Systems Need to Change...As we welcome 2021 we see even more evidence of the need for systems change! Last year brought us many reveals of the reckoning needed for moving toward reparations centering racial equity. Bountiful Cities work will continue to nourish our relations alongside communities creating access and pathways to resources for thriving local food abundance centered in racial equity. Looking to Spring |
We need help to keep these important workshops and programs going! Suppling tools, seeds, education, and on-going support are long term solutions to some of the systemic injustices that cause food insecurity. Now more than ever, systems need to change so that all people have access to food and resources. Bountiful Cities envisions abundant, food secure communities and works to make that vision a reality. |
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We hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season and we are eager to see what the New Year brings!
If you’re looking to catch up on any of the workshops we had this year you can find them HERE
We are so thankful for you all, check out our gratitude video HERE
Community Garden Network Events
Root Cause Farm will be hosting once-a-month Sanctuary Space work days throughout winter.
People can use this sign-up sheet to volunteer!
Sanctuary Space Work Days:
December 13th 2020 3- 5 pm, January 17th 2021 3 - 5 pm
February 21st 2021 3 - 5 pm, March 14th 2021 3 - 5 pm
Vance Elementary Peace Garden
The cold weather has slowed things down in the garden! We have a few beds of greens and root crops under row covers, and continue to share produce from Mother Earth Food on Tuesday afternoons. Now is a season of working on garden infrastructure and looking ahead to the spring! We were able to purchase season extension equipment to improve the grow light system that we use to start seedlings for the spring plant sale and summer garden thanks to a grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation.
Workdays are now from 1- 2:30 pm on Fridays- weather permitting and excluding 12/25 and 1/1
Winter projects include:
December - laying black tarps to solarize a garden bed, mulching paths, mending garden borders
January - February: Installing a paving stone floor in the greenhouse
February - March: Building outdoor seedling tables and starting seeds for spring plant sale/ garden
Other Community Resources/Events :
Soul and Soil Project's farm in Fairview is in need of helping hands! Get down in the regenerative-market-farm and help us prepare for autumn and winter. Their farm helps support their nonprofit's Resilience curriculum and outreach efforts.
Register to volunteer on Eventbrite via soulandsoilproject.org. Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-2pm.
Visit soulandsoilproject.org for more info.
Services
Asheville Edibles: The City is now accepting applications for their Asheville Edibles program. As of 2018, Bountiful Cities has contracted with the City to manage this program. The program allows citizens to start edible gardens on parcels of City land located in various areas of town. There is no cost to lease the land. All you need is helping hands. More info/Applications available here.
Please contact Isa Whitaker by email: isa@bountifulcities.org for more information on how to participate.
If you’re looking to catch up on any of the workshops we had this year you can find them HERE
We are so thankful for you all, check out our gratitude video HERE
Community Garden Network Events
Root Cause Farm will be hosting once-a-month Sanctuary Space work days throughout winter.
People can use this sign-up sheet to volunteer!
Sanctuary Space Work Days:
December 13th 2020 3- 5 pm, January 17th 2021 3 - 5 pm
February 21st 2021 3 - 5 pm, March 14th 2021 3 - 5 pm
Vance Elementary Peace Garden
The cold weather has slowed things down in the garden! We have a few beds of greens and root crops under row covers, and continue to share produce from Mother Earth Food on Tuesday afternoons. Now is a season of working on garden infrastructure and looking ahead to the spring! We were able to purchase season extension equipment to improve the grow light system that we use to start seedlings for the spring plant sale and summer garden thanks to a grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation.
Workdays are now from 1- 2:30 pm on Fridays- weather permitting and excluding 12/25 and 1/1
Winter projects include:
December - laying black tarps to solarize a garden bed, mulching paths, mending garden borders
January - February: Installing a paving stone floor in the greenhouse
February - March: Building outdoor seedling tables and starting seeds for spring plant sale/ garden
Other Community Resources/Events :
Soul and Soil Project's farm in Fairview is in need of helping hands! Get down in the regenerative-market-farm and help us prepare for autumn and winter. Their farm helps support their nonprofit's Resilience curriculum and outreach efforts.
Register to volunteer on Eventbrite via soulandsoilproject.org. Mon, Tues, Fri 9am-2pm.
Visit soulandsoilproject.org for more info.
Services
Asheville Edibles: The City is now accepting applications for their Asheville Edibles program. As of 2018, Bountiful Cities has contracted with the City to manage this program. The program allows citizens to start edible gardens on parcels of City land located in various areas of town. There is no cost to lease the land. All you need is helping hands. More info/Applications available here.
Please contact Isa Whitaker by email: isa@bountifulcities.org for more information on how to participate.
The Seed Library & Tool Library: Free resources for our community and garden members to utilize, and also will accept reciprocity if you find yourself in the position of having extras.Normally, the seed library is located at the Burton Street Recreation Center at the end of the hallway to the left near the exit sign, but due to recent restrictions we have limited access to our library. If you’re in need of seeds for the growing season please reach out to isa@bountifulcities.org.
The tool library is located at 408 Pearson Dr. For those interested in borrowing items from the Tool Library contact Isa Whitaker directly prior to getting the item/s out of the library. isa@bountifulcities.org

All workshops being presented through the Community Garden Network are in partnership with the City of Asheville.
Resilience is Something We can GROW!
Community Garden Spotlight...

Michael Stratton and his community started the Fairview Road Resilience Garden this spring in response to Covid-19 with the goal of growing as much food as possible for donation. At the end of this growing season they had donated over 400 pounds of veggies to Bounty and Soul to distribute. Sweet potatoes, peppers, melons, cabbage, broccoli and beans were some of the many fresh vegetables produced and shared from their gardens. That amount of production could only happen in a brand new garden with lots of collaboration, "We built a steering committee who contributed money and labor to keep the garden going" Stratton says. Regular meetings and workdays (with masks!) in the garden helped the group stay in communication. It is not an easy task to keep a group of people focused on garden maintenance in the midst of a pandemic, Stratton and his group hope to double or triple their yield next year and their efforts will bring increased resilience to their Oakley community in more ways than one. Follow them on Facebook to find out more about their Fairview Road Resilience Garden.
FEAST Updates
Social Distance Garden Workdays at Vance Elementary:
Tuesdays 1pm- 4pm and Fridays 10am- 11:30 am
** Will continue until at least Thanksgiving and likely into December depending on tasks and weather. BYO face covering, garden gloves, and weeding tools and RSVP to Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net or Cathy@bountifulcities.org
- Donate your bagged leaves and veggie scraps to the Vance Peace Garden compost project!
- Seeking volunteers skilled in laying paving stones to help re-do the Greenhouse floor this winter!
Contact Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net for more info. Also check out this blog post Jordan recently wrote for Asheville Greenworks/ Bee CityUSA about her monarch project at Vance.
Tuesdays 1pm- 4pm and Fridays 10am- 11:30 am
** Will continue until at least Thanksgiving and likely into December depending on tasks and weather. BYO face covering, garden gloves, and weeding tools and RSVP to Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net or Cathy@bountifulcities.org
- Donate your bagged leaves and veggie scraps to the Vance Peace Garden compost project!
- Seeking volunteers skilled in laying paving stones to help re-do the Greenhouse floor this winter!
Contact Jordan.Diamond@acsgmail.net for more info. Also check out this blog post Jordan recently wrote for Asheville Greenworks/ Bee CityUSA about her monarch project at Vance.
Before the first frost last week, a few families came to the Tuesday afternoon Vance Garden workday to dig up sweet potatoes and harvested a whopping 26 lbs!! The kids were so excited and proud, and each took a few potatoes home.
Free Food Pantries Building Community Resilience
Two Asheville neighborhoods, Shiloh and East End, received free food pantries at the end of October which will be stocked by an initial donation from Buncombe County and on-going donations from local residents. So many collaborations made these pantries happen! Bountiful Cities, Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council, Green Opportunities, The City of Asheville, St. James AME Church, Shiloh Community Garden, and Town and Mountain Realty, came together with individuals and volunteers to design, create, install and paint. Donations of shelf stable food and supplies are accepted!
Shiloh Community Resource Center Fundraiser
Help raise funds for The Shiloh Community Association to open a SCA Community Resource Center in the neighborhood! The Shiloh Community is one of the oldest and most historic African American communities in Asheville, NC. The funds raised here will go towards a resources center, with office space for the SCA , residential business incubation, classroom and community meeting space, a certified kitchen and more resources for neighborhood. This has been a goal of the SCA since the writing of the 2025 plan back in 2010.
Donate here: https://gf.me/u/y67667
Donate here: https://gf.me/u/y67667
Bountiful Cities is so pleased to have two new
Business Sponsors!
Leonetti is a Town and Mountain Realty Group. They believe strongly in giving back and getting involved. Luiz, Jessi and Nan spent many years working for non-profit organizations striving to make significant contributions to causes they are passionate about. Leonetti values healthy choices, empowerment by experience, and plain old getting outside!
Gaia Herbs is proud to be a Certified B Corporation®, actively working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. The Gaia Farm is nestled in the Pisgah Forest area of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and herbs are grown organically, sustainably, and intentionally. Since Gaia Herbs was just a seedling in 1987, they have remained true to our purpose: Connecting people, plants & planet to create healing.

Cooking with Summer Garden Bounty - Virtual WorkshopCathy Cleary, author of The Southern Harvest Cookbook will teach a FREE virtual cooking class for Bountiful Cities on Wednesday July 29th from 4pm-5pm. She will demonstrate techniques and recipes for making delicious dishes, and preserving veggies that are plentiful this time of year. There will be time for questions, but unfortunately, no tasting will be possible! BUT the recipes will be shared so you can replicate your own versions of the dishes at home.
Please fill out THIS FORM to register for the class by Tuesday July 28th. You will be sent a zoom link after you register. If you have any questions email cathy@bountifulcities.org
Facebook event page
Please fill out THIS FORM to register for the class by Tuesday July 28th. You will be sent a zoom link after you register. If you have any questions email cathy@bountifulcities.org
Facebook event page

Purchase your plants from Bountiful Cities Nursery!
It's mid-summer, time to start thinking about a fall garden! If you need plants consider supporting our programs by purchasing them from our Pearson Garden Plant Nursery. You can order them from our website HERE.
It's mid-summer, time to start thinking about a fall garden! If you need plants consider supporting our programs by purchasing them from our Pearson Garden Plant Nursery. You can order them from our website HERE.
Other Community Resources/Events
The NC State Extension garden guide describes a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are updating this list regularly.
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
The NC State Extension garden guide describes a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are updating this list regularly.
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Thanks so much to everyone who attended the virtual workshop a couple weeks ago, and a big thank you to Chris Smith for teaching the workshop, and to Cathy Cleary for all of her assistance with the workshop.
If you missed the workshop you can find the recording HERE
Also be sure to out Chris' book "The Whole Okra: A Stem to Seed Celebration"
If you missed the workshop you can find the recording HERE
Also be sure to out Chris' book "The Whole Okra: A Stem to Seed Celebration"
Community Garden Network Events and Resources
Community Garden Clean Up at Pisgah View
WHEN: July 1st from 11am-3pm
WHERE: 1 Granada St, Asheville, NC
There will be a garden clean up at the Pisgah View Community Garden to get it ready for cover cropping to grow during the fall. There are lots of needles in the garden area, so it will be a super cautionary clean up with tasks such as weed eating, lawn mowing and removing trash. Please wear heavy duty gloves and protective gear. Facebook event page
The NC State Extension Community Garden Guide describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are also currently hiring for a Program & Marketing Associate, you can find their job listings here
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Community Garden Clean Up at Pisgah View
WHEN: July 1st from 11am-3pm
WHERE: 1 Granada St, Asheville, NC
There will be a garden clean up at the Pisgah View Community Garden to get it ready for cover cropping to grow during the fall. There are lots of needles in the garden area, so it will be a super cautionary clean up with tasks such as weed eating, lawn mowing and removing trash. Please wear heavy duty gloves and protective gear. Facebook event page
The NC State Extension Community Garden Guide describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
Organic Growers School resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19. They are also currently hiring for a Program & Marketing Associate, you can find their job listings here
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you. *Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule: https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Bountiful Cities nursery has an abundant selection of organic edibles, pollinator plants, medicinal and culinary herb starts ready for the growing season! A list of our current inventory can be found here. All payments will be made online to maintain safe social distancing practices, we'll be happy to coordinate pick up and delivery options upon purchase. Feel free to reach out to Alex Bergdahl at alex@bountifulcities.org with any questions.
I just want to start by acknowledging that I know I haven't been as active or responsive to all of my emails and other forms of communications as I usually am. I've been trying to still get things done and respond to folks as efficiently as possible, but I am aware I'm not as fully present as I usually am. The injustices faced by People of Color on a daily basis has been taking a toll on my mind, body and soul (on top of still trying to navigate the current pandemic situation). The recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hand of United States police officers, and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of United States citizens has been weighing heavy on my mind, as well as the other lives that have been lost due to similar situations in recent years. As a "black" man in America raising a "black" son I find it frightening and at times hopeless to attempt to live a normal life in this country, this country where I was born, and my parents were born, and their parents and generations before them leading back to the times of slavery.
The systematic racism that this country is running on is more apparent than ever, and it breaks my heart to realize there are some that still don't see it or care to acknowledge it. I have attended local protests and seen first hand the way the local authorities have responded to the citizens who they have sworn to protect, I have also seen the way agitators in the crowds have played a part in attempting to tarnish these protests. While at times things seem like they may never get better, I do have a great appreciation for the people who have reached out to me personally to check in, and to those who I have seen speaking out and showing up to battle these injustices in various ways. When I look and see faces of all colors standing together to show the world these injustices won't stand, it inspires me to hold on to hope and keep my faith that maybe things aren't as dark as they may seem. So, I want to say thank you to everybody that is invested in this fight, and I hope that you are down for the long ride, because it's been a long one and there's a lot of work to still be done.
On behalf of myself and the Community Garden Network that I coordinate I wanted to make sure to let it be known where I stand, and let it be known that I'll do everything in my power to fight against these injustices that I myself face as well as many others.
The systematic racism that this country is running on is more apparent than ever, and it breaks my heart to realize there are some that still don't see it or care to acknowledge it. I have attended local protests and seen first hand the way the local authorities have responded to the citizens who they have sworn to protect, I have also seen the way agitators in the crowds have played a part in attempting to tarnish these protests. While at times things seem like they may never get better, I do have a great appreciation for the people who have reached out to me personally to check in, and to those who I have seen speaking out and showing up to battle these injustices in various ways. When I look and see faces of all colors standing together to show the world these injustices won't stand, it inspires me to hold on to hope and keep my faith that maybe things aren't as dark as they may seem. So, I want to say thank you to everybody that is invested in this fight, and I hope that you are down for the long ride, because it's been a long one and there's a lot of work to still be done.
On behalf of myself and the Community Garden Network that I coordinate I wanted to make sure to let it be known where I stand, and let it be known that I'll do everything in my power to fight against these injustices that I myself face as well as many others.
~Isa Whitaker, Community Garden Network Coordinator
Dear Bountiful Cities Supporter,
Whether it is managing grief, holding on to moments of joy, or some other response, each one of us has our own experience and ways of dealing – perhaps changing daily – with the COVID-19 outbreak. In recent weeks, I have been struck by both the significant human toll and the outpouring of support for one another in our communities. As I reflect on so many responses to the pandemic, I am reassured by the work that Bountiful Cities is doing, and has been doing since its inception.
Today, as always, Bountiful Cities remains committed to partnering with community groups, focusing on dialogue, trust and community needs, to create urban agricultural spaces. We know now, more than ever, how important it is to share agricultural skills and resources to promote social justice and economic viability.*
As Bountiful Cities gets seeds in the ground and harvests cool-weather veggies, we have our eyes set on the coming months, recognizing that long-term food security efforts must be part of a coordinated response. We center racial and economic equity by working with existing partners and communities that invite our collaboration, supporting the community garden network, maintaining local school gardens, and ensuring that gardening tools and supplies are available to community and individual gardeners. At the same time, we continue to co-build capacity of communities for growing food, such as identifying land and providing technical assistance through our advocacy efforts and engaging in residential services through Grass to Greens.
The victory gardens of the past must be reshaped for today’s world, so that we are growing with and for each other, not only now but into the future. We know that people of color and people with lower wealth have once again been the most devastated because of the failings of our political, social, and economic systems. Only when communities act with their own self-determination are our systems and outcomes different, and better for all of us.
As you read Bountiful Cities’ newsletter, I hope you will note the ways that the staff and organization continue to join with each other and our partners to sustain the fundamental shifts necessary to move forward and be healthy. If you can support these efforts now, please donate.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Bountiful Cities. We hope you are well and safe, send you the very best, and hope to see you soon.
Keep well,
Ameena Batada
Chair, Bountiful Cities Board
Whether it is managing grief, holding on to moments of joy, or some other response, each one of us has our own experience and ways of dealing – perhaps changing daily – with the COVID-19 outbreak. In recent weeks, I have been struck by both the significant human toll and the outpouring of support for one another in our communities. As I reflect on so many responses to the pandemic, I am reassured by the work that Bountiful Cities is doing, and has been doing since its inception.
Today, as always, Bountiful Cities remains committed to partnering with community groups, focusing on dialogue, trust and community needs, to create urban agricultural spaces. We know now, more than ever, how important it is to share agricultural skills and resources to promote social justice and economic viability.*
As Bountiful Cities gets seeds in the ground and harvests cool-weather veggies, we have our eyes set on the coming months, recognizing that long-term food security efforts must be part of a coordinated response. We center racial and economic equity by working with existing partners and communities that invite our collaboration, supporting the community garden network, maintaining local school gardens, and ensuring that gardening tools and supplies are available to community and individual gardeners. At the same time, we continue to co-build capacity of communities for growing food, such as identifying land and providing technical assistance through our advocacy efforts and engaging in residential services through Grass to Greens.
The victory gardens of the past must be reshaped for today’s world, so that we are growing with and for each other, not only now but into the future. We know that people of color and people with lower wealth have once again been the most devastated because of the failings of our political, social, and economic systems. Only when communities act with their own self-determination are our systems and outcomes different, and better for all of us.
As you read Bountiful Cities’ newsletter, I hope you will note the ways that the staff and organization continue to join with each other and our partners to sustain the fundamental shifts necessary to move forward and be healthy. If you can support these efforts now, please donate.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Bountiful Cities. We hope you are well and safe, send you the very best, and hope to see you soon.
Keep well,
Ameena Batada
Chair, Bountiful Cities Board
Our Food Systems are Changing!
Community and Home Gardens Provided over 40% of produce in the US in the 1940's Victory Garden Era.
Community and Home Gardens Provided over 40% of produce in the US in the 1940's Victory Garden Era.
Home Grown Gardens Can Feed Us
Are you growing a garden for the first time? Or the first time in years? Mountain Xpress reports a huge surge in garden supply sales in THIS ARTICLE.
That's WONDERFUL! Did you know that in the 1940's home gardeners and community gardens produced over 40% of the produce consumed in the US? We can do that again, and we NEED to do it again. Find out more about Bountiful Cities Community Garden Network in this article from Mountain Xpress.
Our Food System is Changing - let's make it BETTER
LISTEN to this podcast from Reveal on Essential Farm Workers and READ this article from Politico about how Coronavirus is increasing Food Waste for a taste of how the Food System is already changing. We can make it better, more just, and equitable right now.
Bountiful Cities has been supporting low-wealth communities working to achieve LONG TERM FOOD SECURITY through urban agriculture for the last 20 years. We need your help TODAY to sustain EVERYONE in our community in this time of change!
Please donate today to help us GROW Food Security
Now is the time to PLANT!!
It's springtime and the perfect time to get seeds in the ground.
Take this SURVEY! Tell us what you want to know about growing a garden. Tell us what you have learned and what you need to learn!
We are developing and compiling on-line Virtual Workshops and FB LIVE Question and Answer sessions to help new and seasoned gardeners GROW AS MUCH FOOD AS POSSIBLE!
Check out this VIDEO in our Virtual Workshop collection on how to start a weed-free raised bed.
Or this VIDEO on starting a container garden with companion plants.
For more growing expertise check out these awesome local resources:
Sow True Seed - Local Source for Open Pollinated Seeds
Living Web Farms Videos - Hands on Gardening Demos and Workshops
Organic Growers School - Gardeners Library
Buncombe County Master Gardener Helpline - Helpline to Answer Gardening Questions
Can you grow a little extra for those who are houseless or those who don't have a yard or resources to grow? If you can, plant some extra! Bountiful Cities can help get extra produce to where it is needed most!
Take this SURVEY! Tell us what you want to know about growing a garden. Tell us what you have learned and what you need to learn!
We are developing and compiling on-line Virtual Workshops and FB LIVE Question and Answer sessions to help new and seasoned gardeners GROW AS MUCH FOOD AS POSSIBLE!
Check out this VIDEO in our Virtual Workshop collection on how to start a weed-free raised bed.
Or this VIDEO on starting a container garden with companion plants.
For more growing expertise check out these awesome local resources:
Sow True Seed - Local Source for Open Pollinated Seeds
Living Web Farms Videos - Hands on Gardening Demos and Workshops
Organic Growers School - Gardeners Library
Buncombe County Master Gardener Helpline - Helpline to Answer Gardening Questions
Can you grow a little extra for those who are houseless or those who don't have a yard or resources to grow? If you can, plant some extra! Bountiful Cities can help get extra produce to where it is needed most!
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors!!
Don't have extra veggies yet, but do have extra compost?
If you have a Compost Now account and want to share your compost with a Bountiful Cities garden we are one of their garden partners!
Click HERE to share your compost with us!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering in a Bountiful Cities garden? We are having small garden workdays with one or two volunteers at a time so we can maintain social distancing. Please fill out this FORM so we can learn more about you!
If you have a Compost Now account and want to share your compost with a Bountiful Cities garden we are one of their garden partners!
Click HERE to share your compost with us!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering in a Bountiful Cities garden? We are having small garden workdays with one or two volunteers at a time so we can maintain social distancing. Please fill out this FORM so we can learn more about you!

Hey all! March was quite a month wasn't it?!? So, with the current state of things this newsletter will be a little different than previous ones. I want to start by seeing what changes may be happening/have happened with the local community gardens (this can be a change in hours, gardens closing, resources available to local community members (such as produce, garden space for growing, etc.)) This is the time when we need each other the most, and I plan on keeping things updated with my monthly newsletters, garden support as needed (with the possibility of holding smaller workdays), and we're even discussing the possibility of hosting online workshops.
Please reach out to me at your earliest convenience with any updates, and feel free to leave any additional feedback, ask any additional questions, and let us know if there's any support you're in need of!
Also, I’ll be sharing as many resources as I can, but I’m sure I’ll miss some. So, if there’s any you’re aware of please don’t hesitate to share them with me or feel free to post them directly to the Community Garden Network listserv.
Thank you! ~Isa
Community Garden Network Events
As I mentioned above we are in the process of converting our educational workshop series to an online platform.
Check out what we’ve started to compile, and stay tuned for more updates.
Vance Elementary Peace Garden Update
“Dear friends of the Vance Peace Garden and FEAST,
I hope you are all taking care of yourselves and are staying well during this crazy time. With all of the sudden and unfolding changes with the Coronavirus, Bountiful Cities/ FEAST staff have been discussing how our work in the Vance Peace Garden and other community and school gardens can move forward and support our communities.
As long as schools are closed, all FEAST educational programming, Weed & Feed workdays, and garden events are also canceled (possible alternative plant sale tbd).
This season I will be focusing attention on growing food in the Peace Garden to share with the community and to ensure there is food in the fall for students to harvest and for FEAST programming. As my time is limited, there is much that I need help with in the garden that volunteers can do independently- right now, I need help tuning up the weed eater and lawn mower, pruning and deadheading perennials, and cutting back overgrown cover crops. As I get more organized, I will have more tasks that I can delegate out that don't all require gardening knowledge.
Though much of our lives have been canceled, gardening is not! It is more important now than ever to grow food! In the broader community, Bountiful Cities is connecting with local food security relief efforts, putting together resources for folks needing food or wanting to grow at home, and supporting community gardens.
Please reach out if you would like to lend a hand in the Vance Peace Garden or if you seek any resources for growing or accessing produce.
We are all taking this day by day, and even amidst uncertainty, I remain wholeheartedly committed to the Vance Peace Garden and the Vance community.
Wishing all of you wellness and health,” -
Jordan Diamond, FEAST Program & Garden Coordinator - Vance Elementary School
jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net
Other Community Resources/Events
The NC State Extension has put together a guide which describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
https://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/start-a-garden/
Organic Growers School has put up a resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19.
They are updating this list regularly.
https://organicgrowersschool.org/resources/covid-19-resources/
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
http://yummyyards.com/send-us-your-gardening-questions/
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
https://www.facebook.com/groups/627077924515413/
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you.
*Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule:
https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Please reach out to me at your earliest convenience with any updates, and feel free to leave any additional feedback, ask any additional questions, and let us know if there's any support you're in need of!
Also, I’ll be sharing as many resources as I can, but I’m sure I’ll miss some. So, if there’s any you’re aware of please don’t hesitate to share them with me or feel free to post them directly to the Community Garden Network listserv.
Thank you! ~Isa
Community Garden Network Events
As I mentioned above we are in the process of converting our educational workshop series to an online platform.
Check out what we’ve started to compile, and stay tuned for more updates.
Vance Elementary Peace Garden Update
“Dear friends of the Vance Peace Garden and FEAST,
I hope you are all taking care of yourselves and are staying well during this crazy time. With all of the sudden and unfolding changes with the Coronavirus, Bountiful Cities/ FEAST staff have been discussing how our work in the Vance Peace Garden and other community and school gardens can move forward and support our communities.
As long as schools are closed, all FEAST educational programming, Weed & Feed workdays, and garden events are also canceled (possible alternative plant sale tbd).
This season I will be focusing attention on growing food in the Peace Garden to share with the community and to ensure there is food in the fall for students to harvest and for FEAST programming. As my time is limited, there is much that I need help with in the garden that volunteers can do independently- right now, I need help tuning up the weed eater and lawn mower, pruning and deadheading perennials, and cutting back overgrown cover crops. As I get more organized, I will have more tasks that I can delegate out that don't all require gardening knowledge.
Though much of our lives have been canceled, gardening is not! It is more important now than ever to grow food! In the broader community, Bountiful Cities is connecting with local food security relief efforts, putting together resources for folks needing food or wanting to grow at home, and supporting community gardens.
Please reach out if you would like to lend a hand in the Vance Peace Garden or if you seek any resources for growing or accessing produce.
We are all taking this day by day, and even amidst uncertainty, I remain wholeheartedly committed to the Vance Peace Garden and the Vance community.
Wishing all of you wellness and health,” -
Jordan Diamond, FEAST Program & Garden Coordinator - Vance Elementary School
jordan.diamond@acsgmail.net
Other Community Resources/Events
The NC State Extension has put together a guide which describes “a community garden, its benefits, how to find or start a garden and tips for growing, storing, preparing and enjoying fruits and vegetables. In addition it highlights state and national gardening resources.”
https://nccommunitygardens.ces.ncsu.edu/start-a-garden/
Organic Growers School has put up a resource list for gardeners and farmers regarding COVID-19.
They are updating this list regularly.
https://organicgrowersschool.org/resources/covid-19-resources/
Have gardening questions? Send them to YummyYards!
http://yummyyards.com/send-us-your-gardening-questions/
Check out the Asheville Online Farmers' Market if you haven’t already
https://www.facebook.com/groups/627077924515413/
Ask a Sista Farmer
“Are you ready to grow your own food and medicine for self-reliance and community resilience? Every Friday, experienced Black womxn* farmers answer your call-in questions about gardening, livestock, agroforestry, plant medicine, and food preservation.
This show centers the voices of Black, Indigenous, People-of-Color, Queer, Trans*, Disabled, Immigrant, and Poor communities. Everyone is welcome to watch and listen, but please make space for centered folks to speak. Thank you.
*Sista and womxn includes trans* and nonbinary folks”
For more info, and to see the full line up and schedule:
https://www.facebook.com/events/539087153384648/
Every year, one-third of the world’s total food supply is wasted or lost. And, 97% of this waste is directed to landfills and incinerators that contribute to the production of global warming gases, especially methane. Food waste is a huge problem at every step in the supply chain. To combat this problem, communities should come together and adopt Zero Waste methods. How to go about it? Read on to know.
Set Benchmarks and a Timeline – In every industry, it is important to set timelines and benchmarks to measure accomplishments and success. Similarly, communities must set benchmarks and timelines to achieve Zero Food Waste. In some communities, people have adopted the goal of diverting 90% waste away from incinerators and landfills within 10 to 15 years. Others have set larger goals of achieving Zero Waste by the year 2040 such as the Urban Environmental Accords. However, before setting goals and timelines, you must:
Engage the Entire Community – Achieving zero waste isn’t possible unless every member of the community engages in the project. So, do not leave the responsibility to the waste experts. Here are a few things you must do:
Perform Waste Assessments – A waste audit is important since it allows identifying the types of waste produced in a community. If funding is not available, you can collect data locally or access it from comparable communities. By performing the audits, you will be able to create a baseline based on which recovery opportunities can be identified. Here’s what you can do:
Educate the Community – Educate residents, visitors, and businesses about the Zero Waste strategy. Brainstorm and devise ways to achieve better organization and industrial design. Communities must also conduct workshops in schools, universities, and workplaces on how to practice Zero Waste.
Develop/Expand Zero Food Waste Infrastructures – To achieve Zero Waste, the infrastructure must be in accordance with the strategy. Here’s how Zero Waste infrastructures can be expanded:
Author Bio: Erich Lawson is passionate about saving the environment through effective recycling techniques and modern innovations. He works with Compactor Management Company and writes on a variety of topics related to recycling, including tips and advice on how balers, compactors and shredders can be used to reduce industrial waste. He loves helping businesses understand how to lower their monthly garbage bills and increase revenue from recycling.
Set Benchmarks and a Timeline – In every industry, it is important to set timelines and benchmarks to measure accomplishments and success. Similarly, communities must set benchmarks and timelines to achieve Zero Food Waste. In some communities, people have adopted the goal of diverting 90% waste away from incinerators and landfills within 10 to 15 years. Others have set larger goals of achieving Zero Waste by the year 2040 such as the Urban Environmental Accords. However, before setting goals and timelines, you must:
- Gauge the urgency of putting the plan into action to be able to create a plan accordingly.
- Understand if your goal is reasonable.
- Appoint a leader who can responsibly oversee the project and check if the goals and the deadlines are being met.
- It streamlines the flow of discarded materials in a building.
- Since the waste is collected at a single spot, it makes waste collection easier.
- It allows for easier separation of recyclable waste.
Engage the Entire Community – Achieving zero waste isn’t possible unless every member of the community engages in the project. So, do not leave the responsibility to the waste experts. Here are a few things you must do:
- Encourage existing service providers to engage in the project and adopt environment-friendly waste management methods.
- Encourage organizations that provide services such as take-back, waste reduction, recycling, reuse, composting, etc. to be involved.
- Ensure that new initiatives, progress, performance reviews, etc. are communicated effectively within the entire community.
Perform Waste Assessments – A waste audit is important since it allows identifying the types of waste produced in a community. If funding is not available, you can collect data locally or access it from comparable communities. By performing the audits, you will be able to create a baseline based on which recovery opportunities can be identified. Here’s what you can do:
- Identify the source of waste and check if the waste can be treated.
- Discuss and decide on facilities that you would need to reduce waste production, reuse, recycle, and compost.
Educate the Community – Educate residents, visitors, and businesses about the Zero Waste strategy. Brainstorm and devise ways to achieve better organization and industrial design. Communities must also conduct workshops in schools, universities, and workplaces on how to practice Zero Waste.
Develop/Expand Zero Food Waste Infrastructures – To achieve Zero Waste, the infrastructure must be in accordance with the strategy. Here’s how Zero Waste infrastructures can be expanded:
- Stakeholders and local government must proactively develop locations for businesses that deal with recycling, reuse and composting.
- Community members must support NGOs, businesses, and citizen groups that are a part of recycle and reuse programs.
- Compost should be used locally to grow crops and restore the soils. Compostable waste such as wood waste, food scraps, garden clippings, etc. produces methane when dumped in landfills.
- Contractors should be encouraged to submit plans that meet community targets.
Author Bio: Erich Lawson is passionate about saving the environment through effective recycling techniques and modern innovations. He works with Compactor Management Company and writes on a variety of topics related to recycling, including tips and advice on how balers, compactors and shredders can be used to reduce industrial waste. He loves helping businesses understand how to lower their monthly garbage bills and increase revenue from recycling.