Valle Crucis Community Park

Along with Grandfather Mountain, Valle Crucis is one of the sites most visited by people vacationing in the area. An area whose history is that of a quiet valley where local mountain people long ago picked up their mail and purchased the few "store-bought" goods they could afford, today it is filling up with large, expensive homes, bed-and-breakfasts, a few restaurants and, like so many places, the required "winery."

As Valle Crucis has developed, some local residents have worked together to build a sense of community and the Valle Crucis Community Park has become the center of that growing community

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New River Winery    

Local sourcing is a way of life in Boone, fiercely important to many of the area's residents.

Wine shipped from France? Australia? South America or even California? Not necessary any more. In recent years, the foothills region has developed some excellent wines, but even closer to home, in the little town of Lansing, North Carolina, winemakers Darlene Massey and Nic Slaton are making wines made almost exclusively from locally-grown grapes and the early reviews are good . . .

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Relay For Life Spring Thaw 5k Run

On a cold, wet early April morning more than 100 runners and walkers turned out the the Watauga County Relay for Life Spring Thaw 5k run. The event raises money for the Watauga Counth chapter of the American Cancer Society. . . .

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Boone: What a great place to Live Local

"Americans put almost as much fossil fuel into our refrigerators as our cars. We're consuming about 400 gallons of oil a year per citizen - about 17% of our nation's energy use - for agriculture, a close second to our vehicular use. . .The lion's share is consumed during the trip from the farm to your plate. Each food in a typical U.S. meal has traveled an average of 1,500 miles. . . If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our nation's oil consumption by 1.1 million barrels of oil every week."

~ Steven L. Hopp "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" with Barbara Kingsolver and Camille Kingsolver

For some, living and buying "local" is a current fashion which helps them face the effects of the current recession. For many others, living local has always made sense. Words and phrases like "sustainability, green, buy local, renewable energy" have moved to the forefront of our everyday life choices. And for many, the future of the planet is hanging on the choices of individuals throughout the world.

Today we can connect the gushing of oil into the Gulf of Mexico with the choices we make each week about whether to go to the grocery store and buy produce shipped over 2,000 miles in refrigerated containers from California or go to the Farmers' Market once or twice a week and buy fresher, in-season produce which made the short trip from the local farm.

Fortunately, we live in a great place to live local. There is an abundance of local farms with farmers who have grown exceptional fruits and vegetables using sustainable methods for years. In addition, we have a growing number of farmers providing meats and cheeses from animals raised in environments which create a much healthier animal and therefore a much healthier food and a far superior choice to the meat, eggs and cheeses of feedlot animals sold in many groceries and restaurants.

Learn how to live local in Boone whether you live here or are just visiting . . .

55th Farm City Day at
the historic Blair Farm

The 55th annual Farm City Days was held at the historic Blair Farm off of Deerfield Road on Sunday August 15. Visitors were treated to up-close visits with farm animals, free ice cream and a chance to tour one of the oldest surviving houses in Watauga County.. . .

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Farm to Market:
Blowing Rock Farmers Market

Each Thursday from mid-May to mid-October you can shop for local vegetables and fruits under the trees near the park in Blowing Rock. Local farmers make it easier for Blowing Rock residents and visitors to "shop local" by coming here each week. . .

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Farm to Market:

Zydeco Moon Farm

Cheddar cauliflower, candy-striped beets, cherokee purple tomatoes. Freshly-picked vegetables, organically grown. Zydeco Moon Farm owners Sally Thiel and Joe Martin serve these vegetables up at farmers' markets throughout the area all summer. Learn more about their certified organic farm in nearby Grassy Creek NC . . .

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Farm to Market:

Springhouse Farm

In just 2 years Amy Fiedler Johnston has transformed this historic property into a farm which provides fresh produce and honey to local residents at the Watauga County Farmers' Market, the High Country CSA and at her new farm stand at the farm.

See how one local farmer works her land and drives her business to provide more and more local produce to Boone area residents and visitors . . .

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2010 Watauga County Farmers' Market

May 2010

Buying local may be a new trend for some but the Watauga County Farmers' Market has been selling local produce for 37 years. This vibrant market is thriving as many people reevaluate their food sources and quality . . .

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