Coal ash, which contains many of the world’s worst carcinogens, is what’s left over when coal is burnt for electricity. An estimated 113 million tons of coal ash are produced annually in the US, and stored in almost every state — some of it literally in people’s backyards. With very little government oversight and few safeguards in place, toxic chemicals have been known to leak from these storage sites and into nearby communities, contaminating drinking water and making residents sick. In the upcoming series, VICE News travels across the US to meet the people and visit the areas most affected by this toxic waste stream. Since coal production is predicted to remain steady for the next few decades, coal ash will be a problem that will affect the US for years to come.
MountainTrue needs volunteers paddle with our French Broad Riverkeeper and plant live trees along the riverbank as we go.
Each tree we plant will help to restore the bank’s stability and prevent sediment erosion into the French Broad River.
These “live-staking” outings will be from 9:30 a.m.—5 p.m. March 24. You can sign up for one day or all of them, and no experience is necessary.
MountainTrue will provide the boats (but if you have your own, you’re welcome to bring it) trees and tools. Just bring yourself and your lunch – and please wear what you need to be comfortable for a day on the river.
All of the outings will start at Headwaters Outfitters, located at 25 Parkway Road in Rosman. We’ll shuttle from there to the river put-in at Champion Park.
If you want to join us or want more information, please contact Assistant French Broad Riverkeeper Anna Alsobrook at Anna@mountaintrue.org. You may also call her at (828) 258-8737, ext. 212.
Late last year, the NC Mining & Energy Commission finalized rules that are scheduled to take effect this Spring, allowing the state to issue permits for fracking in North Carolina. In other states, fracking has caused a litany of harmful impacts.
With the start of the state legislative session, our state legislators have one more opportunity to reject these rules and decide that fracking is the wrong choice for North Carolina.
Bills have been introduced in the N.C. House and Senate to disapprove the fracking rules, blocking the issuance of permits.
Please call your legislators TODAY asking them to cosponsor these disapproval bills and stand against fracking in North Carolina.
Talking points:
Fracking is not right for North Carolina. In other states where it is ongoing, fracking has polluted drinking water, released toxic air pollution, and damaged landscapes. It threatens public health, disrupts communities, and destroys neighbors’ property values and quality of life. We don’t need that here.
The fracking rules adopted by the Mining & Energy Commission last year will not protect North Carolinians from these impacts. Rep. Reives’ disapproval bill, if enacted, would block the issuance of fracking permits and thus keep this industry from coming to our state. We hope you will cosponsor the fracking disapproval bill and make clear your opposition to fracking in North Carolina.
The Accent Triple Crown of Kayak Fishing is an online, photo-based tournament based in Asheville. The competition is May 15-16, with kayak anglers fishing for Smallmouth Bass, Panfish and Musky.
It’s as simple as submitting photos of fish caught on the tournament dates by following the rules here.
Anglers are invited to come fish the waters of the French Broad River in and near Asheville, but are not discouraged from fishing in other regions or states.
The weigh-in and award ceremony will be May 16 in Asheville, where anglers must be present to win. Prizes include a $1,000 cash purse from Accent Paddles and other great prizes from Astral, Jackson Kayak and more.
Event organizers will raffle the Coosa HD, a brand-new design for 2015. Read all about it at Jackson’s website.
Jackson Kayak is the exclusive boat sponsor for this event. Eric Jackson is a multiple-time World Champion Freestyle Kayaker, Olympic Slalom Kayaker, and all around paddling legend. He and his family created Jackson Kayak out of the sheer passion for paddling.
Diamond Brand is the competition’s exclusive retail sponsor. The local, independent retailer is Asheville’s only fully equipped kayak fishing dealer with Accent & Cannon Paddles, Jackson Kayak, Astral PFDs and Footwear and much more. Diamond Brand contributes to the Accent Triple Crown by hosting the award ceremony at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at its Parkway store, 1378 Hendersonville Road in Asheville.
Accent Paddles will award $1,000 to the best Kayak Anglers and will give away door prizes and draw a name to give away a new Jackson Coosa HD Fishing Kayak to benefit MountainTrue.
This film festival showcases the world’s best paddling films to audiences in Canada, United States and around the world. The festival inspires more people to explore rivers, lakes and oceans, push physical and emotional extremes, embrace the lifestyle and appreciate the heritage of the wild places we paddle.
Details: Feb 19 at 6 p.m. & Feb 20. at 10 p.m. at Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway in Asheville
Tickets: $20 at door / $15 in advance / $12 in advance for college students
The Reel Paddling Film Festival is produced by Rapid Media. Rapid Media also publishes four leading paddlesports magazines: Rapid, Adventure Kayak, Canoeroots and Kayak Angler magazines. Your ticket to a Reel Paddling Film Festival World Tour stop includes a free one-year digital edition subscription to one of the above magazines. Special offer details are available in your evening program.
Join the MountainTrue Forest Keepers and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for a Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness Workshop at The North Carolina Arboretum from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb 21.
We’ll introduce the seven LNT principles of outdoor ethics with a morning workshop and an afternoon of activities.
Hone your skills to reduce impact when exploring the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains. Anyone from first-time hikers to seasoned backpackers is welcome to join us!
The workshop is free, but registration is required.
Contact Alexandra Guest at Alexandra@MountainTrue.org or call (828) 258-8737, ext. 206 to register. (Please do not leave a comment below to register.)
What to Expect: A morning workshop about the seven principles of Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics. In the afternoon, we’ll venture outside to put the skills to use. Giveaways will be available to all participants!
What to Bring: Wear warm layers, lunch, water, notepad and pens, sturdy hiking shoes, raincoat,and a pack to carry all personal items.
N.C. Beyond Coal organizer Emma Greenbaum shows some of the thousands of petition signatures from community members asking Duke Energy to retire its coal-fired plant in Asheville. (2013)
Sierra Club, MountainTrue and Green Drinks will present “Asheville Beyond Coal: Update on Efforts to Phase Out Asheville’s Coal Powered Electric Plant” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1 Edwin Place (corner of Charlotte Street and Edwin Place) in Asheville.
Emma Greenbaum, organizing representative, with N.C. Beyond Coal at Sierra Club, will give an update on the campaign to retire the Asheville coal-fired power plant, the largest single source of carbon emissions in Western North Carolina and the largest source of toxic air pollution from the industrial sector.
Greenbaum will discuss recent events and successes, as well as ways to get involved in the movement against climate disruption.
Join us to learn how you can be a critical part in the movement for a clean energy future for Asheville. Learn more at www.ashevillebeyondcoal.org.
For more information about this meeting, email judymattox@sbcglobal.net or call (828) 683-2176.
The Recycling Committee at MountainTrue has partnered with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center and arranged for Kerrie Roach, Extension Horticulture Agent, to teach a class on the ins and outs of home composting.
The class will include:
• Home composting vs. commercial composting • Intro to vermicomposting • Compostable items • Safe handling of compost in backyard & kitchen • Uses for compost • Raffle drawing for five YukChuk kitchen compost bins • Discount coupons to purchase YukChuk kitchen compost bins
Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Henderson County Center, 100 Jackson Park Road Time: 6-8 p.m. Cost: $15 per person Register: Deadline is Noon, Friday, Feb. 27 Contact: Rebecca Stissel-Moon at Rebecca@mountaintrue.org (828) 692-0385
Heritage apple trees are a tasty reminder of American history.
In many parts of the country, a parcel of land wasn’t considered occupied until there were several fruiting apple trees on it.
This year’s heritage apple tree sale includes some of the oldest known apples in North America including some – Dula Beauty, King Luscious and Magnum Bonum – that originated in North Carolina.
This year’s sale includes more than 25 varieties of apple trees as well as native blueberries and elderberries, figs, American hazelnuts and hybrid chestnuts. Growing trees in your own backyard is the perfect way to remember our history and enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor while supporting environmental efforts to protect our mountains.
Fruit trees can be ordered now and will likely run out before the pickup dates of Feb. 13-14.
To see a full list of available varieties and to place a pre-order, CLICK HERE.
For questions or support in ordering contact Rebecca: rebecca@mountaintrue.org, 828-692-0385 ext: 1003
All pre-ordered trees must be picked up at our Hendersonville office, located at 611 North Church St., #101, on Friday, Feb. 13 (4-7 p.m.) and Saturday, Feb. 14(9 a.m. to noon).
Unclaimed trees will be sold at noon on a first-come, first-served basis.
Also, Useful Plants Nursery, a local permaculture nursery specializing in edible and medicinal plants, will bring a variety of interesting plants for purchase on pick-up days.
To request a specific plant for your landscape, you may contact the nursery at www.usefulplants.org before Feb. 6. A portion of their sale proceeds will go to support our work in Henderson County.
