ASAP | From Here | Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project

With the Thanksgiving holiday past us, Buncombe County farmers tailgate markets have shifted into holiday market gear. That means you may find changed or abbreviated hours, so double check this list or your market’s social media to confirm. You’ll also find more artisan and craft vendors and fewer produce vendors. While you can still grab what you need to prepare nourishing meals this week (including greens, root veggies, winter squash, meat, eggs, cheese, bread, and more), you might also be able to check a few items off your holiday shopping list. 
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Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is not a festival of light eating. You could celebrate this holiday—which starts on Monday—with a different dish or dessert for all eight nights! Incorporate a variety of local ingredients all available now at tailgate markets throughout Buncombe County.   Read the rest of this entry »

In the age-old fairy tale, turning into a pumpkin at midnight is frowned upon. This year at Thanksgiving, however, when you turn the centerpiece of your meal into a magically stuffed Cinderella pumpkin, you can be sure that your holiday guests will wonder which fairy godmother swooped in to prepare it.

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ASAP likes to share the stories of people in the community who help us fulfill our mission. This month we talked to Seth Salmon, farmer and owner of Wildwood Herbal. The farm has been providing fresh produce and prepared meals for Meals on Wheels and recently became a partner in ASAP’s Appalachian Farms Feeding Families program.

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This recipe comes from Events Coordinator Erica Shanks. Use your favorite local cheeses. Erica recommends Ashe County Cheddar—and making space for a long nap after eating it!

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This recipe comes from Operations Coordinator Taylor Millington (via Host the Toast blog). Local honey and eggs are abundant at farmers markets right now.

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This recipe comes from Growing Minds Program Coordinator Debbi Timson. You can use local pumpkin or winter squash, such as butternut, to make the filling. (The pie pictured was made with candy roaster squash grown by Debbi’s grandsons!)

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There were a limited number of local turkeys available from Appalachian Grown farms this year, and those sold out by the end of October. So what if you didn’t reserve your bird early, but still want a local meat centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner? If you’re willing to get a little creative, you can find alternatives at farmers tailgate markets. (Planning a vegan or vegetarian feast? Stay tuned for next week’s column for ideas.)

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The mornings and evenings are getting pretty chilly, and if you’re feeling like us, you may want to snuggle in with a warm drink for a few extra minutes. Farmers tailgate markets have lots of nourishing options for getting creative with hot drinks, whether you prefer tea, cider, or even a frothy vegetable latte. 

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Last chance to get your decorative gourds and jack-o-lanterns for Halloween! Farmers tailgate markets have plenty of pumpkin and squash types to choose from, but why stop there? You can collect an assortment of fall veggies for carving up a spooky-but-cute porch display.

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