The Community Garden Network Seed Library is going through some changes this year!
The Seed Library is a series of shelving units containing free seed packets. In the past the majority of those seed packets were donations from companies like Sow True Seed and High Mowing. We have been working to create more Seed Library locations around the city and also to include more community growers interested in saving seeds at their own gardens to stock libraries, to create a free inter-community seed network. There are several new locations of seed libraries that can be accessed around town. There is still a location at the Burton St Peace Garden, with new Sow True seed packets. The Stephens Lee Center has also started an independent seed library project that will be partnering and sharing resources with our CGN library. There is a small seed library shelf in the free food pantry at the Shiloh Community Garden. All the seeds in that shelving unit were saved from that community garden this past year. The Lucy Herring Garden at Vance Elementary School has also begun Saving Seeds from their garden this fall for the new seed library locations. The Windfall Collective has a seed farm at the Pearson Community Garden and they have been saving seeds from medicinal herbs this year to help the different seed library locations. The Utopian Seed Project will also be involved, providing education on how to plan a garden for seed production, and seed saving basics. This is a continually growing project. Any community growers who would like to participate in saving seeds for the library from your land or community centers interested in housing a seed library location please let us know! lydia@bountifulcities.org
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Bountiful Cities Seed Libraries and Seed Saving WorkshopDid you know Bountiful Cities Community Garden Network (CGN) operates several seed libraries? The idea is similar to a book lending library. Anyone can take some seeds and if you have extra seeds you can bring them to the library. Our CGN recently hosted a seed saving workshop so folks can learn more about saving seeds from their gardens. Check out the video from that workshop HERE on our website. If you would like more information about contributing seeds or getting seeds from our seed libraries contact Lydia@bountifulcities.org or Isa@bountifulcities.org How does Bountiful Cities Create Long Term Food Security?https://youtu.be/MOuxMHiJI5k Watch this two minute video created by our Board Chair Ameena Batada to find out ways to create long term food security... Beneficial Insects and Your Leaves Did you know that ladybug larva look like that?! And they are getting ready to hunker down for the winter with other insects like fireflies. They’ll stay warm and be ready to emerge in the spring. The best thing to do if you want to have lots of beneficial bugs like ladybugs and fireflies is LEAVE your LEAVES You can pile them in your yard, or just let them fall In the garden you can let tall stems stay to encourage praying mantises to leave their eggs for spring. But if you really do want your yard debris-free, call Bountiful Cities Grass to Greens (G2G) 828-775-0614 and we’ll come pick up your leaves and compost them for school and community gardens. Introducing LaKyla Hodges!Meet Ms. LaKyla, the new Bountiful Cities FEAST Program Assistant at Lucy S. Herring Elementary! LaKyla is finishing up her senior semester at Warren Wilson College where she is studying Environmental Education. She brings to us her enthusiasm for working with children and engaging them with food and nature. She also loves curling up with a good book and her cat, Sprout. The Herring Elementary FEAST garden is planting a new pollinator garden in the dappled shade of our plum trees! We are collecting divisions and seeds for native plants including: phlox, coreopsis, ferns, bee balm, day lilies, turtlehead, brown eyed susan, mountain mint, fire pink, cardinal flower/lobelia, foam flower, green and gold, asters. Please contact Jordan@bountifulcities.org if you have anything from your garden that you would like to contribute! |
Join us Saturday August 28th and Sunday August 29th Bountiful Cities is installing solar panels in the Pearson Garden! If you are interested in joining us for an educational community workday or donating funds/materials towards this project, FILL OUT THIS FORM or reach out to us directly: Cathy@BountifulCities.org The Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy has donated solar panels and is working with us to get the garden on solar power, which will provide electricity for all of the shared community spaces, walk-in cooler, pavilion, and greenhouses. If you are interested in how we will cook squash pie once we have solar please keep scrolling for more info! | ![]() |
SPICES AND POTS!
What do beautiful pottery and delicious spices have in common? Both support Bountiful Ciites work! We are so pleased to welcome our newest sponsors and co-creators. Spicewalla is donating their amazing spices for our FEAST cooking and gardening education classes, and East Fork Pottery is donating pottery for an upcoming raffle! Stay tuned!
Volunteer in a Community Garden...
Lucy Herring Elementary School Peace Garden (formerly Vance Elementary School) in West Asheville. Tuesdays 11-12:30 Thursdays 9:30am-11am Please contact jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net for questions and to RSVP
Pearson Garden and Nursery Garden workdays on August 5th, and August 19th 2-5pm(1st and 3rd Thursdays). Located at 408 Pearson Dr. in Montford. Please click this link to sign up. Contact Alex@BountifulCities.org for more information.
Pearson Garden Solar Installation! Volunteers needed Saturday Aug. 28th, and Sunday August 29th. Please sign up to receive more information HERE.
Hall Fletcher Elementary School FEAST Garden Sundays 10am-2pm. 60 Ridgelawn Rd. Please click this link to sign up. Contact Jacob@BountifulCities.org for more information.
Shiloh Community Garden - Saturdays 10am - 2pm Please contact Lydia George lydia@bountifulcities.org for more info
Peace Gardens and Market 10-noon on Saturdays
Fairview Road Resilience Garden - 5-7:30pm Wednesday evenings, 10am-noon Saturday mornings. If you would like to attend please RSVP using this link
Root Cause Farm hosts volunteer opportunities on Wednesdays 6-8pm, Thursdays 8:00am-12:00pm, Sundays 3:00-5:00pm. Sign up here!
Verner Center for Early Learning Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30pm 2586 Riceville Rd. Asheville, NC behind Outward Bound. Sign up or just show up! Contact Whitney Rea Smith (828)450-7503 or Wrea@verneremail.org
Soul and Soil Project Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-12. Fairview. Please contact info@soulandsoilproject.org for more info and to join
Dr. John Wilson Community Garden Mondays and Thursday mornings from 8-12. Please contact diana.mccall@townofblackmountain.org for more information.
Haw Creek Commons Garden - workdays are every Tuesday and Thursday morning 10:00am-11:30am
Pearson Garden and Nursery Garden workdays on August 5th, and August 19th 2-5pm(1st and 3rd Thursdays). Located at 408 Pearson Dr. in Montford. Please click this link to sign up. Contact Alex@BountifulCities.org for more information.
Pearson Garden Solar Installation! Volunteers needed Saturday Aug. 28th, and Sunday August 29th. Please sign up to receive more information HERE.
Hall Fletcher Elementary School FEAST Garden Sundays 10am-2pm. 60 Ridgelawn Rd. Please click this link to sign up. Contact Jacob@BountifulCities.org for more information.
Shiloh Community Garden - Saturdays 10am - 2pm Please contact Lydia George lydia@bountifulcities.org for more info
Peace Gardens and Market 10-noon on Saturdays
Fairview Road Resilience Garden - 5-7:30pm Wednesday evenings, 10am-noon Saturday mornings. If you would like to attend please RSVP using this link
Root Cause Farm hosts volunteer opportunities on Wednesdays 6-8pm, Thursdays 8:00am-12:00pm, Sundays 3:00-5:00pm. Sign up here!
Verner Center for Early Learning Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30pm 2586 Riceville Rd. Asheville, NC behind Outward Bound. Sign up or just show up! Contact Whitney Rea Smith (828)450-7503 or Wrea@verneremail.org
Soul and Soil Project Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-12. Fairview. Please contact info@soulandsoilproject.org for more info and to join
Dr. John Wilson Community Garden Mondays and Thursday mornings from 8-12. Please contact diana.mccall@townofblackmountain.org for more information.
Haw Creek Commons Garden - workdays are every Tuesday and Thursday morning 10:00am-11:30am
World Soil day in Buncombe County

On Sunday December 5th there will be a mix of local events around Buncombe County to honor soil by promoting awareness of healthy soil and celebrating its many benefits.
There will be events to help educate our communities on the importance of soil biodiversity and sustainable soil management.
In the evening there will be a potluck and film viewing to celebrate the wonders of soil. Learn more and register for events HERE.
There will be events to help educate our communities on the importance of soil biodiversity and sustainable soil management.
In the evening there will be a potluck and film viewing to celebrate the wonders of soil. Learn more and register for events HERE.
Harvest Recipe...
Savory Summer Squash Pie
Summertime Savory Squash Pie – serves 4
The thing about squash is it comes at almost exactly the hottest point in the summer. Before you pre heat that oven check and see if you have a pan that will fit in a much smaller (and less heat producing) toaster oven. It bakes up just as good in a rectangle as it does a circle.
5 eggs
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or sour cream
½ cup cornmeal or flour or cooked rice or crumbled tortilla chips
1 teaspoon salt
3-4 cups thinly sliced summer squash – any variety
¼ cup sliced fresh basil or 1 Tablespoon dried basil
¾ cup sharp cheese – diced or grated
3-4 cloves garlic – crushed
The thing about squash is it comes at almost exactly the hottest point in the summer. Before you pre heat that oven check and see if you have a pan that will fit in a much smaller (and less heat producing) toaster oven. It bakes up just as good in a rectangle as it does a circle.
5 eggs
3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or sour cream
½ cup cornmeal or flour or cooked rice or crumbled tortilla chips
1 teaspoon salt
3-4 cups thinly sliced summer squash – any variety
¼ cup sliced fresh basil or 1 Tablespoon dried basil
¾ cup sharp cheese – diced or grated
3-4 cloves garlic – crushed
- Pre heat the oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees (check to see if you have a pan that fits in the toaster).
- Whisk together the eggs, olive oil, flour, baking powder and salt.
- Fold in the remaining ingredients.
- Grease a 7X11 inch pan or 9 inch pie pan.
- Pour batter into the pan and smooth the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
- The middle of the squash pie should be firm to the touch when it is done.
- Serve with salads, chilled cucumber or corn soup, dilly beans, corn on the cob, or cut into small squares and serve as an appetizer.

By Community Garden Network Co-Coordinator Lydia George
It is getting to be the time of year when many summer vegetables and fruits are beginning to flourish, and with them comes an abundance of insects and rodents who want to share in the bounty. Here are some common recipes for homemade pest control sprays that will keep these uninvited guests from eating your harvest, that don’t rely on harsh, dangerous chemicals. You can also combine these recipes together for even more potent concoctions!
1. Spicy Pepper Spray: the spicy flavor in hot peppers are produced by the plant as a
natural repellent, to keep animals and insects from eating their fruit. Humans are the
only animal that ignores the pain and finds these chemicals to be a palatable flavor! That means that Cayenne Pepper can be used as a great pest control for insects and rodents in your garden! Add either half a cup of fresh ground or dried pepper into 2 cups of boiling water. Chili Peppers, Cayenne Peppers, Habanero Peppers will all work, the
the spicier the better! Allow the peppers to infuse in the boiling water for 15-20 minutes,
remember to do this in a well ventilated area because the air in your kitchen will get
spicy. Strain the pieces of pepper out of the water and store in a container. This mixture
will be very potent, so you can mix a few spoonfuls into whatever spray bottle you have
with 1 part pepperwater : 10 part tap water ratio. Coat the leaves of your crops with this
spray to deter many kinds of insects, rabbits, deer, groundhogs, aphids and mites!
2. Vegetable Oil Spray: vegetable oil is a cheap and accessible remedy for many mites
and aphids etc. The oil will coat the insect and clog the pores they use to breath. You
can mix a cup of oil with a tablespoon of biodegradable dish soap for an even stronger
effect. Like with the pepper spray, you only need to mix a few drops of the oil mixture
into the water in your spray bottle, shake well and then coat the affected area of your
plant with the spray. Common areas of your plant that may be getting attacked are the
underside of the leaf, the area where the leaf meets the stem, and any newly emerging
growth!
3. Garlic and Mint Spray: garlic is another natural pest deterrent, mostly for insects.
Interplanting garlic with your other vegetables can act as a natural barrier against many
pests during the spring! But after you harvest all your garlic in June you can save some
cloves for making this spray! Mint is also a plant whose smell is a natural pest deterrent.
Mix 3 cups of mint leaves with 7-10 garlic cloves and a small amount of water in a
blender to make a fine paste. Add this into a pot of boiling water and let it boil for 15-20
minutes. Then you can cover the pot and let it sit overnight, so it gets extra potent. The
next day you can strain out all the plant material and put your concoction into a container for storage. This is another recipe that you can dilute with water in your spray bottle to make it last longer.
There are other natural product options like neem oil and diatomaceous earth which make for great pest control, although they are a bit more expensive than the options listed above!
Wishing you all a bountiful harvest this season!
BOUNTIFUL CITIES COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK IS ABUNDANT WITH RESOURCES!
Did you know our Community Garden Network (CGN) hosts free classes? Max Mandler and Tamarya Sims have been our most recent guest teachers. Max led a workshop on tool repair, and Tamarya taught about growing herbs and making homegrown herbal tea. Check out more of our recorded classes in the VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS on our website. Follow us on FB to find out about upcoming classes.
Knowledge is a resource, and that's not all the Bountiful Cities CGN shares. We were able to secure approximately $3,700 from Buncombe County Parks and Recreation to purchase 10 rodent-proof composters for area community gardens, and will be purchasing and distributing those in July.
Also, we have been awarded $10,000 from the Pisgah Health Foundation to restock our free Tool Library and Seed Library, and to provide direct resourcing to five area community gardens. Finally, the CGN has added a Technical Assistance section to the monthly CGN newsletter, which Co-coordinator, Lydia George writes in response to common seasonal garden challenges, and every newsletter is now translated into Spanish by our partners at Cenzontle and distributed in both English and Spanish each month.
If you would like be part of our CGN listserv please contact Isa@BountifulCities.Org
The workshops highlighted were presented in partnership with the City of Asheville
Knowledge is a resource, and that's not all the Bountiful Cities CGN shares. We were able to secure approximately $3,700 from Buncombe County Parks and Recreation to purchase 10 rodent-proof composters for area community gardens, and will be purchasing and distributing those in July.
Also, we have been awarded $10,000 from the Pisgah Health Foundation to restock our free Tool Library and Seed Library, and to provide direct resourcing to five area community gardens. Finally, the CGN has added a Technical Assistance section to the monthly CGN newsletter, which Co-coordinator, Lydia George writes in response to common seasonal garden challenges, and every newsletter is now translated into Spanish by our partners at Cenzontle and distributed in both English and Spanish each month.
If you would like be part of our CGN listserv please contact Isa@BountifulCities.Org
The workshops highlighted were presented in partnership with the City of Asheville
Free Plants !!
Bountiful Cities is continuing to get plant donations to distribute in our community. If your garden has some open space stop by the Lucy S. Herring Elementary Peace Garden or check out the FB page to see what is being offered this week! These organic veggies were donated by Southern States Cooperative. Thanks!
Asheville bread festival partnership
Bountiful Cities is excited to be supported by, and partnering with the Asheville Bread Festival! Thanks to a generous contribution from the festival, Bountiful Cities has been able to fully fund our outreach to community gardens, and have an impact on the amount of food those gardens have capacity to grow this year. We are also fully funding our efforts to install solar power in the Pearson garden! We look forward to all the bread baking and gardening in our future together!
Windfall Collective Nursery
Bountiful Cities Windfall Collective Nursery is continuing to grow a wide selection of edible, medicinal, pollinator, and native plants. New varieties of summer crops are coming up, be sure to check our webstore for updates to our inventory! If you're part of the community gardens and haven't gotten a chance to use your gift card yet, be sure to visit our webstore here or contact Alex at alex@bountifulcities.org to put in an order with us. We'll continue to have new varieties throughout the season, and are happy to take specific requests of plants not yet in our inventory. We'll also be having regular appearances at various plant sales this year, stay tuned to find out more. Look forward to growing with you!
What Grows Faster Than a Weed?
Hardly anything grows faster than a weed! Did you know a morning glory vine can grow more than an inch a day? That means 7 inches in a week! SO come one come all to dig in the dirt and help out at these volunteer workdays! Sign up to hear about weekly volunteering opportunities HERE.
Lucy Herring Elementary School Peace Garden (formerly Vance Elementary School) in West Asheville. Tuesdays 11-12:30 Thursdays 9:30am-11am Please contact jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net to for questions and to RSVP
Shiloh Community Garden - Saturdays 10am - 2pm Contact Lydia George lydia@bountifulcities.org for more info
Peace Gardens and Market 10-noon on Saturdays
Fairview Road Resilience Garden - 5-7:30pm Wednesday evenings, 10am-noon Saturday mornings If you would like to attend please RSVP using this link
Root Cause Farm is hosting volunteer opportunities on Wednesdays and Thursdays 10-12. Folks can sign up here!
Lucy Herring Elementary School Peace Garden (formerly Vance Elementary School) in West Asheville. Tuesdays 11-12:30 Thursdays 9:30am-11am Please contact jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net to for questions and to RSVP
Shiloh Community Garden - Saturdays 10am - 2pm Contact Lydia George lydia@bountifulcities.org for more info
Peace Gardens and Market 10-noon on Saturdays
Fairview Road Resilience Garden - 5-7:30pm Wednesday evenings, 10am-noon Saturday mornings If you would like to attend please RSVP using this link
Root Cause Farm is hosting volunteer opportunities on Wednesdays and Thursdays 10-12. Folks can sign up here!
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