Melinda Bullen has volunteered for several ASAP events, including last year’s Farm Tour. For our Faces of Local interview this month, we asked her about those experiences and some tips for Farm Tour attendees this year.
What have you enjoyed about volunteering for ASAP?
Well, first and foremost, I’ve really appreciated the opportunity to learn more about our local farms and farmers. Having lived in urban environments most of my life and purchasing most of my food from grocery stores, connecting with these alive spaces and the stewards of them has been such a joy and has helped me understand our region’s environment, economy, and culture more deeply.
But I also have to mention the relationships I’ve developed as a volunteer with ASAP. Each event I go to, I meet so many people invested in our local food scene, from other volunteers, ASAP staff, local farmers, and chefs. There are so many people passionate and committed to this essential local resource! It’s helped me feel more deeply rooted in our community and has introduced me to some folks that I now call friends.
What’s something you’ve learned about farming or local food that you didn’t know before volunteering for ASAP?
When you connect with ASAP through their supported farmers markets, the Farm Tour, the newsletter, or other events throughout the year, you’re always learning something new about local food. Something I was surprised to learn since starting to volunteer with ASAP was the impact it’s had on my own daily choices regarding food. While I always had interest and curiosity about our food systems, it was when I started to connect with our own food community through ASAP that I found myself making different and intentional choices about when to buy certain items and where to buy them. So, while there’s a ton of learning opportunities through volunteering with ASAP there’s also the possibility one will learn more about themselves in the process.
What was your favorite part of the Farm Tour last year?
When I volunteered last year, I let the coordinator know that I was happy to go to any farm in the region. I not only wanted to make it easy on the volunteer coordinator, but I wanted to be open to wherever I was sent because I knew that each and every farm offered unique learning. And I was so right! I got to volunteer at a hydroponic microgreens farm. It was one of the smallest farms featured in the Farm Tour last year and provided such an intimate view into the experience of the farmer. Walking one-on-one through his greenhouses while he talked about his process and why he chose the route of hydroponics was fascinating. And then to understand more about how his microgreens land on the plates of some of our best restaurants in Asheville was so cool!
I absolutely loved doing the Farm Tour because not only did I get a chance to hang out and get to know the farmer but I also met people from all over who, like me, are curious about our WNC farms, are huge supporters of local food, and who really believe in the power of understanding where our food come from.
What tip would you offer a first-time visitor on the Farm Tour?
Try to see as many farms as you can while also trying to really be present at the ones you visit. I know… it’s a tricky balance! LOL. But it’s a powerful experience to see the wide variety of farm sizes, styles, and processes. And while you want to take your time at each farm to get to know the people, the land, and ask questions, thinking strategically about your travel plan to the different farms will help you get the most out of the experience.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy the bounty of local food in the summertime?
I really love buying fresh local food and produce and making a big meal for friends. Because I like to go BIG, it’s something I only do a couple of times during the summer. But how can any of us pass up the gorgeous fresh food from WNC, the great summer weather, and the opportunity to be outside with friends, family, and our fur babies!