Gardens, Seeds, and Cows!

This summer Ashe County Public Library’ signature program, Involving Books, has been placing an emphasis on supporting local economy, by raising awareness about healthy food and the farmers who produce it.  Family farmers need your support, and buying directly from them gives them a fighting chance in today’s globalized economy.  Farmer’s market produce is grown within the county, which means our farmers are likely to spend money they make on their produce in the local economy. 

Ashe Library is offering two upcoming educational and cultural activities that will make connections between agriculture and community.   Stop by Ashe County History Museum at 2:00 p.m. on July 8 and discover a unique Victory Garden.  Victory Gardens are the most successful local foods project in the United States.   Museum director, Ramona Renfroe, will share details about this “living exhibit,” made possible by Ashe County’s Master Gardeners.  Following Ramona’s talk, Dr. Jim Veteto, a recognized world expert on agricultural biodiversity and seedsaving and a foremost expert on Appalachian heirloom vegetables and fruits will review the history of gardening in southern Appalachia from the Woodland Indian period to the present.  Particular focus will be given to Cherokee heirloom gardening and seeds and stories from old-time farmers and gardeners in Ashe and Watauga counties.  Dr. Jim Veteto directs both the Appalachian Institute for Mountain Studies and Southern Seed Legacy and is associate professor of cultural and environmental anthropology and Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University.

As for cows, be sure to save-the-date for Cow Appreciation Day!  At 2:00 p.m. on July 11 (CAD), Tim and Carolyn Miller of Highland Meadow Cattle Company will bring Romeo, a young bull, from their farm to visit the library.  Scottish Highland cattle are instantly recognized by their sweeping horns and flowing hair.  Romeo is very handsome and loves to have his hair combed.  All are invited to the shade tree behind West Jefferson’s park playground to hear about this breed of cattle and meet Romeo.   At 2:30 p.m. Rebecca Petruck, author, will be collecting cow-themed words to create a silly Mad Lib “Cow Tale,” or two.  Rebecca wrote Steering Towards Normal, a middle-grade novel, that takes readers into the lives of half-brothers Diggy and Wayne.   Each day is an adventure as the two boys raise their calf for the Minnesota State Fair.  Rebecca herself grew up in Minnesota and as a farm girl raised calves for 4-H state competition.  She has also planned a special activity in judging cow-themed candy, to illustrate criteria for judging cattle.   Don’t miss the fun and help us celebrate our appreciation for cows!

Dates to remember in July:  The library will be closed on July 2 for Christmas in July and July 4 for Independence Day.

 Children’s Programs

• Baby Bounce meets every Friday at 10:00 a.m. for ages birth to 2 years.  Enjoy stories, rhymes, bounces, and songs with a stay-and-play social time afterwards.  There will be no Baby Bounce on July 28.
• The Lego Club meets on July 20 at 4:00 p.m. for grades 1-5. Build, create, and make new friends.

•  Move to the Music for ages birth – third grade takes place at 11:00 a.m. on July 7 with Kid’s Yoga and July 14 with a Space Party

Tween Programs

• Tween Takeover meets at 3:30 pm on Thursdays.  On July 20, a summer reading wrap-up party is planned. Read to earn tickets for cool prizes, join in some fun Minute to Win It Games, and eat then vote for the best Ashe County pizza!

Teen Programs

• Teens meet at 4:00 p.m. every Tuesday for games and art activities.

• Teen Summer Book Club meets at 4:00 p.m. on July 6, to discuss The Infinity of You and Me and prepare to meet the book’s author on July 15.

• Save the Date for author visit with Quinn Dalton, the co-author of The Infinity of You and Me, and participate in a free writing workshop hosted by Quinn from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on July 15.

• Play a life-size version of the popular board game, Clue, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on July 22.

• STEAM Teens meet at 4:00 p.m. on July 13 to make Battle Brush Bots and at 4:00 p.m. on July 27 to make geometric bubbles that mimic tensile structures.

Adult Programs

• For all your tech troubles, book and appointment with our friendly reference librarians.  Call 336.846.2041 x227
• Yoga Club meets in the library’s downstairs meeting room at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays.

• Let’s Talk About It: Journeys Across Time & Place, will meet at 5:30 on July 6 and July 20.  Stop in the library and pick up selected reads and save the date for discussions.  Join scholar Leon Lewis for a presentation and book discussion of Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison on July 6.  Join scholar Bruce Dick for a presentation and book discussion of The Known World by Edward P. Jones on July 20.

• Ashe County Cooperative Extension agent Travis Birdsell, will host a seed saving workshop at 6:00 p.m. on July 20, focusing crops from which it is fairly difficult to save seeds.

• Brouhaha Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on July 31 in Boondocks. There is no assigned reading for this book club. Come as you are, read what you want, and join the lively conversation!

 All Ages

• Kids Can Concert & Story Time takes place at 11:00 a.m. on July 12.   Hear a story about music’s impact on the world, read by our Circulation Manager, Charlie. Afterward, enjoy performances by local children who want to share their musical passion with the world. Feel free to donate any non-perishable food items.

• Get Crafty and make Quick Knit & Crochet Gifts at 10:00 a.m. on July 8.  Instruction available for beginners and project materials are provided.

• The Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. on July 11 and 25.  Join the celebration of drums, while exploring the soul and spirit of music!

• Mountain Music Slow Jam will be performing on the Community Stage at 6:00 p.m. during the Christmas in July Festival.  Come out and join the jam!   Also, bring your instrument and join Slow Jammers in the practice tent at Ashe County’s Fiddlers Convention on July 29!

Special Events:

• Cow Appreciation Day takes place at 2:00 p.m. on July 11.  Visit with Tim and Carolyn Miller who will bring a Highland Cow to the library!  Rebecca Petruck will lead a fun program on judging cattle for state fair competition with a game of Mad Cow Libs!                                      

•  Going Local Workshop and Cooking Demonstration takes place in the library’s meeting room at 3:00 p.m. on July 21.  Author Julia Shanks presents a “Going Local” workshop titled “Going Local without Going Crazy: 25 Tips to Increase Your Local Footprint”.

• Visit Ashe Farmers Market on July 22 for an Involving Books Celebration!  Enjoy cooking demos by author Julia Shanks, hear a presentation by author Forrest Pritchard (at noon), listen to a set by the Crooked Road Ramblers, and more!

• A How-to-Festival takes place in the park beside the library on July 29, featuring race cars, bees, music, and so much more.  Learn how to do something new.  A day of sun and fun for the whole family!