Greenfest is a semi-annual series held on the campus of UNC Asheville in March and September that celebrates sustainability, students and community. If you are interested in helping with the planning and development of Greenfest projects and events, please contact us! We are always excited to meet old and new friends happy to lend a hand.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. Greenfest is brought to you by the Office of Sustainability, the Student Environmental Center, and the many co-sponsors listed below.
Greenfest events will be following the most up to date COVID guidelines for UNC Asheville which can be found at coronavirus.unca.edu.
Fall Greenfest 2021 Events
Check back as we continue to update the full list of events.
Saturday, September 18th:
Key Center and SGA Garden Work Day at Peace Gardens: Burton Street Peace Gardens (47 Bryant St Asheville 28806) 10am-12pm
Join the Key Center & SGA for a garden workday at the Burton Street Peace Gardens from 10-12 pm! Wear clothes that can get dirty and bring water. Email keycenter@unca.edu if you need help finding a ride to the event. Register here.
Monday September 20th:
Castanea Garden Workday: Castanea Garden at Sam Millar, 11am-1pm
Come garden! This is a reoccurring workday so come Thursday this semester. No experience needed. Tools provided but bring your own gloves if you have them.
Greenfest Keynote Speaker and Reception- Marc Williams “Field to Fork: You Are What You Eat: Reception 6-7pm UPDATE: Moved inside of Blue Ridge Room due to weather, Lecture 7-8pm Blue Ridge Room. Also available via YouTube livestream.
Join ethnobiologist Marc Williams to hear about many of the positive interconnections between people, plants, mushrooms and microbes while learning to employ botanicals and other life forms sustainably for food, medicine, and beauty.
Come early to enjoy the reception including educational tables, local snacks, and live music from the UNC Asheville Bluegrass Ensemble.
Tuesday September 21st:
Food Equity Initiative Food Distribution: Quad, noon-2pm
Free food distribution. Learn more at foodequity.unca.edu.
Wednesday September 22nd:
On Campus Work Day: Check-in at Reed Plaza, 10am-4pm (1-hour shifts)
Our campus community will roll up our sleeves for a variety of campus beautification projects including: planting, weeding, mulching and more! Please report for your shift at Reed Plaza. Duties will be assigned when you report for your shift. Please bring appropriate work clothes, closed-toe shoes, a refillable water bottle, and if you have them, work gloves. This is part of the effort to beautify campus as an urban forest. Work will be ongoing from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in 1-hour shifts. Register here.
Local Lunch: Brown Hall, 11am-2pm
Enjoy a delicious local lunch from farms surrounding Asheville, and meet some of the amazing people who grow our food! Regular lunch rates apply.
Social Justice Coffee Hour: Food and Sustainability: Highsmith 125, 5-6pm
Multicultural Affairs provides an open forum for students to hear from and participate in dialogue with local guest speakers. Typical events last from one to one and a half hours and are meant to provide a safe space for critical dialogues. All viewpoints are welcome and free, hot, locally brewed coffee is always provided!
ROOTs Garden Work Day with Fun: ROOTS Garden, 5-7pm
Make your own spice mix, garden mindfulness practice
Thursday September 23:
Ramsey Seed Library Free Milkweed Plants and Seed Bomb Giveaway: Front of Library, 1pm-3pm
Ramsey Library will be giving away around 50 milkweed plants, along with milkweed seed bombs.
Ancient Gardens Workday: Ancient Gardens (between Whitesides Hall and Ramsey), 1-5pm
Join us for a workday in this fabled garden by Whitesides Hall where we will be beautifying the space with various flowers and herbs to match the Ancient Greek and Roman lifestyles! Stop by anytime between 1-5pm. If you have any questions, contact: Addison Greene- agreene2@unca.edu.
Conservation and Green Burial: Helping the Environment and Enriching Communities: Rhoades Robinson 125, noon-1:00
Join the Environmental Studies/Biology lecture series to learn about green burials from Cassie Barrett of the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary located in Mills River, NC. Join us in person in Rhoades Robinson 125, or register to get the zoom link.
Revenge of the Electric Car Film Screening: Mini Quad/ Reynolds Green (Rain Location is Grotto in HSU), 7:30pm
A screening of the documentary Revenge of the Electric Car telling the story of the evolution of electric cars. Bring your own chairs and blankets and snacks will be provided.
Friday September 24th:
Electrify Your Ride Sustainable Transportation Showcase: P19 (parking spaces across from Brown Hall) and the Rhoades Robinson patio, 11am-2pm
Come learn about electric cars, bicycles, and other personal electric transportation devices. There will be an electric car showcase with owners present to answer questions. The Flying Bike will have electric bikes available for demo. We will also have educational tables to highlight sustainable transportation initiatives on campus.
Outdoor Vegan Cooking: Outside 1st floor entrance to SRC, 4:30-6:30pm
Join ASHE and Outdoor Programs for an evening of vegan cooking, with a theme of meals you can make while camping. We’ll have a cooking demo, make vegan s’mores, and give out some recipes to take home with you. Sign up is first come, first serve, with a cap at 15 people.
Saturday, September 25th
Carolina Memorial Sanctuary Work Day: 195 Blessed Way Mills River 28759, 9:30am-12pm
Come join us for a workday with the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary! We’ll be removing invasives, planting native plants, and will be learning about how the sanctuary does their green burials. Use this Google Form to sign up and let us know if you want to carpool!
Bird and Plant Walk: 9-10am, Hayes Cabin in the Botanical Gardens
The bird and plant walk, hosted by Audubon and Plant Club, will tour the Botanical Gardens and explore the interactions between birds and plants. Meet at Hayes Cabin in the Botanical Gardens behind Mills Hall. Registration required.
Sustainable Future Chalk Mural: 10:30am-1:30pm, Quad
Join us in creating a temporary chalk mural on the quad! We will illustrate our vision for a green, sustainable future through interactive art. No prior experience needed. We will also have music and snacks.