The history of air and the science of air pollution is part of the history of Western North Carolina. We will take a brief look into the past, present, and future through the lens of combustion and air pollution. We will discuss how science was used to help clean North Carolina’s air, and to continue to study the air and keep it clean for both individual and environmental health.
Keith Bamberger works for the Division of Air Quality out of the Asheville Regional Office of the Department of Environment Quality. His primary responsibility is coordinating the Western North Carolina Air Awareness Program. This program includes direct education and outreach to students and the general public, supporting local governments, non-governmental agencies, and community resources groups in understanding air quality, environmental health, and the intersection between their programs and the health of the air. His responsibilities also include working on many statewide initiatives and committees, and partnerships include NASA Earth to Sky Partnership, the Land of Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition, the Asheville Buncombe Air Quality Agency, NC Soil and Water Conservation District, the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs, the Environmental Educators of North Carolina and others. Past work includes nature centers, museums, the National Park Service, and North Carolina 4-H.
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 about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.
Photo courtesy of Conserving Carolina.
Join Conserving Carolina’s Trails and Land Management Coordinator, Max Howes, for an update on Conserving Carolina’s trail systems! Conserving Carolina has built and maintains ~39 miles of trail in the region, showcasing many acres on, and scenic views from, protected land. He will be going over what makes trails sustainable, why they are important to the region, what it takes to build and maintain trails, trail history, Conserving Carolina’s involvement with the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail, and more! There will be an update on current trail conditions post-Helene, new trail projects, and opportunities to get involved with trail expansion and maintenance.
Max was born and raised in North Carolina, visiting areas across the state while calling Chapel Hill his home until he left for college. He attended Denison University in Ohio where he earned a B.A. in environmental studies with a minor in geoscience. Knowing he wanted to return to North Carolina after graduation, he served two terms with AmeriCorps Project Conserve as Conserving Carolina’s Habitat Restoration and Volunteer Coordinator. He gained a great appreciation for the diverse flora and fauna as well as the mountain trails in the area. He is now Conserving Carolina’s Trail and Land Management Coordinator. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, disc golf, biking, and watching college basketball.
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 about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.
Photo courtesy of Conserving Carolina.
The post-World War II of the 40’s and 50’s shifted the food paradigm from local to high-yield crops and grocery stores. Steeped in an economy of convenience, this system provides on-demand food, but has shown devastating impacts on the environment, health, and community. Could a shift back to local be the answer to these 3 top issues faced today?
Join us for a discussion entitled, “Localization; the answer to more than just the environmental crisis?” with Tia Wackerhagen, RN, BSN, Food and Agriculture Committee Co-chair, and member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments.
Tia is a registered nurse for Roof Above in Charlotte North Carolina, serving individuals who have recently come out of chronic homelessness. She is passionate about equality not only in health care, but in food systems. To further strengthen this passion, Tia is pursuing her doctorate in nursing practice in family nurse practitioner specialty at East Carolina University. She serves as co-chair for the Alliance for Healthy Nurses food and agriculture committee.
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 about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.
Making intentional purchases from local small-scale farmers, farmers’ markets, and grocers does more than just make us feel good; it directly influences significant regional environmental concerns and amplifies the local economy.
Alicia and Kevin Stump are the owners of Stump Farms, a small-scale family farm located in Hendersonville, NC. Established in 2017 as first-generation farmers, they prioritize sustainable and regenerative practices in their cultivation of vegetables, gourmet mushrooms, and more. Additionally, they draw inspiration from heirloom produce and herbs to create a range of canned goods and all-natural skincare products.
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 about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.
Mark Tooley, president of Friends of the Ecusta Trail (FOET), will provide an overview of the rebranding of the Ecusta Trail and the new website. He will also provide an update of the latest activity concerning design, engineering, and construction of the trail including amenities. The more connectivity a trail has to other trails and popular destinations, the more useful and desirable it becomes. We will take a look at other trail activity that is planned or already occurring in the region that will provide some of that connectivity.
The Friends of Ecusta Trail (FOET) has been in existence for 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 10 years. He has been FOET’s president for the past three 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 about current environmental issues, discuss relevant, 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.
