MountainTrue

Hendersonville Green Drinks - Considering Tradeoffs: A Growth & Development Mapping Exercise
2023-12-14 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | 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
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.

Trash Trout River Clean Out near Boone, NC 2-9
2024-02-09 14:00 - 16:30 | Boone Fire Station #2, 1075 State Farm Rd, Boone, NC, 28607
Want to get in the river AND contribute to its health? Assist with cleanout and inventory of trash types and brands found within the Trash Trouts. This week’s trash trout clean out will be at Winkler’s Creek. Made from recycled materials, this passive litter collection device will be sure to get you asking questions and feeling good about what we can do to mitigate the trash found in the river.
We’ve got the boots and waders, just bring your love for river health! Sign up so we know your sizes and how many people to bring equipment for.
Kids are welcome at this event, however, anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entire duration of the event.
Please Bring:

Water
Snacks

First Online Annual Native Shrub and Plant Sale in Asheville, NC RESTOCKED!
2024-02-15 08:00 - 2024-03-31 23:59 | The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
We are thrilled to announce our first online Asheville-based Annual Native Perennial and Shrub Sale. Get a jump start on Earth Day and take steps to get your yards and gardens back to their “roots”.
Choose from several native perennial species and shrubs, including azaleas, ornamental native plants, pollinator species, and those particularly beneficial to wildlife. All plants are sourced locally from Carolina Native Nursery.
Pricing is $15 for 1-gallon, $35 for 3-gallon and $12 for 1-gallon perennials.
Orders will be accepted online from February 15th through March 31st, while supplies last. You must pay for the order at the time you submit it in order to secure your species and size of choice. Then, pick up your order in Asheville, NC on Thursday, April 11th between 4 and 7:00 p.m. from The Outpost on Amboy Rd. in Asheville, NC.
**MUST pick up on April 11th unless prior arrangements have been made by emailing amy@mountaintrue.org. Early pick-up is not available. Items will not be delivered until the morning of April 11th.
Native shrubs and perennials are a vital component of healthy streams and lakes. They help prevent erosion, filter pollution from runoff, and provide food and shelter for wildlife. MountainTrue staff and volunteers spend significant time and resources removing nonnative invasive plants along streams and lake shorelines to protect water quality and ensure that the native vegetation stays healthy.
Full species list and descriptions
Pricing List
Plants that are found here inspire a “sense of place” and pride in our mountain communities and promote wise stewardship and conservation of natural resources. For questions related to these or other native and invasive plant species, email Western Region Program Coordinator, Tony Ward.

Support MountainTrue at PechaKucha in Asheville 2-16
2024-02-16 19:30 - 21:00 | The Grove House, 11 Grove Street, Asheville, NC, 28801
PechaKucha Night Asheville will celebrate 21 years of global PechaKucha with our 33rd volume — another evening of fascinating presentations from the most creative and interesting people in and beyond Asheville, all following the beautifully simple PechaKucha 20×20 format: 20 images, shown for 20 seconds each. This volume features Mountain True’s own Susan Bean, Housing and Transportation Director, delivering a presentation on Missing Middle Housing in Asheville.
Doors at The Grove House open at 7 PM and the presentations begin at 7:30 PM.
Get your tickets today at https://pechakuchaavl.org/attend and learn more at https://pechakuchaavl.org, on Instagram @pechakuchaavl, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pknavl.
**Ticket purchases support PechaKucha Asheville but MountainTrue is proud to have the opportunity to present to the community.

Live Staking Work Day near Sugar Grove, NC 2-17
2024-02-17 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!
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.

Trivia Night and Beer Release in Asheville, NC
2024-02-20 19:00 - 21:00 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
Beat the Winter Blues with us in a fiery round of FREE trivia at The River Arts District Brewing Company. There will be prizes for the top 3 trivia teams.
Trivia not quite enough to lure you out on a chilly night? RAD Brewing will also be releasing a special beer, “Stream of Conscience”, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting MountainTrue.
Trivia will start at 7 pm. Bring a friend (or two or three) and come early to grab your table, a drink/snack and chat with MountainTrue staff. Tin Can Pizzeria food truck will be on site so come hungry! (Trivia teams are limited to 6 per team). We hope to see you there!

Forever Chemicals Documentary Screening and Discussion Presented by NC Conservation Network in Asheville, NC
2024-02-21 18:15 - 19:30 | The River Arts District Brewing Company, 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, NC, 28801, United States
MountainTrue is a proud member of the North Carolina Conservation Network. They are a statewide network of over 60 environmental, community and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health.
NC Conservation Network will be hosting a free screening of WRAL’s Forever Chemicals: North Carolina’s Toxic Tap Water at RAD Brewing in Asheville, NC. Also known as PFAS chemicals, they’ve been found across the state and are harming our communities’ health and well-being. Directly following the screening, we’ll have a short discussion about forever chemicals in our state. We’ll also have some immediate actions you can take to help us stop forever chemical pollution.
MountainTrue will be on hand to support and we hope you will join us in supporting this event.
Event Details

Date: 02/21/2024 6:15pm-7:30pm
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Host: NC Conservation Network
Address: 13 Mystery Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Event Website

The film will start promptly at 6:15pm, so we encourage you to get there early to secure your spot and mingle with everyone in attendance. If you plan to come, please RSVP by clicking this link or email kristen@ncconservationnetwork.org.
This is not a MountainTrue hosted event but we are proud to support it. Please send any event inquiries to kristen@ncconservationnetwork.org.

Special Edition Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC 2/22: "Drought, Climate Change, and The Mystery of the Missing Western Water"
2024-02-22 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Hear Rocky Mountain Biological Lab Research Scientist Ian Breckheimer discuss how a team of environmental scientists are revolutionizing our understanding of water in the West and helping us adapt to climate change. Ian was raised in Western North Carolina.
The Colorado River is the lifeblood of the American Southwest, and the river’s 40 million human users are struggling to adapt to a severe drought made worse by climate change. The vast majority of the river’s flow comes from winter snowpack in the Rocky Mountains, and in recent years scientists and water managers have become extremely good at measuring how much water is in the snowpack in early spring. Ideally, we could use this information to forecast how much water will be available for human use in the river the following summer, helping us better conserve this scarce resource. Unfortunately, water forecasting on the Colorado is has been held back by a large and unpredictable amount of snow water (up to 25% of the river’s annual flow) that seems to disappear between the snowpack and the river. Solving the mystery of this “missing” water has brought together a diverse group of hydrologists, ecologists, and atmospheric scientists at a remote field station in Colorado. This talk will gather and synthesize exciting new results from their pioneering work, showing how environmental researchers can play a critical role in helping us adapt to accelerating climate change.
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.

2024 Watershed Gala in Young Harris, GA
2024-02-29 17:30 - 19:30 | Charles Suber Banquet Hall, Young Harris College, Young Harris, GA, 30582
The Watershed Gala is an upscale social gathering that celebrates good water quality still being measured in many rivers, lakes, and streams and recognizes those who work to sustain it. This year’s event will be shorter and slightly less formal, featuring a menu of heavy hors d’oeuvres, along with wine, beer, sodas, and water.
An in-person silent auction will be held throughout the event with beautiful art and craft items made right here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as unique opportunities to relax, dine, and play! Popular local musician Troy Underwood will provide his bluesy, soul, folk sound for the evening.
After the presentation of the Holman Water Quality Stewardship Award, several select items will be auctioned live by local auctioneer and entertainer, Tim Ryan.
Ticketing information here:
*Individual tickets (that don’t include a table seat) are $40/each. Buy individual tickets!
*Tables for 8 can be purchased for $360/ each. Tables are limited so don’t wait! Buy your tables for 8 now!
Join us for an evening of laughter, fun, and camaraderie! The deadline for purchasing tickets is Wednesday, February 21st.
Full event information can be found here.

Winter Tree ID Hike-LOCATION CHANGE
2024-03-07 12:00 - 16:00
We have learned that the Parkway is closed in the stretch where the Flatrock Loop Trail is, so we are making a last-minute location change.

Updated location: Bull Gap on the the Blue Ridge Parkway

Park at the gate. This section of trail is surprisingly diverse and even offers some long-range views. We will meet at noon and return to our vehicles by 4 p.m.

Do you want to improve your ability to identify trees in all seasons? Winter is the time to do that! On this hike we will be treated to an afternoon in an ancient oak forest and views from a granitic outcrop. Along the way, participants will learn both basic and advanced techniques for tree identification. We will also discuss forest ecology, wildlife habitat, and more.
This hike is moderately strenuous and open to all knowledge levels. Children are welcome if they can hike up to 3 miles. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.
Please bring:
*Sturdy hiking shoes
*Clothes/layers appropriate for the weather
*Snacks
*Rain Gear
*At least 1 liter of water
We love our four-legged friends but pets are not permitted on this hike.

Trash Trout River Clean Out near Boone, NC 3-8
2024-03-08 14:00 - 16:30 | Boone Fire Station #2, 1075 State Farm Rd, Boone, NC, 28607

Winter Bird Watch around Lake Chatuge near Hayesville, NC 3/9/2024-CANCELED DUE to WEATHER
2024-03-09 07:30 - 09:30 | Chatuge Dam, 1407 Chatuge Dam Rd, Hayesville, NC, 28904, United States
There is a 90% chance of rain on Saturday, March 9th so we must cancel this event. We hope to reschedule this at a later date.
MountainTrue is hosting the 18th Annual Winter Bird Watch outing around Lake Chatuge! Participants will meet at Chatuge Dam and carpool/caravan to various sites around the lake. Typically 18-25 different species of birds are observed on the outing, ranging from small songbirds to larger birds of prey and wintering waterfowl associated with more northern climes (like loons!).
Retired Young Harris College professor and former Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition board member Brenda Hull will again lead the outing. A spotting scope is provided for up-close views, but participants should still bring binoculars and a favorite bird identification guide, if they have them.
Kids ages 8 & up are welcome but anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
What to bring:
Binoculars and bird guides if you have them
Water and snacks if desired
Warm layers (there is usually a breeze by the lake).
**As much as we love our furry friends, pets are not permitted on this outing.
Join us to learn more about our feathered winter visitors!

Additional Resources for your reference:
Birdwatching for Beginners: How to Start Birding

https://www.audubon.org/birding/how-to-start-birding

7th Annual Bill Beazel/Allen Robbins Memorial Tailwater Roundup in Bluff City, TN
2024-03-09 08:00 - 15:00 | Bluff City Boat Ramp, Bluff City, TN, 37618
Come join our friends from the Overmountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a clean-up in Bluff City, Tennessee. They have teamed up with local fishing guides, paddling enthusiasts, and community members to host this event for the 7th year in a row on the South Holston and Watauga Rivers.
Pack your car with friends and family and join the annual effort to help our downstream neighbors keep their watershed beautiful!
There will be a celebration at the end of the day with food and prizes. Bags and gloves will also be provided. Our water team will be there as well to support their cleanup efforts to protect our valuable river resources.
WHERE
Watauga River
Ingles parking lot
768 W Elk Ave
Elizabethton, TN 37643
After party is at Watauga River Lodge 643 Smalling Rd, Watauga, TN 37694.
For more information about the event or after-party click here.

Plastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World Webinar
2024-03-12 13:00 - 14:00 | virtual
Everywhere we look in our culture, you will find plastic. One place where you will not find plastic, however, is in the Bible. Join us for a conversation about plastic and the call to a genuine faith with special guests Avery Davis Lamb (Co-Director of Creation Justice Ministries) and Anna Alsobrook (MountainTrue Watershed Science and Policy Manager).
We will discuss the plastic crisis and what we can do–highlighting MountainTrue’s campaign to address single-use plastic pollution and Creation Justice Ministries’ new resource for Christian faith communities on Earth Day Sunday, Plastic Jesus: Real Faith in a Synthetic World.
*This webinar will be recorded with a copy of our conversation sent out to all who register. Even if you can’t attend in person, we hope you sign up to get the recording!

Green Drinks in Hendersonville, NC: Sustainability Initiatives for the City of Hendersonville
2024-03-14 17:30 - 19:00 | The Grove at Trailside Brewing, 873 Lenox Park Dr, Hendersonville, NC, 28739, United States
Join the City of Hendersonville for this month’s Green Drinks to hear from City Sustainability Manager, Caitlyn Gendusa about various sustainability initiatives the City is working on. Participants will hear updates on topics such as zero and low-emission transportation, waste management, energy efficiency, and more. There will also be an update on the City’s first Sustainability Strategic Plan, which is expected to be finalized and adopted this spring. This plan includes a public input survey currently available online for community members to provide their feedback.
Caitlyn Gendusa is the Sustainability Manager for the City of Hendersonville where she works to advance municipal sustainability efforts ranging from energy, transportation, waste management, and land management. Before her work with the City, she worked for four years as the Land Conservation Manager for Upstate Forever, a non-profit land conservation organization in Greenville, SC. Her academic background includes sustainable agriculture and development where she worked on various projects including farm-to-school education, sustainability planning for a conference center, and research on organic agriculture methods. She is originally from Atlanta, GA, but has called Western North Carolina home for five years.
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.

Green River Cove Wildflower Walk near Saluda, NC with MountainTrue and Hemlock Restoration Initiative
2024-03-17 12:30 - 17:00 | Fishtop Access, 2302 Green River Cove, Saluda, North Carolina, 28773
Enjoy a guided hike with MountainTrue Biologist Josh Kelly and Olivia Hall from The Hemlock Restoration Initiative (HRI) at one of the earliest blooming wildflower sites in Western North Carolina.
The moderate, four-mile hike will include information on wildflower identification, tree identification, and forest ecology. Join us as we discuss the importance of hemlocks and Hemlock Woolley Adelgid Management across the game land, including the Paddlers Hemlock Health Action Taskforce (PHHAT) treatment program, a partnership between HRI and the MountainTrue Green Riverkeeper.
Children are welcome as long as they can walk or be carried up to 4 miles. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the outing.
Please remember to bring:
Water
Snacks
Raingear
Sturdy footwear
Clothing comfortable for the weather
And a notebook if you wish to document any information
Feeling thirsty after the hike OR can’t attend the hike but want to gather? Join your fellow hikers, supporters and MountainTrue staff at the Green River Brew Depot for a casual hang from 5:30-6:30 pm.
The rain date for this event is March 24th. Please make sure to save both dates in your calendar just in case.

Post Hike Hangout with MT Staff and Supporters in Saluda, NC
2024-03-17 17:30 - 18:30 | The Green River Brew Depot, 26 Church St., Saluda, NC, 28773
Can’t join us for the Green River Cove Wildflower Walk near Saluda on March 17th but want to gather with your fellow MountainTrue supporters and staff? Join us for a casual hangout at The Green River Brew Depot from 5:30-6:30 pm.
If the March 17th hike is canceled due to weather, the hangout will be on the hike rain date: March 24th. Please check our website for any cancellation notices.

Live Staking Workday at Island Park in Bryson City
2024-03-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Bryson City Island Park, 213 Bryson St, Bryson City, NC, 28713, United States
Come out to help with planting 1500 native live stakes this dormant season at Bryson City Island Park. MountainTrue West will be holding this community volunteer workday on March 20th to install various species of live stakes for bank stabilization, wildlife habitat, and beautification as the next step in the Island Park Bank Restoration Project. Gloves are provided but you are welcome to bring your own if you wish.
Please bring:
Closed toed shoes
Warm layers (recommended)
Water and snacks
The workday will be held on Wednesday, March 20th from 1-4pm. In case of rainy weather, we will have the workday on Thursday, March 28th, instead.
Contact western region program associate Eve Davis with any questions (wro-wq-habitat@mountaintrue.org).
