Catherine Classen has been running her greenhouse grow Finally Farm for the last 15 years here in Leicester, and a plant starter booth staple at the River Arts Farmers Market for the last 10 years as well as the Asheville City Market downtown for the last 15 years. Altogether she has been hard at work as a farmer for the last 35 years between Maryland and Asheville. This is her whole life and an all consuming portion of it at that, as anyone who runs a farm knows!

Unfortunately, while coming back from the RAD market on Wednesday June 12th, coming up the steep gravel driveway here at home, she had two young fawn deer run out in front of the van and while attempting to turn and miss hitting them, there was an accident with the van that resulted in it landing on it's side down the driveway 20 feet into the ravine embankment, along with all the plants from the market that day trapped inside. She is thankfully okay and was able to get out before it flipped over the edge of the driveway. However, the loss of the van and plants, as well as income from not being able to get to markets has taken its toll. This is a fundraiser to hopefully help her be able to recover any of that that she can!

She is a truly wonderful person and while no one deserves hardship, those who are lucky enough to know her know she especially doesn’t deserve this! Many of you have probably gotten your starter peppers, tomatoes, flowers, and herbs from her, along with any of the awesome plant wisdom she has shared with you after having done this for so long.

Thank you so much for your consideration and support towards her during this crummy time!