Burned but not broken: Appalachian Sustainable Development and Appalachian Harvest, based in Abingdon, Va., help local farmers plan, grow and market their crops in much the same way that the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project aids growers in the southern mountains. Last week, the 10,000-square-foot Appalachian Harvest Packing Facility burned to the ground. The facility distributed locally grown organic foods grown to grocery stores such as Food City, Ingles and Whole Foods. “It’s a complete loss,” Executive Director Anthony Flaccavento said. “It’s all gone. About the only thing that’s left is the concrete pad.” The nonprofit has a “Donate Now” button on its Web site (www.appsusdev.org) for those who would like to help the region’s organic growers recover from the disaster.
One less thorn: For organic growers, roses can present a pickle. Beset by disease and insect pests, many would-be rose-raisers give up – or cave in and spray. But there’s hope: The annual exhibition of the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society at the North Carolina Arboretum will feature an EarthKind rose exhibit providing examples of roses that are cultivated without the use of sprays. The EarthKind roses are grown in a public test garden at Asheville’s American Red Cross facility, and offer a good representation of flowers that are well-suited to our mountain region. Rose Society members will be on hand to provide information about the selection, care and history of these magnificent garden plants. Admission to the exhibit is free, but usual parking rates apply. The exhibit is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, June 3, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.ncarboretum.org or call 665-2492.
