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Eat Locally & Sustainably

Drive along the backroads of the Lake Toxaway community and the surrounding Western North Carolina area anytime from the spring to fall seasons, and you’ll stumble across a plethora of local farms, farmers markets, produce stands, and orchards. You’ll find them from the Highlands to Asheville, and particularly in the Mills River area. The rich soil and temperate climate yield exceptional conditions for a wide variety of produce that local residents and visitors are fortunate to be able to readily enjoy.

These farmers often focus on sustainable, organic agricultural practices. They employ natural vegetation, solar panels, and rain water collection systems to tend to their fields. Many have even cultivated unique experiences that encourage visitors to come and learn first hand about their practices.

It’s a way for the farmers to share their passion and to inspire customers to shop their produce. Their customer base includes our culinary team, too!

Our chefs seek out the freshest ingredients and they love to employ local, seasonal produce in our menu offerings in The Restaurant.

Here at The Greystone, we’re also practicing sustainable and organic methods in our gardens. Our gardens are inspired by the rich soil, are tended to by our team, and are shared with our guests. We have both flowers and vegetables that are used on our property for garnishes, display, and even to eat!

Ways you can Engage with our Local Farms!

Pucker Up Berry Farm
• Flower delivery service
• Kombucha classes
• Soltice/Equinox events

Jeter Mountain Farm (seasonal)
• Wagon Rides
• U-pick apples
• Meet a Farmer
• Cider Making

Farm Heritage Trail (includes several local farms)
• Nursery Open Hours
• Vineyard Tasting Tours
• Wednesday Farmers Market
• Goat Yoga

Meet Tammy Fender, a world-renowned holistic skin guru who is passionate about sharing her love of the holistic lifestyle, embracing natural beauty, and utilizing pure plant remedies. Our team at The Greystone is beyond thrilled to be partnering with her this season as we bring her practices and products to Lake Toxaway for our guests and visitors to enjoy.

It’s an honor to partner with Tammy. Her approach to the ingredients used in her products, skincare, wellness, and nature are all ideas and practices that we align with, and we’re excited for events we’ll be hosting throughout the year.

Watch the video to learn more about Tammy and her exceptional skin care line, available now in our spa.

 

 

Did you know? Our Director of Operations, Regan, has been planting and cultivating the gardens at The Greystone Inn over the last few years. Many of the plants in our gardens are varieties that Tammy uses in her skincare products.

Stay tuned for more information on our partnership with Tammy Fender and for events that you can attend!

Sommelier Wine of the Season Pick: Natural Wines

What is “natural wine” according to a sommelier?

It’s a hands off approach to wine making, simply letting the grape juice make wine as it naturally would with zero additives and no manipulation. It starts in the vineyard, where the vineyard manager does not use any synthetic materials to treat concerns such as pests, mold, or mildew, but instead uses natural ingredients or biodynamic methods of farming.

Once the grapes are harvested and the wine making process has begun, nothing additional is added. No sugar, no acid,no sulfites. Once the wine is made, it’s aged in a naturally occurring material such as an oak barrel or clay amphora.

Natural wines are ones that are made in a way to allow the grapes speak to who they truly are without the manipulation of man.

The next time that you’re at The Greystone, ask to see our natural wine list. Our collection boasts a variety of natural wine options for you to enjoy.

The Greystone in Bloom

See what’s coming to life this season on the shores of Lake Toxaway.

It’s a season of rebirth as the brilliant colors surrounding us in the Blue Ridge Mountains and on Lake Toxaway are awakened. Step outside and breathe in deep. What can you smell? The scent of flowers blooming from the tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth bulbs that we planted last fall; the sweet aroma of trees beginning to flower, like the dogwood trees; the smell of freshly cut grass at our hotel; and the subtle smell of fire pits in the evening as guests gather around to roast marshmallows.

Take a moment to look around outside. Vibrant, beautiful colors are coming back as the leaves begin to grow on trees and blooms pop up in the garden. Look closely and you might be rewarded with the sight of the wildlife that likes to call our property home. You can see baby deer, bunnies hopping along, and even the elusive white squirrel.

Bees are flitting from flower to flower, pollenating as they go and keeping our flowers looking stunning. It’s a time when everyone wants to be outdoors! You’ll hear the hum of a boat’s motor as one cruises by, enjoying the warm sunshine and the splendor of Lake Toxaway. You’ll see kayakers dropping their kayaks into the water and heading out for a leisurely paddle or an afternoon of fishing. Guests are taking their morning coffee outside as they look over the lake, and next door, the Lake Toxaway Country Club is busy preparing for their opening weekend in April.

All of your senses are engaged with the coming of spring as all of The Greystone and Lake Toxaway begins to bloom. Winter has come to an end and we’re excited to welcome Spring.

Flora and Fauna you can spot at The Greystone:

• White squirrels
• Rabbits
• White-tailed deer
• Geranium
• Marigold
• Jasmine
• White Lilly
• Ranunculus
• Mint
• Spearmint
• Chamomile
• Rosemary
• Sage

The Land of Waterfalls Reawakens in the Spring

The icy chill of winter is thawing—Literally! We are located in an area of North Carolina fondly referred to as The Land of Waterfalls due to the abundance (over 250!) of waterfalls that surround us. They are coming alive this spring as they melt and begin flowing once again.

Warmer weather and longer days are here to stay—Check out our monthly newsletter where we highlight a local waterfall each month.

Click here to see a list of local waterfalls!

It’s understandable why you’d want to get to the root of one of our most popular lunch dishes. It starts with a trip to the local farmer’s market and ends with a sprinkling of pine nuts and golden raisins. Here, we share the recipe so you can prepare this beloved farm-to-table classic in your own kitchen.

Grilled Carrot Salad
Ingredients:
6 Heirloom Carrots, peeled and halved
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
4 Cups Arugula
¼ Cup Pine Nuts
¼ Cup Golden Raisins
1 Cup Caper Vinaigrette

Instructions:
Lightly oil the carrots and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 1 minute on each side. Remove from heat and set aside. Next place arugula in a large mixing bowl, season with salt and pepper, and dress with 1/4 cup of Vinaigrette. Divide arugula onto 4 plates. Finally place grilled carrots onto the salads, and evenly divide the pine nuts and golden raisins.

Caper Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients:
½ Cup Shallots
Zest of 1 Lemon
¼ Cup Parsley Leaves, picked and washed
2 Tbsp Mint Leaves, picked and washed
½ Cup White Wine Vinegar
¼ Cup Capers, drained and rinsed
1 ½ Cups Canola Oil

Instructions:
Combine all Ingredients except oil in a blender. Add ½ cup of oil in blender and puree on high until a smooth paste has formed. Reduce blender speed to medium and slowly add the additional cup of oil to emulsify dressing. Remove from blender and store in an airtight container until needed.

The therapeutic benefits of walking in nature have long been touted, but it’s much more than the sight of the blue-hued mountains and deep green forests that calm and center us. The subtle scents of the rocks, rivers, plants and trees play a major role in elevating our mood and state of mind.

To extend the wellness of the woods beyond the trails, The Greystone Inn teamed with Elder and Co., makers of handmade soy wax candles in Brevard, North Carolina, to create a custom Greystone candle for our guests. Before getting to work in her studio, Ellie Tate, owner of Elder and Co., began the creative process with a visit to our special lakeside location to experience firsthand the essence of The Greystone. From there, we put our noses to work, noting our reactions to sample candles, essential oils, and each potential ingredient Tate suggested.

“After creating samples, I always burn the candles in my own home and live with the scent before presenting them to my clients,” said Tate. “Of the seven samples I created for The Greystone, I felt that two truly captured the allure of the inn and its unique setting.”

The final winner – a lovely combination of all things Greystone – moss, soil, balsam, cedar and pine – that can be enjoyed throughout the hotel and anywhere you’d like to take The Greystone with you. The Greystone candle is available for purchase at The Greystone Inn Market or in the hotel lobby to bring the magic of Lake Toxaway and The Greystone Inn to your own home.

Shop now (https://thegreystoneinnmarket.com)

Branches of Hope
Fraser fir. Red spruce. Yellow birch. Ask anyone in North Carolina their favorite tree and you’re likely to get a variety of answers. Ask anyone in Transylvania County and you’re likely to hear just one – the Angel Giving Tree.

This year will be the fifth year The Greystone Inn will put up the Angel Giving Tree – a partnership with Lake Toxaway Charities and Rosman area schools to provide gifts and food to over 200 prequalified school children, the elderly and disabled. The Angel Tree program provides children ages pre-K through high school with a complete set of new clothing and a stocking filled with toiletries and essentials. Each child also receives a wrapped gift from Santa and a box of food for the entire family.

Hear why this program is near and dear to Patrick Chapman, Principal at Lake Toxaway’s T.C. Henderson School of Science and Technology, and look for more information on how you can participate in this special annual charity event in our upcoming October e-newsletter.