There are many places in the world where being outdoors and staying alive don’t mesh well. South African waters harbor 2,000-pound great whites that ambush their prey from below; Australia is home to saltwater crocodiles known for snatching unknowing victims; and the milky sap of the Caribbean manchineel tree is so poisonous that indigenous tribesmen … Read more
Very fair trade: Too many zucchini starts and not enough tomatoes? Irises want thinning and you need some hostas for that shady corner? Asheville LETS is holding a Seedling Swap & Potluck at Montford’s Magnolia Park on Sunday, April 15, at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, but if you … Read more
Go easy on yourself: Cycle North Carolina, the state’s only “fully supported” bike tour, is preparing the route for its “Mountains to the Coast” tour of the Tar Heel state. The ninth-annual ride will set out from West Jefferson on Sept. 29 and arrive in Currituck on Oct. 6. Cyclists will average 65 miles per … Read more
The term “Southern food” is a “magnetizing” one, notes Matt Lee. “People definitely take a position” on Southern fare, he says. “It makes people feel like insiders if they have a connection to the South and they love Southern food. And if they don’t, they’re either drawn to it or repulsed by it—but either way, … Read more
Noted Appalachian food scholar Mark Sohn is offering a weeklong cooking class at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown this June. “Great American Cuisine” will include instruction in baking, searing and steaming, using locally grown produce to create garden frittatas and double-crust apple pies. To register, visit the Folk School’s Web site at … Read more
Winston Churchill once remarked that politics is “almost as exciting as war” and just as dangerous. “In war you can only be killed once,” he mused, “but in politics many times.” In Madison County, however, politics is a blood sport played by a few powerful families yet sanctioned by all. The gladiators in Madison’s political … Read more
A bill filed in the N.C. General Assembly late last month would require all complementary and alternative health-care practitioners in the state to be licensed. This is unnecessary, impractical and contrary to the wishes of many Western North Carolina residents. Another bill, filed April 5, follows other states’ lead in protecting people’s fundamental right to … Read more
March of Dimes’ WalkAmerica is scheduled to take place here in Asheville on April 28. When people give to the March of Dimes (MOD), they expect their money will help babies. Instead, MOD has funded dozens of experiments using primates, cats, dogs, rabbits, sheep and other animals. MOD experimenters have immobilized monkeys in restraints for … Read more
Returning to my car after lunch in downtown Asheville on April 3, I passed a small, crouching cat behind a restaurant. She was tiny; I initially thought she was just a few months old. I started petting her and discovered dirty matted fur, crusted eyes and several plump ticks on her body. I scooped her … Read more
