I feel compelled to do a round-up. Typical fall in the Carolinas! The 8th annual and always entertaining Eastern Triangle Farm Tour is happening Sept. 21-22. Six new farms are included among the 27 … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Charlotte area, Durham County, Family travel, Farmers' markets, Food, Franklin County, Johnston County, Lincoln County, Mecklenburg County, Road travel, Stokes County, Wake County, Wine | 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

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

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

Farm Fresh NC on UNC-TV’s ‘Bookwatch’

D.G. Martin interviewed me in the summer for his author-focused show, “Bookwatch,” on UNC-TV. We had a wide-ranging talk about agritourism, farm-to-table restaurants, farmers markets, etc. It was a fun show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity! It first aired Sept. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Charlotte area, Coastal Region-Sandhills, Dining, Farmers' markets, Food, Mountains, Triad, Triangle, Wine | Leave a comment

Veritable cornucopia of fall news and happenings

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news and calendar listings. Here are a few items of interest, followed by calendar of events: *  Yay for one of my favorite restaurants, Knife & Fork, which won … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Rowan County, Stanly County, Wake County | 1 Comment

Best Farm Fresh headline ever: ‘Ee- i-ee- i- go’

My book has received great press and I’m very appreciative. But the headlines have been, how can I say … lackluster? As a former headline writer, among other things, I know how challenging it can be to fit a “hed” … Continue reading

Posted in Mecklenburg County, Media | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Lucky seven in Charlotte, starting May 5

Here’s my seven-stop lineup in Charlotte, starting today! If you’re in or near the Queen City, please stop by and say hello. All the restaurants and markets below are also entries in my book. Thursday, May 5, 5 p.m. Rooster’s … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Farm Fresh events, Farmers' markets, Mecklenburg County, Media, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nice book pairing in the Raleigh, Charlotte papers

Thanks to Andrea Weigl at the News & Observer for the most-excellent article on “Farm Fresh” and also on Sheri Castle and her great book, “The New Southern Garden Cookbook.” It was a fine pairing of books — first the … Continue reading

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

100 wineries, Raffaldini’s birthday, Surry success

While many NC wineries take a break in January, it’s been a busy month for local-wine news. The biggest announcement came from the state: North Carolina is now home to 100 wineries (and even more vineyards)! The 100th is Cauble … Continue reading

Posted in Rowan County, Surry County, Wilkes County, Wine, Yadkin County | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NC farms win Animal Welfare Approved grants

Congrats to the several North Carolina farms that won Good Husbandry grants from Animal Welfare Approved. The Alexandria, Va.-based group’s standards are the most rigorous and progressive animal care requirements in the nation, and the only ones to require that … Continue reading

Posted in Anson County, Beaufort County, Duplin County, Sampson County, Wake County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Let’s make Best Dish NC the best ever

A little competition is healthy! So, if you have a favorite restaurant that uses local ingredients, please encourage the owner/chef to enter The Best Dish in North Carolina contest, which this year has expanded by adding regional categories. The contest, run … Continue reading

Posted in Charlotte area, Coastal Region-Sandhills, Dining, Food, Mountains, Triad, Triangle | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

This week it’s no laughing matter

Dean Mullis writes usually hilarious dispatches from his Laughing Owl Farm northeast of Charlotte, which he runs with wife Jenifer and their two children. He doesn’t keep his blog updated, but go there now to sign up for his email … Continue reading

Posted in Stanly County | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sharpen your ax for choose-and-cut Christmas trees

When I visited nearly every choose-and-cut tree farm in the NC mountains two years ago, I headed out on the first Saturday in December. Much to my delight, every other car had a Christmas tree strapped to its roof. That … Continue reading

Posted in Alleghany County, Ashe County, Avery County, Chatham County, Christmas trees, Lincoln County, Watauga County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Pumpkins from the ground, not the paved lot

Around this time people ask me where in North Carolina they can pick pumpkins, as opposed to “picking up” the ones sitting in a lot that were trucked in from who knows where. This list is not complete, but here are … Continue reading

Posted in Cabarrus County, Durham County, Franklin County, Lee County, U-pick farms | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Grateful to dine with Grateful Growers on Oct. 16 (or beyond)

Way back when I first started researching my book, almost three years ago, I stumbled upon some farmers here and there who have turned out to be big leaders in their fields, so to speak. Two of those I met … Continue reading

Posted in Food, Lincoln County, Mecklenburg County, Poultry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are you up to the ‘Farmer Foodshare Challenge’?

I’ve been reading a lot about the “Farmer Foodshare Challenge” this Saturday at these Triangle farmer’s markets: Carrboro Farmers’ Market, Durham Farmers’ Market, South Estes Farmers’ Market in Chapel Hill and the Western Wake Farmers’ Market in Cary. The challenge … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Cleveland County, Durham County, Farmers' markets, Orange County, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bon Appetit anoints Scratch Baking in best-of list

  Scratch Baking got a nice shout-out in the October issue of Bon Appetit (page 38) as being among the nationwide “Hot 10 Best Places for Pie.” The text mistakenly calls baker Phoebe Lawless a Durham Farmers’ Market “alum.” Luckily … Continue reading

Posted in Cleveland County, Durham County, Farmers' markets, Food | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The kindness (and cooking) of strangers

It was bound to happen. I’m in and out of my car at least a dozen times a day, sometimes double that, while researching my farm-travel guidebook to North Carolina. In a series of events not worth explaining, with only … Continue reading

Posted in Cabarrus County, Charlotte area, Food | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment