MountainTrue

Fall 2023 Eco-Grief Circle
2023-10-10 12:00 - 2023-11-21 13:15 (America/New_York) | NC
Join us for an Eco Grief Circle this Fall! We will meet weekly on Tuesdays beginning October 10 and ending November 21 from 12pm-1:15 ET. This seven-week online experience will be offered in sessions that last about 1 hour and fifteen minutes. Together we will explore grief and sorrow, anxiety and fear, guilt and shame, anger, and despair. This experience is designed to offer mutual support, healing, insight, and love but is not a grief therapy experience. Past participants expressed profound gratitude for being among people who could talk honestly about grief, suffering, and the ecological and social challenges of our time. The leadership team includes counselors, pastors, and environmental advocates.
All times are Eastern time. There is limited space for this online experience. Sign up to let us know you are interested in joining us.

Green Drinks 10/12 in Hendersonville, NC
2023-10-12 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Join us for an informative session led by Michael Huffman, the City’s Stormwater Division Manager, who will be delivering a comprehensive update on the City’s Stormwater Management Program. During this presentation, we will delve into a variety of topics, including: -An Overview of the Program -Insights into Current Capital Projects -Progress in Green Infrastructure Implementation -Funding and Grants -Highlighting Successful Projects -Collaboration Initiatives -The Environmental Benefits Derived from the Stormwater Program -Interactive Q&A Session
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing 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. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.
About the Presenter: Michael Huffman, serving as the Stormwater Division Manager for the City of Hendersonville, NC, has been an integral part of the city’s progress since 2016. His dedicated efforts have been instrumental in shaping and advancing the City’s Stormwater Program. During his tenure, Michael has transformed the stormwater program into a fully-fledged utility, with a strong emphasis on introducing sustainable stormwater solutions to benefit the community.
Over the past eight years, Michael’s remarkable leadership has yielded significant results, securing over $4 million in grant funding. These funds have supported a wide range of projects, encompassing capital stormwater planning, the implementation of green infrastructure, as well as floodplain and stream restoration initiatives. Michael’s unwavering dedication to preserving and enhancing water quality in our community is evident through his commitment to pioneering innovative practices and methods.
Michael’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. In recognition of his outstanding work, he received the City’s inaugural Sustainability Hero award. Furthermore, he was recently honored as the NC Stormwater Professional of the Year for 2023, underscoring his exceptional achievements and dedication to the field of stormwater management.
5:30 Come grab a drink and meet like-minded folks
6:00 Presentation begins

The River Runs On Screening in Hendersonville, NC
2023-10-13 19:00 - 20:45 | Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe street, Hendersonville, NC, 28791
After three years in the making, we’re excited to finally bring to Hendersonville the feature documentary, The River Runs On! This film explores the release of a forest plan that decides the fate of two of the most important national forests in the country – the Pisgah and Nantahala. Featuring some of the top conservationists and most popular spots within the region, the documentary reflects on our relationship with these public lands and what the future may hold for this unique part of the world.
Presented by Mountain True, this screening will be held in the Sanctuary at Trinity Presbyterian Church. The doors will open at 6:30pm and the film will begin at 7:00pm.
Shortly following the film, we will have a Q&A with the director of the film, Garrett Martin, and Mountain True’s Public Lands Field Biologist, Josh Kelly. Members of the audience will be able to ask questions about the Pisgah-Nanatahala Forest Plan and its release.
To learn more about the film, please visit www.theriverrunson.com
Watch the trailer at https://vimeo.com/764170588
Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-river-runs-on-film-screening-tickets-707948552177?aff=oddtdtcreator

MountainTrue 2023 Annual Gathering in Asheville, NC
2023-10-14 15:00 - 17:00 | Devil’s Foot, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28803, United States
You’re invited! We look forward to seeing your smiling faces at our Annual Member Gathering on Saturday, October 14th. This year’s event will be held at Devil’s Foot Beverage in Asheville, NC.
Get ready for a night of fun and camaraderie with like-minded folks as we celebrate our achievements and honor the relationships each of us have to each other and to the natural world. We are all interconnected. Healthy forests and sustainable development make for clean water. The built environment has profound effects on the natural environment. Understanding the interconnectedness of our world guides our work and is key to building a better future for the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains.
General programming will begin at 3 pm and will include voting on new Board Members, reflecting on our achievements this year and honoring outstanding Volunteers.
This year our doors open early for a Plastics Rally beginning at 2 pm. Learn about the progress that MountainTrue, our members and partners have made in the fight against plastic pollution. French Broad Riverkeeper, Hartwell Carson, will discuss our work to pass a plastic bag ban in Buncombe County and how North Carolina towns and counties are empowered to reduce plastic pollution by NC’s Solid Waste Management Act. Attendees will get fired up and learn from local organizers how they can do their part to stop plastic pollution.
But there’s more! Stick around for our exciting Jeopardy game show featuring one contestant from each of our four regions. The winner will get to designate what MountainTrue work donations collected at the event will fund. Interested in playing? Check out the event page for more information.
Come snack on some hors d’oeuvres and grab a drink on us!
“I want more information or want to RSVP”
This event is open to current members of MountainTrue. Click here to check your membership status or email members@mountaintrue.org. If you’re not a current member, we would love to have you join us — You don’t want to miss out on the fun!
Come raise a glass with us to another year of being stronger together!

Broad River Fall Float near Shelby, NC
2023-10-21 09:30 - 16:00 | Broad River Greenway Canoe Access, 126 Broad River Drive, Shelby, NC, 28152, United States
Join Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell for a fall float along the Broad River. We will be paddling a beautiful and remote stretch of the Broad that few people get to paddle and enjoy! The first half of the trip will have some fun, easy class I and II rapids. The second half of this section is in slow-moving and still water, so we will need to paddle some (not just float) to reach the takeout on time. It is about a 4 to 5-hour trip. If interested we invite you to bring a fishing pole and some binoculars on this trip! There will be opportunities to fish and see wildlife!
The rain date for this event will be October 28th. Please reserve both dates on your calendar to ensure you can attend. If you have any questions about this trip please contact our Broad Riverkeeper via email at david@mountaintrue.org.

Community Invasive Plant Workday on Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC 10/27
2023-10-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Jackson County Greenway Loop, Monteith Gap Rd, Cullowhee, NC, 28723, United States
MountainTrue is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and then treat the stumps.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t have to be able to do strenuous physical labor to participate. Please, no pets.
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes required
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water and snacks
Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and natural beauty of the Greenway! Contact western region program associate Eve Davis with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).

Woody Ethnobotany Walk near Weaverville, NC
2023-10-28 12:30 - 17:00 | Herb Mountain Farm
Ethnobiologist Marc Williams has taught hundreds of classes to thousands of people about plants, humans, other life forms and their interface. His training includes a B.A. in Environmental Studies/Sustainable Agriculture from Warren Wilson College with a minor in Business and a M.A. in Appalachian Studies/Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University with a minor in Planning/Geography. He has over 20 years of experiences working at various restaurants, farms, and travels throughout 30 countries in Central/North/South America, Europe and all 50 states in the USA. More information can be found at www.botanyeveryday.com and www.plantsandhealers.org. The elevation change on this hike will be 500 feet or less.
Come learn more about the food, medicine and craft uses of woody plants. We will take a walk and practice ways to systematically identify trees, shrubs and vines by their bark, ecotypes, flowers, fruit and growing conditions. Common and obscure sustainable uses for woody plants that may support overall health, well-being and sustenance will also be discussed. The connection between woody plants and other lifeforms such as birds, butterflies and fungal species will be an additional topic of conversation. The possible use of exotic invasive woodies as one potential means of control will round out our discussion.

2023 Endemic Species Pub Crawl
2023-10-28 17:00 - 20:00 | NC
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MERCH

Join us on Saturday, October 28, to enjoy some tasty brews in South Asheville while dressed as your favorite endemic or native species! You don’t have to drink to join the pub crawl; come out to talk about endemic species with local experts and enthusiasts. Food options are available at these locations, but you can also bring your own snacks. All three locations are dog-friendly, so feel free to coordinate your costume with your well-behaved pups and bring them along for this fun, free Halloween celebration! Need some costume inspiration? Click here to browse an extensive list of endemic flora and fauna species. Register below.
Itinerary:

Meet at Hillman Beer at 5 p.m.
Forestry Camp at 6:30 p.m.
Village Pub at 8 p.m.

2023 Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup-13th Annual near Hiawassee, GA
2023-11-04 09:00 - 11:00 | Towns County Swim Beach Pavillion, US-76, Hiawassee, GA, 30546
Join with other lake loving volunteers on Saturday, November 4th for the 13th Annual Lake Chatuge Shoreline Cleanup. The event will kick off at 9am at the Towns County Swim Beach Pavilion across from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds where volunteers will get their assigned cleanup locations and be given bags, gloves, and safety information. Coffee and grab-n-go breakfast snacks will be available, along with free Rivers Alive t-shirts for the first 30 volunteers. After two hours of shoreline cleaning at the assigned site, volunteers will meet back at the pavilion at 11:30 for prizes. Three prizes will be given on the day of the cleanup: Most Trash Collected by a Group, Most Creative Trash Photo, and Most Unique Trash Item Found. Enter to win by taking photos and sending them to callie@mountaintrue.org. Thanks to TVA for sponsoring this event again this year!
What to bring:
Closed toed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty
Water
Sun protection
Trash grabber, if you have one

Other Reminders:
While we love our furry friends, please, no pets. In the case of a rainy forecast, we will communicate with registered participants about plans in advance of the event.

Green Drinks 11/9
2023-11-09 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
This month, we will be joined by native plants expert, Bob Gale. He will offer a presentation titled “If You Plant It, They Will Come!”
Description: Are you interested in how to control non-native invasive plants in your yard, on your street, or in your Homeowner’s Association property? Bob Gale will discuss issues related to non-native invasive plants, methods of control, and ideas for moving your yard toward a more natural ecosystem. His background includes landscaping, arboriculture, and wetland science, and he has worked as a forest ecologist in coastal, piedmont, and mountain regions of the southeast. Bob wrote the natural history portions of the book “A Highroad Guide to the North Carolina Mountains”; and co-authored, with his wife and son, “A Beachcomber’s Guide to Fossils”.
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing 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. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.

Community Invasive Plant Workday on Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC 11/10
2023-11-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Jackson County Greenway Loop, Monteith Gap Rd, Cullowhee, NC, 28723, United States
MountainTrue, in partnership with the WCU Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning (CESL) and the Mainspring Conservation Trust, is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and then treat the stumps.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t have to be able to do strenuous physical labor to participate. Please, no pets.
Please bring:

Closed-toed shoes required
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water and snacks

Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and natural beauty of the Greenway! Contact western region program associate Eve Davis with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).
The rain day for this event will be held on Friday, 11/17. Please mark your calendar.

Old Growth Forest Hike near Barnardsville, NC
2023-11-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Asheville US Forest Service Office, 160 Zillicoa St # A, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
This hike will explore an old-growth, high elevation oak forest in the proposed Craggy Mountain National Scenic Area. The hike will be partially off trail, traverse steep, rocky terrain, and be very strenuous. During the hike we will discuss tree identification, forest ecology, and traits of old-growth forests, among other topics. There will be 1,000 to 1,500 vertical feet of elevation change on this hike, please keep that in mind when signing up.
This hike will take place on Coxcombe Mountain but we will meet as a group at the Asheville US Forest Service Office before the hike to carpool. There is very limited parking so carpooling will be essential for this trip.

Pickup Event for Western Region Fall Native Tree & Shrub Sale in Murphy, NC
2023-11-18 09:00 - 12:00 | MountainTrue Western Regional Office, 90 Tennessee Street, Murphy, NC, 28906, United States
This is the pick up event for plants that are pre-ordered and paid for through our western region Fall Native Tree & Shrub Sale fundraiser. The plants are delivered by the nurseries to the MountainTrue Western Regional Office parking lot on the morning of the event, so no early pick up is available. We will not be ready to fill orders until 9:00 sharp! If you arrive early, please find a parking place. Do not form a line in your cars that will quickly prevent others from entering the parking lot.
What to expect: Your plants are entering dormancy this month, which is a kind of “hibernation” for the winter. Don’t be surprised if they have no leaves at all! It’s perfectly natural, as this is the time of year that deciduous trees lose their leaves. Also, some of the 3-gallon trees will be 8-10′ (feet) tall. We’ve folded them into a Prius before, but it’s not easy!
If you cannot make it on Saturday 11/18 and there’s no one else who can pick up your order for you, please contact us as soon as possible either by emailing tony@mountaintrue.org or calling 828-837-5414. We do not want to move your plants around unnecessarily!
This event will be held rain or shine!

No Man's Land Film Festival Screening
2023-11-28 19:00 - 21:00 | NC
MountainTrue is excited to host the No Man’s Land Film Festival again this year on November 28, 2023 in coordination with Giving Tuesday – a global generosity movement helping to transform communities and the world. Although you can register to watch the films for free, we hope you will consider supporting the work of MountainTrue with a contribution.
Screening will be offered both in person in Asheville, NC at New Belgium Brewing’s Liquid Center AND virtually.
Full event information and RSVPs can be found here: https://mountaintrue.org/nmlff2023/

Hike to Standing Indian Mountain near Hayesville, NC-CANCELLED
2023-12-03 13:00 - 16:00 | Deep Gap Trailhead Parking, Franklin, NC, 28734, United States
Due to the Collett Ridge Fire and the lack of rain in the forecast, the air quality is poor and not expected to improve before the hike. Sadly we are canceling this hike but we hope you can join us for another outing soon!
We’ll use Deep Gap Rd before it closes for the season (Jan 2) to access the Appalachian Trail for a 5-mile round trip out-and-back hike to Standing Indian Mountain, elevation 5,439′. It’s a gentle incline all the way up with only 1,095′ of elevation gain over 2.5 miles. There are gorgeous views from the top, especially in December when all the leaves are off the trees!

Speckled Trout Pint Night to support the Watauga Riverkeeper on 12/7 in Blowing Rock, NC
2023-12-07 18:00 - 20:00 | The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop, 922 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC, 28605, United States
Join us for a pint in Blowing Rock at the Speckled Trout to hear from the Riverkeeper and the team about the state of rivers, meet the High Country team, and learn about our awesome work!
Bring some friends, and let’s raise a glass to supporting clean water for good beer and good fishing!

Community Invasive Plant Workday on Jackson County Greenway in Cullowhee, NC 12/9
2023-12-09 13:00 - 16:00 | NC
MountainTrue, in partnership with the Mainspring Conservation Trust, is hosting a community volunteer workday to control non-native invasive plants and restore native habitat at the Jackson County Greenway. We will primarily be pulling up roots and using hand tools to remove invasive shrubs like Chinese privet and then treat the stumps.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc. We have large and small tasks available, so you don’t have to be able to do strenuous physical labor to participate. Please, no pets.
Please bring:
Closed-toed shoes required
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirts recommended
Water and snacks
Let’s work together to improve the wildlife habitat and natural beauty of the Greenway! Contact western region program associate Eve Davis with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).

Hendersonville Green Drinks - Considering Tradeoffs: A Growth & Development Mapping Exercise
2023-12-14 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
City Planning Staff will lead participants through a mapping exercise where you will be tasked to balance housing growth and economic development with choices related to transportation, quality of life and conservation. You will have to earn points to unlock game pieces and strive to avoid “raising taxes” in order to “win” the game.
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing 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. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.
About the presenter: Matthew Manley is an accredited City Planner through the American Planning Association’s American Institute of Certified Planners. He is the project manager for the City of Hendersonville GEN H Comprehensive Plan. Matthew has been with the City of Hendersonville since December of 2020 and helped to shepherd the city through a time of unprecedented growth. He is originally from Greenville, SC and attended Presbyterian College (B.S.) and Clemson University (MCRP). He came to Hendersonville after working in Johnson City, Tennessee and Lyons, Colorado. He lives in town with his wife, Molly, and two toddlers, Quinn and Townes, and the family’s two dogs, Reed and Dega. They are all avid hikers and lovers of nature. Outside of work, if he is not on the trail or working in the yard, you will find him rooting for his Gamecocks and Atlanta Braves!

Live Staking Work Day near Boone, NC 12/15
2023-12-15 10:00 - 14:00 | Wards Mill Dam, 443 Old Watauga River Rd, Sugar Grove, NC, 28679, United States
Come plant native trees with MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper at the historic former site of Wards Mill Dam! This project has been completed for 2 years, and we are able to continue repairing the vegetative buffer thanks to support from TVA’s Shade Your Stream program and the Tennessee River Basin Network.
If you’re looking to get outside and help us restore and replenish streambanks, these work days are a great way to meet new friends and do some good work for Mother Nature too!
Live staking involves taking dormant cuttings of a living tree and planting them along the river’s edge. For the remainder of 2023, our live staking goals prioritize improving riparian habitat connectivity at high-priority stream sites in the Watauga drainage following the historic Ward’s dam removal.
What to bring:

Lunch/snacks
warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather, but also make sure it’s things you don’t mind to get dirty)
rubber boots and/or waders (We have some, but not many so bring your own if you have them.)
water to drink

We will meet at the Old Watauga River Rd at the Ward’s Mill Dam site. Park along the sides of the gravel road. Please DO NOT block the barn or driveways.

First Day Hike in the Brasstown Wilderness near Young Harris, GA
2024-01-01 10:00 - 14:00 | Miller Trek Trailhead, Young Harris, GA, 30582, United States
Join MountainTrue’s Western Regional director on the first day of the New Year for a moderate 6-mile loop hike in the Brasstown Wilderness. The trail climbs at a consistent rate of 500 ft/mile for almost three miles, skirting around Rocky Knob where we’ll take a short spur trail out to some rock outcrops for lunch and amazing views of both Hiawassee and Young Harris. The rest of the hike descends almost at the same rate it ascended, passing through beautiful mature forests on the way back to the trailhead. There is nothing particularly challenging about this hike. It’s rated moderate for the length and elevation gain of about 1,500′.

Christmas Tree Recycling in Hendersonville, NC 1-6-24--Event cancelled due to inclement weather. See event info for more details.
2024-01-06 09:00 - 14:00 | Jackson Park Ball Field, 801 Glover St, Hendersonville, NC, 28792, United States
The 2024 Holiday Recycling event is canceled due to inclement weather. Folks may still drop off their trees at Jackson Park Ballfield #6 Lot, they will be chipped for mulch sometime next week. We will announce when mulch is available for pick-up.

Foam recycling has moved to the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. The next collection will be on Tuesday, January 16 at the Henderson County Convenience Center, learn more here: https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/solid-waste/page/foam-collection-events

Tree lights can be recycled at the NC Cooperative Extension Office in Jackson Park. Tubs will be by the front door and lights can be left between now and Monday. Lights will be recycled to benefit the Henderson County 4H Club.

Thank you City of Hendersonville Public Works, Henderson County Parks & Recreation and Solid Waste teams, and the Henderson County 4H Club for their collaboration in this sustainable holiday effort!

Get Outside WNC hiking series benefiting MountainTrue
2024-01-07 14:00 - 2024-03-03 18:00 | NC
Get Outside WNC is an organization dedicated to the exposure of, education of, and conservation of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through memorable group hikes that get us in nature, Get Outside WNC raises money for local outdoor programs. This Winter the beneficiary of hikes is MountainTrue.
Hikes are some of MountainTrue’s most popular outings and we often sell out fast, leaving some folks missing out on the fun. We hope that you will consider signing up for one of the upcoming hikes in this series, knowing that you will be supporting MountainTrue and another great organization, Get Outside WNC.
Upcoming hikes:
January 7th – Bearwallow Mountain
January 21st – Moore Cove
February 4th – Triple & High Falls
February 18th – Caesar’s Head
March 3rd – Twin Falls
Sign up or read more about the upcoming hikes
***Please Note: these hikes are NOT led by MountainTrue staff but are led by Get Outside WNC. For questions regarding the hikes or signing up, please contact Jenna Watson: jwatson7735@yahoo.com
More about Get Outside, WNC:
Get Outside WNC not only promotes conservation and protection of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but also emphasizes the positive effects of nature on our mental health. Hiking serves as a healthy way to destress, get exercise, and recover from the demands of work, school, and our day-to-day routines. Get Outside WNC hopes to get youth back outside and promote positive health habits.

Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC 1/11: Conservation Research to Reduce Wildlife Vehicle Collisions, Improve Human Safety, & Connect Habitat in WNC
2024-01-11 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
This month Dr. Liz Hillard, Senior Wildlife Biologist for Wildlands Network, will highlight and discuss research findings from two wildlife road crossing projects here in Western North Carolina. Her research includes monitoring reptile road underpasses for wildlife use in Gorges State Park, and evaluating bear, deer, and elk road conflict areas along I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
Liz Hillard, Ph.D., is Wildlands Network’s Senior Wildlife Biologist for the Appalachian Region. For the last five years, Liz has been leading research efforts focused on increasing wildlife habitat connectivity and mitigating the effects of roads on wildlife. In addition, she works to build partnerships and engage the public in conservation efforts throughout the Southern Appalachian region. Liz earned a M.S. in Biology from Western Carolina University in 2013 researching elk habitat selection in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and earned her Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University in 2018. Liz is based in Asheville.
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing 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. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.

Brainy Brews with MountainTrue in Asheville 1/17/24: If you plant it, they will come
2024-01-17 18:00 - 19:00 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Are you interested in how to control non-native invasive plants in your yard, on your street, or in your Homeowner’s Association property? Former MountainTrue Ecologist and Public Lands Director, Bob Gale, will discuss issues related to non-native invasive plants, methods of control, and ideas for moving your yard toward a more natural ecosystem. His background includes landscaping, arboriculture, and wetland science, and he has worked as a forest ecologist in coastal, piedmont, and mountain regions of the southeast. Bob wrote the natural history portions of the book “A Highroad Guide to the North Carolina Mountains”; and co-authored, with his wife and son, “A Beachcomber’s Guide to Fossils”.
This FREE event kicks off a series of educational opportunities with MountainTrue in 2024. We are excited to be hosted by The River Arts District Brewing Company. Programming will be from 6-7 pm but come at 5:30 to grab a drink and get settled in. (Popcorn is available on site and guests are welcome to bring in their own snacks and dinner).
We hope you will join us and get a jump start on your landscaping wish list. We are thrilled to launch our first online Native Plant and Shrub Sale in Asheville from February 15th, 2024 through March 31st. More details coming soon. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of our Native Plant Guide.
I want to support the work of MountainTrue!

Webinar: Why should environmentalists support building more housing?
2024-01-22 17:30 - 18:30 | virtual
We know that healthy communities exist within the context of a healthy environment — and right now, both are threatened. There is a housing shortage across the country, with many hard-working families unable to find a place to live. There is also a climate crisis, with greenhouse gas emissions threatening the stability of all our planet’s ecosystems and biodiversity.
Join us to learn more about MountainTrue’s newest program, Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC, and about part of the solution to both these crises.
This is a Virtual event. Once you register you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom with the meeting id and the link.

Live staking workday at Union County Farmers Market in Blairsville, GA.
2024-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | 290 Farmers Market Way Blairsville, GA, 290 Farmers Market Way, Blairsville, GA, 30512, United States
Come out to Blairsville, GA to assist MountainTrue as we install livestakes along streams on the Union County Farmers Market property to improve the water quality in Butternut Creek.
No prior experience is necessary; we will provide tools and training. Please register in advance so that we will have enough tools, gloves, etc for you. This is a kid friendly event and a wonderful engaged learning experience!
Please bring:
Warm layers
Water and snacks
You may wish to bring your own work gloves, but gloves will be provided by MountainTrue as well.
Let’s work together to improve the water quality of Butternut Creek with the power of livestakes!
Contact Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward with any questions (tony@mountaintrue.org).

2024 CCA Retreat & Symposium
2024-02-02 08:00 - 2024-02-03 17:00 | Montreat Conference Center-Anderson Auditorium, 303 Lookout Rd., Montreat, NC, 28757
Sacred Symbiosis: Relationships for Creation Justice
The theme of our 2024 Creation Care Alliance Symposium is “Sacred Symbiosis.” Our presentations, workshops, and conversations will explore the relationships needed to build and nurture justice for all creation–human and non-human. We’re excited to dive in and learn together!
This retreat is designed with congregational lay leaders, environmental professionals, and clergy in mind. Whether new to creation care or a long-time advocate, you’ll gain new language and tools to inspire your congregation or community and find space to invigorate your imagination, creativity, and spiritual practice.
The symposium will begin on Friday, February 2nd, with a full day of workshops and conversations and will run through Saturday, February 3rd. Our keynote speaker, Mary Crow of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), will speak on the 3rd. Unlike past years, Friday and Saturday’s programs are open to all and will not be limited to clergy. We hope you join us!
We will be hosted at the Montreat Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. If you would like to stay on-site at the conference center, you may book a room through this separate form: ROOM RESERVATION FORM HERE. We have limited rooms available, so please book yours early to ensure your spot.
Discounts:

Early-bird discount. Register before December 4th to receive $15 off both days of the conference. If you attend both days, that is $30 savings!
Group discount. Groups of three or more people from the same congregation are eligible for the group discount of $10 off both days of the conference. If your group attends both days, that is a $20 discount per person. This offer is open until the close of registration on January 19th. Go here to register your group and receive your discount.

Student discount. If you are a current student, you can attend the symposium for a fraction of the cost ($20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday). We hope you will join us!

We don’t want cost to be a barrier to anyone who would like to attend. Scholarships are available to those in need. Please contact Sarah Ogletree at sarah@creationcarealliance.org for more information. Put “scholarship” in the subject line of your email. We’re happy to assist!
Friday’s Workshops:

Get to Know Your Neighbors: The Trees of Southern Appalachia
Transforming Food Systems as People of Faith
Beekeeping as Creation Care
Housing & Faith Communities: The Creation Care Connection
Electrification & Solar: A Congregational Approach
Community Organizing 101
The Why & How of Seedsaving
Creation Care in Worship: A Conversation for Clergy

Saturday’s Workshops:

Keynote by Mary Crow
Success Stories from Congregations: Get Inspired!
Working for Energy Justice
Eco-Grief Ritual & Meditation
Understanding & Protecting Your Watershed
“Painting the Sacred” Workshop
Supporting Local Farmers
Planning Earth Day in Your Congregation: A Conversation with Religious Educators
Creative Writing Workshop
Forming your Green Team 101
Guide to Creation Care 2.0 w/ Sarah Ogletree

For full workshop descriptions, click here

Live Staking Work Day near Sugar Grove, NC 2-2
2024-02-02 11:00 - 14:00 | Wards Mill Dam, 443 Old Watauga River Rd, Sugar Grove, NC, 28679, United States
Come plant native trees with MountainTrue’s Watauga Riverkeeper at the historic former site of Wards Mill Dam! This project has been completed for 2 years, and we are able to continue repairing the vegetative buffer thanks to support from TVA’s Shade Your Stream program and the Tennessee River Basin Network.
If you’re looking to get outside and help us restore and replenish streambanks, these work days are a great way to meet new friends and do some good work for Mother Nature too! Live staking involves taking dormant cuttings of a living tree and planting them along the river’s edge. For our 2024 livestaking season, our goals prioritize improving riparian habitat connectivity at high-priority stream sites in the Watauga drainage following the historic Ward’s dam removal.
Please bring:

Lunch/snacks
Warm layers & gloves (we’ll be on the water, so dress for weather and make sure it’s things you don’t mind getting dirty)
Rubber boots and/or waders (We have some, but not many so bring your own if you have them.) water to drink

There is parking along the side of the road.

The Smell of Money Screening Presented by MountainTrue and Asheville Animal Rights Collective (AARC) in Asheville, NC
2024-02-05 18:30 - 21:00 | Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St Ste 10, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Join MountainTrue and Asheville Animal Rights Collective (AARC) for a screening of The Smell of Money at the Grail Moviehouse in Asheville, North Carolina. Stick around for a panel discussion after the viewing including panelists from both host organizations.
“The smell of money”—that’s what Big Pork calls the stench of pig waste in the air in eastern North Carolina, where much of the world’s bacon and barbecue is made. But to Elsie Herring and others who live near the state’s giant pig factories, the revolting odor is a call to battle against generations of injustice. When a corporate hog farm moves in––uninvited––on land her grandfather had purchased after claiming his freedom from slavery, Elsie Herring decides to fight back. But as her rural community becomes the epicenter of the pork industry’s explosion in America, Elsie’s struggle to save her family’s home and heritage turns into a battle against one of the world’s most powerful companies and its deadly pollution.
After decades of intimidation and defeat, Elsie and her community team up with a gutsy small- town lawyer to take the world’s largest pork company to court. An epic, nine-year legal battle ensues, and the residents risk everything to reclaim their rights to clean air, pure water, and a life free from the stench of shit.
A story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice, The Smell of Money calls upon viewers to see the people behind what’s on our plates––and to join the fight for a better future for us all.
Watch the Trailer
Purchase Tickets (only 50 seats available so don’t wait, get your ticket now!)
Doors Open at 6pm, Show starts at 6:30 pm.
A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the work of MountainTrue and Asheville Animal Rights Collective (AARC).
Panelists for the event include:

Bo Hess, MSW, LCSW, LCAS social worker, therapist, social justice and animal rights advocate, and current candidate for Asheville City Council. Bo is originally from Goldsboro, where numerous factory farms and meatpacking plants are located, less than an hour from where “The Smell of Money” was filmed. When he was a kid, a hurricane came through and polluted the area with pigs’ waste, and it was one of the defining moments in his life that woke him up to a vegan, plant-based lifestyle.

Calen Otto is a queer, anti-speciesist activist and co-organizer of AARC. They formerly lived on the East coast of North Carolina and would frequently visit Duplin County, where “The Smell of Money” was filmed, to document the conditions of pigs in holding pens and on their way to the slaughterhouse, as well as the environmental impacts. When Hurricane Florence hit Calen helped rescue 50+ animals from the floods and some of their footage was included in the documentary.

Erica Shanks, MountainTrue’s Green Riverkeeper, has worked for the past ten years in the agricultural field supporting new and beginning farmers, managing farmer’s markets, running her own small farm business, and advocating for the protection of farmland for future beginning farmers. She traveled to Patagonia, Chile to volunteer with Conservacion Patagonica to learn about farming practices with a heavy focus on protecting ecosystems and regenerating the land while growing food.

Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC 2/8: Ecusta Trail Update and Plans for the Future
2024-02-08 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Join us to learn about the latest developments on planning and construction of the Ecusta Trail, as well as potential trail enhancements and connections that could occur in the future. Initial construction of the Ecusta Trail will be bare bones, but there is the potential for many types of amenities that will vastly improve the user experience and involve community collaboration. During this presentation, Mark Tooley (president of The Friends of Ecusta Trail) will discuss some of the ideas that are being discussed for future development of the trail. Studies have found that the more connectivity a trail has to other trails and popular destinations, the more useful and desirable it becomes. Mark will share information about how the Ecusta Trail connects with existing trails or those being planned in the region which will help provide connectivity for an enhanced user experience.
The Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) has been in existence for nearly 15 years as an advocacy organization to create a rail trail on the unused rail line between Hendersonville and Brevard. FOET has worked with local governments, private businesses, non-governmental organizations, and non-profits to gain community support for the trail during that time. After Ecusta Rails2Trail LLC. (a subsidiary of Conserving Carolina) purchased the rail line in 2021, FOET has worked with Conserving Carolina to raise private funds to provide required local matching funds for the federal grants that have been received. Those grants that have been awarded, totaling nearly $46 million, will be used to build the entirety of the Ecusta Trail in the next several years.
Mark is a past board member of Conserving Carolina and has been a board member of FOET for nearly 10 years. He has been FOET’s president for the past two years and resides in Transylvania County.
5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.
6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!
Hendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina, MountainTrue and Trailside Brewing 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. Trailside Brewing Co. offers beer, wine, cider, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available.
