Don’t stop with Small Business Saturday! 

Have you taken our Shop Small Challenge to heart this holiday season? Celebrate your efforts by entering to win our #ShopSmall Contest.

Join our efforts and ‘purchase with a purpose’ by using your holiday shopping dollars to invest in the agricultural backbone of Haywood County.   Support of local agripreneurs keeps farms viable and preserves access to local products while protecting farmland and the rural character of the region.

What is the #ShopSmall contest all about?

Support Buy Haywood’s Uniquely Local partners at area farms, markets, specialty retailers, farm-to-table restaurants, event venues, local preservation partners and Christmas tree farms.

Each time you shop small, leave a post on our Facebook page telling us the Uniquely Local partner you supported and automatically get entered to win!  It is that simple…  The more you shop, the more you post, the greater your chances of winning!

And the prize is…

Three hand thrown teal/oatmeal stoneware nesting bowls from our Uniquely Local – Artisan Produced partners at Hemphill Pottery ($85 value).  Pottery is fired to Cone 6

Want some local ideas to help get you started?

Visit our #ShopSmall ideas page to create some Uniquely Local gifts for everyone on your list.  We will updating this page throughout the holiday season as new suggestions come in…so check back often!

Visit our webpage for complete contest rules!

For a full listing of Buy Haywood’s Uniquely Local destinations,
visit our web directory.  Or, pick up a paper copy of our Find your Adventure! 2014 Agritourism Guide at one of our local partner locations listed on our website.  The agritourism guide includes a calendar of holiday events at various farm locations.

So, get your jingle on and JOIN US in supporting Haywood County agripreneurs.  It is that simple…  The more you shop or issue local support, the more you post, the greater your chances of winning!

– Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Project Coordinator

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, even the most frugal of shoppers can’t help but think about the approaching holidays.  ‘Tis the season of sharing hearty meals with loved ones, lazy Sunday afternoons in front of the fire and experiencing childlike exhuberance over the first falling snowflakes.  This time of year can be downright dreamy.  Until…it dawns on you…that each passing week also brings the crazy maddening  phenomenon known as holiday shopping!

While I love the excitement on the faces of my loved ones as they open my carefully selected gifts.  I despise the traffic, trials and tribulations that can come with finding that “perfect something.”

This year, take our
SHOP SMALL CHALLENGE
as an alternative to all that holiday madness!

Can you imagine a place where farmers grow hundreds of acres of fresh produce, graze cattle, raise shrubs, trees, herbs and bees—create dozens of value-added products like Peach Shine Jam & Rainbow Trout Caviar—while embodying the character of a rural community?  Welcome to our Haywood County!

Haywood County is home to a vibrant community of local independent businesses represented at farmers markets, farm-to-table restaurants, specialty shops and Christmas tree farms.

Shopping small on Saturday, November 29th, does not mean sacrificing selection or the price/quality equation.  Small Business Saturday is an opportunity for consumers to ‘purchase with a purpose’ by using their dollars to invest in the agricultural backbone of Haywood County.

While it is easy to be seduced by looking for the lowest price, don’t assume that small businesses can’t compete while also delivering a uniquely local product partnered with a warm hometown experience.

Think BIG and SHOP SMALL this holiday season! Take our Buy Local PLEDGE and support Buy Haywood’s Uniquely Local partners at area farms, markets, specialty retailers, farm-to-table restaurants, and Christmas tree farms. Visit our web directory for a listing of Haywood County agripreneurs.

May your season be local, blessed and filled with many joys!

Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Project Coordinator

Guest Post
by:
Mannie Dalton Crone, Canton Branch Library Manager

Do you know about the Giving Garden? Located behind the public library in Canton, it’s a raised-bed vegetable garden used to teach various aspects of gardening.

Started in the spring of 2014, the garden is an education-oriented joint initiative of the Haywood County Public Library, Haywood County Cooperative Extension Center, and the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. This past year, the garden received financial support from the Haywood County Friends of the Library and the Haywood County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association. The garden is maintained by the work of volunteers, and all produce is donated to the local food pantry, The Community Kitchen in Canton.

The first year of the Giving Garden was quite successful! Nine educational classes taught by Master Gardeners and Extension Agents on various gardening topics were offered to the public over the spring and summer of 2014, with strong community response. People of all ages attended the programs, and at the height of the Giving Garden’s harvest, produce was donated to The Community Kitchen 2-3 times per week.

Plans for next year include:

1. Building new raised beds
2. Providing more gardening classes taught by Master Gardeners
3. Establishing a Monarch Butterfly Waystation

The Monarch Waystation would be used to educate the public on the need to create habitats for Monarchs due to their decreasing population, and to demonstrate that anyone with at least 100 square feet of garden space can create a Monarch-loving habitat.

In order for next year to be successful, we could use your help!

There are several ways that folks interested in this exciting new community project can help:

• Join the Giving Garden Planning Committee. We currently have four members on the Giving Garden Planning Committee, but we’re seeking additional members. The committee helps to plan the gardening classes, determines what will be added/changed to the garden, brainstorms ways to recruit volunteers and manage the garden, and more.
• Lead a gardening class. We need Master Gardeners who are willing to share their expertise with others on any gardening topic they are passionate about. Classes typically last from an hour to an hour and a half, and are held in the auditorium at the Canton Library. Audience size varies, running from 15-30 people. There are a lot of folks in our community interested in gardening who could benefit from your gardening knowledge!
• Join the volunteer garden crew. We need help watering, weeding (minimal, since it’s raised-bed garden), and harvesting the garden during the spring and summer months.

If you’re interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Canton Library Manager, Mannie Dalton Crone at (828) 648-2924 or mcrone@haywoodnc.net.

We hope you join us in this rewarding endeavor!

Mannie Dalton Crone
Manager – Canton Branch Library
Haywood County Public Library
Phone: (828) 648-2924
Fax: (828) 648-0377
www.haywoodlibrary.org

Guest Post
by
Mary Ann Smith

Of course, we know that earthworms are very beneficial.  They aerate the soil.  They make channels in the soil which improve absorption of water and drainage.

But…

Did you know that earthworms have a much greater impact on the soil?

The waste left behind by worms, called worm castings, have many beneficial effects on the soil and the plants that grow in the soil.

Here are a few:

• It supplies organic matter to the soil.
• It helps the soil retain moisture.
• It reduces the density of soil.
• It helps the soil to retain nutrients longer.
• It aids the growth of microbes in the soil.
• It supplies beneficial microorganisms to the soil and plants.
• It allows the plants to utilize nutrients more effectively.

Because of these properties, worm castings make a good soil amendment in flower and vegetable gardens.

Here are ways that worm castings may be used:

• As an additive when planting in the garden – Put ½ to 1 cup worm castings in the hole as the plant is set out.
• As an additive when planting potted plants – Make a mix of 10-20% castings with potting soil to use with potted plants.
• As a medium for germinating seeds – Make a mix of 5-10% castings with seed starting mix or line your furrow with castings as you plant in the garden.
• As a side dressing for annuals and perennials – Mix castings into the soil around your plants at the drip line of the plant and cover with mulch.
• As a tea for plants – Mix castings in a 5-10% ratio with water, steep overnight, and then either water or spray on plants.  You may leave the castings loose or put in a tea bag.
  

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Since there has been a good deal of community interest in this topic of vermiculture, Mary Ann will be partnering with the Haywood County Library to present a free workshop on “How to Build a Home Compost Bin with Worms.” 

The workshop will take place the end of October or November, and anyone interested is cordially invited to attend.  If you would like to be notified when the date is confirmed, please email Mary Ann and she will be glad to contact you and answer any questions.

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For more information and to buy worm castings, contact:

Mary Ann Smith /  (828)456-4515 /  dpmasmith6@charter.net

Buy Haywood’s “Cooking Local Together” event at Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market on August 23, 2014, was a huge success thanks to our guest chef Juan Pablo Peña Mejia and his collection of family recipes for a variety of SALSAS inspired by his home in Guadalajara, Jalisco.  (Click HERE for chef bio)

The Buy Haywood team shared 240 samples of three different salsa dishes with a diverse group of participants!  Recipe cards were given out that included a creamy Tomatillo-Avacado Salsa & Divine Burnt- Red Salsa.

Here are some event highlights:

The third salsa dish sampled was Dora’s Tomatillo-Feta Appetizer, recipe as follows:

 Visit our Online Directory for local ingredients!

Dora’s Tomatillo-Feta Appetizer

(Inspired by Dora, the guest chef’s mother)

Ingredients
4-6 large Tomatillos
1/2 medium Onion
A handful of Cilantro, finely chopped
1-3 Garlic cloves
Serrano Pepper, finely chopped with seeds (Jalapeño can be substituted)
Salt to Taste
1 cup crumbled Feta Cheese (Cotija Cheese, a slightly salty crumbly Mexican cheese can be substituted)

Steps of Preparation
Finely chop all ingredients and mix in a bowl.  Add the Serrano pepper, salt & garlic to taste.  Serve with crackers, tortilla chips or use as a topping for grilled fish, chicken or pork.

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For the creation of these recipes, our ingredients were purchased locally.  We’d like to acknowledge the following farm for their continued partnership with Buy Haywood:

KING HARVEST FARM
Steve & Terry King • 828.734.1044
Sold at: HAYWOOD’S HISTORIC FARMERS MARKET

Special thanks to Heidi Dunkelberg & Karen Grogan of Coffee Cup Cafe in Clyde, NC, who came to enjoy the event but stepped up most graciously and helped us serve samples!

Additional thanks to volunteers, Mrs. Alex Pena & Mr. Alex Masciarelli, for supporting this Buy Haywood event and having a great sense of humor every time someone called out the name “Alex.”  As an organization, Buy Haywood relies on volunteer support and we have been extraordinarily blessed by a dedicated and talented team!

Event photos by Mrs. Alex Pena

August 21-24 & August 28-31, 2014

Buy Haywood has officially launched our 2014 FOOD CRAWL!
Want to know what in the world a food crawl is?
Visit our website, CLICK HERE

Look for our Uniquely Local PARTNER logos—
Farm to Table, Artisan Produced & Farm Fresh
marking individual “CRAWL” destinations.

Full list of Food Crawl partners, flavors,
& event calendar  CLICK HERE

We have put together some sample CRAWL itineraries (see below)…just a few ideas to help get you started.  Or, create your own CRAWL by using the online Event Calendar.  Crawl as often or as little as you’d like to explore the premier culinary event of the summer season celebrating our Uniquely Local partners!

Payment occurs at each individual crawl destination—
so there are no billing surprises!

Remember to enter to win one of our Uniquely Local prizes each and every time you Crawl.  Full listing of prizes available on our website, CLICK HERE.

The more you “crawl” the greater your chances to win!

(DRAWING FOR PRIZES – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014)

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CRAWL ITINERARIES & IDEAS

—Doing Downtown—

Start with the in-store tasting event @ Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon (both Fridays of the Crawl, see Event Calendar for complete info)

Lunch at any of our “downtown” partners, see Event Calendar for full listing.

Stroll over to Frog Level Brewing Company for a stop at their Creek-side Tasting Garden.  Be sure to pick up the recipe card for Pub-Style Pot Roast featuring FLBC’s award-winning Tadpole Porter, local beef, farm fresh vegetables and herbs.

Meander up to Sunburst Market for their in-store tasting event (Friday, 8/22 @ 5-7p) featuring Hickory Smoked Trout Dip & local beer from Frog Level Brewing Company.  (Bring your “market” basket and stock up on farm fresh produce from area farms, Sunburst Market is your neighborhood specialty grocery for a wide variety of Uniquely Local items!)

Dinnerat Frogs Leap Public House for the most extensive local food menu in Haywood County! (Reservations Encouraged)

Lastly, “CRAWL” on up Main Street to the Classic Wineseller for some local favorites & live music.

OR end your “Crawl” at The Strand at 38 Main for a showing of Cataloochee – A Documentary (7:45p Showtime) while enjoying some local dessert.  Food Crawl Special:  Enjoy a slice of layer cake hand-crafted locally by Just Simply Delicious (and featuring local eggs). $5.25

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—Cold Mountain Crawl—

Start with a delicious breakfast at Breaking Bread Cafe in the heart of historic Bethel.  Be sure to pick up a copy of Bethel Rural Community Organization’s “Cold Mountain Heritage Tour” self-guided driving tour CD.

Or, tour first and have lunch or dinner at Breaking Bread Cafe or Jukebox Junction!

Tour the Bethel community, taking in the history and beauty of the community by using the self-guided Cold Mountain Heritage Tour CD.

Stopat one of our agritourism sites by visiting the Ten Acre Garden‘s on-farm market or the Seasonal Produce Farm Market.  Bring your own market basket and take home ingredients to make your own UNIQUELY LOCAL meal!

Continue the history tour and dine at Sid’s on Main in Canton, NC

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—Al Fresco Crawl—

Start with lunch at Coffee Cup Cafe in Clyde.  Chef Heidi Dunkelberg and the Coffee Cup team have created daily UNIQUELY LOCAL specials featuring Haywood’s freshest farm products that can be enjoyed on their outdoor patio.

The Patio Bistro also offers outdoor dining on their beautiful arbor-covered outdoor area.

Or, begin at Kanini’s or City Bakery (both in Waynesville) with a “take-out” order to be enjoyed at your favorite outdoor spot!

Enjoy any number of outdoor adventures by accessing the Blue Ridge Parkway or Cataloochee Valley via Soco Gap in Maggie Valley, NC.  For a list of things to see and do around Haywood, Visit NC Smokies website for itineraries & more!

Crawl to a relaxing farm-fresh dinner in Maggie Valley, NC, by visiting J Arthur’s or Frankies Italian Trattoria!

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— Saturday Morning Market Crawl—

Start at Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market (in the HART Theater parking lot) for a free Cooking Local Demonstration & Tasting @ 10am Saturday (tasting continues until 12 noon, as long as supplies last) featuring guest chef, and local jewelry artist, Juan Pena Mejia showcasing a variety of SALSAS inspired by his home in Guadalajara, Jalisco.  Market vendors will also be offering samples of seasonal fare!  CLICK HERE for Chef’s bio.

Or, start at Waynesville’s Original Tailgate Market (in American Legion parking lot) for “A Taste of Summer” with free samples of local cantaloupes, melons and tomatoes fresh from the farms of Haywood County

Bring your market basket & shop directly from Haywood County farmers.  Uniquely Local doesn’t get any fresher than this!

Mosey on over to The Mahogany House Art Gallery and Studios
in downtown Waynesville, NC, for a local honey tasting @ 12:00 Noon…Where local meets art!

Crawl to any of the UNIQUELY LOCAL lunch destinations all around Haywood County, NC, listed on the Saturday event calendar!  CLICK HERE for complete listing.

Enjoy another in-store event at Sunburst Market in downtown Waynesville, NC: 2-5:00pm, Visit Sunburst Market for a taste of Sunburst Trout Farm’s Rainbow Trout Caviar– three ways.

Dine out for a Uniquely Local dinner, CLICK HERE for destinations!

Crawl for local entertainment in downtown Waynesville, NC

The Strand at 38 Main Food Crawl Special Event!
Bigfoot Wars-Red Carpet Movie Premiere & Pre-Party
Celebrate uniquely local Haywood County author Eric S. Brown with a party and premiere screening of the Hollywood movie, starring Judd Nelson and Jackey Hall, based on his best-selling series “Bigfoot War.”

Black Tie Pre-party, 6pm, $25:  Catered pre-release party with hors d’oeuvres, author meet-and-greet/book signing, PHOTOS WITH BIGFOOT, and red carpet walk. (Film star Jackey Hall plans to attend the pre-party.) Formal attire. Steampunk Formal welcome.

Red-Carpet Movie Premiere, 7:45pm, $6:  Satisfy your Bigfoot-Sized Hunger all day with our locally hand-crafted pretzel sticks and Fines Creek Gourmet Pepper Butter dipping sauce. $3
Pre-purchase of tickets strongly recommended

Or, visit The Classic Wine Seller
Hosting Food Crawl special events with LOCAL flare!
Food Crawl Special: The Classic Wineseller’s restaurant opens at 4:00pm serving local and imported cheeses, freshly prepared appetizers, tapas, and small plate entrees.  Experience the thrill of a live music performance starting at 7:00pm!

End with Frog Level Brewing Company to wind down at their Creek-side Tasting Garden.  Be sure to pick up the recipe card for Pub-Style Pot Roast featuring FLBC’s award-winning Tadpole Porter, local beef, farm fresh vegetables and herbs.

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Enjoy the Highlights of Harvest Season at Buy Haywood’s
“Uniquely Local Food Crawl”

Don’t forget to enter to win a Uniquely Local prize at each “crawl” destination!

The more you “crawl” the greater your chances to win!

(DRAWING FOR PRIZES – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014)

Building a seed saving community…
one packet at a time!

Guest Post
by
Kathy Olsen

Since the creation of The Seed Lending Library of Waynesville in March of this year, I have witnessed what I had only hoped would be true.  And that is an overwhelmingly positive response and enthusiastic participation from the people in our community.

I had heard about seed lending libraries in Colorado, Arizona and California, and when the community was described, it sounded so much like ours I had high hopes that it would be successful here. What seemed to be necessary for success was an interest in issues of self-sufficiency, an awareness of the importance of eating whole foods and a desire to protect heirloom vegetables that are unique to one’s area.  From March until early June, not a day went by without at least one person checking out seeds!

The true test of the sustainability of this project and the commitment of the community will be in the return of the seeds.  The library has educated the public about the ‘why’ and the ‘how-to’ of seed saving through several (free) classes taught by local experts such as Lee Barnes, Kathleen Lamont and various Master Gardener Volunteers.  So, I am hopeful that there will be a great return of seeds, even though it’s only our first year.

Let me share why I think this is important for our community:

1. Humans have been saving seeds for over 12,000 years.  But the last hundred years or so we have lost much of that knowledge, and along with it, some of our plant diversity.  When you grow your own plants and save your own seeds, you will develop plants that are well suited to your climate. 

2. Preserving our plant diversity is important!  Biodiversity leaves us less vulnerable to disasters (think potato famine in Ireland).  We also want to protect the diversity of plants because of taste.  If you compare a grocery store tomato to one that you grew yourself, there will be no question that tomatoes bred to withstand travel have inferior taste!

3. The Haywood County Public Library wants to remain an integral part of this community.  We strive to remain relevant and necessary, and this program helps us to create a culture of sharing through education about seed saving and gardening.  It’s just one more great reason to visit your local library today!

Stop by and explore our seed project!
– Kathy Olsen

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Olsen
Adult Services Librarian
Haywood  County Public Library
828.356.2507 • KOlsen@haywoodnc.net

Bruschetta (pronounced in Italian as bru’sketta) is an Italian antipasto meaning served before the pasta.  The literal translation is “roasted over coals.”  You will find many variations across Italy – some with grilled bread and some simply spread on bread fresh from the hearth.

Here is a simple and delicious Buy Haywood version for two versions of Summer Bruschetta made with ingredients picked at the peak of flavor, fresh from the farms of Haywood County, NC.

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 Visit our Online Directory for local ingredients!

Tomato & Basil Bruschetta

Ingredients
Artisanal Bread (grilled or fresh)
4 medium-ripe Tomatoes, cored and diced (your favorite in-season varieties)
10-15 leaves of fresh Genovese Basil (rolled & sliced thinly…careful not to bruise basil leaves)
1 clove Garlic, pressed or finely chopped
3-4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-2 Tablespoons Aged Balsamic Vinegar (from Modena, Italy is preferred)
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Note: Adjust acidity depending on the sweetness of the tomatoes, by adding more olive oil or vinegar to achieve the desired flavor balance.

Steps of Preparation

Combine all above ingredients in a bowl.  Let stand unrefrigerated before serving (at least 15 minutes) so that flavors have an opportunity to combine.

Spoon over bread & serve!

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Pesto Bruschetta

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups loosely-packed fresh Genovese Basil leaves
1/3 cup toasted Walnuts (or Pine Nuts)
2 medium Garlic cloves, peeled & chopped
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

Steps of Preparation

Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor (or blender).
Pulse several times to combine.
With machine running, add olive oil & puree until smooth.
Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Spread onto bread & serve.

Serving Suggestions:
Top with freshmozzarella for a variation of flavor!

Also, this recipe for pesto is perfect stirred into 1 lb of cooked & drained pasta for a lunch or dinner treat!

Cook. Share. Enjoy!

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For the creation of these recipes, our ingredients were purchased locally.  We’d like to acknowledge the following growers & producers for their continued partnership with Buy Haywood:

KING HARVEST FARMS—Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic
Steve & Terry King• 828.734.1044
Sold at: HAYWOOD’S HISTORIC FARMERS MARKET

CITY BAKERY of WAYNESVILLE—French Batard

POTTERY — Generously Donated by
HEMPHILL POTTERY
Jimmy & Molly Richardson
828.337.8201

If you love local food with an international flare, then look no further than our friends at Folkmoot USA for flavor inspiration!

Every summer in Haywood County, locals & visitors alike can count on finding the juiciest heirloom tomatoes, ripe berries, farm-raised meats, colorful free-range eggs, gourmet jams, floral honey, crisp green beans and richly colored peppers—from sweet to super-spicy. 

In addition to farm-fresh products, July also brings the much anticipated international festival hosted by our friends at  Folkmoot USA.  Located in Waynesville, NC, Folkmoot USA plays host to the annual Folkmoot USA Festival which has received high acclaim as North Carolina’s official international folklore festival.  2014 marks the 31st annual Folkmoot USA Festival that is celebrated for bringing together the world’s many cultures through music and dance.

Over the years, Folkmoot USA has played host to over 200 groups from 100 different countries.  For a full listing of 2014 performances, ticketing information and events visit the Folkmoot USA website @ folkmootusa.org

In celebration of our friends at Folkmoot USA and their extraordinary contributions to our community (in areas of culture, arts and economic impact of the festival itself), we’ve written a recipe for Curried Zucchini Soup made with the freshest local in-season ingredients and an unexpected punch of exotic flavor!

—Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Project Coordinator

Recipe courtesy of Alex Masciarelli,
Local Educator & Buy Haywood Volunteer

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Visit our Online Directory for local ingredients!

 Curried Zucchini Soup

Ingredients
4-6 medium Zucchini, roughly chopped
1 Onion, roughly chopped
2 Carrots, peeled & roughly chopped
2 medium Potatoes, roughly chopped
1 clove of Garlic, roughly chopped
Corn Oil (or other neutral-flavored oil)
1/2 teaspoon Tumeric
1 teaspoon Curry powder
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Coriander
Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2-1 teaspoon Honey (optional)
Salt & Pepper
Water (can substitute chicken or vegetable stock)

Steps of Preparation
In a large stock pot, coat bottom with cooking oil.

Turn heat on medium, add the following:
Carrots, Onions, salt & pepper
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring ocassionally.

Add garlic and spices, cook for 1 minute – stirring.
Be careful not to burn garlic.

Add chopped potatoes and zucchini.
Stir well.  Cover vegetables with water.

Bring mixture to boil, reduce heat to low. Cover with a lid & cook for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Let cool slightly, in order to safely blend or puree.

Using an immersion blender, conventional blender or potato masher: puree the soup until desired texture.

Add Greek yogurt and mix well.

Taste for salt & pepper.  Add honey if desired.
Season to taste.

Serve warm with toasted croutons on the side.

Cook. Share. Enjoy!

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For the creation of this recipe, our ingredients were purchased locally.  We’d like to acknowledge the following growers & producers for their continued partnership with Buy Haywood:

Zucchini & Potatoes grown by Doug Smathers and sold at Waynesville’s Original Tailgate Market

Onions were grown by Cathy & Tom Boyd, and sold at Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market

Dried spices from Walter & Joanne Meyer from
Pineapple Sage Herb Farm located in Clyde, NC.

Just when you think the growing season in Haywood County, NC, can’t possibly get any more delicious…along comes fig season at Wildcat Ridge Farm in Clyde, NC.  Don’t recall seeing “fig season” listed on any calendar or Farmers’ Almanac?  Just try to telling that to fig lovers and see how far your arguement goes!

Higo (in Spanish), Figue (in French), Feige (in German), and Fico (in Italian)—Figs are appreciated around the world for their delicate flavor while also providing “edible shade” for gardens (both formal and informal).   Commonly considered a fruit, figs are actually a flower that is inverted into itself.  They have been cultivated for thousands of years.  Today, figs are grown to be enjoyed fresh, preserved, baked into cakes or delicate pastries.

Botanists believe that the common fig probably originated in the fertile part of southern Arabia and ancient records show that the Sumerians and Assyrians were also  familiar with it.  The cultivated fig industry, however, most certainly began in western Asia or Asia Minor, probably in that center of ancient civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers known as Mesopotamia.

Today, there are about 470 varieties of common figs—the type grown in the southeast.

In Haywood County, no one knows figs better than Chef Ricardo Fernandez and his wife Suzanne, who own and operate Wildcat Ridge Farm in Clyde, NC.   Wildcat Ridge Farm cultivates and retails a wide variety of gourmet fig trees in containers ranging in size from 4’ to 7’.  Trees can be purchased directly from the farm, see website for buying information.

To celebrate “fig season,“ Chef Ricardo will be hosting “All about Figs!” on Saturday, August 30, 2014, as part of his Mountain Cooking Club.

Location: Fines Creek Community Kitchen
Address: 192 Fines Creek Road in Clyde, NC  28721
Time: 10:30am–1:00pm

The event will feature the following:

For the Pantry:
Fresh Fig & Port Preserves

Salad:
Prosciutto, Mozzarella Pearls and Fresh Fig Salad

Entrée:
Seared Sirloin Steak with Fresh Fig Salsa

Desserts:
Fresh Fig & Raspberry Galette

Balsamic Glazed Roasted Figs with Mascarpone Cream,
Pistachios & Honey

For reservations & pricing, contact Chef Ricardo at 828.627.6751 or by emailing chefricardos@gmail.com

For a delicious recipe featuring Roasted Figs with Gorgonzola & Prosciutto from award-winning Chef Ricardo, visit the Wildcat Ridge Farm website!

Source:  Fig history courtesy of Clemson University Cooperative Extension

Buy Haywood and a few of our agripreneural partners—including Chef Jessica DeMarco of Copper Pot and Wooden Spoon, Skipper Russell and his GAP certified Seasonal Produce Farm, Chef Heidi Dunkleberg of Coffee Cup Cafe, Sunburst Trout Farms, Balsam Gardens, and Chef Ricardo Fernandez of Wildcat Ridge Farms, were fortunate to be featured in the April/May issue of Smoky Mountain Living magazine in an article, “Preserving Agricultural Heritage” by Jake Flannick.

Here is an excerpt:

In Haywood County, located in far Western North Carolina where both Interstate 40 and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park cross the Tennessee state line, the agricultural community is experiencing a period of regrowth, as community advocates have worked to preserve, and redefine, what many see as essential not only to the local economy, but to the community’s social fabric.

There are Christmas trees and broccoli rabe growers, trout fishers, cattle herders and cheese makers. Roadside stands and farmers’ markets abound. And there are the local businesses, including restaurants that base their menus on seasonal and local ingredients.

The local food trend has led to, among other things, more creativity in many kitchens.

Visit the magazine’s website for the full article, CLICK HERE.

Each time I present a community program about Buy Haywood, or give an interview to members of the media, the most frequently asked question is “Why local?”

According to Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, U.S. agriculture is connected to one in twelve American jobs.  Supporting local farmers, growers and producers strengthens rural economies and helps fuel innovation—at the local and regional level.  Agriculture is a big part of Haywood County and Western North Carolina.  Support of local agripreneurs keeps farms viable and preserves access to local products while protecting farmland and the rural character of the region.  In Haywood County alone, agriculture accounts for over $22 million dollars in annual revenue.

When we, as consumers, commit to supporting “local” we are building community resilience in economic, environmental and social sectors while also actively exercising our power to create the community we want (both present and future).

Since its inception in 2007, Buy Haywood has worked to connect our growing base of community-minded consumers with quality Haywood County grown products.  Our reach extends beyond “local food” to support over 700 farms encompassing more than 56,000 acres of farmland in Haywood County alone.  Our community of value-added producers, “Farm to Table” restaurants, and specialty food stores carrying items with locally grown ingredients is literally expanding every day!

For a list of local agripreneurs in our neck of the woods and surrounding communities, visit our Online Directory.

Buy Haywood, you will be glad you did!

—Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Project Coordinator

Guest Post
by
Tara Cathey, Walnut Cove Farms

Walnut Cove Farms is proud to announce our first Farm-to-Table event on Thursday, July 17, 2014, featuring a delicious homemade supper from our heirloom produce and other fresh, local ingredients.

The event will take place in a beautiful rustic setting located right on our family-owned & operated farm in historic Waynesville, NC.

Our Farm-to-Table event will include a performance by the Darren Nicholson Band & an informal discussion on seed saving and other sustainable gardening techniques.

There is plenty to see & experience at Walnut Cove Farms!  Explore the beauty of our 2014 growing season including our hops, “Three Sisters Planting” – heirloom corn, squash and beans as well as our mushroom logs.

Tickets $60/person.   Bring your own wine & spirits.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Tara Cathey at 828.400.0115

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Walnut Cove Farms is a family-owned and operated business dedicated to providing top-quality, organically-grown produce using sustainable practices.

We grow only heirloom, open-pollinated crops – NO GMO’s, NO HYBRIDS!

We offer a CSA and sell weekly on Wed. & Sat. 8-noon at the Waynesville Tailgate Market – 171 Legion Drive, Waynesville, NC.

Beginning in May 2014 our outdoor event venue will be available for rent for weddings and outdoor gatherings.