Community celebration encourages local agriculture and food traditions

Local farmers and businesses will be celebrating the culture of local food and charitable communities at "Community Alive," a unique dining experience to be held later this month in Gold Hill.

Fisher Farms is hosting a farm to table dinner at the Bed and Bike Inn in Gold Hill, Saturday, Sept. 26 from 6 to 10 p.m. The community event is a fundraiser for Slow Food Charlotte and Friendship Trays.

Leading area chefs will prepare a six-course meal with ingredients provided by local farmers. The contributing farms include Laughing Owl, Nise's Herbs, Carlea, Grateful Growers, Yesterways Farm, Fisher Farms 1933 and more. The dishes will be prepared by Chef Sean Dowling of 131 Main in Dilworth; Sous Chef Jamie Lynch of Barrington's; Sous Chef Sam Jett of Blue Restaurant and Bar; Chef Zach Renner of Grateful Growers Harvest Moon Grill; and Pastry Chef Ashley Boyd of 300 East.

Slow Food Charlotte promotes local, sustainable farming and the culture of food that connects communities.

Friendship Trays delivers hundreds of meals daily to elderly and handicapped people who are restricted in their ability to prepare or acquire meals.

The purpose of the event is to celebrate and distinguish what it takes to keep a community healthy, active and alive. The importance of sustainable farming, local businesses and charitable giving will be acknowledged and celebrated during this fun-filled, informative evening.

A limited number of tickets at $75 per person are available for the event and include the meal, drinks and entertainment.

There will be a silent auction beginning at 6 p.m. benefiting the two nonprofit organizations.

Proceeds from the event will support awareness for the local food economy with monies benefiting the Slow Food Charlotte chapter and Friendship Trays.

Additional information about these nonprofit organizations is available online at:

- Slow Food Charlotte, www.SlowFoodCharlotte.org

- Friendship Trays, www.friendshiptrays.org

- Fisher Farms1933, Maria Fisher, Fisherfarms1933@gmail.com

- Bed & Bike Inn, Ellen Whiteside, 15750 Matton Grove Church Road, Gold Hill, NC 28071; 704-463-0768; or info@bedandbikeinn.com or www.bedandbikeinn.com