The post-World War II of the 40’ 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?,” from 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.
As extreme weather events continue to pose challenges for farming operations, we must take steps to rally behind our farmers. This is why MountainTrue is conducting a Farm Weather Impact Survey with the help of their newest AmeriCorps Member, Olivia Gray. The survey aims to better understand how extreme weather events affect agricultural production in the Southern Blue Ridge. The information we receive will help guide MountainTrue in tailoring support initiatives, advocating for vital resources, and implementing strategies to support farm resiliency in Western North Carolina. Join Olivia Gray and her project supervisor Erica Shanks for this presentation on the importance of local agriculture and our survey findings so far.
Olivia Gray grew up camping and hiking and has always had an affinity for nature. She graduated from the State University of New York at Binghamton with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Economics. Upon graduating, she landed her first AmeriCorps position with the University of Hawai’i Maui College, where she focused on campus and county-wide food security efforts. Olivia is excited to be applying her knowledge of food systems to her work at MountainTrue as their Climate Action Corps AmeriCorps Member.
Erica is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and Broadcast Journalism and two reputable leadership programs. She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. For the past 10 years, Erica has worked 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. Erica is your Green Riverkeeper and is passionate about hiking, backpacking, learning about new plants and mushrooms, anything on the water, and local food!
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.
Green Built Alliance has a 22-year history of advancing sustainable living, green building and climate justice through inspired action, community education and collaborative partnerships in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Jamie Wine, Clean Energy Program Manager, will talk about how the membership-based nonprofit makes sustainability more accessible to the community through its efforts to distribute 25,000 copies of the annual Green Home & Living Guide (formerly known as the Green Building Directory); coordinating the Appalachian Offsets carbon-offsetting program; managing the Blue Horizons Project community campaign to help create our region’s clean energy future; and administering green-building certifications through the Green Built Homes program.
Jamie Wine joined Green Built Alliance in the spring of 2022. He hails most recently from New Orleans where he managed an education and outreach program for energy efficiency and building science across Louisiana. Before that, in Seattle, California, and Boston, he developed nonprofit programs for varied audiences like students in grades K-12, ocean advocates, traffic engineers, community organizers, adults, families and youth. Jamie is deeply committed to community empowerment through education, fighting the climate crisis, and bringing environmental peace to disadvantaged communities. While an executive decision is often easier, he believes a collaborative approach yields a more satisfying result. Jamie studied marine biology and environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds professional certifications in building performance, leadership development, public speaking and real estate.
You can learn more about Green Built Alliance at greenbuilt.org.
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.
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. Susan Bean is the Housing & Transportation Director for MountainTrue and the program director for Neighbors for More Neighbors WNC; she informs organizational policy priorities for housing and transportation projects across Western North Carolina.
Susan earned her Masters in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she led wilderness expeditions as a graduate assistant for the university’s outdoor program. She is actively involved in the community, serving as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission for the City of Asheville and a facilitator for Building Bridges.
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.
Come learn about the history, present condition, and opportunities for growth facing the French Broad Paddle Trail in Henderson County and abroad. Placed in the context of challenges from proposed dams, degraded water quality, and short-sighted growth, the French Broad River is an ongoing success story due to the work of passionate local communities, well-organized advocacy campaigns, and strong partnerships between non-profits, government agencies, and local businesses.
The French Broad Paddle Trail focuses on recreational access, stewardship, and information along the river, led by MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper program, and this presentation will give an overview of the Trail in general, share updates on specific projects occurring here in Henderson County, and inform attendees on how they can get involved and support this work.
Jack Henderson is MountainTrue’s French Broad Paddle Trail Manager. In this role, he helps create, maintain, and improve public river access points, campsites, signage, and information; removes garbage; manages woody debris; and hosts events focused on celebrating and learning about the river. Jack has degrees in geography and recreation management from Appalachian State University, and has worked for several non-profits focused on conservation and recreation here in Western North Carolina and elsewhere around the United States, since 2010. Jack loves human-powered recreation, with a special affinity for remote rivers and rocky trails. He can often be found where there is greenery and gradient.
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.
