WNC From the Ground Up

08/06/2026

We're proud to share that our "Nourished From the Ground Up" initiative is now funded, thanks to the support of several key partners. This program aims to deliver medically tailored food from local farms to those in need, ensuring that health and nutrition are accessible to all. Additionally, we are actively advocating for sustainable food policies at both state and national levels. Join us in our mission to foster community health and local agriculture.

https://conta.cc/4wIz4I5

Email from WNC From the Ground Up Initial FIM phase funded, year three in the pantries, and a table set among Christmas trees.     Ground Gained Last time we wrote, we told you what we were building a

07/24/2026

The sky opened up and never closed.

Today we served lunch to the 40 Year Voluntary Agricultural Districts Conference at Darnell Farms, and it was a downpour the entire time. You could watch the river rise. The kind of rain where you stop trying to stay dry and just start laughing.

Nobody left. People sat down under that tent and ate tomato sandwiches and grilled corn while the water came down around them, and the J Creek Cloggers danced anyway.

That's the whole thing right there. That's what this work looks like.

Tomatoes and corn from Shelton Farms. Bread from Backwoods Bakery. Basil from 3 Barn Farms. Santiago from Ilda and Colton cooked through all of it without missing a beat, and they were incredible.

Forty years of Voluntary Agricultural Districts in North Carolina. We were honored to feed the people who make that work possible.

Keep farmers farming. Local food for everyone.

07/17/2026

Our current newsletter is out!

https://conta.cc/4vEuN7p

07/17/2026

Christmas in July, sort of.

It's the middle of summer and we're already thinking about firs, while in the midst of this heat. Bear Valley Farm in Glenville is a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm, and on Saturday, November 7, before their season starts, they're hosting us for dinner among the rows.

Local and regional food. Local beer and wine included. A table set among the trees, before the season gets loud.

$150 per ticket. Every one supports keeping farmers farming and local food for everyone.

Dress warm and wear shoes you don't mind on grass.

More etails and tickets on the event FB event page, or scan the QR code .

07/04/2026

Happy Independence Day from all of us at WNC From the Ground Up!

This Fourth of July, we're celebrating something deeply American: the family farms that feed our communities and the freedom to choose where our food comes from.

Across Jackson, the surrounding counties and the region... more than 50 small and mid-sized family farms grow the food that fills local tables, pantries, and kitchens. When you choose local, you keep farmers farming, protect our working lands, and strengthen the place we all call home.

We're grateful for the growers, neighbors, and partners who make this work possible. Enjoy the day, the fireworks, and the good food.

Keep farmers farming. Local food for everyone.

06/30/2026

Hey, y'all! We are taking a break from the 1st through the 7th. We will be back next week and text us at 828-307-3055 if you need us!

06/24/2026

There was a time when pickups and deliveries were most of what our Executive Director did, emergency harvests from farms squeezed in wherever they were needed. The organization has grown, and so has the role (which means a lot of sitting), but every so often a pantry calls because a grocery store or another supply chain came up short, and she is right back in it between meetings. Today that meant harvesting extra from her own farm to donate. The ordered produces was already out the door, but there was a gap to fill and fresh veggies available. These are some of her favorite moments.

06/18/2026

Found a tool worth sharing!!!

Last week at WCU we got to hear about MyFriendBen (bennc.org), a free, anonymous online tool that helps North Carolinians figure out what government benefits, tax credits, and nonprofit programs they may qualify for, all in about 6 minutes.
It checks eligibility for 18+ programs and shows you the estimated dollar value before you ever fill out an application, so you can make a plan first. It's free to use, it doesn't sell your data, and it points you toward where to apply and who can help.

We work alongside so many families across Jackson County and our region who are stretched thin, and too often people go without help they actually qualify for simply because they didn't know it existed. This is the kind of tool that closes that gap.

We've already recommended it to several people and organizations, and I wanted to make sure our whole community knows about it.

Check it out: https://bennc.org (también disponible en español)

Know someone who could use it? Share this post.

MyFriendBen is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations by making it easy to understand and access government benefits, tax credits and nonprofit programs.

06/17/2026

💧 Rain Barrel Sale, and every drop helps more than your garden. 🌱

We're excited to share a rain barrel sale that's a win on every front. You save on your water bill, capture free rainwater for your garden and lawn (or even your, keep stormwater out of our creeks and streams, and support local farm and food work across our mountains, all at once.

Here's what makes this one special. We're running this sale together with our sister organization, the Civilian Disaster Response Organization, CDRO () in Haywood County, and splitting the proceeds. CDRO had been working to reach the minimum order needed to run their own sale, so we're combining our orders to get them across the line. When you buy a barrel, you're supporting both organizations at once.

After Hurricane Helene, CDRO was a quiet but mighty force, working out of the WNC Regional Livestock Center to get hay, feed, and supplies to farmers who had lost so much. So much of what they did happened without recognition, and we're honored to stand with them now.

These barrels make watering your garden easy and affordable, and they're built to last. Composters and downspout accessories are available too.

Pickup: Friday, July 10, 3:00 to 6:00 PM
38 East Main Street, Sylva

Order online now to reserve yours. Supplies are limited & so is time, so don't wait.

http://rainbarrel.ca/wnc

Every barrel is a small step toward healthier gardens, cleaner water, and a stronger mountain community. Thank you for growing with us. 💚

❤️

06/17/2026

We're honored to be featured in Plateau Magazine's June-July issue. Writer Emily Davis joined us at our farm-to-table dinner along Grassy Creek and captured exactly what this work is about.
"This isn't just about farmland. This is about preserving Appalachia."
The piece tells the story of why local food systems matter here: fragile supply chains we watched buckle during the pandemic and Helene, the steady loss of working farmland across Jackson County, and what it takes to build something resilient in its place. Food is culture. We're working to keep both alive.
Read the full article: https://theplateaumag.com/preserving-appalachia
With deep thanks to Emily Davis and Plateau Magazine, Chef Santiago Guzzeti of ILDA, William Ritter of Song to Seed and his wife Sarah Ogletree Ritter, and Jay and Renee Coward and their family, who so generously share their sacred place with us for evenings like this one.