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Third Annual Urban Garden Tour and Tasting This Weekend!

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Written by Malachi Mena

Bountiful Cities’ third annual Urban Garden Tour and Tasting is taking place this Sunday, July 14th! The experience is open to all! Those partaking will visit 10 food producing gardens throughout Asheville while being able to experience different activities throughout the gardens. 

On Asheville FM News Hour, Patryk Battle spoke to Cathy Cleary about Bountiful Cities and what people can expect from the tour. Cleary described Bountiful Cities as an Urban Agriculture Food Justice Organization. They give people the resources needed to have control of where their food comes from. This is done through education around seeds, soil, and how to grow and harvest food. The organization also does policy work with the Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council. This makes sure local laws allow people to share and grow food.

Cleary highlighted some of the gardens that are a part of the tour, including the Peace Garden off of Burton Street, the Sunny Point garden, We Can Garden on Clingman Avenue, and the Shiloh Community Garden, being a brand new part of the tour. Cleary stated “we try to showcase lots of different examples of how we can be growing food in an urban setting.” She made clear that the tour will focus on primarily food producing gardens, and will include food & beverages from the gardens for those who pay for a tasting ticket. The tour will take place from 1pm-6pm and an after party will be held at The Odd at 6pm. 

People can not only support Bountiful Cities by being in attendance for the tour, but can also purchase raffle tickets for prizes such as passes to the Biltmore House. Money made will go towards supporting the program as well as the gardens on the tour. 

For more on Bountiful Cities and the upcoming Urban Garden Tour and Tasting check out this week’s episode of Asheville FM News Hour


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Celebrating 10 Years of The Asheville Blade

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written by Malachi Mena

During the month of July, The Asheville  Blade celebrated their tenth anniversary. They shared with us the story of the spark that lit the fuse, resulting in the creation of the decade old local news co-op. 

On Asheville FM’s , Sweet Tea, KP Whaley intervieweds David Forbes, founder of The Asheville Blade. She explained the issues faced with her past position as a writer for Mountain Xpress 10 years ago. With concerns regarding working conditions to management to overall ethics, Forbes as well as multiple other writers attempted to unionize. 

In December 2013, Forbes was working on a story exposing slumlords in Buncombe County. She said the specific case in which she was focusing on was extensively documented, with the Board of realtors along with Buncombe County records showing proof of poor housing conditions. As soon as the story was complete and ready for publishing, the story was pulled by the editor, in concerns of it reflecting too poorly on landlords. Forbes was pressured to rewrite her piece to ultimately favor landlords but firmly refused. She didn’t feel she could let this case go unexposed, so she created a blog where she could post this expose, resulting in the creation of The Asheville Blade. 

Forbes settled on the name, finding interest in the term “Blade” and its history. Not only was the name used for militant abolition and pro labor publications in the aftermath of the civil war, but was also used in the first publications of groundbreaking queer media in the 60’s & 70’s. Additionally, Forbes goes on to say that “a blade sends a message, you know? Since day one … we’ve been here to fight.”

The team behind The Asheville Blade recognizes that their work seemingly comes with retaliation but this doesn’t prevent them from reporting on the things they value. Rather, this retaliation motivates and sparks greater motivation for those at The Asheville Blade and the future of their co-op. In their article “The Blade Turns 10,” the coop says “We come through all this more dedicated than ever to the path ahead,” as they make a toast to the next 10 years.  

 

 


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A Serene Summer Getaway at Wild Herb Weekend

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written by Jordan Lenoir

The NC Herb Association invites herb enthusiasts to join them along with special speakers to Wild Herb Weekend.  The event promises to  promote the production of herbs, the further education and research of herbs, and herbal products. 

On the Asheville FM Newshour, Patryk Battle interviewed Dr. Jeanine Davis who revealed what attendees can expect, anticipate, and prepare for at Wild Herb Weekend! 

Dr. Davis, who specializes in Horticulture Sciences at NC State University stated that the purpose of The NC Herb Association is to “promote the growing, marketing, and use of herbs and herb products [and we do this] through education and when we have the funding we support some research.” Along with their newsletter and self-sponsored conferences, they partner with other organizations “all working to keep the standards and quality of herbal products high.” 

Battle also gave some brief insight into Wild Herb Weekend, calling it an idyllic scene and a jam-packed schedule with diverse herb-related subjects. This exciting weekend takes place in Valle Crucis in a beautiful 450 acre valley south of Boone surrounded by several trails, nature, a waterfall, and rustically historic architecture. Dr. Davis expressed that Wild Herb Weekend is her “favorite event of the whole year.” There are many presentations, classes, and workshops along with special guest speakers; Robin Rose Bennett, Mark Williams, and Doug Elliot. All meals are served in the cafeteria with a wide variety of food. Most dietary needs can be met as well. Dr. Davis also reveals that this event is “not designed for children”  

The NCHA was established in 1987 and has been holding Wild Herb festivities since 1988. According to Dr. Davis’ article on NCHA’s website NC Herb Association, the 80s were a new and exciting time for herbs. Several cooking shows and magazines were devoting entire sections of their media toward herbs. Along with the flourish of herbs in the media, came the uprise of herbal products. During this new uproar of herbs, a marketing specialist, Ross Williams saw the great potential for herbs and conducted a small meeting of herb business owners interested in starting a commodity group. The following year, the first official meeting of the NCHA was conducted. Following this meeting, the very first Herb Day was organized. Just like every year, the very first Wild Herb Weekend was held at the Valle Crucis Conference Center in July of 1988. Wild Herb Weekend was started to honor Herb Day and continue spreading its celebratory mission. 

For more on Wild Herb Weekend and The NCHA visit https://www.ncherbassociation.org/ 


More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

LAVENDER BLUE – AshevilleFM Live Music Sessions – The Getaway River Bar – Wednesday, July 17th 10-11pm at 103.3FM – streaming www.ashevillefm.org

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Asheville band “LAVENDER BLUE”  will be performing at The Getaway River Bar  – show starts at 9pm and will be simulcast live on 103.3FM at 10pm on the..

AshevilleFM Live Music Sessions..

Join us! / Tune in!

Wednesday, July 17th

No Cover!!

AshevilleFM and The Getaway River Bar are pleased to present this special event..  Support also comes from Arts AVL, Buncombe County, and North Carolina Arts Council

ABOUT THE BAND:
LAVENDER BLUE IS… the vessel for the songwriting and guitar playing of Kayla Zuskin. Lavender Blue the band consists of Mike Henry Johnson on Pedal Steel and Synthesizers, Mary Steinbrecher on Electric Bass and Jack Victor on Drumkit and occasionally keys.Their music is best described as slowcore and alternative indie with a dash of Americana.Located in Asheville, NC, Lavender Blue musicians are also music teachers, engineers/producers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists.The In Between, Lavender Blue’s second LP, will release in summer 2024. “Craggy” the first single was released on all platforms on Friday June 14th.
PRESS
“With a lovely use of pedal steel guitar, reverb, and a dreamy vocal performance, the effect is something that captures a wistful sense of melancholic and looming loss, perfect for the chilly and lonely days of winter, let alone in the current stage of this never-ending pandemic, where we have all been forced to indeed, slow down.”- We All Want Someone to Shout ForUnderlying themes of folk and soft-rock brings House on a Highway by Lavender Blue. The song lies out gentleness in the most reposeful way— still breeze, total reminiscence. This is what it feels like to fall in love, finding home in someone and within yourself.-Start Tracks“Zuskin’s plaintive vocals firmly placed underneath sand waves of slightly off-kilter guitar chords, and instrumental crescendos being teased but not acted upon every once in a while. By the end of the song, though, she’s done with teasing – instead, she lets an unexpected guitar solo rip out. It’s not bombast for the sake of it but a way to finish the song in a determined and tenacious way.- High Clouds.org““Beware” embodies the unique style of Lavender Blue, summoning both dark and light to create its own atmosphere.”-American Pancake“Grace and subtlety are the hallmarks of this understated collection of songs.”-Mountain Xpress
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The Getaway River Bar – The Getaway is a laid-back bar with extra chill vibes by the river. With an expanse of outdoor seating and recreations set on the edge of the French Broad River, it welcomes everyone 21+ to loosen up and enjoy a getaway hidden in-between the city center and growing West Asheville.        790 Riverside Drive – Asheville, NC 28801 – (828) 545-6985            https://www.getawayontheriver.com/

 

AshevilleFM Live Music Sessions

Wednesday’s at 10pm

@AshevilleFM 103.3 /  https://ashevillefm.org/


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A Tribute to Brit Funk

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Join The UnCola tonight at 8 PM EST on Asheville FM as we pay tribute to Brit Funk, a musical style that originated in Britain in the late 1970s and mixed elements of jazz, funk, soul, disco, and pop.


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Cyprus Hartford Resists Federal Grand Jury + MACC Film Festival

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Cyprus Hartford Resists Federal Grand Jury + MACC Film Festival

"Cyprus Hartford Resists Federal Grand Jury + MACC Film Festival" plus a cutout photo of Cyprus playing guitar and the NYC Anarchist Film Fest pic with an eyeThis week we’re featuring three segments. First up, you’ll a conversation I had with Asphalt, a supporter of a recent federal grand jury resister in Charleston, South Carolina.

After that Cyprus Hartford, the grand jury resister, speaks for herself and reads her statement of resistance.

Finally, you can find an interview that Ian did with Marisa Holmes and Molly of the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Committee about their recent anarchist film festival.

To hear a slightly longer edition, including Sean Swain’s commentary on the presidential debate, check out our podcast at our website.

Past GJ Eps

  • Steve Martinez resists NoDAPL GJ in 2021
  • Jeremy Hammond resists Wikileaks-related GJ in 2019 & 2020
  • Chelsea Manning resists Wikileaks-related GJ in 2019
  • Katie Yow resists NC GJ in 2017
  • Standing Rock GJ resistance in 2016
  • Jerry Koch resists NYC GJ in 2013
  • Resistance to GJ in Pacific Northwest in 2013 ( 1 & 2)
  • San Francisco GJ with Ian Coldwater in 2012

Federal Grand Juries

By way of introduction to this first segment, I’d like to remind people that none of the people speaking about grand juries here are lawyers, but we are sharing information we’ve gotten from lawyers and legal experts to the best of our abilities. I’m going to read a bit from the website NCResistsTheGrandJury.Wordpress.Com:

What is a Grand Jury?

In the federal legal system, the grand jury is used to decide whether someone should be charged (“indicted”) for a serious crime. The grand jury hears evidence presented by the prosecutor: the U.S. Attorney. The grand jury uses subpoenas to gather this evidence. It can subpoena documents, physical evidence, and witnesses to testify. The “special” federal grand jury, created in 1970, can be used to investigate “possible” organized criminal activity rather than a specific crime. The California legal system also has grand juries, but it is optional whether criminal prosecutions are initiated by grand jury indictment, or by a complaint by the District Attorney and preliminary hearing before a judge.

How is a Grand Jury Different Than a Trial Jury?

Unlike the “petit” jury, which is used to determine guilt in a trial, a grand jury consists of 16 to 23 jurors who are not screened for bias. The purpose of the grand jury is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to decide whether there is probable cause to prosecute someone for a felony crime. The grand jury operates in secrecy and the normal rules of evidence do not apply. The prosecutor runs the proceedings and no judge is present. Defense lawyers are not allowed to be present in the grand jury room and cannot present evidence, but may be available outside the room to consult with witnesses. The prosecutor and the grand jury members may not reveal what occurred in the grand jury room and witnesses cannot obtain a transcript of their testimony.

How Has the Grand Jury Been Used by the State?

Because of their broad subpoena powers and secretive nature, grand juries have been used by the government to gather information on political movements and to disrupt those movements by causing fear and mistrust. The grand jury lends itself to being used for improper political investigation due in part to the prosecutor’s ability to question witnesses without regard for rules that prohibit irrelevant, unreliable or unlawfully obtained evidence. Those called before the grand jury may be compelled to answer any question, even those relating to lawful personal and political activities. That information has been used by the government as a basis to conduct further surveillance and disruption of political dissent. When used against political movements, the grand jury causes fear and mistrust because persons who refuse to answer questions about their First Amendment political activities, friends and associates may be jailed for the life of the grand jury: up to 18 months. If a witness asserts their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, they may be forced to accept immunity or go to jail for contempt. Even a witness who attempts to cooperate can be jailed if minor inconsistencies are found in their testimony. Such a perjury charge may stand even when the grand jury fails to hand down any indictment for what it was ostensibly investigating.

The grand jury is a complicated and opaque process, by design.  Our movements have decades of experience resisting grand juries, and there are resources available to learn more and support those who resist.
If you have been contacted by federal law enforcement, the National Lawyers Guild has a national federal defense hotline at 212-679-2811.

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Featured Track:

  • Setting Sun (instrumental) by The Chemical Brothers from Setting Sun

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