Author Archives: didaniel

It’s maple-tree tapping time again — yes, in NC!

It’s time to get sappy! Yes, it’s maple syrup-tapping time again — even in North Carolina! Maple Creek Farm outside of Burnsville, in the mountains, will host its fourth annual Maple Tour on Saturday, Feb. 25, and Sunday, Feb. 26, from … Continue reading

Posted in Family travel, Farmers, Food, Yancey County | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Help fund farm on wheels — and youthful idealism

Not to be all middle-aged about it, but I do get a warm and fuzzy feeling when learning about cool projects that energetic young idealists are doing. One of those projects is the nonprofit Sol Food Mobile Farm, in which … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Environmental, Gardening | Leave a comment

I’m goating* you on

I don’t think I’ve met a soul who isn’t smitten with goats (myself included). If you live in the Triangle or Triad, here are some great goat-loving opportunities that will let you get up close and personal with the ridiculously … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Durham County, Family travel, Goats, Randolph County | 2 Comments

School teaches women small-scale farming

Private farm schools are cropping up like cucumbers in August, it seems. Now we have one in North Carolina, one for women only. It sounds pretty cool. Here’s the press release, issued this month out of Chapel Hill: NC Women … Continue reading

Posted in Orange County | Leave a comment

Your chance to set the table at Durham’s CenterFest

Durhamites, Come talk food and drink on Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:30! The Durham Arts Council is holding focus groups for its expanded CenterFest, to be held this fall. One of the groups is all about food and beverage elements. … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County | 1 Comment

The best collard greens you’ll ever eat

Happy New Year from Farm Fresh North Carolina! Looking back, kudos to everyone who supported farmers and dedicated themselves to fresh food in 2011. And to those who bought my book, a special thanks! What a fantastic year I had promoting it … Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Guilford County, Recipes, Wake County | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Culinary/ag education in Charlotte and beyond

Thought I’d share this recent email and my answer, as it contains some good farm-fresh culinary/agricultural education resources in Charlotte and beyond. Dear Diane, My brother is an aspiring chef living in Charlotte. He is very passionate about sustainable farming and farm … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Cooking, Food, Mecklenburg County | Leave a comment

Home Grown Hand Made videos are online

Wow, a big shout-out to Axel Foley of the The Peoples Channel and Durham Community Media for making videos of all the vendors at the group’s fall fund-raiser, Home Grown Hand Made, at Fullsteam Brewery in Durham. The one for Farm Fresh North … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Food | Leave a comment

Davidson County offers intro to sustainable farming program

This is a great program for people seriously interested in farming and within driving range of Lexigton, NC.  The Davidson County  Cooperative Extension is inviting prospective, beginning, and transitioning farmers to attend the 2012 Piedmont Farm School. The seven-month program is for individuals … Continue reading

Posted in Charlotte area, Farmers, Food policy, Gardening, Livestock, Organics | 2 Comments

It’s a Farm Fresh weekend! (holiday gifts, anyone?)

I don’t usually post my own events here (which are always listed under Author Appearances, above), but it’s such a big FFNC weekend that I thought I would. On Saturday, Dec. 3, I’ll start the day bright and early at … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Farmers' markets, Orange County | Leave a comment

Meet the folks of ‘American Meat’

Suzanne at Cozi Farms in Saxapahaw wrote today to spread the word about a special event at the awesome Haw River Ballroom on Thursday, Dec. 8. They’re screening the new documentary film “American Meat,” along with a local foods feast … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County, Films | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Green-light specials at holiday markets

Thanksgiving shoppers can be grateful for the number of farmers’ markets holding special market events specifically for the holidays. Not only that, the Triangle and Western NC local-food communities have put together websites giving overviews of holiday markets.  The mountain version, organized … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Henderson County, Madison County, Orange County, Wake County, Watauga County | Leave a comment

We already knew they were good; now it’s official

Congrats to the four North Carolina companies named finalists in the second annual Good Food Awards. Escazu Artisan Chocolates in Raleigh (where I cannot believe I haven’t been yet!), Counter Culture Coffee in Durham, Miss Jenny’s Pickles in Kernersville, and Farmers’ Daughter … Continue reading

Posted in Durham County, Forsyth County, Franklin County, Orange County, Wake County | Leave a comment

Say cheese! And then learn how to make it

I used to hear about a cheese-making class once or twice a year. Now they’re popping up like mold spores on your favorite Stilton. Here are a couple in NC in November. Sleepy Goat Farm in Pelham (Caswell County) has just … Continue reading

Posted in Caswell County, Chatham County, Cooking, Dining, Goats | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Farm Fresh NC on UNC-TV’s ‘Bookwatch’

D.G. Martin interviewed me in the summer for his author-focused show, “Bookwatch,” on UNC-TV. We had a wide-ranging talk about agritourism, farm-to-table restaurants, farmers markets, etc. It was a fun show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity! It first aired Sept. … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Charlotte area, Coastal Region-Sandhills, Dining, Farmers' markets, Food, Mountains, Triad, Triangle, Wine | Leave a comment

Fall harvest brings more fall events

Wow, the list of fall events keeps growing. Check these out! SEPTEMBER: Sept. 23 and 25: Diane Daniel discusses sustainable farming, agritourism and more on ”Bookwatch” with D.G. Martin on UNC-TV. Airs Friday and repeats Sunday. Sept. 24: Terra Vita returns! … Continue reading

Posted in Chatham County, Dining, Durham County, Farm Fresh book events, Media, Orange County | Leave a comment

This NC field trip is 100-percent cotton

I’m a big fan of TS Designs  in Burlington and their Cotton of the Carolinas initiative, especially now that they’re planting organic cotton. If you’re curious about cotton harvesting, here’s your chance to see it upclose and personal, thanks to TS. … Continue reading

Posted in Alamance County | Leave a comment

Farm films: pass the (local) popcorn

Two farm-focused films are in the news. First, the long-awaited documentary about young farmers, “The Greenhorns,” premiered in Brooklyn this summer and will being shown in at least one  community screenings in North Carolina, on Sept. 18 in Chatham County. All details … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Films | Leave a comment

Veritable cornucopia of fall news and happenings

It’s time again for Quick Bites, a harvest of Farm Fresh news and calendar listings. Here are a few items of interest, followed by calendar of events: *  Yay for one of my favorite restaurants, Knife & Fork, which won … Continue reading

Posted in Buncombe County, Chatham County, Durham County, Johnston County, Mecklenburg County, Orange County, Rowan County, Stanly County, Wake County | 1 Comment

Farm tours on two wheels

We need to do this in NC — mix farms and bicycles! The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network, or ACORN, which promotes organic agriculture and education in the Maritime Provinces, has developed a series of one-day bicycle tours to organic … Continue reading

Posted in Bicycling, Road travel | Leave a comment