THE GOOD ROAD: Asheville, NC - The French Broad
Gaining Ground
The Utopian Seed Project
Southside Community Farm
Where Emerging
Ideas Flow
Uncovering advocates and innovators making
a difference in Asheville, North Carolina
Think Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown-meets-philanthropy and you have an idea of what Craig Martin and Earl Bridges’s PBS show The Good Road is all about. The best friends, who have known each other since elementary school in Bangkok, Thailand, travel the world meeting change-makers who have dedicated their lives to addressing global humanitarian issues. In this episode, Martin and Bridges explore Asheville’s ancient French Broad River and the individuals—advocates, artists, and volunteers, dedicated to its health and protection. People like Renee Fortlink who oversees river quality projects for Riverlink, a nonprofit that promotes the environmental and economic vitality of the watershed. In addition, The Good Road spotlights the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, a multi-use trail along the river that was named for author and environmentalist Wilma Dykeman who wrote the book The French Broad. Martin and Bridges also visit Burton Street Community, a historically African American neighborhood, preserved by activist Dwayne Barton, and conclude the episode with an interview with acclaimed bluegrass musician Woody Platt who shares his work on a water restoration project.
Aaron and Anne Grier of Gaining Ground Farm and the Equal Plates Project and chef John Fleer of Rhubarb restaurant share a farm-to-table discussion.
Chris Smith, founder of the Utopian Seed Project, discusses increased agrobiodiversity in the food and farming system with DiBenedetto before taste testing his harvest with dishes prepared by chef Luis Martinez and chef Yunanda Wilson.
In the historically Black Southside neighborhood of Asheville, North Carolina, Southside Community Farm is growing black agricultural sovereignty through food distribution, environmental education, racial justice, and connection with the land.
PLUS: Three short films
A thriving arts scene, unparalleled natural beauty, and a cosmopolitan feel have made Asheville a shining star of Southern destinations for generations
A thriving arts scene, unparalleled natural beauty, and a collective heart for conservation have made Asheville a star Southern destination for generations. But peel back the layers of the city’s world-class art and live music, thriving boutiques, and innovative outdoor outfitters, and what you’ll find is remarkable people making every effort to sustain the natural beauty and bounty of their Blue Ridge Mountain home. They’re in the Western North Carolina farms working to make food access more equitable. They’re paddling along the French Broad River fervently fighting for its health and protection. They’re in the city’s kitchens, ensuring farm-to-table is more than a catchphrase. In partnership with Explore Asheville and G&G’s Champions of Conservation, G&G, in association with Good All Over, produced three short films to shine a light on a handful of these change-makers.
Season four of the PBS show The Good Road visited Asheville this year and brought Garden & Gun editor in chief David DiBenedetto with them to uncover advocates and innovators making a difference in Asheville, North Carolina.
For more information on Asheville’s efforts, visit ExploreAsheville.com
