Montreat Landcare festival drew vendors and 62 donated trees, board members say

Organizers told the Tadamon Treats Tree Board on April 14 that the recent Landcare festival attracted 15 booths, including four nursery vendors and four chapter tables, plus four local artists, and that vendor feedback was positive. "We had a great group, a good cross section," said Speaker 5, who led the recap and noted the festival benefited from good weather despite early parking challenges caused by a race.

Why it matters: The event doubled as an outreach and tree-distribution day: Asheville Greenworks donated 62 trees that were distributed to residents and landowners to support reforestation and habitat work around Montreat. Organizers said smaller understory trees (redbuds) and oaks were particularly popular and largely gone by midmorning.

Members discussed lessons for next year, including clearer signage and a dedicated tree-board banner so the board's table does not blend into the larger Landcare setup. "We need a tree board banner," one member said; others agreed to look for an existing banner and coordinate with the town office if a new one is needed. The board also heard that Bill Seaman presented a 'Black Creek 2040' talk and that a treasure-tree walk and history tour drew 10–30 participants depending on the route.

The board praised volunteers who staffed the table and noted that the event generated contacts for future treasure-tree nominations and potential educational program partners. Several board members also suggested tighter logistics for vendors and setup assistance from the Montreat Recreation Association (MRA) to avoid heavy lifting on volunteers in future events.