Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

Leola Street Community Garden Hosts Benefits This Saturday

Story by David Brewer

Positive growth is what the Leola Street Community Garden is all about. Since opening in 2006, the garden has hosted dozens of community members in their efforts to educate themselves about gardening while practicing sustainability.

This Saturday, Leola Street Community Garden will hold two local functions to raise funds in hopes of continuing its growth. From noon to 3:00 p.m., the Community Garden will host its second annual Local Food & Renewable Energy Fundraiser. At 6:30 p.m., Earth Fare will host the garden’s second annual local wine tasting benefit.

In characterizing the garden’s first two summers, organizer Matt Cooper is extremely positive about its role in the community. According to Cooper, local schools and nonprofits including Two Rivers Community School, WAMY, the Western Youth Network and ASU’s Dietician and Nutrition Club have used the garden as a resource and education tool.

“Everything has been great. We’ve definitely grown,” said Cooper. “It’s a very good thing. We target people that need to learn how to grow food. I want to share with as many people as possible how to care for ourselves.”

The first function of the day will feature live music by local bluegrass band Southern Exposure. In addition to the music, Southern Exposure has developed a local reputation for being a “sustainable” band, using their solar powered public address system when they perform live.

Earth Fare will again cater the event, providing sandwiches. Attendees are encouraged to bring a local food potluck side dish for everyone to enjoy.

W.A.M.Y. Community Action will be on hand to inform the public about its garden voucher program and other services. Turtle Island will have a table with information about their primitive living skills and sustainable methods of living in a community.

Town council members have been invited to have a time in between music to share ideas with the public.

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture will be informing the public about its current local food assessment project, and explain how interested citizens can become involved. The local food assessment deals with mapping the local food system in Watauga County.

Ian Snider will be also be in attendance to inform the public about how they can use horses to log trees appropriately.

For those who enjoy wines from North Carolina, Earth Fare will host a local wine tasting benefit with heavy hors d’oeuvres. The event will start at 6:30 p.m. and the requested donation $7. Live music will be provided at the event by acclaimed local singer-songwriter Melissa Reaves, who will take the stage at 7:00 p.m.

Only 30 tickets will be available for the tasting and concert. For more info, call Nicole at Earth Fare at 828-263-8138.

For more info on Leola Street Community Garden, click to www.leolastreetgarden.org.

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, August 25
Time: 12:00 to 3:00 p.m./6:30 p.m.
Location: Leola Street Community Garden/Earth Fare
Cost: FREE!/$7