Community Harvest Celebration at Foothills Watershed

Join us for an evening of music and hands-on heritage at Foothills Watershed, our family-friendly, community-focused venue nestled along the Catawba River in Old Fort. Hosted in partnership with McDowell County native Jordan Laney (Slow Down Sound), this event will be a vibrant celebration of Appalachian resilience and heritage. Led by William Ritter—an old-time fiddler, seed-saver, and ballad singer from Mitchell County—this seed swap is an invitation to connect through shared stories, music, and seeds. William is a passionate steward of Appalachian traditions. A student of folk culture and roots music, his work blends performance and preservation. Whether he’s hosting porch visits, bean-stringings, or seed-swaps, he’s building community through both song and soil.

This event is hosted in partnership with Song to Seed, an initiative co-led by Ritter that practices, celebrates, and advocates for traditional Appalachian seed saving and folk music. Song to Seed events feature historic regional crops, community seed exchanges, and educational storytelling through music and lectures—all rooted in building local resilience. Seed saving is about more than gardening—it’s a powerful tool for cultural preservation, biodiversity, and food sovereignty. With 93% of U.S. vegetable varieties lost between 1903 and 1983 due to industrial agriculture, local seed-saving efforts like this one are vital to protecting ecosystem health and the flavorful, nutritious food traditions of this region.

What to Expect at the Seed Exchange:
● A mix of traditional music, storytelling, and seed-sharing
● Seed packets to share or take home—bring your own to contribute if you have
them, or just come to learn!

Additional Event Info & FAQs
● Admission: Free and family-friendly
● Location: Foothills Watershed, 655 Catawba River Rd, Old Fort, NC
● Rain or Shine: While we have a beautiful and expansive outdoor space for folks to explore, we also have plenty of heated, indoor space to enjoy.
● Food & Drink: Food and beer will be available for purchase on-site. Non-alcoholic, CBD, and THC beverages are also available.

To stay up-to-date on events, follow @foothillswatershed on Instagram or find us on Facebook.
More info: www.foothillswatershed.com