French Broad River Live Staking with Bright Shadow

Bright Shadow joins Mountain True to create a unique day of service to the rivers of Western North Carolina. As the darkest night of the year approaches, we will plant stakes along a riverbed, participating in the cycles of literal, as well as metaphorical, renewal and recovery. This day of service to our waterways is also in service to our own ways of healing, our connections to the natural world, and to our more-than-human communities. While Mountain True brings the gear and the guidance for knowledgable action, Bright Shadow supports the stabilization of our internal riverbanks. Whether flooded by grief, loss, or overwhelm, we will plant each stake together and look to a shared horizon.

Each willow cut and dogwood branch pressed into the bank are small acts of faith… that roots hold, and what has eroded can be restored.

No experience needed. Come as you are, and dress for the cold.

Live staking is a hands-on riverbank restoration technique. Volunteers place cut branches of certain tree species (we usually use willows, dogwoods, and elderberry) directly into streambanks to stabilize erosion, improve habitat, and help vegetation regrow naturally. It’s simple, effective, and a great way to make an immediate impact on the health of our local waterways.

For more information on live staking, see https://mountaintrue.org/mountaintrue-faq-live-staking/

What to bring: Expect to be outside all day so please dress in clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty and bring what you need to stay warm. Participants should bring their own water and snacks.

Please nobody under the age of 18 for safety reasons.

Location: Will be communicated to participants closer to the workday.

All volunteers are eligible to receive a complimentary annual membership to MountainTrue. To activate your membership, please email members@mountaintrue.org