Green Riverkeeper Community Picnic
2017-09-24 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Shelter at Bradley Nature Preserve at Alexander’s Ford, 226 Grays Chapel Church Rd, Rutherfordton, NC, 28139, United States
Join MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina for a community picnic at the shelter of the Bradley Nature Preserve at Alexander’s Ford (part of the Overmountain National Historic Victory Trail) on Sunday, September 24 beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Meet MountainTrue’s Southern Regional Director and Green Riverkeeper, Gray Jernigan, and learn about his work to make sure the Green River stays a healthy place to swim, paddle and play. We’ll also be celebrating the recent merger between Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and the Tryon-based Pacolet Area Conservancy into the newly-named Conserving Carolina. Conserving Carolina played a major role in preserving the Bradley Nature Preserve at Alexander’s Ford.

There will be food and beverages, lawn games, and a three-mile, round-trip hike down the trail to the Green River.

Public Utilities Commission Hearing on Proposed Duke Energy Rate Increase
2017-09-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Buncombe County Court House, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Duke Energy is asking the NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) for permission to raise our residential electric rates over 16% in order to pay for their coal ash mess. Duke also wants to almost double the fixed charge we pay them before we even flip a switch!
This means more money out of your pocket to pay for Duke Energy’s mess. For years, Duke has known about and either ignored or fought to avoid cleaning up their leaking toxic coal ash pits, and we have been paying the price for their negligence.
Come to the public hearing of the Utilities Commission on Wednesday September 27th to tell commissioners to make Duke pay for their own mistakes. Click here to see details about the hearing and to RSVP.
Raise your voice to tell Duke Energy we won’t pay for their dirty energy!

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.

Science, Creativity and Compassion: Five Solutions for Climate Change
2017-10-02 17:30 - 19:00 | Lenoir Rhyne Graduate Studies Center, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
The Creation Care Alliance hosts Katharine Wilkinson on Monday, October 2 from 5:30 to 7:00 at Lenoir-Rhyne Asheville. Katharine holds a B.A. in Religion from Sewanee and received her Ph.D in Geography & Environment from Oxford University. She is a Senior Writer at Project Drawdown and is also the author of “Between God and Green.” Her background melds research, strategy and thought leadership on climate action. Katharine will guide us through the five solutions to address climate change from the best selling book Drawdown: the Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming.

Reversing Global Warming: A Conversation with Katharine Wilkinson and John Sutter
2017-10-03 17:30 - 19:00 | The Collider, Suite 401, 1 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801
Join us on October 3rd to see acclaimed climate change author Dr. Katharine Wilkinson and
award-winning CNN climate change columnist John Sutter in conversation at The Collider.
“Reversing Global Warming: A Conversation with Katharine Wilkinson and John Sutter” will
feature the two thought leaders in a panel moderated by Earth Equity’s CEO, Peter Krull. This is
Earth Equity Advisors 4th annual Lecture Series, a free event. Doors open at 5:30pm, talk
begins at 6:00pm. Light refreshments will be served. Don’t miss it!
RSVP and get more info here: https://climatechangeaction.splashthat.com/

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.

Creation Care Alliance Fall Book Study
2017-10-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Jubilee! Community Church, 46 Wall St, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming
Edited by Paul Hawken; with Katharine Wilkinson as Senior Writer
Creation Care Alliance is sponsoring a 5-part book discussion of Drawdown meeting from 6 to 7:15 on Tuesdays, 10/10 to 11/7/2017, at Jubilee! Community. If interested in joining this discussion, please sign up here or email Chas Jansen who will send out a schedule of assignments & guide the discussion sessions (chas.jansen@mtsu.edu). This large, paperback book should be available at Malaprops Bookstore (828-254-6734) for $23.54.
In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. One hundred techniques and practices are described here–some are well-known; some you may have never heard of. They range from clean energy to educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air.
The solutions exist, are economically viable, and communities throughout the world are currently enacting them with skill and determination. If deployed collectively on a global scale over the next thirty years, they represent a credible path forward, not just to slow the earth’s warming but to reach drawdown, that point in time when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere peak and begin to decline. These measures promise cascading benefits to human health, security, prosperity, and well-being — giving us every reason to see this planetary crisis as an opportunity to create a just and livable world.

Richmond Hill Invasive Work Day
2017-10-14 09:00 - 13:00 | Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Dr, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species! Volunteers help to stop the spread of harmful non-native invasive species and return native species to the unique park.
We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and necessary instructions. Please bring snacks, water and a rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety).
Sign up now!

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!

Mission Earth: for Youth Groups
2017-10-14 12:30 - 18:30 | Christmount Conference Center, 222 Fern Way, Black Mountain, NC, 28711, United States
Service projects, yummy dinner, play, and connections with other youth groups as we focus on faith and the environment.
Middle & high school youth groups are invited to join Asheville Youth Mission and Creation Care Alliance for an afternoon of service and discussion. We’ll work with a variety of local agencies and talk with community leaders about how our beliefs impact the way we care for our neighbors and our planet. $20 registration includes service project program, dinner and event t-shirt.

Fall Scenic Hike in Pisgah National Forest
2017-10-21 08:45 - 16:00 | NC
Join MountainTrue’s Ecologist and Public Lands Director Bob Gale for a gorgeous and educational hike through Pisgah National Forest. Bob has been studying and protecting the forests of Western North Carolina with MountainTrue since 1998. He knows these mountains like the back of his hand and will be sharing some of his knowledge on the hike, discussing everything from plant identification to the seasonal migration of Monarch butterflies.
We will be hiking the Pilot Cove Loop Trail in Pisgah NF, which is approximately 4 miles long. This trail runs along Forked Ridge which will offer some gorgeous views of the fall foliage, which experts are saying should be in full swing on our hike. There are some steep inclines on this trail, but Bob will be making stops to rest and interpret the flora and fauna.

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.

Richmond Hill Restoration Initiative
2017-11-11 09:00 - 13:00 | Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Dr, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
Richmond Hill is Asheville’s only forested park and is a haven for both dogs and their owners. However, several acres of this unique urban ecosystem are overrun by non-native invasive plants. These invasives pose a threat not only to our native plant species but also to our furry friends. Multi-flora rose is among several non-native invasive species present in the park. This rose is from Japan and has very sharp thorns that can harm our pets. Many of these species have the ability to grow at an alarming rate and, if left unchecked, could overgrow the walking and biking paths in Richmond Hill Park. Please join us as we take Richmond Hill Park back and restore native plants, making it a safer and more beautiful place to walk our pets!
Be sure to wear long sleeves and pants as well as closed-toe shoes to this event. We will provide all other equipment necessary! We also ask that you leave your pets at home for this work day. We hope to see you there!

Forest Restoration Alliance Volunteer Workday
2017-11-16 10:00 - 16:00 | NC
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative invites you to participate in a fun and interesting volunteer workday with our partner the Forest Restoration Alliance (FRA). The FRA takes a long term view of hemlock restoration by working on selection and breeding for pest resistance in hemlocks and other native conifers. As you might imagine this work takes many years to accomplish, so every volunteer day helps sustain this long-term effort.

We will be helping the Forest Restoration Alliance at their research facility near Waynesville. The work days may involve tree care in the greenhouse (such as fertilizing), cleaning up in and around their green houses, and contributing to the completion of their newly-restored indoor facility.

And there are no pesticides involved! This is a great opportunity to get involved in hemlock conservation without handling insecticides and to learn more about the scientific process of restoring our threatened tree species.

DETAILS

Day: Thursday, Nov. 16
Place: Volunteers will meet at the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville, NC. The FRA office is at 265 Test Farm Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786.
Time: The workday will start at 10 am and lasts until 3 or 4 pm, but folks can head out earlier, as needed. Please let me know if you plan to leave early so we can plan the work day accordingly.
What to bring: Please wear clothes comfortable for gardening and the outdoors and closed toed shoes, and bring water and a lunch.
If you plan to attend, please email volunteer@savehemlocksnc.org to RSVP to by Nov. 10 for the Nov. 16 work day with a contact number for the morning of the work day. If you are bringing other volunteers beside yourself, also please include the number of people in your group.

You can learn more about the FRA and their breeding program at threatenedforests.com

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.

Franklin Hearing on Duke Energy Carolinas Proposed Rate Hike
2018-01-16 19:00 | NC
Gather at the Macon County Courthouse in Franklin to make your voice heard about Duke’s rate hike! Duke Energy Carolinas, which serves 2.2 million customers across the state including those in Macon, Transylvania, Polk, and parts of Jackson and Henderson counties, has requested approval to raise residential energy rates by 16.7% and to increase their revenue by approximately $647 million. With an increased monthly base charge from $11.80 to $17.79, all residential customers would now be charged about $213 per year before they even turn their lights on.
Public interest advocates believe the rate hike would discourage energy savings initiatives, pass coal ash cleanup costs onto the public, and hit families on low or fixed incomes the hardest. MountainTrue encourages all to voice their opinions at this hearing. Those who plan to speak should arrive at 6:30 pm.
Find out more about Duke’s proposed rate hike here.
Note: Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress are sister companies. While both companies are requesting a 16.7% rate hike for residential customers, they serve different territories across the state. Click the image below to find out who serves you:

Community Planning For All Trolley Tour: How MountainTrue promotes healthy communities
2018-01-27 11:00 - 13:00 | West Asheville Bus Shelter, 1 Craven St, Asheville, NC, 28806
On Saturday, January 27, join Asheville Design Center’s (ADC) Chris Joyell for a trolley tour of Asheville unlike any other. We will be visiting several community led design projects that have made Asheville the unique and wonderful city it is, like the outdoor classroom at the Burton St Peace Garden, the mural at Triangle Park, and the 13 Bones pedestrian bridge in the River Arts District. To begin our tour we will meet the trolley at the West Asheville bus shelter (opposite the Burger Bar), an ADC project!
For the past decade, ADC has recruited volunteer professionals to work with residents to create design solutions that promote healthy, thriving and equitable communities. In October of last year, ADC merged with MountainTrue, creating one organization that is better able to take a holistic approach to both our natural and built environments. As Asheville continues to grow, learn how MountainTrue commits to supporting the area’s neighborhoods and their residents by providing access to community-driven planning and design services. Join in on the conversation about community planning in Asheville and the future of development in our region.

Paddle-n-Plant: Live Staking with the French Broad Riverkeeper
2018-02-02 10:00 - 16:00, 2018-02-07 10:00 - 16:00, 2018-02-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Westfeldt Park, 83 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher, NC, 28732, United States
The French Broad Riverkeeper and MountainTrue are combating sediment erosion in our local waterways. Sediment is a major polluter in our river basin, clogging fish and aquatic habitats, increasing water temperatures, and transporting toxic substances. We are helping to reduce the amount of sediment that flows into our rivers by planting live-stakes along eroding riverbanks. These stakes will grow into trees that will stabilize the sides of the rivers and creeks where we plant them, and will reduce the overall amount of sediment getting into the river.
We’ll be planting through March, so come out to one or more of our Paddle-n-Plant work days!
Follow this link to sign up & read more about what to bring, what to expect, and what other work day dates are coming up!

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.

The State of Conservation in the North Carolina Blue Ridge
2018-02-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Second Gear, 444 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC, 28806
Come to Second Gear in West Asheville on February 17 to hear MountainTrue’s Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly speak about conservation efforts in Western North Carolina. He will cover topics including trends and status of regional biodiversity, rare species, forest integrity, water quality, and protected lands. In addition to this, Josh will address threats to conservation in our region, including fragmentation, non-native invasive species, climate change, policies, and lack of public investment.

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.

Building Our City with Ellen Dunham-Jones
2018-03-07 17:30 - 19:00 | Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC, 28801
21st Century Revitalization; Growing the Aging Suburban Landscape Towards Walkable Urbanism
Ellen will discuss how existing suburban developments can be redesigned into more urban and more sustainable places. While there has been considerable attention by practitioners and academics to development in urban cores and new neighborhoods on the periphery of cities, there has been little attention to the redesign and redevelopment of existing suburbs. Ellen will also show how development in existing suburbs can absorb new growth and evolve in relation to changed demographic, technological and economic conditions.
Doors open at 5:30pm, the presentation will begin at 6pm. Click here for tickets!
The Building our City Speaker Series is supported by the City of Asheville, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Asheville Downtown Association, Urban3, Mountain True and Aloft Asheville Downtown.
