Category Archives: Counties per Region

The Last Barn Dance (and post?)

Greetings and Happy New Year. Perhaps it’s fitting that one of my final posts here will be about “The Last Barn Dance,” a lovely film in the making. Here’s the synopsis: “Randy Lewis knows that losing his dairy business would … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County, Books, Media, Tennessee | Tagged | 1 Comment

PepperFest is back, and sweeter than ever

It’s time for another PepperFest — Oct. 5 from 3 to 7! It’s again at Meadow Park south of downtown Chapel Hill, the only place you’ll find top local chefs doing crazy things with Chatham County peppers. Your kids don’t like … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County | Leave a comment

Learn to can it in Carrboro

Curious about canning? Learn all about it on Aug. 16 at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. Market-goers will learn how easy it is to preserve the best, fresh produce at International Can-It-Forward Day celebration, presented by Jarden Home Brands, makers of … Continue reading

Posted in Orange County | Leave a comment

Savor the South Weekend features cookbook authors

All you food and farm lovers, a fantastic getaway is planned — the Savor the South Weekend at O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, Sept. 26-28, a celebration of the awesome cookbook/ingredient series from UNC Press. The editor and brilliant series originator … Continue reading

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

Inaugural Triad Farm Tour is June 7 and 8

Here’s some exciting news! Our friends at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association have added a new farm tour to its growing list – this time in the Triad. The first annual Triad Farm Tour is June 7 and 8 from 2 … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County, Forsyth County, Guilford County, Stokes County, Surry County, Yadkin County | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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

Cycle to Farm offers the best of both worlds

Velo Girl Rides, organizer of the Cycle to Farm tour of local farms by bicycle, added two more locations to bring cyclists to beautiful local farms to enjoy stunning scenery, eat locally-grown and raised food, and buy products at local … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Orange County | 2 Comments

Help RAFI help farmers with book project

RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International), based in Pittsboro, has an impressive project in the works. Growing Innovation will document 17 years of farmer innovation in North Carolina with an online library and printed book. These will be tools for farmers … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Farmers, Food, Orange County | Leave a comment

Laurey Masterton: a pioneer who kept pushing

When it was time to choose a spot to have my western NC book-release party in 2011, I immediately said: Laurey’s in Asheville. The cafe, run by chef and owner Laurey Masterton, embodied everything I love about the local foods … Continue reading

Posted in Bees, Buncombe County, Cooking, Dining | Leave a comment

Everyone is clucking about local turkeys

I’ve seen plenty of wild turkeys in my day, but I’d never been around farm turkeys much until I wrote “Farm Fresh North Carolina.” When I was researching the book, in 2008, regular folks getting farm-raised turkeys for their Thanksgiving … Continue reading

Posted in Brunswick, Chatham County, Cooking, Durham County, Livestock, Meat, Orange County, South Carolina, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pepper Festival returns with more pep than ever

Somehow, regretfully, I end up being out of town every year for one of my favorite events — the Pepper Festival in Chatham County, so please go for me! This year’s fest, on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 3 to 7 … Continue reading

Posted in Beer, Chatham County, Environmental, Family travel, Farmers, Food, Orange 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

Some favorite U-pick farms for U

The U-pick season is shorter in the mountains and middle of the state. Here are a few of my favorite spots there, with their entries from my book. Check ’em out! (But of course call or check online before you … Continue reading

Posted in Ashe County, Food, Madison County, Rockingham County, U-pick farms | Leave a comment

Our NC peaches are peachy keen

Back in the day, North Carolina’s peach crop, concentrated mainly in the Sandhills area around Southern Pines and Pinehurst, used to be shipped up the East Coast. Those days are gone, but luckily for us, the peaches are not. By … Continue reading

Posted in Coastal Region-Sandhills, Farmers, Fruit, South Carolina | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Peregrine Farm founders spread the wealth

Alex and Betsy Hitt of Peregrine Farm get the star treatment they deserve in yesterday’s News & Observer. Writer Andrea Weigl wrote a great profile about the farmers in Graham. Part of the story is how they’ve mentored so many … Continue reading

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

Dig deeper with Taste Carolina food-farm events

I got to hang out with some of my favorite food purveyors last night — Farmhand Foods, which distributes local, pasture-raised meats, and April McGreger of Farmer’s Daughter Brand, sweet-and-savory queen of all that is preserved or fermented. And I … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Durham County, Environmental, Farmers, Food, Livestock, Orange County, Recipes, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

If it’s April, it must be time for beer

Craft beer followers already pour into North Carolina because of its reputation as the South’s premiere beer destination, with more breweries than any state south of Pennsylvania (73 and counting). More and more of those breweries are now locally sourcing … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Guilford County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Farm Fresh Orange County — in print!

I had a great time (but it was work, too!) organizing and writing content for a special 8-page guide to finding farm-fresh food and fun in Orange County. The booklet is first appearing in the March/April issue of Chapel Hill … Continue reading

Posted in Orange County | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cheese and goats and beer!

So many cool Triangle events coming up! Prodigal Farm, one of just two Animal Welfare Approved goat cheese dairies in North Carolina, is hosting some cool events. On Jan. 27, they’ll have a Beginning Cheesemaking Workshop, from 11 a.m. until … Continue reading

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

How sweet it was …

I got this sad news today from John Swann at Maple Creek Farm, famed for its southernmost maple syrup. I’ve written about them here before, and check out the photos too! To our Followers, Customers, and Friends: We regret to … Continue reading

Posted in Yancey County | Leave a comment