“A good community is a good local economy. It depends upon itself for many of its essential needs and is thus shaped, so to speak, from the inside.”
– Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry knows a thing or two, doesn’t he?  A prime example of good community, last Friday a cash mob of happy folks descended upon Kathleen’s Gallery in downtown Saluda, wanting to support gallery owner Kathleen Carson who is fighting cancer.
Friends, including myself, keep her shop open on Fridays and Saturday. On hand to let that lively cash mob into the gallery at 11 a.m., Susie Welsh and I didn’t come up for air until early afternoon — we took money, wrapped purchases and had our comedy routine down pat behind the counter. Despite the rush, we too were having a ball — Lucy and Ethel, Thelma and Louise. Folks lined up to buy art and craft, to buy donated art from area artists dedicated to help Kathleen, no complaints about waiting in line.
Patience, hugs, smiles all around were the order of the day; cheerful mobsters headed down the sidewalk to the Purple Onion for lunch. Two more cash mob events are planned for the last Fridays in March and April. Locations haven’t been announced yet, but I’m here to tell you it’s a mighty fun event, organized by Saluda commissioners Carolyn Ashburn and Lynn Cass. Those who participate agree to spend at least $20 in the business that is mobbed. Talk about community support.
​Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All welcome; donations accepted. Genell Jespersen fixed her famous fried chicken last week, and all reports are that attendance doubled–no one wanted to miss out on that. Genell says she’s got plans for another meal in the works… it involves her famous gravy. Is your mouth watering yet?
Join Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) for Adopt-A-Highway cleanup starting on March 10 (rain date March 17). Meet at library parking lot, 10 a.m.
The Robinson Community Garden (sponsored by Saluda Community Land Trust) on Henderson Street is ready for gardeners: additional sign-ups are March 13 and April 10. For information, contact Dave and Marilyn Prudhomme at 828-749-9172 or e-mail dclp@tds.net. Saluda gardener Walter Hoover will help those who need practical guidance at Robinson Garden; he can be contacted at 749-5846. You can contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit their website at www.saludaclt.org
Saluda Tree City USA. For many years, Saluda resident Ruth Anderson tirelessly pushed to make Saluda a Tree City, to educate, protect and promote trees in and around town. One gray morning, I spotted Walter Hoover across from the Saluda Library with a shovel in hand, toiling away at planting a good-sized sweet gum tree; he had carefully chosen other species as well. Walter donated the new trees and planted them; these trees are dedicated to honor Ruth — there couldn’t be anything better to honor her with. The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 6:15 p.m. at Saluda Library the last Tuesday of each month.
The Historic Saluda Committee with the Oral History Committee meets Friday, March 14 from 2-4 p.m. at Saluda Library; the public is invited.
Artists: if you’d like to participate in the 11th Saluda Art Festival on May 17, the deadline to enter is March 15; for information,  contact Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900, sswelsh@tds.net or Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534, carnc@charter.net.
On March 15 from 4-7 p.m., Saluda Fire Department Auxiliary will hold a barbecue dinner/bluegrass/gospel fundraiser for six-year-old Ben Leslie, a cancer victim and son of Mary and Curtis Leslie of Saluda. For information or to donate to the raffle, please contact Charlene Pace at 828-749-2641.
Happy March birthday to Faye Chandler, Genell Jespersen, Charlene Pace, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Odgen Moore, Lloyd Thompson, Charles Weinhagen, Kevin Kerr, Dorrie McKinnley, Catherine Ross, Jane Fox, Beverly Pickard, Monica Pace, Ken Justus and Elizabeth Justus. Happy belated February birthday to Jim Crowther.
Happy March anniversary to Cathy Jackson Realty.
Reading notes: chilly March weather is always prime reading time – what do you have on your reading pile? At Saluda Library, Bob and Pat always have a good book waiting for me: this time, “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt. Last week, I had my nose in a Robert Morgan book “The Road From Gap Creek.” Of course, there’s always garden catalogs full of color and promise that warm weather will come.
Thank you dear readers, for reading this column. As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a cup of hot tea and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 828-749-1153. Also visit my website at bonniebardos.com or find me on facebook.