MountainTrue

Richmond Hill Park Invasive Removal Day
2017-05-13 09:00 - 13:00, 2017-04-08 09:00 - 13:00, 2017-03-11 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 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!

Equity in Planning: A MountainTrue program on the lasting impact of Urban Renewal policies
2017-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Dr. Wesley R. Grant Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston Street, Asheville, North Carolina, 28801
Image: Interaction Institute for Social Change | Artist: Angus Maguire. interactioninstitute.org and madewithangus.com.
Join MountainTrue on Saturday, May 13th from 9am-12pm as we explore the legacy of Urban Renewal policies, their impacts on Asheville’s communities of color, and the continuing tensions that threaten our community’s future.
With Asheville rated as one of the fastest gentrifying cities in the U.S., it is critically important that we make land use, planning and development choices thoughtfully and inclusively. This program will include a facilitated discussion at the Wesley Grant Center featuring guest speaker Sheneika Smith, founder of Date My City. After the discussion, the group will board a Gray Line Trolley for a custom tour led by Hood Huggers International’s DeWayne Barton and MountainTrue’s Co-Director Julie Mayfield.
As Asheville continues to grow, MountainTrue is committed to supporting neighborhoods and residents in planning and advocating for the success of their communities and advocating for sustainable, pedestrian friendly, and affordable neighborhoods. Join us for this timely conversation about both the history and future of development in Asheville.
Tickets for this event are $25 for current MountainTrue members and $40 for non-members, which includes a 2017 MountainTrue membership.
Click here to buy your tickets!

2017 Wild and Scenic Film Festival at Sierra Nevada
2017-05-11 19:00 - 22:00 | Sierra Nevada Mills River, 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC, 28732, United States
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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.

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

Buchi Sponsored River Cleanup with RiverLink, GreenWorks & MountainTrue
2017-04-29 09:00 - 12:00 | NC
Join RiverLink, Asheville GreenWorks, and Mountain True on our first big river cleanup of the season. This event has been generously sponsored by Buchi Kombucha, who will be providing delicious refreshing drinks for all volunteers who participate. There is limited space for this volunteer day, so sign up fast!
For more information and to sign up, click here!

Earth Day Vigil
2017-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Pritchard Park, 67 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
The Creation Care Alliance of WNC welcomes people of all faiths to an Earth Day Vigil on Sunday, April 23 at 5 p.m. at Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville. This event is a celebration of God’s wondrous creation, and a call to action to care for it during a time when it is in peril.
There will be song, reflection and messages of inspiration from local faith and community organizations and leaders.
Words of reflection and blessings delivered by Rabbi Justin Goldstein of Congregation Beth Israel, Rev. Shannon Spencer of the Asheville Poverty Initiative, Rev. Steve Runholt of Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, Tyrone Greenlee, Director of Christians for a United Community, Rev. Scott Hardin-Nieri, Director of the Creation Care Alliance of WNC, Rev. Howard Hanger of Jubilee! Community, Rev. Samantha Gonzales-Block and youth of the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Poetry will be recited by Abbey Ende and Claire Grady from Asheville High School.
Music and hymns will be performed by Daniel Barber of the Jubilee! Community; Lance Craig and youth of the Skyland United Methodist Church and the Spanish Mass Choir from St. Eugene Catholic Church.
Prayer flags of hope and action will be created in collaboration with the Asheville Youth Mission.
Following the Earth Day Vigil, there will be a reception with food and drink at Jubilee! Community Church, 46 Wall St.
Attendees should feel free to bring a blanket or comfy lawn chair. Creation Care Alliance reminds those interested in attending to consider biking, carpooling or taking public transportation. In event of rain or bad weather, the vigil will take place at Jubilee! Community Church.

Swim Guide 2017
2017-04-17 18:00 - 20:00 | MountainTrue — Asheville, 29 North Market Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
We couldn’t do our job without our volunteers! We are looking for more people for our bacteriological monitoring program. Every week volunteers go out and help us monitor the water ways of the French Broad River basin. You can choose which county from Transylvania, Henderson, Buncombe, Madison and Haywood counties you prefer to do montioring in and we give you all the tools and training you need to participate. It’s kind of like an adopt-a-spot where you go to the same place every week, take the samples, incubate them, read and post the results onto the swimguide.org website. It’s a really quick testing process, so it’s not a huge time commitment. It’s super fun and educational, a great opportunity if you have kids or friends interested in environmental science. You could use it to teach your family members, friends, coworkers, classrooms etc. all about water quality. Or, you could also just use it as an excuse to hang out by the river! If you are interested in participating, please fill out the form below and plan to attend an orientation session on
April 17 at 6PM in our office (29 N. Market St. #610 Asheville NC 28801).
Here’s the link to sign up and learn more!

Wildfire & Wildflower Spring Hike
2017-04-15 08:30 - 17:00 | NC

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.

7th Annual Green River Spring Cleaning
2017-04-08 10:00 - 18:00 | Fishtop Access, Fishtop Access, Green River Cove Rd, Saluda, North Carolina, 28773
This year MountainTrue is partnering with the Green River community to help support their annual Green River Cleaning! Whether you want to hop in a boat or walk along the shore, all kinds of volunteers are needed to help clear the Green River of trash and debris.
We’ll meet at 10am at the Fish Top Access Point on Green River Cove Rd near Saluda, and meet back up at 5:00pm at The Gorge Zipline for an after party of great views and beverages.
Volunteers should bring sturdy shoes, clothing that can get wet, appropriate weather gear, lunch & snacks, water, sunscreen, etc. MountainTrue will provide boats and PFD’s for volunteers who want to be on the water!
Click here to sign up now!

Before We Burn Again
2017-04-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States

SMIE Training: Help Sample and Monitor Water Quality in Henderson County
2017-03-11 09:00 - 16:00 | 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!

Live Staking Plant-n-Paddle
2017-03-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-03-01 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-02-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-02-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-02-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-02-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2017-02-02 10:00 - 16:00, 2017-01-31 10:00 - 16:00 and 1 more date | NC
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 all 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: The Ecusta Trail: Connecting Hendersonville to Brevard
2017-03-09 17:30 - 19:30 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
Join us on Thursday, March 9, as Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Chris Burns with Friends of the Ecusta Trail to give us a project update and let us know how the public can help make this trail connecting Hendersonville and Brevard a reality.
Chris is a founding board member of Friends of the Ecusta Trail, a proposed rail trail along the inactive 19-mile spur of the Blue Ridge Southern Railroad connecting Hendersonville, Laurel Park and Brevard, NC. In addition to his love and passion for his family and anything “outdoors”, he has been honored to lead many non-profits in Western NC.
Chris is also a partner and head of strategy at Summit Marketing Group in Hendersonville, NC. His career spans over 25 years of experience in corporate and entrepreneurial leadership in the area of strategic brand delivery. His firm specializes in developing and implementing cross-platform communication strategies including traditional, web-based, email and social media platforms.
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.

Feb 9: Hendersonville Green Drinks: Green, Sustainable Brewing
2017-02-09 17:30 - 20:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
On Thursday, February 9, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Stan Cooper, Co-Manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., who will speak about sustainability initiatives at the Mills River brewery.
In June 2016, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was the first production brewery in the United States to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certified, Platinum — the highest level awarded—for its Mills River, North Carolina, brewing facility.

CCA Book Study: Pope's Encyclical on Creation Care
2017-01-30 19:00 - 20:30 | Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC, 28804, United States
Join the Creation Care Alliance’s Chas Jansen and Susan Presson as we read the Pope’s Encyclical Laudato Si’ — On Care for Our Common Home, one chapter at a time with discussion questions available in advance. Six Monday evening classes will focus on climate science, creation gospel, humanity’s role, “Integral Ecology,” policy directions, and changing within. The last class will be March 13th. There is no cost. For more information, contacts are Chas Jansen – Chas.Jansen@mtsu.edu and Susan Presson – 4pressons@gmail.com.
Mondays starting January 30 for six Mondays from 7:00-8:30pm
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Conference Room
789 Merrimon Ave
Sign up Here.
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis asks, “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” Moving beyond scientific consensus on climate change, Pope Francis invites us to recognize “the rich contribution which the religions can make towards an integral ecology and the full development of humanity.” Despite disturbing ecological news, daunting challenges presented today by technology and excessive self-centeredness, as well as growing injustices visited upon the poor analyzed in this encyclical, Francis nevertheless threads a heartening message of hope through the entire document.

Democracy for Sale Documentary Screening
2017-01-29 15:00 - 17:00 | Newgrass Brewing, 213 S Lafayette St., Shelby, NC, 28150, United States
Join us Sunday, January 29th at 3pm for a screening of the documentary Democracy for Sale at Newgrass Brewing in Shelby, NC.
Narrated by actor and comedian, Zach Galifianakis, Democracy for Sale takes a detailed look at the political atmosphere in North Carolina. The documentary examines the relationship between the wealth of a few and policies put in place by the state government that benefit those wealthy. In addition, this documentary highlights information about education systems, gerrymandering and voter suppression/rights.
We hope you’ll come out and join us for what’s sure to be an insightful look into the politics of North Carolina, as well as a good time at a local brewery!
Follow this link to RSVP!

Save our Ashes! Volunteer Training
2017-01-28 11:00 - 16:00 | NC
MountainTrue needs your help to Save our Ashes!
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is spreading rapidly across our region, destroying ash trees in their wake! We are helping the Forest Service to save some of our precious ashes in the region.
MountainTrue is launching a “Save our Ashes” program. Teams of volunteers supported by MountainTrue Staff will survey for ash along the Appalachian Trail. We’ll collect data density and size (diameter) of ash in plots located along trails, and plot and record each location a GPS. Participants will become proficient in identification of trees during winter, the use of forestry tools and a GPS unit. Data collected will be used to make an ash hotspot map that will help prioritize the preservation of a few ecologically and culturally significant sites for ash in our area.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
If you’re interested in participating, be sure you sign up for this training on January 28th, 11am-4pm at the Bartam Trail in the Nantahala Gorge.
Follow this link to sign up, or email forestkeeper@mountaintrue.org with any questions.

Volunteer at the 10th Anniversary Winter Warmer Beer Festival
2017-01-21 15:00 - 19:00 | U.S. Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
We need volunteers like you to help make this year’s Winter Warmer Beer Festival another success!
Get free access to a huge beer festival and help support MountainTrue in the process! Volunteer shifts run for 3.5 hours and include a variety of jobs, including selling merchandise, recycling management, and more! Volunteers can come before and stay after their volunteer shift, so they can enjoy the event to the full.
Note: There is a mandatory volunteer training Monday, January 16th from 5:30pm-6:30pm.
Click here to sign up & join us for what’s sure to be a good time!
