Category Archives: Chatham County

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

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

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

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

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

Tribute to a gentle giant in farming

Bill Dow, one of the state’s sustainable-farming pioneers, passed away this week at the age of 67. Bill was a kind and gentle man whose humility served him well, first as a doctor and then as a farmer advocating a … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Farmers, Farmers' markets, Organics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A hot, sweet time at Pittsboro Pepper Festival

It’s time again for one of the hottest events in the Triangle – the Pittsboro Pepper Festival, on Sunday, Oct. 14, in Chapel Hill. Who’s invited: Everyone interested in local food and sustainable agriculture and having fun and eating in Central … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Orange County | Tagged , , , | 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

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

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

Say cheese! And then learn how to make it

I used to hear about a cheese-making class once or twice a year. Now they’re popping up like mold spores on your favorite Stilton. Here are a couple in NC in November. Sleepy Goat Farm in Pelham (Caswell County) has just … Continue reading

Posted in Caswell County, Chatham County, Cooking, Dining, Goats | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Fall harvest brings more fall events

Wow, the list of fall events keeps growing. Check these out! SEPTEMBER: Sept. 23 and 25: Diane Daniel discusses sustainable farming, agritourism and more on “Bookwatch” with D.G. Martin on UNC-TV. Airs Friday and repeats Sunday. Sept. 24: Terra Vita returns! … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Dining, Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Media, Orange County | Leave a comment

Farm films: pass the (local) popcorn

Two farm-focused films are in the news. First, the long-awaited documentary about young farmers, “The Greenhorns,” premiered in Brooklyn this summer and will being shown in at least one  community screenings in North Carolina, on Sept. 18 in Chatham County. All details … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Films | 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

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

Coming up: farm tour, party, picnic, local fish — and more!

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Family travel, Farm Fresh events, Food, Livestock, Orange County, Poultry, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Farm-food-photo events this week in Raleigh, Pittsboro

Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh. “Farm Fresh North Carolina” author Diane Daniel will host the conversation “From Farm to Fork” with chef and James Beard semifinalist Scott Crawford of Herons at The Umstead … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Farm Fresh book events, Wake County | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Farm Fresh public party and other Triangle farm-food events

All “Farm Fresh North Carolina” events below are free and open to the public. Bring your farm-loving friends! Monday, March 7, at 6 p.m. at Fullsteam Brewery, 726 Rigsbee Ave, Durham. “Farm Fresh North Carolina” book launch party featuring farmers … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Chatham County, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Food, Orange County, Wake County | Leave a comment

Area farms to be highlighted on NBC-17 Feb. 25

Update: See the TV segment and radio show, linked below. Went well!    Phew, had a mini-media blitz for the book today, including taping a 3-minute segment on “My Carolina Today” on NBC-17, followed by a very fun and free-wheeling chat … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Durham County, Franklin County, Media, Radio, Television | 2 Comments