F
Leading the way From farmers markets to green building, WNC embraces sustainability
42
Welcome Beverly-Hanks & ASSOCIATES
amilies in Western North Carolina cherish the land they live on, the lives they lead and the love they share. So it’s no surprise that they take good care not only of each other but also of the things that nurture their lives. The rich soil, clean air and pure water of Western North Carolina are prized by area farmers, whose tasty, healthy vegetables find eager buyers at area tailgate markets. The Western North Carolina Farmers Market, one of five stateowned farmers markets in North Carolina, features stand after stand of high-quality fruits and vegetables, jams and jellies, freshbaked breads and honeys of all sort. Open daily year ‘round, it has so many farmers and vendors selling tempting treats that it spreads them throughout several buildings on 36 acres. Smaller tailgate markets organized and staffed by farmers abound in the mountains. Often offering up live music and craft demonstrations, the markets resemble county fairs, with lined tents displaying greens, berries, squash and all manner of potatoes, as well as fresh herbs and cut flowers. Bakers bring vans full of aromatic savory and sweet breads, often brewing up strong coffee to complete the treat. Asheville has some excellent natural foods store, including Earth Fare, a large soup-to-nuts natural supermarket in Westgate Shopping Center, and Greenlife, a classy full-service “green” grocery on Merrimon Avenue. Mainstream groceries such as Ingles and Fresh Market have updated their stores and increased their organic offerings. Many bakeries and restaurants throughout Western North Carolina make it a point of using only organic or naturally raised ingredients. Slow Food Asheville, the local chapter of an international slow food movement, is called a “convivium,” a group that assembles convivially every so often to enjoy the pleasures of food and company. Assembling around food that is as tasty as it is healthy and good for its growers and the planet, the The Western North convivium is comprised of tailgate Carolina Farmers markets, organic growers, food artisans Market is a stateowned farmers and wonderful restaurants. Members market with a wide explore the world of good, healthy food variety of vendors. JON D. BOWMAN PHOTO via tastings, field trips and other celebrations. The mission of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project is to help local farms thrive, to link farmers to markets and supporters, and to build healthy communities through connections to local food. The project brings farmers and consumers together in a mutually beneficial way. Buying local means that you’re eating fresher, better-tasting and healthier food, and that you’re helping local farmers stay in business. By supporting farmers, participants are helping to preserve farmland and are encouraging the use of environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Green describes more than just the area’s approach to healthful eating. It also describes the leading trend in homebuilding today. And in “green building,” Western North Carolina is a leader. The Western North Carolina Green Building Council espoused sustainable building practices more than a decade before they became common in much of the rest of the country. Educating and organizing the regional building industry since 2001, the council has been a rich source of information for the public and professional builders. Many of those houses are certified by the NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program, which requires residential builders and developers to utilize sustainable, high-performance building strategies to make homes comfortable, healthy and affordable. HealthyBuilt homes use less water and energy, protect the land on which they’re built and reduce waste by being as recyclable as possible. Many even generate their own power, selling the excess back to the power company. State and federal tax credits make investing in many of these efficient energy systems