When a community of farmers, food producers, and volunteers get together it is usually to plan for a service or to celebrate the opening of a much needed service. On Sunday, July 12, Polk County’s first mission-driven Incubator and Teaching Kitchen “The Community’s Kitchen” opened in Tryon NC.
This facility has been a long time coming with many farmers, educators, business organizations, civic and church groups partnering to “provide an accessible space for local entrepreneurs, farmers, community members and organizations to process high-quality food products in a diverse and collaborative learning environment and then offer them an on-site marketplace.”
Carol Lynn Jackson, the founding board leader for Slow Food Asheville Foothills Community and owner of Manna Cabanna Market had a vision of providing sustainable healthy food access by leveraging Polk’s County’s capacity within its thriving local food community.
Many of the attendees at the kick-off event on Sunday, announced that they had signed up and pledged to eat totally local for a week each, writing about their experience, the farms that the food was purchased from, and the accessibility of local healthy food. Read about their experiences (https://www.facebook.com/polkcountyfarms) and if you are in the Tryon area, stop by this facility at 835 N Trade St, Tryon NC 28782 and support their efforts. As an L3C organization they welcome investment from foundations, businesses, and individual investors who can receive a tax advantage.
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ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Quote by Margaret Mead