About Asheville's Living Green In Asheville

-"Two of These Things Aren't Like the Others!"-

"AKA Asheville Diversity"

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(*)/'(*) ________The Asheville NC Real Estate Journal . Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- Asheville NC Real Estate © 2011. NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. INFORMED CHOICES. THOUGHTFUL ADVICE. Email me to request a copy of EPA's Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit- janeAnne@janeAnne.com Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved.

Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies-
- Asheville NC Real Estate © 2011.
828-776-0773

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"This professional REALTOR® has an eye for extraordinary value
in Mountain Homes and Land Legacies, green-living communities,
and properties of enduring excellence."
~ MKS

Heirloom Organic Tomato Prepares for Takeoff -Asheville Style
Asheville Real Estate Journal- Organic Farming

Interested in research and extension programs dedicated to the development of sustainable and organic production systems for herbs, vegetables, and a wide variety of specialty crops, and to providing support to farmers in the Asheville, Western North Carolina (WNC) area?

Then you will want to know more about Dr. Jeanine Davis, Associate Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. Dr. Davis focuses her research on a subject that is also of great interest to many of my real estate clients here in Asheville NC.

As a REALTOR® involved for these past many years in stewardship of land, small family (organic) farmland, and eco-friendly real estate market here in Asheville, it is exciting to see this work unfold. Our hopes are high that the number of WNC farmers producing for this specialty crops industry increases.

If you are and/or you or desire to become an organic farmer interested in exploring options for farmers in the Asheville area - possibly experimenting with new crops which could lead to supplemental income,

here are some links you will not want to overlook!

• Farm Prosperity Project - Helpful decision making tools, production information, surveys, and presentations pertaining to choosing new crops and farmland protection.
• NC Organic- An organic agriculture internet resource for North Carolina farmers.
• NC Specialty Crops - A resource for farmers, entrepreneurs and consumers within the specialty crops market.
• Medicinal Herbs for Commerce - Information on growing and selling medicinal herbs in North Carolina.
• NC Medicinal Herbs - North Carolina Consortium on Natural Medicines. Information on herbs for consumers, health professionals and growers.
• WNC Forest Producers Marketing Project - Information on local forest products producers (timber and non-timber) and resources for them.
• WNC Natural Products Project- Resources from many local organizations supporting the WNC industry.

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(*)/'(*) ________Asheville NC Real Estate Journal. Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- - Asheville NC Real Estate © 2011. : NAR GREEN®, EcoBroker®, Eco Certified ®Real Estate Consultant. ASHEVILLE-STYLE-Heirloom Organic Tomato Prepares for Takeoff .Unauthorized reproduction of any information including photos on this site is a violation of existing copyright laws. All rights reserved. Eco-Friendly Mountain Homes and Land Legacies- - Asheville NC Real Estate © 2011. ________________________________________________________________________

Going Green: A Snowbound Neighborhood

According to the commonly understood real estate definition, a neighborhood is an
area of a municipality which is identifiable by a common use, a common atmosphere or a common business area.

When I think of neighborhood, I imagine ice cream socials, welcoming living spaces, community organic gardens, evening strolls on tree-lined sidewalks. Family. Friends. Pets and Parties.

It's a very attractive picture to me, especially at this time of year. I so enjoy sharing images and stories of life in our neighborhood in the mountains in Asheville. And for the past number of years I even have been setting aside time each week to journey out to other neighborhoods, to explore the lore of days gone by and then talk with the folks who live in a neighborhood now.

There seems to be a common thread in the neighborhoods that attract me. It is not that they have a common business area or a common atmosphere. It has more to do with the "neighborliness" of the neighbors.

We had a huge snow storm this week. We were snowed in. We hit the wood pile, chopped the logs, lit the fire, and helped out the neighbors. Then we settled down with a hot chocolate. Does that make us "identifiable by a common use" ? Possibly. But there is so much more energy around the notion of neighborhood.

Maybe it has more to do with the esprit de corps grilling outside in the snow is all about.

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Going Green Series: A Neighborhood. Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

When you think about sustainable agriculture, organic farms, eco-communities and quality of life in Asheville and the towns surrounding Her, you may wonder if this post is simply nugacity in an otherwise (hopefully) worthy landscape.

However, some redeeming wisdom possibly survives- especially if you are a lover of guineafowl. So I'm gonna' take the risk, and tell this story . . .

"Which One's the Guinea?"
(A Carolina Blue Skies Local Color Story).

Once upon a time, approximately 11 miles from downtown Asheville; or 7 miles from the where bustling Patton Avenue intersects Highway 63; or 5 miles from dear "Green Asheville's" city limits; or 1/2 mile from the new Leicester Post Office, there was a beautiful organic farm- on Bright Blue Sky Lane-called Asheville Farm.

Asheville Farm was, and still is to this very day home to a "healthy, pampered collection " of Icelandic sheep, dairy goats, a small but growing orchard of chemical-free blueberries, peaches, plums, apples and pears and garden of tomatoes, peppers, and other fresh vegetables ( and- YES!-) free-range Guinea fowl and chickens!

These happy birds enjoy organic poultry feed of grain, minerals, probiotics and flax seedbecause they live on one of many of Asheville's organic, sustainable farms.

Committed to sustainable farming and pasturing methods, the owners of this farm also are receptive to talking with visitors about what it takes to create this environment. This is a real plus for our clients who more and more are telling us they want to learn about sustainable practices in agriculture.

In general, here in the Greater Asheville area, whether you live here, are visiting or relocating, you will notice that people enjoy the conversation and the camaraderie about such matters. That, by the way, turned out to be a "good-thing" for one of our clients recently....and so I'll continue with the story.

As we toured a small, family farm just placed on the market, a number of fowl- some golden, some black, some with red combs some bald-headed but otherwise feathered creatures noisily greeted us.

"Oh Look," our client cooed, pointing with delight at the bald creature, "What's THAT?" To which our host, the farmer replied with a smile, and a mini-dissertation on guineafowl, the essence of which I've tried to capture below. But first...I'm just curious...would yourecognize one if you saw a guineafowl?... "Which One do You think is the Guinea?"

"Which One's the Guinea?"

An organic farmer's mini-dissertation on guineafowl with a few words and photos added courtesy of Wikipedia.

" Have you ever raised guineas? If you have, you know what good ‘watchdogs' they can be and how they help control ticks and snakes in the yard...." This is a family of insect and seed-eating, ground-nesting birds resembling partridges, but with featherlessheads and spangled grey plumage.

Helmeted Guineafowl from Namibia.

Photos of guineafowl are courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Helmeted Guineafowl (seen in this photo) has been domesticated and introduced to various farms around Asheville and across the USA and Europe.. .Check back soon for more local color and stories about Asheville's sustainable agriculture: Eco-communities, organic farms & farm life and bright blue skies.

Resources:
Video Two guineafowl preening and feeding. Murchison Falls NP, Uganda (ssp meleagris). © J. del Hoyo / Lynx Duration 29 s Recorded 30 August 2006 Added to IBC 16 February 2007 Play video

We could have used some gunineafowl here!

And remember: "A hair in the head is worth two in the brush" -Oliver Herford, writer and illustrator (1863-1935)

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Read the latest news about mountain and valley neighborhoods, day trips, picnics, and local ecotourist attractions you'll just love. Check THIS out/ ~ Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ? Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

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WE are IN a sustainable world.

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We have been visiting any number of Greater Asheville, N.C. area tailgate markets on the hunt for engaging photos about organic eats and other "good things" for sustainable living.

This has turned out to be pure bon chance . An early morning adventure is one of many reasons why the Asheville area tailgate markets are special placesfor us. But there are other reasons why we rise just after dawn (you can go much later but we like to be there first) on various days of the week to visit the tailgate markets.

Tailgate markets offer so much more than the scent of fresh baked goodies in the air, the sound of neighbors chatting, the warm touch of fresh farm produce, and the tastes that promise to make your meals bedazzling.

Young and old alike come together at the UNCA Sponsored Tailgate market.

Possibly the overriding reason-benefit is reconnecting with the land; meeting the people who devote their lives to bringing food from their farms to our tables.

There's a sense of expectation, neighborliness and excitement in the air!

(See photo I took of young girl as she dashes on her way to share the flowers at UNCA sponsored North Asheville Tailgate Market. What a delight!)

This week, as we stroll along the rows of colorful tents beneath the huge shade trees, we are on the lookout for heirloom tomatoes and Granny's recipe for Heirloom Tomato Panzanella. (There's a close replica here.)

According to Wikipedia, most authorities agree that heirlooms, by definition, must be open-pollinated. They may also be open pollinated varieties that were bred and stabilized using classic breeding practices.

While there are no genetically modified tomatoes available for commercial or home use, it is generally agreed that no genetically modified organismscan be considered heirloom cultivars. We'll need 2 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes a nice organic red onion , organic garlic, and some fresh basil ( we have this in our own garden).

So off we go, baskets and cameras in hand.

Until we reconnect with some of our favorite folks from a local certified Organic Farm. Just seeing their friendly faces reminds us of how much we enjoy reconnecting with the land; meeting the people who devote their lives to bringing food from their farms to our tables.

Maybe one day you could meet us at the market. . . just in case. . .

Here's 2008 list of farmers tailgate markets provided by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

If you are relocating to, visiting , or already are lucky enough to live in the Greater Asheville, NC area, take it from us, you will love visiting every one of these. You also can also get video tips on shopping at markets or find various farm to table restaurants to sample fresh local food.

Green-o-Lina's FYI:Did you know that it takes almost 20 times more oil to transport nonlocal food compared to what you will find produced nearby which has been brought with personal care to our local tailgate markets?

Next stop...more heirloom tomatoes and some R&R at Zydeco Moon Organic Farm and Cabins. We heard by the "tomato vine" that Sally's crop of heirloom tomatoes now is in full swing. Brandywines, Cherokee Purples, Lillians, Green Zebras, Hughes, all open pollinated old timey tomatoes that taste like tomatoes used to taste. Five pounds of these organic beauties will be waiting for us in the Blue Moon or Harvest Moon.

Check back soon for our photo shoot and adventure at Zydeco Moon Farm.

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Read the latest news about mountain and valley neighborhoods, day trips, picnics, and local ecotourist attractions you'll just love. Check THIS out! Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ? Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

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(*)/'(*)

WE are IN a sustainable world.

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