Category Archives: Farmers

‘Farm Fresh Georgia’ joins the family

I’m very excited to announce the arrival of “Farm Fresh Georgia,” another sister book, after Tennessee. This one has a North Carolina component — it was researched and written by Charlotte journalist and travel writer Jodi Helmer. Jodi is as … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Family travel, Farmers, Farmers' markets, History, Livestock, Lodging, Recipes, Road travel, U-pick farms, Wine | 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

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

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

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

Farm tours held across NC this month

Wow, it’s farm tour central here in North Carolina, with two tours this weekend, in Charlotte and the eastern Triangle, and next weekend in Asheville and environs. (Many of the farms are in my book, which offers do-it-yourself tours!) The … 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

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

Food and race; High Country tour; learn to write, paint and cook in a day; food classes; and more!

Mark your calendars for these farm-food events in the Tiangle and the mountains:  Thursday, Aug. 4: “Eating the Other: Food, Race and You,” discussion of race as it relates to agribusiness, farmers’ markets and the slow food culture. At Southwest Regional … Continue reading

Posted in Alleghany County, Ashe County, Avery County, Bicycling, Cooking, Dining, Durham County, Family travel, Farmers, Food, Road travel, Watauga County, Wilkes County | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Guidebook author’s dream come true

A guidebook writer couldn’t ask for more than this blog post   from pastry chef and local-food lover Jenni Field for SavorNC magazine.  She writes about how her husband bought her my book for their anniversary (thank you, husband!) and, more importantly, … Continue reading

Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Granville County, Livestock, Meat, Road travel | 2 Comments

Farm Fresh NC and Fickle Creek share video spotlight

What a great gift for Fickle Creek Farm, my book “Farm Fresh North Carolina,” and the Piedmont Farm Tour. The state’s former (as of June) tourism marketing agency, Charlotte-based LKM, commissioned a video about agritourism in general and the book … Continue reading

Posted in Farm Fresh book events, Farmers, Food, Livestock, Lodging, Media, Orange County | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

USDA second-in-command to speak Feb. 9

This from our friends at the The Center for Environmental Farming Systems: Kathleen A. Merrigan, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will speak in Greensboro and Raleigh on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Her talk is free and open … Continue reading

Posted in Farmers, Food policy, Guilford County, Wake County | Tagged | Leave a comment

Veteran-centric farming movement takes root

Nice article in Saturday’s New York Times with headline of “Helping Soldiers Trade Their Swords for Plows” about teaching veterans to farm.  Thanks to Connie Schultz of Botany & Bloom in the Triangle for pointing it out. The courses for wounded … Continue reading

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A word of thanks for food, farms, and farmers!

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of family, friends, and FOOD. When I think of food I think of farms. When I think of farms, I think of farmers. I am thankful to all the farmers out there, be … Continue reading

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Small farmers, big headache

Insurance isn’t a topic I typically find riveting, but I was glued to the radio last week listening to Scott Marlow talk about how small farms have a hard time getting disaster insurance. Scott is director of Farm Sustainability programs … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Farmers, Franklin County, Triangle | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment