SMIE Training: Help Sample and Monitor Water Quality in Henderson County
2017-03-11 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Blue Ridge Community College, 180 W Campus Dr, Flat Rock, NC, 28731, United States
Looking for an excuse to get in the creek and learn more about water quality? We’ve got just the opportunity for you!
MountainTrue volunteers monitor stream health throughout Henderson County and participate in bio-monitoring twice per year, once in April and once in October. Through the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) bio-monitoring program, we sample aquatic macro-invertebrates, or aquatic insects, as indicators of water quality. Bugs tell us a lot about the health and vitality of our rivers and streams.
To participate in this program, you can attend our SMIE training on March 11 at Blue Ridge Community College to learn basic stream ecology, how to identify aquatic macro-invertebrates, why macro-invertebrates are terrific indicators of water quality, and the sampling protocol.
After the training, volunteers will be placed in teams to conduct sampling throughout the month of April. We hope to see you at the training!
Where: Morning- Blue Ridge Community College, Afternoon- Field Trip to Big Hungry River
When: March 11th 2017, 9:00am-4:00pm
Who: New and returning volunteers are welcome
What to bring: Water bottle, a pen or pencil, waders if you have them (some waders will be provided and not all participants will need to enter the stream).
Click here to sign up for the training!

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Community Supported Agriculture
2017-04-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Join us on Thursday, April 6, as Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Allison Perrett of Appalachian Sustainable Agricultural Project for a discussion on community supported agricultural.
Allison Perrett is an applied anthropologist and researcher. In 2013, she completed her PhD dissertation on a movement to build local food systems in the Southern Appalachians. At ASAP she directs research of the Local Food Research Center, which was launched in 2011 to study the region’s evolving food system and examine critically the social, environmental, and economic impacts of localizing food systems.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Green Riverkeeper Launch at 11th Annual Spring Green Bash
2017-05-06 17:30 - 21:00 | Green River Adventures, 111 E. Main Street, Saluda, NC, 28773, United States
Join MountainTrue on Saturday, May 6 from 5:30-9 p.m. for the 11th Annual Spring Green Bash as we celebrate our new Green Riverkeeper! MountainTrue is pleased to announce that Gray Jernigan, MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Director, is now also the new Green Riverkeeper and will serve as a fundamental protector of the Green River watershed. MountainTrue’s Riverkeeper programs are key to our endeavors to monitor and protect the quality of our region’s waterways. Gray will be present to meet the community, and fifty percent of the ticket price for river, zipline, and rappelling trips booked for the day of the festival will be donated by Green River Adventures and The Gorge to help fund the work of the Green Riverkeeper.
Event Details:
What: 11th Annual Spring Green Bash
Who: presented by Green River Adventures and sponsored by Oskar Blues Brewery, Prestige Subaru, WNCW and Liquidlogic Kayaks. Music by the Honeycutters. A portion of proceeds benefit MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper.
Where: Green River Adventures, 111 E. Main Street, Saluda, NC
When: Saturday, May 6, 5:30-9 p.m.

“I’m thrilled to get such a warm welcome to the community from Green River Adventures and all the generous sponsors of the Green Spring Bash, including Oskar Blues, Prestige Subaru, WNCW and Liquidlogic Kayaks,” says Gray Jernigan, the Green Riverkeeper. “We have a lot of great activities and programs planned for the year ahead; I’m looking forward to meeting some folks and getting people involved in protecting the Green River.”
We hope to see you Saturday, May 6!
Book your trip for May 6 at greenriveradventures.com with the code: GREENRIVERKEEPER.
About MoutainTrue:
MountainTrue is Western North Carolina’s premier advocate for environmental stewardship. We are committed to keeping our mountain region a beautiful place to live, work and play. Our members protect our forests, clean up our rivers, plan vibrant and livable communities, and advocate for a sound and sustainable future for all residents of WNC. MountainTrue is home to the Broad River Alliance, French Broad Riverkeeper, Green Riverkeeper and Watauga Riverkeeper — the protectors and defenders of their respective watersheds. www.mountaintrue.org
About Waterkeeper Alliance:

Waterkeeper Alliance is a global movement uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates around the world, focusing citizen advocacy on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. Waterkeepers patrol and protect over 2.5 million square miles of rivers, streams and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. For more information please visit: www.waterkeeper.org

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Issue of Food Waste
2017-05-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Join us on Thursday, May 11, as Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Kate Lis from Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy to speak on the issue of food waste components of our food system that can be altered to become more sustainable for all.
Kate Lis, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy’s AmeriCorps Stewardship Associate, was born and raised in central Massachusetts. She then moved to Boone, NC after high school where she realized an appetite for the great outdoors. Unsure of what to study, she decided to leave Boone as a freshman at Appalachian State University and live, work, and climb the wild Midwest of Wyoming and Colorado. There she studied a little graphic design and realized that commercialized art was not for her. In Colorado, Kate first experienced conservation work with long days on the Great Thompson River removing Russian olive trees. Recognizing her love for the more welcoming WNC Mountains, and overwhelmed by the greatness of the west, Kate returned to Boone with an interest in biology and finished her studies in Ecology, some biochemistry, and GIS. In the midst of her university education Kate worked in the outskirts of the Amazon in Ecuador for a cacao pollination study, volunteered for the Blue Ridge Parkway, and spent time in both the ASU Cliff Ecology and Plant-Insect Interactions labs helping in the field, rearing plants, genetic analysis, and chemistry work. In her service for CMLC, Kate helps with restoration projects and conservation efforts, and building bonds with nature and volunteers.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Disaster Preparedness in the Backcountry
2017-06-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Join us on Thursday, June 8, as Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Jonathan Feldman from Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy as he presents on disaster preparedness in the backcountry to include essential gear for all activities, basic survival tips and common scenarios one might encounter in the backcountry.
Jonathan Feldman, the current AmeriCorps Trails Associate at CMLC, was born in Tampa, Florida but has lived in many other states during his life. He moved to North Carolina to get a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina- Greensboro in Community Recreation & Parks Management with two minors in geography and political science. While having spent much of life his camping, hiking, fishing, and gallivanting outside Jonathan was instantly attracted to western North Carolina; he found splendor in the ancient, rugged mountains. During college Jonathan spent his summers working with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Green Mountain, Greensboro Parks & Recreation, and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks. Jonathan’s goal during his term of service is to provide and improve recreational activities for North Carolinians through sustainable trail building, environmental stewardship, and outdoor education. When Jonathan is not working you can find him hiking in Pisgah National Forest with his dog.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Upper French Broad RiverFest Volunteer Sign Up
2017-06-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Champion Park, Main Street, Rosman , 28772, United States
MountainTrue needs your help at the Second Annual Upper French Broad RiverFest!
The Transylvania French Broad Stewards, a volunteer organization that promotes the natural and economic vitality of the Upper French Broad River in Transylvania County, is hosting the second annual Upper French Broad Riverfest! This family friendly event will celebrate the Upper French Broad River with live music, food, local vendors and exhibitors, and lots of activities for kids of all ages, including a canoe relay, free tubing for kids, fishing games, water quality and critters (sponsored and led by MountainTrue), reptiles and more. MountainTrue is a major partner is conducting the event, as well as the Town of Rosman and Headwaters Outfitters. Our sponsors include Transylvania Tourism, Transylvania County, Dugans Pub, and Keystone Camp. We need your help to make the event a success!
Volunteers will be assigned to various stations such as setup, cleanup, recycling and trash, water cooler table, runners, event guides, tubing supervisor, shuttle driver, canoe relay race supervisor, and registration/info table. Some exhibitors who are conducting kids’ activities may need occasional help. ​
All volunteers will receive a free Upper French Broad Riverfest volunteer t-shirt! Volunteers will be expected to wear the t-shirt at the event.
When: June 24, 2017, 10:00am-5:00pm
Where: Champion Park, Rosman, NC 287722
Here’s a link to sign up to help!

Veganism as a Strategy for Sustainability
2017-06-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Have you ever considered the ethical and environmental consequences of your food choices? If so, please join us for a presentation on the topic of “Veganism as a Strategy for Sustainability.” Evan Parker, a graduate student in Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Sustainability Studies program, will discuss the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, the ethical implications of consuming animal products and how the adoption of a vegan lifestyle can contribute to a sustainable society.
What: Veganism as a Strategy for Sustainability
Who: Evan Parker, a graduate student in Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Sustainability Studies program
Where: Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 First Avenue East, Hendersonville, NC 28792
When: Monday, June 26 from 5:30-7 p.m.
The event will be held at Sanctuary Brewing Company in Hendersonville, NC on Monday, June 26. The night will begin with a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m. followed by a presentation from 6-7 p.m. Vegan paninis and beer will be available for purchase!
This event is co-sponsored by Sanctuary Brewing Company, MountainTrue, Asheville Vegan Outreach (a program of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue) and Progressive Women of Hendersonville.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues
2017-07-13 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
On Thursday, July 13th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Tristan Winkler, Senior Transportation Planner for the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). He will present on recent bicycle and pedestrian issues in the area, and ways that the public can get involved!
What: Hendersonville Green Drinks: Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues
Who: Tristan Winkler, Senior Transportation Planner with the French Broad River MPO
Where: Black Bear Coffee Co. 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
When: Thursday, July 13th, networking at 5:30 p.m., presentation at 6:00 p.m.
Tristan Winkler is a Senior Transportation Planner with the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and has worked on various transportation projects in Western North Carolina since 2013 as a private consultant and, later, at the MPO. Tristan is a board member of the Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals of North Carolina, and director-at-large for the Western North Carolina Chapter of Women in Transportation.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Advocacy Training Workshop
2017-07-17 16:00 - 17:30 | MountainTrue – Southern Regional Office, 611 N. Church Street, NC, 28792, United States
Join us Monday, July 17, at 4:00 PM at our Southern Regional Office for an Advocacy Training Workshop! We will discuss strategies to make your voice heard on issues at the federal, state, and local levels. Learn who to contact, how to frame your messages, and ways to get involved to influence government decision-makers.
What: Advocacy Training Workshop
Where: MountainTrue Southern Regional Office at 611 N. Church Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792
When: 4:00 PM, Monday, July 17, 2017
RSVP: Here

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Shopping Bag Saga
2017-08-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Thursday, Aug. 10: Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Shopping Bag Saga
On Thursday, August 10, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Chuck Breckheimer, a chemistry teacher of more than 32 years and member of MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina (formerly CMLC). He will speak on the lifecycle of plastic bags, their effect on our environment, and how our choices can reduce the number of bags that end up in our rivers and streams, and tangled in trees. Chuck hopes that this information will lead to changes in the way we use plastic bags.
What: Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Shopping Bag Saga
Who: Chuck Breckheimer, chemist and teacher
Where: Black Bear Coffee Co. 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
When: Thursday, August 10, networking at 5:30 p.m., presentation at 6:00 p.m.
Chuck Breckheimer received his masters in teaching and organic chemistry from Cornell University. He taught chemistry as a peace corps volunteer for two years in Ghana, and as a high school teacher for 32 years before moving to western North Carolina. He continues to tutor as a volunteer at Hendersonville and West Henderson high schools.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Rhythm & Brew in Downtown Hendersonville
2017-08-17 17:00 - 21:00 | Downtown Hendersonville, 201 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Rhythm & Brews is a free outdoor concert series in Downtown Hendersonville, NC. Look out for the MountainTrue table, and come meet our staff!
Featured Band: Come Back Alice
A soulfully southern gypsy funk band
Opener: Hustle Souls
Singer/Songwriter: Rock Kellogg
“August swings us back into the world of Rock and Roll with a visit from Come Back Alice. Formed in 2012, Come Back Alice has a patently-unique sound that they’ve dubbed Southern Gypsy Funk. A lively blend of rock, soul, gypsy jazz and funk, let’s just say it makes for a good time! With improvisational influences from bands known for killer live performances—including The Band, Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, and The Allman Brothers Band—even the biggest Come Back Alice fans don’t know what to expect. Fronted by multi-instrumentalists (and newly-weds) Tony Tyler and Dani Jaye, the connection onstage is electric. Switching between slide guitar, B3 organ, Violin, and keys, these two have a knack for captivating audiences with a true Rock N Roll stage presence.”

30th Annual Big Sweep River Clean Up
2017-09-09 09:00 - 16:00 | NC
Join us Saturday, September 9 for the 30th annual NC Big Sweep River Clean Up!
MountainTrue is partnering with community organizations including GreenWorks, RiverLink, AmeriCorps Project Conserve and Mills River Partnership to bring as many volunteers together as possible. With support from our Riverkeeper programs on the French Broad, Watauga, Broad and Green Rivers, we plan to make this the best Big Sweep yet. Come on out to be part of the effort!
Please note that roadside clean up spots are still available, but registration for river clean ups out of the Asheville/Hendersonville area are closed.
Please see the headers below to determine which sign-up to use (and if you have any questions about the best location for you to select, please contact Jack Henderson at wqa@mountaintrue.org). Looking forward to seeing you on the water!
If you want to help clean-up the French Broad River near Asheville/Hendersonville, please sign-up using this link.
If you want to help clean-up the Watauga, Broad or Green River, please sign-up with this link.
After signing up, our team will be in touch with you closer to the date to sort out all details of gear, meeting location, etc. Let’s make this the greatest Big Sweep yet!

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Why Greenways?
2017-09-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Katie Breckheimer, of Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway. Katie has been with the Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway since its inception in 2015. She is a long-time Henderson County resident, who has advocated for natural resource conservation throughout her career.

Who: Katie Breckheimer, Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway
What: September Green Drinks topic: Why Greenways?
When: September 14, 2017 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC

The Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway is a coalition of non-profits and private citizens, who work to protect, promote and grow the Oklawaha Greenway, a 3.25-mile greenway through the heart of Henderson County. Come learn what has been done, what is planned, and what you can do to help grow a local network of greenways.

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue and the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Rhythm & Brews in Downtown Hendersonville
2017-09-21 17:00 - 21:00 | Downtown Hendersonville, 201 South Main Street, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Rhythm & Brews is a free outdoor concert series in Downtown Hendersonville, NC. Look out for the MountainTrue table, and come meet our staff!
September 21 – Backup Planet
Experimental Funk-Rock
Opener: The Dirty Soul Revival
Singer/Songwriter: Theme & Variation
Backup Planet is a progressive funk-rock band based out of Nashville, Tennessee. Elements of jazz, funk, roots, blues, electronic, and progressive rock all emerge during the course of their shows. While their sound draws from much of what you’ve heard before—‘70s rock and funk, high-energy improv, a touch of pop, and a sliver of metal, the band members mix and match those elements—with just a hint of modern tech—in ways that never fail to astonish. With a fantastic repertoire of original songs, they’re able to build fluid sets interspersed with improvisation.

Hendersonville Storm Drain Stenciling Program
2017-09-30 10:00 - 13:00 | MountainTrue – Southern Regional Office, 611 N. Church Street, NC, 28792, United States
Help MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Office and Mike Huffman, the Stormwater Quality Specialist for Hendersonville make the city’s water healthier with the help of storm drain labels. Mike will give a short lecture and demonstration about the tags at the beginning of the event, which will run from 10-1 on September 30. RSVP with Regina Goldkuhl, MountainTrue’s Water Quality Administrator at wqa@mountaintrue.org to let us know you’re coming!

Storm drain marking is labeling a storm drain inlet with a written message reminding the public not to dump anything into the storm drain as it flows to local waterways. Many people mistakenly believe storm drains empty to water treatment facilities, so they pour chemicals or sweep debris directly into storm drains. This dumping greatly increases the level of nonpoint source pollutants (leaves, soil, litter, fertilizers, pesticides, and street residues) already present in urban storm water runoff and can contribute substantially to a decline in water quality. More communities are working to reduce nonpoint source pollution by labeling storm drain inlets with messages warning citizens not to dump polluting materials. The stenciled messages—usually a simple phrase like “No Dumping! Protect Our Water”—remind would-be dumpers and passers-by that the storm drains connect to local water bodies and that dumping pollutes those waters. In recent years, as states and local governments have learned more about how nonpoint source pollution degrades water quality, storm drain marking efforts have sprung up in communities across the country.

Oklawaha Greenway Walk and Talk: Identifying Our Native Trees
2017-10-07 10:00 - 23:30 | Patton Park, 1730 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville , NC, 28791, United States
The popular series, “Walks and Talks Along the Oklawaha Greenway,” returns! This time we will focus on identifying and understanding native trees. Meet at Patton Park in the circular pavilion near the basketball courts. The walk will be about 90 minutes, returning to Patton Park and will be held rain or shine. The program is co-sponsored by Hendersonville Tree Board and Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway.
Wes Burlingame, a retired nurseryman and member of the Hendersonville Tree Board, will lead the walk. The newest section of the Greenway, between Patton Park and Berkley Park, features 500 planted native trees as well as many mature trees.
“Friends of the Oklawaha Greenway is a group of people who see beauty and multiple values in our wonderful greenway and who want to use it as a tool to learn more about our natural environment,” said Suzanne Hale, a member of the group. “The Greenway is also popular for recreation, transportation, family outings, and it contributes handsomely to our economy.”
Hendersonville Tree Board is commissioned by the City of Hendersonville to provide advice on the selection and care of trees and shrubs in public places. The Tree Board also educates the public concerning the economic and aesthetic benefits of trees and shrubs for the community. The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Hendersonville as a Tree City USA for 25 years because of its high level of tree care. The city also became a Bee City USA in 2015.

Paddle Protest: Protect Our Water, Move Your Ash!
2017-10-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Old Cliffside Mill, 35.238986, -81.767038
Join MountainTrue and the Broad River Alliance on Saturday, October 14 for a paddle protest on the Broad River to hold Duke Energy accountable! Duke Energy’s own data shows that unlined coal ash pits at the Cliffside Power Plant (James E. Roger’s Energy Complex) are polluting the Broad River with toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, mercury and lead. Recent water testing by MountainTrue confirms this finding, but Duke Energy has refused to clean up their toxic mess.
We will paddle a short section of the Broad River, stopping in front of the power plant for a photo with a banner that reads,“Protect Our Water, Move Your Ash!”
You can bring your own boat, or borrow one from MountainTrue. Bring your own water and a snack.
Meet us at 11 am at the Old Cliffside Mill on Hwy 221-A, beside the bridge over the Second Broad. (We will have signs directing you.) We’ll be parking at the Cliffside United Methodist Church. We’ll take out at Lake Hauser by 1 pm.
See you there!

2017 MountainTrue Annual Gathering
2017-10-25 18:00 - 20:00 | New Belgium Brewing Company, 21 Craven St, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
We who are MountainTrue have much to celebrate this year. In the response to threats to our waters, lands and communities, we have come together to raise our collective voice on behalf of the future we want to uphold and protect. We will also be welcoming the Asheville Design Center to the MountainTrue family! Our merger creates one organization better able to pursuing a holistic approach to our built and natural environments.
To celebrate these developments and also camaraderie of fellow MountainTrue members, we hope you will come out to the 2017 Annual Gathering – see you there!

To check and see if your membership is current, click here.
If you would like to join or renew your membership, click here.

Hemlock Hike in the Green River Game Lands
2017-11-02 10:00 - 15:00 | NC
Join the Hemlock Restoration Initiative, MountainTrue, and Polk County Recreation on Thursday, Nov. 2nd for a hike through the Green River Game Lands and along the scenic Green River. Our hike will pass through eastern hemlock habitat, and while taking in the natural beauty, we learn about hemlock’s role in the ecosystem, the threats they face, and what management approaches are taking place in North Carolina, including at the Green River Game Lands.

The hike will be 6 miles and moderate difficulty. We will be hiking one-way and using cars to shuttle back to the trail head. We will meet at 10 am. Please RSVP to volunteer@savehemlocksnc.org by Monday, Oct. 30th with a contact number for the morning of the hike and the number in your party. Details on the trail head location will be given upon RSVP.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Connecting Land and People in Whole Communities
2017-11-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Hendersonville, N.C. — On Thursday, November 9, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Tony Beurskens, the Community Engagement Manager and Summer of Service Program Coordinator for Conserving Carolina. Tony is working to create a world in which he can be proud of, one that celebrates our uniqueness and appreciates our oneness. He holds a degree in Park and Natural Resources Management from the University of Illinois, a Permaculture Professional Design Certificate, and has attended Racial Equity Institute (REI) training.
Who: Tony Beurskens, Conserving Carolina
What: November Green Drinks topic: Connecting Land and People in a Whole Community
When: November 9, 2017 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
Inspired by a letter by Peter Forbes (co-founder of the Center for Whole Communities in Fayston, Vermont) titled, “What is a Whole Community?” Tony will be appealing to those who care for and restore the land. He will be leading us in a conversation to deepen our connection to the people and places we love so much while acknowledging our society’s need to redefine success in our effort to create a balanced and diverse ecosystem. Our existing ways of defining success have fallen short of solving our complex issues. Our relationships, our language and our love of the land has too often perpetuated a perceived divide of our communities. We will delve deeper into how we can work toward a reality that assumes all people(s) have something to offer while cherishing diversity and balance of every kind.

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Black Bear Coffee. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Impacts of Livestock Operations on Water Quality Presentation
2017-11-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Hartwell Carson, French Broad Riverkeeper, and Gray Jernigan, Green Riverkeeper, will present on the impacts to our waterways from raining animals for food, particularly from large scale, industrial livestock operations.
This event is brought to you by Sanctuary Brewing Company, Asheville Vegan Outreach, and MountainTrue!

A Tale of Two Timber Sales: Hike at the Panther Branch at Courthouse Creek
2017-12-02 09:00 - 15:30 | NC
Ever wondered what a recently completed timber harvest on National Forest Land looks like? Join our forest ecology experts on a hike to Courthouse Creek where you can see the after-effects of the first of two timber sales resulting from the Courthouse Project. The hike will be moderately difficult, approximately three miles and follows a Forest Service road. We will discuss topics including the results of logging in the Southern Appalachians on wildlife, soil and water, recreation, and scenery. If time allows we will also visit Courthouse Falls and Colney Creek Falls.

We will be carpooling from the Bi-Lo in Pisgah Forest, 41 Forest Gate Dr, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768. Please plan to meet us there at 9am.
We will return to Pisgah Forest by 3:30 p.m.

Bring: Sturdy footwear, water, lunch, and clothing appropriate for the weather

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plight of NC's Hemlocks and What You Can Do
2017-12-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Join us on Thursday, Dec. 14, when Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Sara deFosset of the Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI). Sara will be speaking in depth about the efforts of the HRI to combat the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid’s effect on our Hemlock forests. She will also teach us how individuals can do their part to protect these wonderful native plants.
Sara deFosset, like the eastern and Carolina hemlock, is a North Carolina native with a background in the social sciences and horticulture. She earned her graduate degree in Sustainable Development at the University of California Santa Barbara. Later, she returned to NC where she serves as the Outreach Associate for the Hemlock Restoration Initiative. Sara expresses her love for plants in her work with the HRI and also as a part time garden designer, florist and farmer.
The HRI is a program of WNC Communities, actuated in 2014 by Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Troxler. The mission of the HRI is to work with a variety of partners and existing programs to restore Hemlocks to long-term health throughout North Carolina and ensure that Eastern and Carolina Hemlocks can resist Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) and survive to maturity on North Carolina’s public and private lands. Sara will be speaking in depth about the efforts of the HRI to combat the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid’s effect on our Hemlock forests. She will also teach us how individuals can do their part to protect these wonderful native plants.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Black Bear Coffee. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Give Your Christmas Trees, Lights & Holiday Cards a Second Life!
2018-01-06 09:00 - 14:00 | Jackson Park Ball Field, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Hendersonville, N.C. – MountainTrue is proud to host its annual Holiday Recycling Event at Jackson Park on Saturday, January 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Area residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees, broken string lights and used greeting cards to be mulched and recycled.
When: Saturday, January 6 | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Jackson Park, Ball Field #6, Hendersonville
Who: MountainTrue, City of Hendersonville, Henderson County, Henderson County Coop Extension Service of the 4-H Project, King Hardware & Rental.
Trees can be dropped off on or before January 6. Lights and greeting cards should be brought on the day of January 6.
The mulcher has been provided by King Hardware & Rental and Hendersonville and Henderson County personnel will be on site to much the trees. Lights will be recycled by the Henderson County Coop Extension Service of the 4-H Project.
MountainTrue volunteers will be on hand to help and serve free cookies and hot apple cider.
Don’t throw your tree away! Recycle it and turn it into nutritious mulch for your garden, plants and veggies.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Protecting Pollinators
2018-01-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Hendersonville, N.C. — On Thursday, January 11, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Kim Bailey, the coordinator of the Hendersonville Bee City USA program and a member of the national Bee City USA Board of Directors. Her organization aims to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in our communities and Kim will be speaking about what each of us can do to provide them with a healthy habitat.
Who: Kim Bailey, Bee City USA
What: January Green Drinks topic: Protecting Pollinators
When: January 11, 2017 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
Did you know that 90% of all wild plants rely on pollinators for the survival of their species? Or that one in every three bites of food we consume is courtesy of insect pollination? Just as plants and pollinators have collaborated for millions of years, Bee City USA believes that communities have the opportunity to join forces to sustain pollinators through more conscientious landscape management.
Kim Bailey has over twenty years of experience in educational instruction which includes teaching middle school life science, leading wilderness adventure trips, directing outdoor environmental education programs, and training teachers and naturalists. She now grows milkweed, wildflowers, fruits and vegetables, while learning more about the pollinators that also make their home at her family’s farm in Fruitland, NC.

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Black Bear Coffee. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: Inspiring Ocean Conservation
2018-02-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
On Thursday, February 8, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes BJ Ramer, the Founder and Executive Director of Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium. This facility, located right on Main St. in downtown Hendersonville, is North Carolina’s first inland aquarium and a hub for marine education in Western NC. BJ will be discussing how the aquarium has impacted both tourism and education in the Hendersonville area, as well as introducing the facility’s new 2,000 gallon shark study tank.
Who: BJ Ramer, Founder and Executive Director of Team ECCO Aquarium and Shark Lab
What: February Green Drinks topic: Inspiring Ocean Conservation
When: February 8, 2018 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
Team ECCO has been bringing “salt water to the mountains” and raising awareness about ocean conservation in Western NC since 2001. The current Aquarium has been a fixture in Hendersonville since opening in October of 2011, seeing an average of 7,000 visitors through its doors annually. The Center integrates science, history, math, and culture into their immersive exhibits and educational programs, which reach over 3,500 participants every year. This facility acts as a nursery for baby sharks, as well as a haven for several reptiles who were surrendered pets, while offering Western North Carolinians the unique experience of getting in touch with the ocean.

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Black Bear Coffee Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Documentary Screening: RiverWebs
2018-02-20 17:30 - 19:30 | Purple Onion, 16 E Main St, Saluda, NC, 28773
Join MountainTrue and the Green Riverkeeper at the Purple Onion in Saluda on February 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 as we screen RiverWebs, Freshwater Illustrated’s award-winning documentary about river ecosystems and the science that explores them. This film follows the life and work of Dr. Shigeru Nakano as he attempted to understand how streams and forests depend on each other, and his team who carried on this work after his tragic death. RiverWebs illustrates how the movements and behaviors of insects, in both the stream and the forest, influence their predators, like fish, bats, birds, and spiders.
Stick around after the screening for a presentation about how we monitor for stream quality in WNC and how you can get involved in our Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) program. We will wrap up the evening with a Q&A with the Green Riverkeeper MountainTrue’s Water Quality Administrator and some current SMIE volunteers. This event is free and open to the public.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Value of Prescribed Burns
2018-03-08 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
This month Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Adam Warwick, the Fire and Stewardship Manager for the Nature Conservancy’s Southern Blue Ridge Program in Asheville. Fire has shaped Southern Appalachian forests for thousands of years and has a natural role in our forest ecosystem. However, highly effective government wildland fire suppression programs have led to a dramatic decline in fires, and in many cases, have left us with unhealthy ecosystems. We were offered a glimpse of Southern Appalachian fire potential in the Fall 2016, which culminated with the Smokies’ Chimney Tops 2 Fire that claimed 14 lives, and was one the largest natural disasters in Tennessee’s history. Land managers across the Southern Blue Ridge are working together through the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network to use controlled burning to restore and maintain natural areas that traditionally experienced wildland fire.
Who: Adam Warwick, The Nature Conservancy
What: March Green Drinks topic: The Value of Prescribed Burns
When: March 8, 2018 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St. Hendersonville, NC
Adam oversees management of a 20-person fire crew and about 12,000 acres in western North Carolina. He is from east Tennessee and holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from University of Tennessee and a Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife from the University of Missouri. Adam has over 15 years of experience monitoring wildlife and conserving native ecosystems on both public and private lands. He has developed expertise in black bear, red-cockaded woodpecker and bat ecology and specializes in using controlled burning to perpetuate fire-dependent plant and animals of northern Florida and the Southern Appalachians.

About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Black Bear Coffee Co. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. Black Bear Coffee offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Community Forum on Landslide Risks and Prevention
2018-03-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Henderson County Library, 301 N Washington Street, Hendersonville, NC, 28739
MountainTrue and the Center for Cultural Preservation invite the public to a community forum on landslide risk and prevention on Monday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Henderson County Public Library in Hendersonville.

What: Community Forum on Landslide Risk and Prevention
When: Monday, March 12 – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Henderson County Public Library, 301 N Washington Street, Hendersonville, NC

The evening will begin with an abbreviated version of “Come Hell or High Water” a film that documents the impacts of The Great Flood of 1916 by David Weintraub, Executive Director of the Center for Cultural Preservation. Then guest speaker Jennifer Bauer, Co-Owner and Principal Geologist with Appalachian Landslide Consultants, will present on landslide risk in our region and the benefits and utility of landslide hazard maps. The evening will conclude with a panel discussion and question-and-answer session featuring Gray Jernigan, Southern Regional Director of MountainTrue, David Weintraub and Jennifer Bauer.

SMIE Spring Training
2018-03-17 09:00 - 16:00 | Blue Ridge Community College, 180 W Campus Dr, Flat Rock, NC, 28731, United States
Are you invested in the health of your local rivers and streams? Do you want to get involved in a meaningful way? Then MountainTrue has an opportunity for you!
We rely on volunteers to monitor stream health throughout Henderson County and participate in bio-monitoring twice per year, once in April and once in October. Through the Stream Monitoring Information Exchange (SMIE) bio-monitoring program, we sample aquatic macro-invertebrates, or aquatic insects, as indicators of water quality. Bugs tell us a lot about the health and vitality of our rivers and streams.
Learn how you can help at our SMIE training on March 17. Learn the protocols of biomonitoring including how to collect and identify bugs, record data, and utilize sampling equipment. The first half of the day will take place at Blue Ridge Community College followed by a field site visit after lunch!
Both new and returning SMIE volunteers are welcome! Please bring a water bottle, a pen or pencil, waders if you have them (some waders will be provided and not all participants will need to enter the stream).
