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.
Spring Greenfest 2021 Events
All in-person events are subject to university and state protocols and are open to the campus community of students, faculty and staff. Mask wearing and social distancing are required. Outdoor events have a maximum occupancy of 50.
Virtual events are open to the public.
Check back as we update this list over the next week.
Weeklong Events:
Greenfest Virtual Scavenger Hunt:
Virtual scavenger hunt hosted through the Goosechase app! Will have “mission” questions about all Greenfest events and programs, as well as some SEC trivia and fun facts. Stay tuned for more details on how to participate. Contact Rowan with any questions: rstuart1@unca.edu.
Art Inspired by the French Broad River Contest and Online Gallery, virtual
In collaboration with the City of Asheville, Active Students for a Healthy Environment (ASHE) and the Office of Sustainability are celebrating art inspired by the French Broad River to mark the opening of the greenway along the river. Submit any kind of art (visual, performance, creative writing) influenced by the French Broad River. Submissions due by April 16th at 5pm. $100 cash prize for the winner! Check out the website for more info. Upload your submission using this form.
Ramsey Seed Library Seed Giveaway: Ramsey Library lobby
Ramsey Library will be giving away milkweed and pollinator seeds, while supplies last, the week of Greenfest.
Saturday March 27th:
Beloved Micro-Village Volunteer Workday: Off Campus, 10am-12:30pm and/or 1:00-3:30
Assist local community organization Beloved in creating a sustainable micro-home village that works to create deeply affordable housing for our residents that face housing insecurity. On this build day, you are invited to come to the village and work on clearing the land from invasives to make way for the homes, as well as constructing erosion barriers. There are two time slots, one from 10am-12:30pm and one from 1-3:30pm. You may join us for one or both. All equipment will be provided but please come prepared with close-toed shoes, appropriate clothes for work, and a full water bottle. Register here.
Sunday March 28th:
Environmental Justice Think Tank: Virtual, 3:30-5:00pm
Come join us for a campus-wide conversation on environmental justice. We will discuss what environmental justice means, who is facing the consequences of injustice, and what we as UNCA students can do about it in our various spheres of influence. All UNCA Student Organizations and clubs are welcome and encouraged to participate. UNCA Divest will facilitate a Living Room Conversation over Zoom in order to hear the stories, ideas, and concerns of students. Everyone has a role to play in fighting for sustainability and justice, and this event is a great starting point for those that want to do more! Registration link coming soon. Sign up here to receive the Zoom link.
Monday March 29th:
Ancient Gardens Workday: Ancient Gardens (between Whitesides Hall and Ramsey), 10am-5pm
Join us for our final restoration 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! We are also adding a Mental Health Cut-Flower Garden as well as vamping up the Shade Garden behind Ramsey Library. Stop by anytime between 10am-5pm. If you have any questions, contact: Addison Greene- agreene2@unca.edu.
Tuesday March 30th:
Carbon Commitment and Woods LEED Certification Celebration: Reed Plaza, noon-2pm
Join us in person at Reed Plaza or via the virtual live stream to witness Chancellor Cable sign the Carbon Commitment, setting UNC Asheville on a path to achieve carbon neutrality. We will also be celebrating the LEED gold certification at the Woods. Stick around for the Sustainability Fair with live music, light refreshments, walking tours of the Woods, and tables highlighting sustainability initiatives across campus.
FEI Food Distribution: Quad, noon-1:30pm
Free food distribution
Mobile Free Store: noon-2:00pm, Mills Plaza
The SEC Free Store is going mobile for a clothing swap with the Community Swaps at UNCA Club! Clothes available for the taking will be pre-washed and sanitized. Students are welcome to bring clothes, but they will be collected at the site in bins to be washed for future swaps.
Slow Bike Race: noon-2:00pm, Mills Plaza (near the Bike Shop)
You may have raced to see who is the fastest on a bike; but have you ever raced to see who is the slowest? Come to watch or come to compete. Prize awarded to the slowest rider!
Building a Climate Justice Movement: Virtual, 7:30-8:30pm
Join us for a virtual training on the basics of environmental organizing. Learn how to share your story, discover your personal stake in the movement, have effective conversations with others, take action, and campaign for a Green New Deal! Sign up here to receive the Zoom link: http://bit.ly/sunriseuncatraining
Wednesday March 31st:
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. T-shirts available to the first 50 people who register. Register here.
Spring Feast: Brown Hall, 11am-2pm
Spring Feast in Brown Hall! Join us for a celebration of spring veggies and locally-produced products. Get to know local brands like Hickory Nut Gap, Apple Brandy Beef, Smiling Hara Tempeh, No Evil Foods Plant Meat and more, and learn why supporting local is so important.
Thursday April 1st:
Sustainable Retirement Brown Bag Talk: Virtual, noon-1:00
Learn more about ways to invest with your personal values. Hear about what other higher education institutions are doing provide more options and transparency on personal retirement options for their faculty and staff. Zoom link coming soon.
Castanea Garden Workday: Castanea Garden at Sam Millar, 10am-noon
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.
Sol Garden Workday: Sol Garden, 3pm-5pm
Come garden! This is a reoccurring workday so come and Thursday this semester. No experience needed. Tools provided but bring your own gloves if you have them.
Podcasting for Environmental Advocacy and Inclusion: virtual, noon- 1:00pm
Guest speaker Sapna Mulki, host of podcast Breaking Green Ceilings. Register here to get the presentation link. This is part of the Environmental Studies and Biology seminar series.
Friday April 2nd:
Sustainable Product Showcase: Reed Plaza, 1-3pm
Tabling event brought to you by ACE, UNCA for ME, ASHE, and FEI.
ROOTS Garden Workday: ROOTS garden (at the Rhoades Property), 2:30-4:30pm
Come garden! This is a reoccurring workday so come any Friday this semester. No experience needed. Tools provided but bring your own gloves if you have them.
Campout on the Quad: Main Quad, 5:45 pm – 10am (next day)
Enjoy a night under the stars on the quad. Join us for a fun-filled evening as we make smores, craft our own herbal candles, stretch it out with glow in the dark yoga, and much more. The fire will be burning all night, so come enjoy this spring night with us!
Saturday, April 3rd
Bird and Plant Walk: 10am-11am
Learn how to identify spring birds and plants in this guided walk through the Botanical Gardens hosted by UNCA Audubon and UNCA Plant Club. Register here.