South Charlotte November 2017 by City Lifestyle

South Charlotte SouthCharlotteLifestylePubs.com

NOVEMBER 2017

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THE

Farm-to-Table ISSUE

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Lifestyle Letter Photo by Shonie Kuykendall

Lifestyle Letter

arm-to-table" is, undoubtedly, a buzzword—or rather, buzz-phrase. But what about "farm to finely woven accessories?" Or "farm to to-go box?" These days, local farmers aren't just growing veggies to hock at farmer's markets or box up for trendy eateries. Across the region, locally-grown produce and products are finding new homes in the mouths and on the bodies of Charlotteans. They're wrapped in warm tortillas and buns and passed out of the wee windows of food trucks. They're woven into warm scarves and socks and passed out as Christmas gifts. They're everywhere.

And always, at the root (pun intended), are the farmers. In a time when farm-to-table is trending, who are these men and women who heed the call of the land, who dig their fingers into our rich soils and pull them out burdened with things edible and beautiful? These are the questions we asked in our Farm-to-Table Issue, and we hope you like the answers we found. We took our own trip back to the land in this issue, exploring the farms around us and the people who connect with them. Happy farming! Emily Glaser

NOVEMBER 2017 PUBLISHER

Richard Mellert | Richard.Mellert@LifestylePubs.com George Zorrilla | George.Zorrilla@LifestylePubs.com EDITOR

Emily Glaser | Emily.Glaser@LifestylePubs.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Wesley Brown, Roni Fishkin, Emily Glaser, Valery Huffenus CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Richard Israel Photography, Heart Math Tutoring, Shonie Kuykendall, Heather Love with Ant Sanders Design, Jeff Palmer, Peter Taylor, Treasured Events

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South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

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514 W 26th St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Proverbs 3:5-6 South Charlotte Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of South Charlotte’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in South Charlotte Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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November 2017

Departments

Good Times

Around Town

Travel Destination

Renovate & Refine

Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Notebook

26 DIY 28

Water & Woods

Lifestyle Calendar

Realty Report

Parting Thoughts

20 Meet Your Farmers

Charlotteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small Farmers Share Their Stories

28 Farm to Finery

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34 Farm to Food Truck

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Good Times

Panthers Fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey Relief

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Around Town

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AROUND TOWN GROWING HEART Heart Math Tutoring—a Charlotte nonprofit dedicated to helping students in high-poverty elementary schools develop math skills and academic confidence—wrapped up its Spring Funding Initiative with the largest amount raised to date: $840,342. This enables Heart to grow from 12 to 17 school sites during the 2017/18 school year. In the 2016/17 school year, 98 percent of Heart students met program growth goals in math, growing in two or more building block concept areas. On average, students doubled the goal – growing in 4.9 concept areas. Since 2013/14, Heart has grown from serving 105 students across two schools to more than 850 students across 17 school sites in 2017/18. Heart’s 750 volunteers collectively gave more than 13,000 hours of targeted, one-on-one instruction to students during the 2016/17 school year. “We are so grateful for the generosity of our community partners and the financial support that will impact hundreds more students this school year,” said Emily Elliott, Executive Director of Heart Math Tutoring. “Funds raised will ensure that all students we serve develop the

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FALL BALL 2017: UNDER THE BIG TOP The Young Affiliates of the Mint will host their annual signature fundraiser event, Fall Ball 2017: Under the Big Top, on November 10! This year, the signature ball will be a celebration of performance arts in our community with some

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surprises in store. Dance the night away to live music, dine on heavy hors d'oeuvres, and delight in the spectacular on the magnificent lawn of Mint Museum Randolph. All proceeds from this event will be used to offset the cost of CharlotteMecklenburg student tours at the Mint. Black tie CONTINUED >

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

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Around Town

(CON TI N U ED)

is optional at the soiree. Tickets, which are $100 for members and $120 for non-members, can be found at MintMuseum.org.

9TH ANNUAL TIES & TAILS GALA The 9th Annual Ties & Tails Gala, benefitting the Humane Society of Charlotte, comes to the Hilton Charlotte Center City on November 11 for a fabulous evening of fur, fun and fundraising! Last year’s event was a great success, with over 570 guests who raised more than $290,000 to support the mission of the HSC. Join Gizmo, this year's Ties & Tails Cover Dog, at the gala. With a new venue, a new Cover Dog, a great new auction team of Ron and Debbie Hitzel, and

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THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE The largest parade in the Southeast hits the streets of Charlotte on November 23. The Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a holiday tradition in Charlotte since 1947. Over seven decades, hundreds of thousands of participants, volunteers, sponsors, families and friends have centered their Thanksgiving traditions around this parade. What began as a local holiday parade has grown into a magical showcase of performances, floats, dignitaries, celebrities, marching bands, balloons and surprises. Today, the parade is broadcast into 1.5 million homes around the region, providing the gift of entertainment and joy to young and old. Charlotte’s families and out-of-towners alike are invited to enjoy this classic tradition with a modern twist. Marvel at the sight of larger-than-life floats and balloons, nationally known recording artists from a variety of music genres, the booming cadence of marching bands, glittering and shaking dance teams and so much more!

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Travel Destination

Experience of a Lifetime ARTICLE RONI FISHKIN

ith the rise of social media, travelers are documenting and

not everyone gets a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a local farm and

sharing their experiences at lightning speed these days. As

learns how to bake scones with the proprietors. A cup of Irish coffee

this phenomenon spreads, so does the desire to find more unique

and a fresh-baked scone is the kind of unique experience that can

and authentic experiences to share.

differentiate your visit from the masses.

Where once it was enough to bring home a photo and a souvenir

• Chef’s tour of a local market: Imagine exploring a port’s local

from a trip, now vacationers want intangible experiences that provide

fish or vegetable market escorted by your ship’s head chef. You help

memories of a lifetime, and they don’t want to experience these along

choose the freshest ingredients and craft that night’s menu on the

with hundreds of people in a crowded space perceived as catering to

spot. Learn how these professionals make decisions when buying

the average “tourist.”

local foods and dine on the delicacies that evening for dinner.

Travel providers are listening! Charlotte’s own Mann Travels part-

• Fishing on the Mekong River: Many visits to Vietnam include a tour

ners with a variety of fabulous travel companies that are highlighting

of the floating villages and a glimpse into the fascinating way of life. Now

truly customized and unusual experiences around the world. Here are

travelers can really immerse themselves in life on the Mekong with a les-

a few thrilling examples:

son with a local fisherman before a walking tour of the town and markets. The possibilities are endless for special and unique experiences

• Tango lessons in Argentina: For decades, visitors to Argentina

around the globe. Whether you want to learn the art of tortilla making

were treated to a traditional tango show. The iconic dance is synony-

in Belize, meet an olive grower in Italy or practice Arabic calligraphy

mous with Argentina, and travelers loved the introduction to this Latin

in Morocco, there is a trip waiting to give you the authentic opportu-

culture through performance. Now visitors are not content to watch the

nity of your dreams. Call Mann Travels at 704.343. MANN (6266) or

tango—they want to learn the dance themselves. Next time you’re in

visit MannTravels.com for more details.

Buenos Aires, put on your comfortable shoes, slip a rose in your mouth and learn the sensual moves of the traditional tango. • Visit a working farm in Ireland: Everyone talks about lifting a pint at the ubiquitous Irish pub when visiting the Emerald Isle, but

The world at your fingertips

Please join us to learn about fabulous travel opportunities. Hampton Inn Phillips Place Thursday November 30th at 6pm Wine & hors d’oeuvres reception. Exclusive Travel Offers RSVP at rsvp@manntrravels.com or 704-556-8311

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

Roni Fishkin is the Marketing Director of Mann Travels which, with local ownership in Charlotte, has been serving travelers with personalized service for more than 35 years.

Renovate & Refine

Being Green Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easy

Incorporating Sustainable Design into Your home

ARTICLE VALERY HUFFENUS, DECORATING DEN INTERIORS 16

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

ermit may have said it’s not easy being green, but we think he was wrong. With so many products and design options available for

your home, being “green” can be a relatively easy and environmentally friendly way to create a beautiful room design. From paint to lighting, accessories to fabrics, furniture to wall coverings, being eco-friendly at home has become an extremely high priority for many homeowners, manufacturers and consumers. There are so many exciting options for incorporating green design into your home! FURNITURE

Natural fibers, like rattan, bamboo, abaca, government-certified hardwoods and plantation-grown woods (which are grown specifically for furniture in order to avoid depleting forest-grown woods), provide homeowners with a wide variety of styles, textures and designs from which to choose. If purchasing eco-friendly furniture for your home is a priority, you might check to see if your furniture manufacturer is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) which was established in 2007. LIGHTING

Not only have the soft light of halogen lamps been all the rage for the past few years, they are a boon to energy savings, as are the wide variety of energy-saving light bulbs available in the marketplace. Furniture isn’t the only arena for natural fibers; we’re also seeing natural materials such as cork, rattan and twig in eye-popping lighting pieces. FABRICS

Believe it or not, gorgeous decorative fabrics are being made from recycled plastic water bottles, recycled polyester and recycled paper. Oftentimes these eco-friendly fabrics are treated and finished with only water-based or environmentally approved dyes. You’ll find nature-friendly bamboo in fabrics, too, where it’s used as a fiber for towels and in natural woven shades. WALL FINISHES

Paints now feature low odors, faster drying times and stronger durability, all by maintaining environmental codes. If repainting is in your future, be sure to ask if the paint you’re considering has a low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) rating, so that you can continue your environmental stewardship. Natural grasscloth wall coverings are another way to add warmth, beauty and texture to your wall décor while maintaining your green focus. REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE

Designs all around the home today feature products that have been repurposed in order to minimize negative impact on our environment. It’s easy to turn that old chest into something funky and fun with a coat of paint and new hardware or reuse an old piece in a new space to bring character and interest to the room. Recycling furniture is an easy option with reupholstery (bonus points for using a sustainable, green fabric!). And let’s not forget the importance in design of the color green! This

ever-popular shade can be found in almost every design scheme. Whether you incorporate green with succulents, plants or trees displayed in you room’s design or you make the hue a predominant feature, any shade of green will add a bit of the great outdoors to your décor. November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

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November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

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South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

C H A R LOT T E ’ S S M A L L FA R M E R S S H A R E T H E I R S TO R I E S

JAMIE SWOFFORD, THE CHEF’S FARMER The name “Jamie Swofford” is one you’ll find ringing in the ears and around the kitchens of many Charlotte chefs. The farmer’s son-turned-chef-turned farmer is firmly rooted in these Carolina soils and palates, his intentionality and curation in the field a reflection of his old career. What brought you to farming? I grew up on my family’s farm in Cleveland County and learned about the importance of food at an early age, but also the work that it took to produce it. There was always work to do on the farm and I had many jobs–– sweeping the chicken barn, picking eggs, bottle-feeding calves, weeding the garden. After high school, I took the first train leaving. I started working in kitchens in Shelby, then moved to Charlotte and worked my way up in the kitchens of Charlotte’s early days. I’d spend the next two decades in kitchens, learning as much as I could and moving on, all the while continuing to learn about food and making connections with people in the food world. At some point, it became evident that there was something “more,” but it took a while to figure out what that was. I’d see ingredients come in the back door every day and I’d wonder––where did it come from? Who grew this? How long did it sit on the back of the truck? How does that affect the flavor of the ingredient? In the end, I was driven by a desire to find the best ingredients, and after some convincing and my family’s support, I moved back to Cleveland County and started growing food for chefs. I felt I could affect more kitchens, and learn more about food by doing it this way. That was six seasons ago, in 2010. What’s your favorite thing to grow? Roots, in general, are my favorite thing to grow. In particular, turnips and radishes. But asking me about my favorite vegetable is like asking me to pick a favorite child. Ask me next week, and I’ll probably give you a different answer. I like roots because they are so versatile. Some are grown for the root, some are grown for the greens. So many different colors, sizes, shapes and textures. And they grow really fast, so there is an instant gratification thing happening. What’s a fun fact about yourself? I guess the most fun, and unexpected, fact about me is that I am in the beginning stages of owning a botanical beverage line, Old North Shrub. Through my work with Jason and Jeff Alexander at Free Range Brewing, I was given the opportunity to make the non-alcoholic beverage they would serve on tap. My only guidance was to make something that was “not kombucha.” So I chose an old colonial-era beverage made with vinegar, fruit and sugar. It became so popular that people began asking me to bottle it. So I did, and I’ve now started selling to retail stores, mixologists and restaurants around the state. ARTICLE EMILY GLASER CONTINUED >

These farmers are all favorites of Heirloom’s Clark Barlowe! Watch for an exclusive interview and recipe from Barlowe in our January issue.

November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

MEET YOUR FARMERS (CON TI N U ED)

KIM SHAW, SMALL CITY FARM True to its name, Small City Farm is located

an acre in Cotswold), would he buy more for

on three acres in Charlotte. Here Kim Shaw

the Club? He said yes! […] That was August,

and her husband grow heirloom vegetables,

we started building raised beds at the house

fruits and chickens, some of which make it

and were at the Yorkmont Farmer's Market

onto their own table, others the rough wood

selling produce that October. Paul was my

of farmer’s market booths, and still others into

first commercial customer. In 2010 we bought

some of the finest restaurants in the region.

the property we have now (3 acres) and sold

What brought you to farming?

our house in Cotswold. What’s your favorite thing to cook?

In 2007, I was working as Director of Catering at The Club at Longview. I had started a garden there (Paul Verica was the

I only cook the bacon, but my favorite is a tomato, cucumber and bacon sandwich. Can't be beat. What’s a fun fact about yourself?

Executive Chef) and was really enjoying growing produce for our members. We were

I also love to sew. Next project is making

out of space at the Club, but I asked Paul, if I

aprons for Paul Verica's second restaurant. (I

were to grow things at my house (then .40 of

made them for his first one, too.)

DANI & JOE ROWLAND, ROWLAND’S ROW FARM FARM DANI & JOE ROWLAND, ROWLAND’S ROW

A product of the The Elma C. Lomax Incubator Farm in Concord and a shared

buying land and farming. We bonded over our passions for local food. What’s your favorite thing to grow?

passion for food—both in the garden and the kitchen—Rowland’s Row Farm’s husband and

We grow 50-60 varieties of vegetables

wife duo offer sustainably grown produce, non-

and fruits throughout the year. Picking one

GMO poultry and fresh eggs via CSA boxes and

favorite is like picking a favorite child; there

restaurant dishes.

are some we like growing more than others

What brought you to farming?

but it’s hard to pick a favorite. Fall is definitely

Joe grew up spending summers with his

our favorite season to grow in. The days get

grandparents on their farm in Indiana. As a

shorter, the weather cools off, the pace and

child he wanted to be a farmer like his grand-

work load slow down. It’s a welcome change

father and as an adult he always idealized

after summer. What's a fun fact about yourself?

the farm life. Joe and I met in 2008 while working for a local organic grocery chain.

Many people know that Joe was in a local

Joe had just returned to NC after 5 years in

band in Charlotte for 4 years, but most don’t

Boston managing restaurants and I had just

know that in 2009 his band did a USO tour

returned from studying nutrition at University

in the Middle East and Joe was voted male

of Georgia. Joe moved here with the goal of

vocalist of the year in 2010 by Creative Loafing.

BRAD TODD, LUCKY BRAD TODD, LUCKY CLAYSCLAYS FARM FRESH After stints in the military and college, Todd joined Lucky Clays Fresh (part of Lucky Clays

and aquaculture into an age-old farming method, today know as Aquaponics.

Farm) and helped design and build progres-

What's your favorite thing to cook?

sively larger and more efficient aquaponics

Anything that was produced with my own

systems that were based off of research and

two hands. I love eating, although sometimes

actual experience, attracting global attention.

a bit too much, but there is something about

What brought you to farming?

using ingredients that you produced that is

I grew up in a very rural area with a love for

beyond description. Even with using very few

nature and self-sufficiency. Throughout my

ingredients, the meal takes on a whole new

travels in the Marine Corps, I became very

aspect when you can enjoy the fruits of your

interested in intensive agriculture, as well as

own labor.

fish farming. This was the catalyst that cre-

What's a fun fact about yourself?

ated my interest in combining hydroponics

I am an avid knitter.

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

Richard Israel Photography

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Driver’s Notebook ARTICLE WESLEY BROWN

VOLVO'S NEW V90 CROSS COUNTRY ENCOURAGES EXPLORATION

ADVENTURE AWAITS

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

f adventure awaits, we suggest you find it

elegance in their construction of these mid-

with the new V90 Cross Country.

sized SUVs. Volvo’s senior vice president

This cousin of the classic Volvo wagon

of design, Thomas Ingenlath, and his team

was meticulously engineered for off-road,

have intentionally designed a line of new

breakneck adventure. With 8.2 inches of

Volvos dedicated to a classic Swedish aes-

clearance—2.36 inches more than that afore-

thetic and craftsmanship, and the V90CC is

mentioned cousin—the V90 Cross Country is

no different. Simple and elegant lines form

ready for rough roads and big bumps. Add to

the crossover’s exterior that’s simultane-

that higher clearance new tires—softer and

ously delicate and hardy.

rounder for a comfortable ride on dirt roads—

The sleek interior boasts the same touch-

bigger wheels and fine-tuning of the electronic

screen infotainment system as Volvo’s other

chassis system, and you’ve got a veritable

wagons, as well as a sophisticated Bowers

adventure-mobile. The electric power steering,

& Wilkins soundsystem. The design itself is

all-wheel drive system (which comes standard)

gorgeous but comfortable, a mix of supple

and stability control were also tweaked in this

leathers and polished wood trim.

model for optimum exploring. The

V90CC

also

Whether you plan to hit the city streets or the

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South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

t’s a common malady that starts small. First you put your golf clubs in the corner; next, your power tools take over a dusty shelving unit; then

boxes of Christmas decorations find a cobwebbed home on the slick floors. Before you know it, the battle has been lost, and your garage has become a storage unit. It can happen to the most organized and cleanly homeowner; knickknacks turn to clutter turn to a hoard in the oft-unused extra space of a garage. The well-intentioned storage space quickly escalates into an unmanageable situation. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The garage door experts at ASSA ABLOY lend us their fool-proof system for taking back your garage—and even turning it into something more.

STEP ONE:

If you’ve got clutter, take it out of that environment.

Once you’ve removed everything from your garage, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re actually dealing with and remember all the things you shoved in the corner last winter.

STEP TWO: Do a cleanse. Now that you can see everything, it’s easy to separate your belongings into three categories: junk, donate, keep. Purge the stuff that’s irrelevant or of no value (think outdated appliances and technology).

STEP THREE: Categorize and organize. After that initial sweep of keep-junk-donate, it will be easier to organize your stuff into smaller categories: tools, keepsakes, outdoor equipment, decor, etc.

STEP FOUR: Invest in your garage. Your garage really can be a great place for storage—if you outfit it correctly. There are great shelving units, cabinets, slat-and-hook systems and more—like Garage Tek, storeWALL, and G-floor—out there for you to incorporate into your freshly-cleansed garage.

STEP FIVE: Reorganize. Once those new storage solutions are in place, it’s time to put everything back (now in it’s new, organized home). Now that your garage is spick and span, you’ll want to spend more time in what is essentially one of the largest rooms in your home. Looking for ideas on how to make the most of it? Turn your garage into party central with these quick tips: A garage is usually one of the longest rooms in the house, making it perfect for a long dinner table during family gatherings. In order to keep the room cool in the summer and warm in the winter, invest in an insulated garage door to keep the room comfortable. Accent windows on your garage door can also let light in and make the room more homey. White garage walls are a blank canvas for party decor! ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems is the premier source for garage doors & openers. From design, manufacturing, installation, and even service, ASSA ABLOY is the only garage door provider that is involved in every single step of your garage door’s life. This means that the ASSA ABLOY technicians truly are specialists. No one knows garage doors better, so trust no less than ASSA ABLOY for your home. For more information, visit AssaAbloyGarageDoors.com.

November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

Water & Woods

Farm TO Finery ECO-FRIENDLY ALPACAS AT GOOD KARMA RANCH

ARTICLE EMILY GLASER | PHOTOGRAPHY HEATHER LOVE WITH ANT SANDERS DESIGN

e’re all familiar with the idea of farm to table—but what about farm to finery? In an era when sourcing locally and sustainably is a cultural and culinary bulwark,

what does that mean for other industries sourced from things grown in our rich Carolina soils or grazed on our grasses? For Mike and Shelly Walsh, it means a lot. The New York natives aren’t part of a multigenerational lineage of farmers; before they purchased their 12 acres in Iron Station over a decade ago, they’d barely dipped their toe—or rather, finger—into our lands. “I didn’t even grow up with pets,” Shelly says with a laugh—let alone shearing alpacas. But that’s what she and her family—and the crowds who gather to watch them—do once annually. That’s because the Walshes are the proprietors of Good Karma Ranch, an eco-friendly, solar-powered alpaca farm that breeds top-notch Huacaya alpacas, shearing their soft, wooly coats every year to create sustainable fiber. It wasn’t alpacas that inspired Shelly and Mike to farm, but rather sustainable farming that brought the family to alpacas. “We basically were living in Huntersville for a long time and felt like we needed to get out and have more space around us,” Shelly explains. “So we bought this farm owning no animals. We weren’t sure about the direction we wanted to go in, but knew we wanted to be here.”

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

They first adopted llamas to learn how to care for animals, then rescued horses. But the duo wanted to invest in livestock—and, hopefully, a career—that was easy on the land (horses’ hard hooves and hungry mouths turn pastures to mud holes) and that fit into their ecofriendly farming practices. Those desires brought them to alpacas. Good Karma Ranch’s business is threefold: breeding with other ranchers, producing the sustainable specialty fiber, and agritourism. Finding sustainable, USA-made fabrics and fashion is nigh-on

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impossible, which is what makes Good Karma so special. Products made from alpaca fleece, like gloves, socks, pashminas and throw blankets, are sold in the farm store. After the annual shearing, the wool is sent to a co-op that gathers other alpaca fiber from around the country, made into products, and sent back to the Walshes. “It’s hypoallergenic, so it’s not itchy,” Shelly notes. “It’s more like a cashmere with the warming properties of wool, and items tend to be really thin.” Add to those qualities the fact that alpacas are so eco-friendly (see sidebar), and you’ve got the perfect fabric. That’s why Shelly is equally passionate about the agritourism side of the business. “Sustainability is really important to us,” she says. “We run our farm on solar as well, and our entire farm business on solar energy. Alpacas, we see them as a sustainable, renewable resource.” She pauses. “It’s just the way that things are supposed to be.”

ECO-FRIENDLY ALPACAS

What makes alpaca farming so sustainable and earth friendly? Shelly shares: • Padded feet leave even the most delicate terrain virtually undamaged. • Three separate stomach compartments allow alpacas to convert

Prior to arriving at Hughes Floor Covering, we visited four different flooring stores. No one was able to adequately assist us. The sales associate at Hughes was more than accommodating. He was not only knowledgeable about our options, he gave suggestions, had personal experience in installing the flooring system and provided us with samples to take home. On our installation day, our order was on time and the installers were friendly and very competent. They ensured we were completely satisfied, respected our property and left the work area clean. They did what they said they would do in every phase of the process.” – Recent Customer

grass and hay into energy very efficiently. One horse requires more hay than 25 alpacas. • Alpacas are gentle eaters. The alpaca does not pull grass up by the root, but simply nibbles on the grass. • Although alpacas always need access to fresh water, being a camelid they require less water than most livestock. • Free, natural fertilizer! Often called black gold, alpaca dung is great for vegetable gardens. AGROTOURISM EVENTS

• Every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you’ll find the Walshes at Cedar Lake Christmas Tree Farm, selling their alpaca wares with two of the gentle camelids at their side. • Check out Good Karma’s alpacas at the Carolina Alpaca Celebration

Call for a FREE Home Quote: 704-727-4182 4312 Monroe Rd. Charlotte, NC 28205 (Between Wendover and Sharon Amity) M-F 9 am to 6 pm, Sat 10 am to 4 pm

in Concord in February. • Late spring brings Shearing Day to the ranch, when guests are invited to watch the alpacas shed their wooly coats. • Summertime is camp time for kids at Good Karma, where they spend the day doing farm chores and learning about alpacas. • September brings the Lincoln County Apple Fest and National

Family Owned and Operated Since 1977

Alpaca Farm Day at the ranch. • Following a successful Adult Camp in October, the Walshes will incorporate more of the fun farm tours slash parties into their annual lineup.

www.hughesfloorcovering.com November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

Lifestyle Calendar

November NOVEMBER 3 - 12 THE LION KING, JR. ARMOUR STREET THEATRE Join the young lion cub Simba as he finds the courage to take his place in the circle of life. The African savannah comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki, and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this inspiring coming-of-age tale.

NOVEMBER 4 6TH ANNUAL SAMARITAN'S FEET BAREFOOT GALA LE MERIDIAN The 6th Annual Samaritan’s Feet International Barefoot Gala is an

NOVEMBER 11

evening to kick off your shoes, dance and enjoy live music, great food,

2ND SATURDAY: FAST AS LIGHTNING

participate in silent auctions, mingle with friends, and make a lasting

NASCAR HALL OF FAME

difference in the life of a child.

NASCAR, cars and tracks have all evolved the years, but the thrill of racing your way into the winner’s circle has never changed. Explore

NOVEMBER 5

the different factors that impact speed by building different engines

ART OF READING PUBLIC TOUR: PRIDE & PREJUDICE

and testing various courses (like road, dirt, beach or ovular). When

MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH

you reach Lightning McQueen-level speeds, you’ll also make your

Take part in a discussion of Austen’s classic novel, then join a tour

own winner’s trophy.

of the Mint’s Portals to the Past exhibition to learn how works of art bring the past to life.

NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 15 TASTE OF THE MINT: DEVELAR Y DETONAR MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN

ADULT PAINTING PARTY:

Art, food, and wine all in the same place for you to enjoy. Wine and

EXPRESSIONISM

dine on 3 small plate tastings at one of the nation's top-rated muse-

MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN

um restaurants, Halcyon, Flavors From the Earth, and then head into

Go on an after-hours tour of the

the galleries for a curator-led tour of the special exhibition, Develar y

modern collection, enjoy an adult

Detonar: Contemporary Mexican Photography.

beverage with a friend, and create your own tape resist painting. This isn’t your average “sip & paint” Chelsea Porcelain Factory (London, England, circa 1745–1769). Figures of Street Vendors, circa 1760, soft-paste porcelain. Museum Purchase: Delhom Collection. 1965.48.460.1-2. Collection of The Mint Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina.

class - plan to dress for a mess and bring your creativity!

NOVEMBER 10 DEBBIE ROOS: CREATE A POLLINATOR PARADISE! MINT MUSEUM RANDOLPH Presented by the Charlotte Garden Club, participants will learn about the principles of designing and planting a pollinator garden and how to select trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, herbs and vines to attract a diversity of pollinators. 30

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

CONTINUED >

South Charlotte Realty Report NEIGHBORHOOD

Realty Report

LIST PRICE

SOLD PRICE

%SOLD/LIST

*DOM

BDRMS

BATHS

Myers Park

$2,275,000

100%

Ockley Manor

$2,048,624

100%

Stonegate

$1,990,000

$1,930,000

97%

138

Myers Park

$2,000,000

$1,875,000

94%

156

Ockley Manor

$1,865,000

100%

228

Eastover

$1,599,000

$1,506,000

94%

103

Cotswold

$1,300,000

100%

Pellyn Grove

$1,230,000

100%

The Enclave At

$935,000

$937,000

97%

Cotswold

$839,000

$829,000

99%

*DOM=Days on Market

SOUTH CHARLOTTE LUXURY HOME SPECIALIST Contact me today for a consultation on how your home can be marketed in the Carolinas and around the world.

LOCAL

PA R T N E R G L O B A L

REACH HANES WALKER 704.366.2830 haneswalker.com hanes.walker@sothebysrealty.com Sotheby’s International Realty® and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered service marks used with permission. Each office is independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.

November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

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South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

Lifestyle Calendar (CON TI N U ED)

NOVEMBER 17 & 19 FALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCES ARMOUR STREET THEATRE Davidson Community Players presents these ensemble shows, open to the public, free of charge as a community service. Ensemble productions focus on the development of the actor through the production process.

NOVEMBER 19 RACE VIEWING PARTY: FORD ECOBOOST 400 NASCAR HALL OF FAME Watch the Ford Ecoboost 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway in the 278-seat High Octane Theater, which features high-back seating, a 64-foot-wide, curved projection screen with surround sound and direct-from-track, in-car video feeds of two drivers.

NOVEMBER 30 THE WORLD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS HAMPTON INN AT PHILLIPS PLACE The World at Your Fingertips! An introduction to the world’s largest travel company, The Travel Corporation. Discover vacation opportunities with Insight Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Contiki Tours, Trafalgar Tours, Brendan Vacations and African Travel. For more information and to RSVP, call 800.343.MANN (6266) or visit MannTravels.com.

NOVEMBER 30 OPENING NIGHT FOR DCP HOLIDAY SHOW: MOM’S GIFT BY PHIL OLSEN ARMOUR STREET THEATRE Mom has been dead for 11 months, but shows up at a family gathering as a ghost on a mission. Like Clarence in It’s A Wonderful Life, she has to accomplish a task to earn her wings. One by one the family’s secrets are peeled away, revealing a shocking truth that surprises even our ghost.

November 2017 | South Charlotte Lifestyle

Parting Thoughts

ARTICLE ANNA VAN ERVEN he Charlotte food truck scene has every corner and craving covered, but only a handful of trucks use locally sourced ingredients. These three food truck chefs are bringing local produce, meat and vegetables to the streets of Charlotte.

BLEU BARN BISTRO Courtesy of Bleu Barn Bistro

The Blue Barn Bistro food truck is hard to miss with it’s vibrant, teal-painted wood paneling and long line of people trailing behind it. Tara Diamante, Creative Director and CEO, always had a passion for farm-to-table cuisine, as did her husband and business partner, Brenton Ebersold. “We wanted our passion for local, all-natural cooking to follow through into our professional lives,” says Diamante. Diamante works hard to ensure that everything on her menus is made from local ingredients; she even grows produce in her own backyard and has chickens to supply fresh eggs. “As kids, we grew up gardening with our grandparents. Now that we are adults we have our own gardens. We like to know where our food comes from and how it is grown,” she notes. For Diamante, the greatest challenge of locally sourcing food is the changing seasonality of produce. “We’ve taught our customers to understand that our menu changes often and that we won't always be able to offer the same products every day. Our Beet Salad, for example, we can only offer in the fall and spring, but not during the hot summer months when beets aren't growing locally.”

THE DUMPLING LADY Courtesy of The Dumpling Lady

It’s not uncommon to see food truck patrons taking large gulps of beer to douse the spice after eating The Dumpling Lady’s Burning Noodles. When Chef Qian Zhang moved from China to America, she brought with her a passion for Sichuan cooking—and spice. “It was both my husband’s and my idea to start the food truck,” Zhang says. “We started our dumpling business by selling frozen dumplings at the farmers markets where we sourced our ingredients from.” Zhang soon realized that in order for her customers to truly enjoy her cuisine, she had to ensure they were cooked just right. “So we decided that we needed to control the whole process of making the dumplings, from choosing the ingredients to the presentation in front of the customer.” Zhang takes great care when preparing her food, which starts with selecting the right ingredients. All of the meat, vegetables and seafood on her menu are locally sourced from farmers in North Carolina. Zhang can find most spices locally too, except for the most important one, Szechuan Peppercorn, which has to be shipped to her from China. “The Szechuan Peppercorn I use is all from local markets in China and have been hand-picked and hand-dried by Chinese farmers,” she explains.

Courtesy of A Bao Time

A BAO TIME For David Mahr, chef and owner of the food truck A Bao Time, locally sourced food is a goal that he’s continuously striving toward. Currently, about a quarter of his menu is locally sourced. The New York City native has eaten authentic Asian food all his life. When he moved to Charlotte, he saw an opportunity to sell steamed buns; bao, a Taiwanese dish popular in Asian street food culture, consists of meat and various condiments sandwiched between steamed bread. “I use a local farm to source our microgreens,” Mahr says. “Those are the leafy greens and herbs used to garnish the steamed buns.” The monthly pig roast—which takes place on the first Saturday of every month— also uses local ingredients in the form of the hog. All chefs face the same challenges when working with local sources, mainly product reliability. “I’m trying to find a farm that can consistently give me products,” Mahr says. “Locally sourcing supports local farmers in the area. I’m a small business myself, so I think it’s really important to support each other.”

South Charlotte Lifestyle | November 2017

South Charlotte L

™

READERS’

CHOICE 2017

South Charlotte L

™

2 01 7 R E A D E R S ’ C H O I C E AWA R DS CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES! • BEST HOME DESIGNERS • BEST FINE DINING • BEST CASUAL DINING • BEST SALON • BEST HOME REMODELERS • BEST FAMILY PHYSICIAN • BEST DENTIST • BEST COSMETIC SURGEON • BEST REALTOR • BEST BUILDER • AND MANY MORE!

2 ROUNDS STARTING OCTOBER 1ST Round 1: October 1st-25th Round 2: November 1st-30th NOMINATE your favorite businesses! The top 5 businesses in each category will move to Round 2.

VOTE for your favorite business among the top 5 nominees. Voting ends at 5pm on November 30th.

A $100.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE

will be randomly awarded to a reader who has submitted a complete ballot.

GO TO:

www.SouthCharlotteLifestylePubs.com

TODAY TO NOMINATE / VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESSES!

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