PHHAT Hemlock Treatment Workday
2019-11-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2019-11-10 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | NC

Building our City Speaker Series with Jeff Speck
2019-11-06 18:00 - 19:30 | The Collider, Suite 401, 1 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801
Jeff Speck is a city planner and urban designer who advocates internationally for more walkable cities. Prepare to be inspired. We are excited for him to come to Asheville to inspire our community to imagine and plan for a more vibrant, walkable city. Join us to hear how we can make this vision a reality. RSVP here.

As Director of Design at the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003 through 2007, Mr. Speck presided over the Mayors’ Institute on City Design and created the Governors’ Institute on Community Design. Prior to his federal appointment, Mr. Speck spent ten years as Director of Town Planning at DPZ & Co., the principal firm behind the New Urbanism movement. Since 2007, he has led Speck & Associates, an award winning private design consultancy serving public officials and the real estate industry.
With Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Mr. Speck is the co-author of Suburban Nation, which the Wall Street Journal calls “the urbanist’s bible.” His 2012 book, Walkable City–which the Christian Science Monitor calls “timely and important, a delightful, insightful, irreverent work” – was the best selling city-planning book of 2013-2016. Just released, Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places, takes Walkable City from ideas into action, and was named a Planetizen “Top Ten Book of the Year.”
Doors open at 5:30 and program begins at 6:00.
Building our City is brought to you by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty, the Asheville Downtown Association, the City of Asheville, the Asheville Design Center of MountainTrue, Urban 3, Carleton Collins Architecture, Asheville Grown, Aloft Asheville Downtown, and Friction Shift.

Plugged in Buncombe: Planning and Zoning Commission
2019-11-07 17:00 - 19:00 | City Hall, 70 Court Plaza, Asheville, NC, 28801
In an effort to encourage Buncombe County residents to get plugged into our local democracy, we want you to join us at advisory board or committee meetings. These meetings are designed to encourage residents’ input on specific community issues at the city and county level. Staff from our organizations regularly attend these meetings, but for the next three months we will serve as your guide to understanding and engaging with these committees. We will be available before the meetings for questions and will stick around after to discuss the meeting.
The Planning and Zoning Commission is an advisory board to City Council that reviews text for proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance; hears proposals to zone or change the zoning of property regulated under the UDO and then makes recommendations to City Council for final action; performs studies and surveys of the present conditions and probable future development of the City and its environs.
Plugged in Buncombe Representative: Chris Joyell, Director of Asheville Design Center, a program of MountainTrue that works to build healthy communities throughout WNC.
Please sign up here to let us know you’ll be attending. You can also learn more about all the committees the Plugged in Buncombe initiative will be attending here.

HCO Paddle-n-Plant Workday
2019-11-08 10:00 - 14:00, 2019-11-15 10:00 - 14:00, 2019-12-06 10:00 - 14:00, 2019-12-13 10:00 - 14:00, 2020-02-09 10:00 - 14:00, 2020-02-16 10:00 - 14:00 | The Valle Crucis Community Park, 2892 Broadstone Road, Valle Crucis, NC, 28604, United States

Lake Chatuge Clean up
2019-11-09 09:00 - 11:30 | Towns County Swim Beach Pavillion, US-76, Hiawassee, GA, 30546
WRO will host the 10th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup, in conjunction with Georgia Rivers Alive! The event will kick off at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion at 9:00 AM with breakfast and coffee. Volunteer coordinators will lead teams of 5-10 to designated trash sites along the shores of Lake Chatuge and we’ll meet back at the swim beach pavilion at 11:30 for prizes. The first 100 volunteers to sign-in will receive a free Rivers Alive t-shirt.
If you have a group of three or more, please RSVP in advance to info@hrwc.net or call 828-837-5414 to help us plan. You should arrive by 8:45 if you want a t-shirt!
Map Link

Richmond Hill Habitat Restoration Workday
2019-11-09 09:00 - 13:00 | Richmond Hill Park, 300 Richmond Hill Dr, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States

Fall Foliage Paddle on the Broad
2019-11-10 09:30 - 16:00 | Broad River Greenway Canoe Access, 126 Broad River Drive, Shelby, NC, 28152, United States

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Story of DuPont State Recreational Forest
2019-11-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
On Thursday, November 14th, Hendersonville Green Drinks presents The Story of DuPont State Recreational Forest. Sara Landry, the Executive Director of the Friends of DuPont State Forest, will share the origin story of our state’s first recreational Forest and how group of citizens saved it from development. In addition to the history of the area, Landry will also discuss what the Friends of DuPont are doing to create a Master Trails Plan and ensure the future of the Forest.
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.

Plugged in Buncombe: Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and Environment
2019-11-20 15:30 - 17:30 | Asheville Downtown Police Department, 4th Floor Conference Room, 100 Court Plaza, 4th Floor Conference Room, Asheville, NC, 28801
In an effort to encourage Buncombe County residents to get plugged into our local democracy, we want you to join us at advisory board or committee meetings. These meetings are designed to encourage residents’ input on specific community issues at the city and county level. Staff from our organizations regularly attend these meetings, but for the next three months we will serve as your guide to understanding and engaging with these committees. We will be available before the meetings for questions and will stick around after to discuss the meeting.
The Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment is the committee responsible for developing and recommending policy to support topics such as sustainable energy, waste reduction, sustainable economic development and land use planning. You can find other committees we will be attending as part of the Plugged in Buncombe initiative here.
Plugged in Buncombe Representative: Susan Bean, Community Engagement Manager for MountainTrue, an environmental advocacy non-profit that works to promote clean waters, resilient forests, and healthy communities.
Sign up here to let us know you’ll be attending.

Bearwallow Contemplative Hike w/ CCA
2019-12-04 09:00 - 12:00 | Bearwallow Mountain, 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Rd, Hendersonville, NC, 28792

Alexander River Park Public Workday
2019-12-07 12:00 - 16:00 | Alexander River Park, 2590 Old Marshall Highway, Alexander, NC, 28701
Join Asheville GreenWorks, Mountain True and RiverLink for a restoration extravaganza! RSVP here
We will start our service with an intro into the Alexander River Park’s history, the benefits of several important native species found here and learn how to improve riparian buffer zones. Following the intro we will break into groups that will rotate through our four activities : River Cane Propagation, Invasive Removal, Tree Planting and Stream Cleanup.
All tools, water and snacks will be provided — Just bring yourself, close-toed shoes and warm clothes that can get dirty!
We will meet in the Alexander River Park Parking Lower Parking Lot at noon — Look for tables and the GreenWorks Truck and Tool Trailer.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Reduction Task Force & the Trash Trout
2019-12-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Black Bear Coffee, 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
On Thursday, December 12th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Eric Bradford, Director of Operations for Asheville GreenWorks, who will talk about their newly formed Plastic Reduction Taskforce and the locally installed Mud Creek Trash Trout. Bradford will also discuss the French Broad Litter Reduction Program, and other programs that focus on reducing our dependence on single-use plastics. He’ll also touch on how reducing our plastic consumption can protect fragile ecosystems, and ways that you can get involved.
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.
Eric Bradford is a native of Buncombe County and grew up with Quality Forward/Asheville GreenWorks coming into his community to teach about the importance of environmental stewardship. He’s spent the majority of his career in project management and operations. Since joining Asheville GreenWorks as the Director of Operations, he’s overseen a variety of programs, ranging from water quality work to urban forestry. Eric views it as his personal and professional goal to make Asheville and Buncombe County an environmentally sound and sustainable place for many generations to come.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: How Geology Has Shaped Your Favorite Mountains and Waterfalls
2020-01-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Appalachian Coffee Co., 1628 5th Ave W, Laurel Park, NC, 28739
On Thursday, January 9th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes Bill Jacobs, author of the recently published book “Whence these special places?”, an exploration of the geologic processes that produced WNC’s array of mountains and waterfalls. Jacobs will discuss how some of our most iconic natural places were formed, including Panthertown Valley, Looking Glass Rock and Falls, Shining Rock, Devil’s Courthouse, and Triple, Rainbow and Whitewater Falls. The book and presentation are designed for non-scientists, so no previous geology knowledge is necessary. Signed copies of his book will be available for purchase.
Jacob’s talk will mark our first Green Drinks at our new location. After years of calling Black Bear Coffee home, Green Drinks is headed down the road to Appalachian Coffee in order to accommodate its growing number of event attendees. The Green Drinks Steering Committee is excited about the possibilities the new space will offer but will always appreciate the hospitality Black Bear has provided over the years.
Bill Jacobs retired from his legal career in 2011 and began to explore the extraordinary landscapes of the Eastern Blue Ridge, particularly the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau and surrounding areas. His curiosity led him to a wide array of courses, papers, and books as well as extensive on-the-ground research. This led him to write “Whence These Special Places?”, which focuses on how geologic history has shaped the overall landscape and individual mountains, waterfalls and natural features. Bill lives in Asheville with his wife Susan and two dogs, but spends most of the summer in Cashiers. When he’s not geologizing or hiking with his dogs, he’s likely to be found on his bicycle.
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.

Holiday Recycling in Hendersonville
2020-01-11 09:00 - 14:00 | Jackson Park Ball Field, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
MountainTrue is proud to host its annual Holiday Recycling Event at Jackson Park on Saturday, January 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Area residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees, wreaths, broken string lights and used greeting cards to be mulched and recycled.
Trees, wreaths, lights and greeting cards should be brought on the day of January 11. Trees and wreaths should be stripped of all decorations and lights.
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 for the 4-H Project.
MountainTrue volunteers will be on hand to help and serve free cookies and hot apple cider. Free mulch will be available to those that want to take some home for your garden and landscaping.

Rate Hike Hearing in Franklin
2020-01-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Macon County Courthouse, 5 W. Main street, Franklin, 28734
Duke Energy is trying to raise our electric bills to pay for dirty energy. Again. The company’s latest rate hike proposal would increase residential electricity costs by another 6.7% – or about $97 more per year for the average customer.
Duke’s proposal lacks any direct investment in renewable energy and would raise our rates to burn more gas, create a “deferral” account of up to $2.5 billion for Duke to access in a future rate hike, and call for customers to foot the bill to clean up coal ash – even though Duke knew this coal ash was toxic as far back as the 1980s, and did nothing to prevent it. The rate increase would also come only two years after their last rate hike, and would be their fifth rate hike in ten years.
On January 15, join MountainTrue members in Franklin to tell the NC Utilities Commission: Enough is enough. Don’t let Duke pass the bill for more dirty energy to customers.

Rate Hike Hearing in Morganton
2020-01-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Burke County Courthouse, 201 South Green Street, Morganton, NC, 28655, United States
Duke Energy is trying to raise our electric bills to pay for dirty energy. Again. The company’s latest rate hike proposal would increase residential electricity costs by another 6.7% – or about $97 more per year for the average customer.
Duke’s proposal lacks any direct investment in renewable energy and would raise our rates to burn more gas, create a “deferral” account of up to $2.5 billion for Duke to access in a future rate hike, and call for customers to foot the bill to clean up coal ash – even though Duke knew this coal ash was toxic as far back as the 1980s, and did nothing to prevent it. The rate increase would also come only two years after their last rate hike, and would be their fifth rate hike in ten years.
On January 16, join MountainTrue members in Morganton to tell the NC Utilities Commission: Enough is enough. Don’t let Duke pass the bill for more dirty energy to customers.

Timber Sale Project Hike
2020-01-18 10:00 - 16:00 | NC

Climate Change Communication Strategies
2020-01-23 17:30 - 19:30 | The Collider, Suite 401, 1 Haywood St., Asheville, North Carolina, 28801
The Collider on January 23 from 5:30-7:30 PM for an engaging evening on effective strategies for climate change communication. From 5:30-6:00 PM, there will be a brief reception in the Collider lobby with complimentary beer and beverages. We, and several other organizations who are co-hosting the event, will be tabling in the lobby.
At 6:00 PM, there will be a brief presentation followed by an open and informal facilitated discussion on types of effective communication strategies and how individuals can implement those in their lives and work.
Bring friends and family – all are welcome! Please reach out to Kelsey at khall6@unca.edu with any questions or concerns.
The Collider is located at 1 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville; the top floor of the Wells Fargo Building facing Pritchard Park.

Winter Tree ID Workshop
2020-02-01 13:00 - 16:00 | NC

Creation Care Retreat
2020-02-07 12:30 - 2020-02-08 18:00 | Montreat Conference Center-Anderson Auditorium, 303 Lookout Rd., Montreat, NC, 28757

Make Our National Forests Your Valentine - Asheville
2020-02-12 10:00 - 10:30 | Forest Service Supervisor’s Office, 160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
MountainTrue, the I ?Pisgah Coalition and other forest lovers will deliver Valentine’s cards, flowers and other expressions of love and affection to the Asheville headquarters of the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forests on Wednesday, February 12 in advance of the scheduled Valentine’s Day release of the draft resource management plan. We invite you to bring your own Valentine’s card and meet us at the Forest Service Supervisor’s Office in Asheville to share the love!
Each Valentine card is a message of love for our forests from a member of the public asking the forest service to adopt a management plan that protects the unique qualities of Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests so that people who care about recreation, ecological restoration, natural areas, clean water, wildlife, and local economies are all satisfied with the plan. The draft resource management plan for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests has been in the works since 2013 and, once finalized, will set the priorities and rules under which these public lands will be managed for the next 10 to 20 years. Forest advocates want to ensure a plan that protects the health and vitality of our forests and the communities that depend on them.

Hendersonville Green Drinks: The State of the Broad River
2020-02-13 17:30 - 19:00 | Appalachian Coffee Co., 1628 5th Ave W, Laurel Park, NC, 28739
Hendersonville, NC – On Thursday, February 13th, Hendersonville Green Drinks welcomes David Caldwell, MountainTrue’s Broad Riverkeeper. The Broad River has its headwaters in the Chimney Rock area and runs all the way to Colombia, S.C. In his talk, David will focus on the many threats that face the river, from factory and farm pollution to riverside development, and highlight the work he does to protect the river. David will also discuss his work that led to the recent settlement with Duke Energy and what this victory means for the coal ash that has threatened the safety of the river for years.
Who: David Caldwell, Broad Riverkeeper
What: February Green Drinks topic: The State of the Broad River
When: Thursday, February 13th, 2019 – 5:30 networking, 6:00 presentation
Where: Appalachian Coffee, 1628 5th Ave W, Laurel Park, NC 28739
David Caldwell moved to the Broad River Watershed in 1987, after receiving in Engineering degree from Clemson University. Since then, he’s been swimming, fishing, paddling and exploring the watershed’s rivers and tributaries. In 2011 he founded the Broad River Paddle Club to connect folks who enjoyed recreating on the Broad River. After many years of paddling the river, he developed a concern for the health of the watershed that led him to found the Broad River Alliance, a Waterkeeper Affiliate, in 2015. After over 3 years of volunteer work protecting the river, David became a member of MountainTrue’s staff. David received his Waterkeeper license and became the first Broad Riverkeeper in 2019. David is also an excellent woodcarver and has been running a wood carving business for 25 years.
About Hendersonville Green Drinks
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina and Appalachian 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. Appalachian Coffee Co. offers beer, wine, coffee drinks and sodas. A limited food menu will be available.

Make Our National Forests Your Valentine - Murphy
2020-02-14 10:00 - 10:30 | US Forest ServiceTusquitee Ranger District Office, 123 Woodland Dr, Murphy, NC, 28906, United States
MountainTrue, the I ?Pisgah Coalition and other forest lovers will deliver Valentine’s cards, flowers and other expressions of love and affection to the Tusquitee Ranger District Office of the US Forest Service on Friday, February 14 to welcome the scheduled Valentine’s Day release of the draft resource management plan. We invite you to bring your own Valentine’s card and meet us at the Murphy Office to share the love!
Each Valentine card is a message of love for our forests from a member of the public asking the forest service to adopt a management plan that protects the unique qualities of Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests so that people who care about recreation, ecological restoration, natural areas, clean water, wildlife, and local economies are all satisfied with the plan. The draft resource management plan for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests has been in the works since 2013 and, once finalized, will set the priorities and rules under which these public lands will be managed for the next 10 to 20 years. Forest advocates want to ensure a plan that protects the health and vitality of our forests and the communities that depend on them.

Paddle-n-Plant Workday
2020-02-21 10:00 - 16:00 | NC
