The already bountiful farmer’s market offerings in the Swannanoa Valley just got better with the recent addition of the new Riceville Community Market. The next market takes place on Saturday, April 20, from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department, 2251 Riceville Road. Beginning in May, the Riceville market will move to an every Saturday schedule, from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Riceville market offers fresh produce, crafts, baked goods and more. The market’s goal is to promote community relationships and support local farmers, artists and craftsmen. If you’d like more info or are interested in being a vendor, call 828-215-0601 or send an email to ricevillecommunitymkt@gmail.com

The Riceville Community Market joins the existing Black Mountain Tailgate Market (Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon; May – October, 130 Montreat Road), and Warren Wilson College’s Farmer’s Market (Fridays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., outside Gladfelter Hall; opening date TBA).

The Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library, established in 2018, is the first of its kind in Buncombe County. This year, the seed library has been stocked with donated heirloom and open-pollinated seeds from area gardeners, as well as Sow True Seed, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants. Anyone with a current Buncombe County library card is eligible to participate. Just come to the Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty Street, fill out a Seed Library membership form, select your seeds for up to 10 plant varieties, and start planting!

The Seed Library’s mission is to enable more people to grow their own food and learn about saving seed, and to educate the community about gardening. The hope is that gardeners will return some of the heirloom seeds from their gardens to the library at the end of the growing season, so that the Seed Library can become self-sustaining.

The Seed Library is also holding a Springtime Plant Exchange on Saturday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Bring some extra plants to share, and pick up some new plants for yourself. Afterwards, step inside the library for a 10:15 a.m. talk on plants and pollinators, by Brannen Basham of Spriggly’s Beescaping in Waynesville.

For info, call the Black Mountain Libary at 828-250-4756.