It was during the last days of Autumn in the mountains around Asheville .The canvas of orange, purple, red and gold splendor was giving way that morning to frostings of white
see photo JT took on an outing last week)
...Soon it would be time to gather by warming hearth-fires. The telling of stories of the lands and people we love will commence. December would find characters coming to life as tales of the indigenous peoples and first settlers are told.
And as the winter progressed, there would be, as there always was, talk of recent history, current events , local lore and news of the neighborhood.
All this, of course, the stories told must be set in an authentic backdrop ..stories of a "favored" kind this green buyers' broker who loves this area is most likely to unearth ...
And so as the snow falls on our wee cabin in the mountains, here is the RECENT HISTORY of MADISON COUNTY, NC for your real estate investment decision-making notes and for those wonderful snow-bound days we so appreciate. . .
(photo...how do you like our wee cabin in the snow?)
Madison County, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, is a rural county. It is only about half an hour or so from Asheville, but with approximately 3,500 small family farms, agriculture is the largest industry in the County. In fact, agriculture accounts for half of the gross income in the County. Here in Madison County, where streams and pastures and "coves" abound, you may look out your window as you drive the scenic (excellently maintained) country roads and notice tobacco crops. That's because Madison County is the largest burley tobacco producing county in North Carolina. In fact, there are approximately 2,350 farms with burley tobacco quotas. (interesting side note: history of tobaccoin the USA) ...A decade ago, burley tobacco accounted for $10 to $12 million for agriculture income annually. But the demand for tobacco has been on the decline.
Not to be trounced, local farmers have become creative. Crops are changing, and farmers are diversifying. ORGANIC FARMING is big in the Greater Asheville area. Farmers have been cultivating the most amazing ORGANIC crops. Vegetable, organic and nursery crops have increased dramatically since 1998. And farmers' tailgate markets thrive... (ask me for links to stories I've written about our local Tailgate Markets!)
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Research of A Favorite Kind: Neighborhood, Small Family Farms and Organic Madison County NC .The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved
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Interested in community supported agriculture? Ask me for links to stories I've written about our local Tailgate Markets!
Beautiful photos but I got a shiver looking at all that snow, do you get that much down there?
Nicely done, I can almost feel the cool air and the smell of burning wood from a fire place. I wish we had more small farmers here selling their produce direct.
Steve~
Just a light dusting this morning...and ...usually....(to date) the snow melts quickly and we return to very gentle winters...
Silvia~
You commented..." ..I wish we had more small farmers here selling their produce direct...."
Like you, I appreciate small family farms...I feel an odd sense of disquiet when I consider farming as an INDUSTRY...somewhere the spirit of stewardship gets lost, and that bothers me enormously...
Possibly try some research on CSA farms in your area???
We are supposed to too, but burrr, we are just happy to see the sun lately, whassssssssssup?
What's that white stuff all over the ground in that one picture? Whatever it is, is makes for a pretty picture -- LOL.
Steve and Jim~
Come on over to the mountains. You may get snowed in and have a wonderful time. If NOT, this is the PERFECT time of year to see the LAND...