Summer Greetings, ANA members!
The lazy days of summer are here, and vacation time is here.Agritourism farmers, wineries and vineyards are welcoming summer tourists, and we hope that many new visitors come to see you this summer.

The first statewide Agritourism directory has gone to the printer, and will be distributed to state Welcome Centers in late August. Again, thanks to the many ANA members who chose to be in the directory and new members who were recruited to ANA through the directory application.

Agritourism list serve

There is a way for you to communicate with each other via an email. Sign up at wwwadm.ncmail.net/mailman/listinfo/ncagritourism. Do not insert a "www" in front of "wwwadm" - just type it in exactly as you see it here. It has been around for several years and is designed for folks like yourselves to ask questions, post announcements, and communicate with the other members. There are over 150 people who use this list serve.

Agritour-Tips and Agritour-Quest features
No one has submitted any tips or quests! Maybe it's just a busy summer, but keep thinking about what you want to pass on or questions you want to ask. This may help with planning the ANA meeting and workshop in January.

Newsletter "Spruce Up" A big ANA "Thank you!" to Marketing Division staff member Tatiana Lawing for helping design the new ANA Newsletter!

News for August newsletter Keep those cards and emails coming about YOUR news!

Corn maze at the Southeastern Ag Center Farmers Market

News from Members
Marilyn Cade, Mountain Farm, Burnsville
We held our first-ever lavender festival on June 17. Thanks to advertising and promotion by Handmade in America, an ANA member, we had an amazing turnout, with over 600 visitors to the farm. Many other businesses in the valley are excited, too. Next year we'll have two days, with other crafts people, maps of other studios to visit, Carolina Hemlocks for family swimming, food vendors, musicians, and organized parking (a huge problem).
This summer we are also putting in 1200 more lavender plants. Thank goodness for farm interns! We had workshops in making lavender wands, cooking with lavender, a massage therapist, walks through the lavender gardens, and a demonstration of distilling essential oil from flowers. Lavender plants and all our other products from the farm were for sale.

There were baby goats to be bottle-fed and the angora goats, rabbit and the llama got plenty of attention, too. Despite the numbers all the visitors seemed to have a good time and we had many express an interest in volunteering next year. And I plan to take them up on it!

Debbie Roos, Chatham Co. Extension
ChathamArts Potluck in a Pasture has Victorian Flare - featuring ANA members Britt and Fleming Pfann, Celebrity Dairy. ChathamArts' next Potluck in a Pasture, Sunday, July 30, 6:00-8:00 pm invites
guests to wear a favorite hat and something white and play croquet while meeting local artists and savoring delicious homemade dishes, all in view of the famous Celebrity goats. The beautiful rural setting is Celebrity Dairy near Siler City, owned by Fleming and Britt Pfann. The occasion celebrates the importance of Chatham County's artists and agriculture.
Visitors are asked to bring a potluck dish for eight that includes at least one locally grown ingredient (and the recipe to share stating the origins of its local ingredients), as well as a beverage, a lawn chair or blanket, and a $10 donation to ChathamArts, the non-profit county arts council that supports diverse arts and cultural programs throughout the year.
Contact Debbie at debbie_roos@ncsu.edu for more information.

Noah Rannells, Agricultural Economic Development Coordinator, Orange County, and co-owner Fickle Creek Farm
Eat In, Act Out Week: July 31 - August 6, 2006
Eat In, Act Out Week is an annual event to encourage communities to eat locally and think critically about their food choices. "Eat In" refers to using local food, cooking food yourself instead of eating fast food or take out, and "Act Out" means speaking up and taking action to change our food system and promote local food.
Check it out at http://www.thefoodproject.org/

Leigh Guth, Lincoln County Extension "Foothills Fresh" is a new extension program marketing farms, markets and agricultural tourism sites in Lincoln, Catawba, Cleveland and Gaston counties that are working to promote local foods, local farms and local fun.We are having a kick off day on July 29th where 9 of the 30+ farms in Foothills Fresh will be having tours and activities on site. Foothills Fresh features everything from wine to emus! Two of our ANA member farms are participating in the tours on July 29th: Lineberger's Kildeer Farm in Cleveland Co., and Apple Orchard Farm in Gaston Co. Lara Worden, Gaston Co. Extension and ANA member is also helping organize the event.
Contact Leigh at leigh_guth@ncsu.edu for more information.

Bill Carson's musicians at the Orchird at Alta Pass