Spring in the mountains can mean a renewal of green leaves and plants. For many folks in Appalachia that starts with ramps. The local onion will be celebrated at an annual event Rainbows and Ramps on the Qualla Boundary on Saturday.
Lisa Frady, supervisor of Fair Ground operations for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, says the event has been going on for more than 10 years.
The celebration is centered around a lunch of fried rainbow trout and local ramps and features bluegrass and clogging.
“It’s changed a bit over the years but we have kept the same meal. The rainbow trout, those ramps, it’s just kind of like a celebration to help kick off our season for us here in Cherokee,” Frady said.
To get ready for the lunch, Frady purchases ramps from tribal members. The ramps must be processed and harvested sustainably. The Commerce Department pays for packed white ramps and for packed green ramps.
“As they grow, they get like a little green bulb that turns into like a leaf on it. And two inches of green on it with the white stem that is what we call white ramps,” Frady explains.
Frady says it was a slow start to get to the 70 gallons of ramps needed for the meal. The first week, she was only able to buy two gallons of ramps. She was concerned.
“I knew anytime I have a problem, I’m old-timey Christian lady…my parent’s best advice: They always told me anything, pray about it,” she said. Frady says she prayed about it and posted on her personal Facebook on Sunday.
“That Monday morning, I had somebody waiting outside with a gallon and I was like, ‘All right. I’ve got 67 more to go.’ Then a van pulls up with 39 gallons of raps. Fresh ramps packed, blew my mind. I was like, thank you God, thank you,” she said.
That’s enough to feed the 700 people who are expected at the event.
Frady’s connection to ramps extends beyond this event – she gathers the local delicacy every spring with her family in Big Cove.
“We walk way out up in the mountains and we cross the stream and we cross a beautiful waterfall. We dropped down a big old bank to get our ramps,” she said. “Every time we walk it, I’m just looking amazed at the beauty of it. People don’t realize what we’re sitting on here.”
Frady hopes that community members and visitors will celebrate spring at the event on Saturday at the Birdtown Gym in Cherokee. Doors open at 10 a.m. and lunch is served at 11 a.m. The J Creek Cloggers will also perform. Lunch is free for tribal elders. Tickets are available at the door.
