Join WNCA’s Ecologist and Public Lands Director Bob Gale and Lindsay Majer for an evening walk in downtown Asheville to the George Washington Carver Edible Park.
This site hosts more than 40 varieties of fruit and nut trees.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in Diamond, Mo., around 1864. The exact year and date of his birth are unknown. Carver went on to become one of the most prominent scientists and inventors of his time, as well as a teacher at the Tuskegee Institute.
Carver’s reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families. He wanted poor farmers to grow alternative crops both as a source of their own food and as a source of other products to improve their quality of life.
On a walk through this city park you will find figs, apples, pears, chestnuts, hazelnuts, plums, peaches, grapes, and paws paws to name a few. Planted more than 14 years ago, this urban orchard now exhibits mature, fully-fruit bearing trees. On our walk we will discuss the urban forest ecology found in the park. We will also observe the foliage as the leaves will surely be changing colors by then. While visitors are encouraged to enjoy freshly picked produce from the park, they are discouraged from taking more than their fair share.
We will meet at Packs Tavern (20 South Spruce St., downtown Asheville) and walk to the George Washington Carver Edible Park (10-minute walk) as a group and end back at Packs Tavern.
- Cost: FREE!
- Where: Packs Tavern and George Washington Carver Edible Park
- When: Thursday Oct. 24; meet at 5 PM
- Who: WNCA
- RSVP: Isabelle Rios at Isabelle@wnca.org or by calling her at 828-258-8737 ext. 201