11/11/23 // A Squirrely Kind-Of Gathering at Ruby Ranch in Candler! // 12-6p

Come one, come all! Get nutty with us! It's that time of year where we join in with the squirrel and gather our nuts for winter! It’s harvest, and we have plenty to be grateful for. The spirit of this gathering is joy, frivolity, and the changing seasons.

Villagers and the Ruby Ranch invite you to enjoy an afternoon of family, community, learning, playing, eating and more! It’s fall, the air is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, and it’s a wonderful time to come together in joy and celebration.

A note on pricing transparency: we want these events to be as accessible as possible and so have a flexible policy. If you’re able to pay a suggested donation of $15-40 or more great, if you can’t then that’s great too (min ticket price, $5). You may make a donation ahead of time through this page or on the day of the event.

FESTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• FOOD + LIVE MUSIC
• Locally sourced veg + meat chili (vegan option available)
• CLASSES + DEMONSTRATIONS
• Roasting Chestnuts (and eating them too!)
• Local Vendors
• Hayrides
• Mini mini pony dance
• Bonfires

Come out for a Nutragious Squirrely Good Time

12:00p - 6:00p: Local Food, Live Music and open activities
Take a walk down to the creek, through the wildflower fields and then cuddle up by the fire and enjoy some roasted chestnuts.

Some chairs are onsite, but feel free to bring a cozy chair of your own and your favorite mug to fill with fresh brewed herbal teas..

1:30p and again at 3:00p: Biochar from Black Walnut Hulls Demo

Justin Holt, of the Asheville Nuttery, will be making biochar from black walnut shells and roasting North Carolina-grown Chinese chestnuts on the kiln while the biochar cooks. Drop by to talk nuts and biochar and buy some hot, roasted chestnuts. Justin will demo firing up the kiln and the process of making biochar at 1:30 and again at 3.

Asheville Nuttery will be accepting deliveries of acorns and hickories at the event. Bring your nuts to us, let us do the processing and receive cash or finished product in trade. Details for how to be a part of the collective nut harvest are at www.AshevilleNuttery.com

2:30p-3:30p: Harvest to Pantry w/ Beatrice Nathan- $10-15-20 Sliding Scale

Canning workshops are great ways to learn the safest techniques for canning and preserving our summertime bounty. 

Beatrice Nathan is a home gardener, permaculturalist, community builder, homemaker, and activist for a different way to live with the natural world. She believes that everyone has the right and the ability to participate in the food system.

** MUSIC BEGINS AT 2PM**

3:30p-4:30p: Plant Propagation w/ George Brabant, aka the Phat Ninja - $26

George Brabant, of Phat Ninja Foodforest, propagates hundreds of food producing fruit nut, and berry plants and bushes every year. Through the years, we have learned a few things about propagation and love to share our experiences. We will talk about propagation techniques including hardwood, softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings, and stool layering, We will discuss the best time for each propagation method, seed(nut) saving, and stratification. We will touch on other propagation methods such as rootstocks, grafting, and the promotion of suckering. 

2:00p-400p: Music + Chili + Tea OH MY!

We will be dining on what is seasonally available from farm and forage to a feast that will tantalize all of your tastebuds! Our dear friend David Matter, from Life Like Water, will be infusing the air with music inspired by nature and community.

Check out Life Like Water: https://www.llwmusic.com/

LOCAL CHILI w/ BEEF (all organic ingredients)

SOURDOUGH BREAD from Simple Bread in Asheville, NC