View
2020 Fall Issue
from the Highlands
Protecting the World’s Oldest Mountains
Photo by Travis Bordley
Conserving Mountains • Farms • Streams • Habitat
Letter from the Executive Director Carl Silverstein
372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248 sahc@appalachian.org
Board of Trustees
Matt Moses, President Jeff Needham, Vice-President Tom Williams, Secretary Nancy Edgerton, Treasurer Sheryl Aikman, At-Large Sarah Davis Joe DeLoach Mary Fanslow Miranda (Randy) Hunter Pam Kelley Popsie Lynch Larry (Pender) Pender Cynthia Poortenga Rich Preyer Chris Soto Allison Williams
Erwin, TN Johnson City, TN Fairview, NC Asheville, NC Asheville, NC Asheville, NC Jonesborough, TN Kingsport, TN Flat Rock, NC Kingsport, TN Fairview, NC Hendersonville, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Johnson City, TN Charleston, SC
Staff
Carl Silverstein Executive Director Kristy Urquhart Associate Director Michelle Pugliese Land Protection Director Jess Laggis Farmland Protection Director Hanni Muerdter Conservation Director Marquette Crockett Roan Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran Stewardship Director Chris Kaase Stewardship Associate Cheryl Fowler Membership Director Lisa Fancher Finance Compliance Director Angela Shepherd Communications Director Pauline Heyne Director of Philanthropy Chris Link Community Farm Manager Tamarya Sims Community Farm Associate Lauren McTigue Nature Experience Director Kirin Battaglia Weddings & Events Coordinator Travis Bordley Roan Seasonal Ecologist
AmeriCorps Cici Wood Shaylyn Sargent Hannah Stuart Stephanie Long Hanna Peterman
Communications & Community Engagement Member Conservation Education & Volunteer Member Land Protection & Education Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member
for making that possible.
This year has been challenging in so many ways, and yet we have continued to make a significant positive impact in the world. We’re profoundly grateful to you – our supporters –
The places you empower us to protect contain critical water resources, habitat in wildlife corridors, and places that will enhance outdoor recreation experiences for generations to come. Despite the obstacles that this year has posed, your incredibly generous support of SAHC has empowered us to have a record-breaking year of high-priority land and conservation easement closings, a number of which have been in the works for years. Protecting these sites for the future helps offset negative impacts of climate change -- from farmland for local food production to remote preserves in the Highlands of Roan which provide habitat for neo-tropical migratory birds, the benefits of your contributions are far-ranging. We have so much more to accomplish. While the pandemic has slowed many aspects of the economy, it’s driven an uptick in real estate sales and land development in our mountains. Pressures from climate-change and the pandemic have accelerated interest of people all over the country seeking to relocate to the mountains of western North Carolina and east Tennessee. We’re relying on you to help us maintain momentum into 2021. We are committed to continue working fervently to close critical conservation acquisitions before opportunities are lost. We need your help now to protect the sustainability of fragile ecological communities and vital natural resources that make this region so unique. Please consider a year-end gift to SAHC to ensure we can continue this important work in the next year, and beyond. We know that many have experienced losses and hardship over the past year, and we empathize with you. We are grateful to be part of a caring community, and know that together we can overcome the challenges before us.
The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee for the benefit of present and future generations. We achieve this by forging and maintaining longterm conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies, owning and managing land and encouraging healthy local communities.
Map: SAHC’s Conservation Focus Areas and NEW Land Protection Projects Tiger Creek pg. 6
Wiles Creek pg. 4-5
Highlands of Appalachian Trail Roan
Sandy Hollar Farm
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Smoky Mountains
French Broad River Valley
Black Mountains i Blue R
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Bowditch Bottoms pg. 14-15
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Big Creek pg. 9
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Young Pisgah Mountain
Balsam Mountains
Chestnut Mountain pg. 10-11
pg. 12
Tanasee Ridge pg. 8
Doll Branch transfer to Cherokee National Forest We recently transferred 65 acres at Doll Branch near Hump Mountain, which we purchased last year in order to add to the Cherokee National Forest. A combination of mixed forest stands and an open meadow create a wide variety of habitat types across the tract, and hikers along the nearby Appalachian Trail will continue to enjoy mountain views of this protected land in Carter County, TN. The U.S. Forest Service purchased the property from SAHC, thanks to funding from the Land Doll Branch, photo courtesy Dennis Oakley and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). (CNPA) and Southwings
Land Protection Updates | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 3
Highlands of Roan Focus Area
Wiles Creek
Diverse habitat
SAHC purchased 166 acres in Mitchell County, within Audubon’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. The Wiles Creek Preserve will be owned by SAHC in the long term as a nature preserve and will be managed for priority bird habitats, water quality, and other natural features.
The Wiles Creek property contains pristine headwater streams.
Imagine a verdant forest with lush ferns growing underneath full, mature canopies. The slushing rush of stream waters echoes all around, lulling you into a state of calm relaxation. Nearby, wildflowers in meadow openings flush with sunlight set the stage for busy activity from pollinators (and their predators), hinting at the array of wildlife which call these places home. Damp earth and plentiful rocks harbor a healthy population of salamanders. Fortunately this
stunning oasis in the Highlands of Roan – SAHC’s new Wiles Creek Preserve – is now permanently protected. We are grateful to the committed conservation-minded folks – including SAHC members, a former landowner, Brad and Shelli Stanback, and the Carolina Bird Club – who made protection of this beautiful sanctuary possible. SAHC recently purchased 166 acres in Mitchell County, NC adjoining Pisgah National Forest, within the
New Conservation Property
Wiles Creek
Other SAHC Preserves / Easements Appalachian Trail U.S. Forest Service Land 4 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
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Audubon Society’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. The undeveloped tract is highly visible from the public overlook at Roan High Knob. Part of a landscape of protected lands with other SAHCconserved properties, the Wiles Creek Preserve will be owned by SAHC in the long term as a nature preserve and will be managed for priority bird habitats, water quality, and other natural features. The property will be used as part of SAHC’s “Connecting People with Land” program, and we are excited about the potential for birding field trips and other excursions to the property in the future. “There is much to discover about the history of this property,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “From the apple orchard to the old homes that remain, one can imagine a scene of Appalachian mountain living on this beautiful tract of land.” Elevations on the property reach 4,700 ft., and it contains northern hardwood forest habitat and two
The variety of fields and forest on the property provide exceptional bird habitat.
meadows that provide excellent early successional habitat. The varied topography, habitat and elevation – along with abundant tributaries and headwater sources of trout streams – makes it a particularly wonderful oasis in the Roan. The property contains six streams including Wiles Creek, three tributaries of Wiles Creek, and two headwater tributaries of Big Rock Creek. Wiles Creek and Big Rock Creek are both designated as trout waters. It has spectacular habitat for salamanders as well! On a recent field trip to the site with members of the Carolina Bird Club, Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett identified several different salamander species.
Warbler, Brown Creeper, and who knows – maybe even a Saw-whet Owl! I really can’t wait to explore this property with our partners to see which birds are out there – from hawk watching this fall to owl prowls and bird ‘blitzes’ next year. And if that wasn’t enough, Wiles Creek and the seeps and drainages flowing into it are full of trout, salamanders, and other aquatic critters. We use the word ‘gem’ frequently to describe our conservation properties (and it’s true, of course) but Wiles Creek is a place that a person could spend a lifetime, learning from nature and documenting biodiversity. I’m thrilled to be a part of that!”
“What makes the Wiles Creek Preserve so special is its diversity – of elevations, habitat types, and other ecological factors,” says Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett. “It’s rare that one property could be so valuable for pollinators and early successional species like Goldenwinged Warbler, Field Sparrow, and Chestnutsided Warbler, and also provide exceptional habitat for forest interior birds including species like Veery and Blackthroated Blue Warblers, right on up the slope Members of the Carolina Bird Club investigate salamanders on a visit to the property. into habitat for Canada
Partner Perspective: Carolina Bird Club – Craig Watson, South Carolina Vice President of the Carolina Bird Club The Carolina Bird Club awarded a grant toward the permanent protection and initial management of the Wiles Creek Preserve, to help conserve high elevation priority habitat within the Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. “The Carolina Bird Club is especially excited to make this donation of $65,550 to the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for the protection and management of the Wiles Creek Project in Mitchell County, North Carolina,” says Craig Watson, South Carolina Vice President of the Carolina Bird Club. “We have interests from the mountains to the sea in both Carolinas, and to be able to contribute to the conservation of this area is extremely important to our membership for the conservation of early successional species such as the Golden-winged Warbler, and for other high priority high elevation species.” Land Protection Updates | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 5
Highlands of Roan Focus Area
Tiger Creek
Cherokee National Forest - Filling in the Puzzle
Thanks to supporters like you, we recently purchased 54 acres surrounded by Cherokee National Forest in the Highlands of Roan, within 2,000 feet of the Appalachian Trail. SAHC will own and manage the property to protect habitat and water resources until it can be added to Cherokee National Forest.
High elevation open areas on the property could provide habitat for migratory birds.
The Tiger Creek property rises in elevation from 3,400 feet to nearly 4,400 feet, just a short distance from the Clyde Smith Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. This stunning tract features an open field and early successional habitat for songbirds, beautiful tributary stream of Tiger Creek, and large, high elevation rock outcrop.
was destined for protection,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “It is surrounded on all sides by the Cherokee National Forest, making it a conservation priority for the US Forest Service (USFS) and eligible for federal funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The special qualities of this property extend beyond the fact that its only neighbor is the USFS. Overlapping its western “Located on the northern slopes of Iron boundary is the 608-acre Moffett Laurel Mountain, the Tiger Creek property Botanical Area, which is noted for the Tiger presence of rare plant Creek and animal species and high quality Moffett Laurel natural communities. Botanical Area
Those communities include northern hardwood forest, rich montane seeps, and swamp forest-bog complex. With the seepy nature of the Tiger Creek property, it may be home to some of the same rare species.” The land is located within the Audubon Society’s North Cherokee National Forest & Wildlife Management Area Important Bird Area. The acquisition was made possible by a generous contribution from Brad and Shelli Stanback and a loan that SAHC will repay when we eventually transfer the property to the U. S. Forest Service.
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New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements US Forest Service 6 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
The Tiger Creek property, surrounded by national forest land just north of the AT, contains a variety of natural communities.
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Funding for Public Lands Conservation Great American Outdoors Act SAHC has a long history working with public agency partners,including the US Forest Service, the Park Service and others, to secure places like the Appalachian National Scenic Trail for people to enjoy. “SAHC has been a national leader in advocating to buy and protect parks and public lands for all to enjoy,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “Stan Murray and other SAHC founders were instrumental in Congress passing the National Trails Act in 1968, which enabled funding for purchasing land for the Appalachian Trail corridor in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Before that, significant portions of the trail existed on private lands thanks only to permissive handshake agreements, which could be revoked if the property owners decided to develop their land. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was an effective funding mechanism for public land acquisition in the 70s, 80s, and into the 90s. SAHC helped the Forest Service purchase many tracts securing the AT corridor in the Highlands of Roan during that era. In the 90s, Congress got in the habit of diverting most of the funds
from the LWCF for other purposes, which resulted in fewer additions to the national forests. “The Great American Outdoors Act fixes that. SAHC has been a leader in advocating for the passage of this legislation because we have been advocates for public land acquisition from our beginning.” The Great American Outdoors Act – celebrated as the most important legislation for land and water conservation and public lands in the last 50+ years – was signed into law in August with broad bipartisan support. The legislation finally provides permanent funding for the LWCF. “In the Eastern U.S., every acre of national forest land has been purchased from private landowners,” continues Silverstein. “When Congress authorized the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests as part of the Weeks Act in 1911, the land here was already privately owned – so public lands have to be purchased from private landowners. Our national forests in the Southeast have never really been completed. Within the forest planning boundaries, there are gaps in public
ownership – with significant private inholdings in the national forests. This is important because parts of the national forest may be near a trail or other feature, but people can’t utilize the public lands to the fullest because private lands are interspersed. Those things were true in both of SAHC’s recent Big Creek and Tanasee Ridge acquisitions.” (p. 6-7) “SAHC courageously borrows money to seize fleeting conservation opportunities like these when they are available,” says Silverstein. “If we were not able to do so, the land would probably end up being developed. We are only able to borrow money towards conservation acquisitions like these if we can map out how we will be able to repay the loan. For example, SAHC borrowed more than $1.2 million towards the acquisition of the Big Creek and Tanasee Ridge properties. Over the past years, there have been multiple attempts to secure these properties which didn’t work out. With the confidence that the LWCF will be available to transfer these properties to become part of national forests in the future, SAHC was finally able to protect them.”
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Balsam Mountains Focus Area
Tanasee Ridge Panthertown Area
Tanasee Ridge straddles the Jackson and Transylvania County border in an important wildlife corridor.
“This tract has long been a priority for conservation,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “Permanent protection of the Tanasee Ridge property will enhance the public experience of using the forest.” The Tanasee Ridge property encompasses 109 acres at a ridge on the border between Jackson and Transylvania Counties. It is surrounded by Nantahala National
Forest on three sides and significant because of its potential to provide an alternative public access to popular outdoor recreation areas in Panthertown Valley. It also contains important water resources in the Wolf Creek-Tuckasegee River watershed and forested habitat in an important wildlife corridor. “The Tanasee Ridge tract is a beautifully wooded property that straddles the Transylvania and Jackson County boundaries,” says Rep. John Ager, life long friend of the Tuckasegee River. “More importantly, it could eventually provide a new
Working with trusted conservation partners, we recently protected 109 acres at Tanasee Ridge, adjoining Nantahala National Forest. The property could potentially provide an alternate gateway to popular outdoor recreation areas in Panthertown Valley. Thank you for helping to make this project possible! access path to the upper Tuckasegee River and the Panthertown Valley from Highway 281. When practical, this land will be conveyed to the U.S. Forest Service and become part of the public domain for the enjoyment of the general public. SAHC should be commended for recognizing the long term value of this property, and marshaling the resources to purchase it.” When the Forest Service eventually acquires the land from SAHC, it will be open to the public. Until then, it will be managed as a private nature preserve. We leveraged charitable donations and a loan from The Conservation Fund to acquire the Tanasee Ridge property. The McClure Fund made a generous grant to support transaction costs.
In the future, the property might provide an alternative access into Panthertown Valley.
8 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
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With your help, we recently purchased 110 acres in Macon County to protect a headwater source of the nationally significant Chattooga National Wild and Scenic River. The property is just north of the North Carolina/ Georgia border, surrounded by the Nantahala and Chattahoochee National Forests, and will be added to the Nantahala National Forest for the public to enjoy. “Big Creek is an important tributary of the Chattooga River, a beloved river where people enjoy outdoor recreation like whitewater rafting, kayaking and fishing,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “Conserving this property permanently protects critical water resources and habitat.” A long-time priority for protection, SAHC plans to own the Big Creek tract for several years and then transfer it to the U.S. Forest Service to become part of the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. Partner land trust Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT), which works in this geographic area, will help steward the property during SAHC’s ownership of the tract. In addition to protecting water resources, conservation of the land also protects important habitat for diverse plants and animals –
Big Creek Chattooga River Headwaters Big Creek is an important tributary of the Chattooga National Scenic River
particularly salamanders. “The property is a beautiful example of forest in the Upper Chattooga River watershed with habitats ranging from granitic cliffs, oak-hickory forest full of chantrelles, and riparian areas home to trout and otters,” says Kyle Pursel, HCLT’s stewardship coordinator. “The property has a high diversity of salamanders, with at least 12 species of salamanders known from the property or lands immediately adjacent. It also has a great diversity of plants, including area endemics like Biltmores Sedge (Carex biltmoreana) and Granite Dome Goldenrod (Solidago simulans).”
generous anonymous conservation philanthropist to purchase the tract. “Over the decades, there have been multiple attempts to secure this property which didn’t work out,” adds Silverstein. “Thanks to our dedicated members and generous contributions from Brad and Shelli Stanback, SAHC was finally able to protect it.”
SAHC leveraged donations and a loan from a
Partner Perspective: Highlands Cashiers Land Trust Gary Wein, Executive Director of Highlands-Cashier Land Trust, says: “HCLT is delighted to work with SAHC on the project to acquire and hopefully transfer the Big Creek tract to the Forest Service. Collaboration between these two storied land trusts brings their respective expertise and resources together in a win win for everyone. This tract, which is both the gateway to Secret Falls and contains significant natural heritage has always been high on the priority list for the Nantahala Ranger District.” Land Protection Updates | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 9
Balsam Mountains Focus Area
Chestnut Mountain Water, habitat, and outdoor recreation View of Chestnut Mountain, photo by Adams Wood
It’s a unique habitat and clean water conservation project paired with exciting potential for outdoor recreation! We have purchased 448 acres at Chestnut Mountain near the Town of Canton, permanently protecting sources of clean water and forested habitat in an important wildlife corridor. We plan to give the conserved property to the Town of Canton, after we finish raising funds that are needed to re-pay a bridge loan we took out to buy the property. This will create the possibility for easily accessible outdoor recreation just off US Hwy 19/23 and Interstate 40. “This property is dynamic, with a mosaic of habitat types – which is really good for wildlife – and different settings for people to enjoy various types of experiences on the land,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “The property starts at 2,360 feet elevation at Hwy 19/23 and then rises to 3,400 feet at the peak of Chestnut Mountain. At the higher elevations, forested ridgelines and coves situated in an important wildlife corridor provide
exceptional habitat for plants and animals. It contains pockets of gentle mature hardwood forest with laurel and rhododendron, forested slopes facing a variety of directions, and an open field and early successional edge area beneficial for birds. The amount of wildlife activity on the tract is truly impressive!” Chestnut Mountain sits in a significant wildlife corridor identified by The Wildlands Network as important for animal movement and habitat. Its protection will conserve habitat for large mammals such as bear and deer, as well as smaller mammals and numerous bird, reptile and amphibian species.
Hanni Muerdter on site visit, photo by Adams Wood
10 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
“As a land trust, it is our role to try to look 10-20 years out to predict how expanding development will impact significant
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wildlife movement areas, water resources, and to try to secure spaces to allow people to enjoy getting out into the forest,” continues Muerdter. “This property is one of the remaining larger undeveloped tracts in an important area for conservation, and we are extremely excited the landowner wanted to sell the tract for a conservation outcome. This project presents inspiring potential for a public park — a vision of recreation and conservation working together.” The NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) awarded $1.2 million toward the purchase of the property. The project protects several miles of tributaries to Hominy Creek which hosts a population of brown trout. According to Walter Clark, Executive Director of CWMTF, “the project not only protects wildlife and creates a valuable recreational resource, it also protects important
Town of Canton
New Conservation Property
Chestnut Mountain
Other SAHC Preserves / Easements
Mt. Pisgah
g
“We are pleased that a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Pigeon River fund was able to cover transactional costs to survey Chestnut Mountain Park property,” said Senior Program Officer Tara Scholtz. “Not only does this project permanently protect Wildlife Resources Commission designated Trout Waters and nine miles of stream, it also it meets other goals of the Fund including the enhancement of wildlife habitats and expanded public use and access to waterways.”
Abundant wildlife tracks have been found at Chestnut Mountain.
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water resources. It is an all-around exceptional land protection effort.”
SAHC plans to give the land to the
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NC State Land US Forest Service Other Protected Land
Town of Canton to manage as a conservation-based public outdoor recreation park in partnership with Haywood County. Streams and habitat on the tract will remain permanently protected through conservation easements, and outdoor recreation prospects will be activities that work with conservation of the property. “This is the kind of opportunity that comes maybe once in a lifetime,” says Canton’s Mayor Zeb Smathers. “We are ecstatic about using this gift of land worth more than $3 million to leverage additional grants and funding sources to create a very special, easily accessible park for Canton, Haywood County, and all of WNC. With potential for a new gateway to outdoor recreation, economic development, and continued conservation of our natural landscape, this project is truly a win-win for everyone.” Most of the funds for the land purchase are provided by grants from the CWMTF, the NC Attorney General’s Office’s Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of WNC, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina’s Mountain Revolving
The property contains diverse habitat.
Loan Fund Small Grant Program, a generous gift from Brad and Shelli Stanback, a partial donation of land value from the landowner, and multiple donations from individual members of SAHC and the local community. The Conservation Fund provided a bridge loan to SAHC to enable us to close on the purchase. We are actively fundraising for a remaining $275,000 in transaction costs in order to re-pay the loan from The Conservation Fund and be able to transfer the land to the Town. “This property is a beloved mark in the landscape with a lot of history, and many people from Haywood County have enjoyed experiences on the land over the years,” adds Muerdter. “We’re glad that people will still get to enjoy being on the tract in the near future. National conservation trends have been moving towards projects that are innovative, evolving to serve people and nature in unique ways. We’re excited about the opportunity of this project as a local example of this national trend – protecting the landscape while engaging people in recreation and activating the economy.”
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Balsam Mountains Focus Area
Young Pisgah Mountain
Young Pisgah Mtn
Habitat & Water Resources
kway Blue Ridge Par
New SAHC Conservation Easement US Forest Service
Other Protected Lands
Streams on the property flow into Beaverdam Creek.
The Young Pisgah Mountain property adjoins Pisgah National Forest just a mile north of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Upper Hominy Creek Valley of southwest Buncombe County. This 102-acre conservation easement conserves habitat in an important wildlife corridor, in a network of other protected areas such as Chestnut Mountain and the tracts being secured for the new Pisgah View State Park. “The tract at Young Pisgah Mountain is connected to a large block of protected land in the Balsam Mountains including Mount Pisgah and the Shining Rock Wilderness, which contain many biologically significant destinations,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “It has been a long-term project and we are grateful for the landowners’ commitment in protecting this special place. They first approached
SAHC in 2010 about potentially conserving the land, and we are thrilled to have purchased the conservation easement this summer.” Five headwater streams flow through the property into a tributary of Beaverdam Creek, and American chestnut trees have been found on the ridge. The land shares a rich history of well-known names in the region. Part of land once owned by Edith Vanderbilt, it is visible
in distant mountain views from the Grove Park Inn. Purchase of this conservation easement was made possible by a generous contribution from Brad & Shelli Stanback, support from SAHC members, $40,000 grant from Buncombe County, and a donation of part of the conservation easement value by the landowner.
Landowner Perspective: Septimbor Lim, founder of Sacred Mountain Sanctuary We wanted to preserve this incredible wild space because it contains many intact microbiomes, land features, and species that are precious to me as someone who grew up in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Our School of Living Arts hosts a learning environment for cradle-to-grave experience of nature. We believe in protecting land as a sacred context for all life. Human interaction with nature is so important - particularly when that interaction does not treat nature as a commodity. Our model leaves the land as intact as possible, calibrating human interaction to create a feeling of love and wonder that stays with you for all time. Ultimately, it’s about human beings interacting with nature, and holding a piece of land in a regenerative way that enriches and nourishes it. More info at solaschooloflivingarts.org 12 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
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Sandy Mush Farmland
In June, you helped us purchase a conservation easement on 49 more acres of productive farmland in the lovely Sandy Mush community of northwestern Buncombe County. Sandy Hollar Farms is a Buncombe County attraction, with seasonal events like pick-your-own Christmas trees, pumpkins, and berries. This idyllic slice of farmland is primarily used for row crops, fruits and berries, and Christmas tree production. According to landowner Curtis Hawkins, Sandy Hollar Farms is one of the biggest producers of blackberries in the county. They also grow squash, green beans, pumpkins, and other fresh produce, which goes to small retailers and farmers’ markets. There is a small herd of sheep and goats on the farm, along with llamas as pets, and landowner June Hawkins periodically gives natural dye and spinning demonstrations. “Sandy Hollar Farms is a Buncombe County agritourism gem that serves
Sandy Hollar Farm
New conservation properties Other SAHC preserves / easements Other protected land
the greater Asheville region with festive you-pick adventures and vacation rentals,” says Farmland Program Director Jess Laggis. “Part of the Farm Heritage Trail, the Hawkins provide visitors with hands-on agricultural experiences in the historic Sandy Mush farming community. I am honored to have worked with the Hawkins to protect the farming legacy they’ve built at Sandy Hollar, and I can’t wait to bring my son to one of their events to meet the llamas!” Curtis says farming in this area has been a tradition in the family for a long time - with a history that goes back to the late 1700s or early 1800s. The recently protected parcel was purchased by his father in 1950, just a part of more extensive
family farmland holdings. His father farmed full-time, mostly in a tobacco and beef cattle operation. Curtis shares that “he never much liked the cattle business,” and he has been in Christmas tree farming for the past 45 years. His son helps out with the farm full-time. They operate a ‘Choose and Cut Christmas Tree’ business, with trees of various sizes, hay rides, hot chocolate, and more.
French Broad River Valley Focus Area
Sandy Hollar Farm
“A lot of my neighbors have done land conservation, and we reached a point where it made sense to do it,” says Curtis. “We are surrounded by conserved land, and I think that’s a good thing. It’s nice to know when you leave this earth that nothing is going to happen to this land except what we are doing with it.” For info about visiting the farm, go to SandyHollarFarms.com.
Conserved land at Sandy Hollar Farms is used for growing produce.
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Black Mountains Focus Area
Bowditch Bottoms
Productive farmland in the Black Mountains
Fertile fields, photo by Kathleen Brannan, CNPA
We are thrilled to have purchased this significant agricultural conservation easement this summer, thanks to your help. This 87-acre property in Yancey County contains important soils, farmland, undeveloped forested and non-forested habitat for wildlife, headwaters to the South Toe River, and intact wetland and riparian corridors. It is visible from the Mount Mitchell Scenic Byway and high-elevation vantage points in the Black Mountains and the Highlands of the Roan. “The agricultural conservation easement on Bowditch Bottoms ensures that this property will be available for farming for generations to come,” says Farmland Program Director Jess Laggis. “The land contains a high concentration of prime agricultural soils, which are very rare in Western North Carolina. In this region only 2% of the soils are considered prime. The permanent status of productive
farmland and its availability for crop production to vegetable farmers will build up and support local food infrastructure vital to food security and to the long term security of the agricultural economy in western North Carolina.”
With farmland rapidly disappearing in the Western North Carolina mountains, Ken and Ida Brown approached SAHC several years ago with an exciting plan to purchase farmland and make it available to farmers who could not otherwise afford it. They are passionate about protecting Bowditch Bottoms, photo by Catherine Pawlik, CNPA farmland 14 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
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for present and future generations, and wanted to invest in something that could make an impact on the community. After purchasing the Bowditch Bottoms property, Ken and Ida made it available through a 10-year lease to local farmers in TRACTOR Food and Farms, a non-profit food hub located in Burnsville, NC. TRACTOR (Toe River Aggregation Center Training Organization Regional, Inc) trains farmers to meet federal requirements for food handling and safety, gives them the opportunity to attend free seminars on production planning and post-harvest handling, and provides access to shared use equipment and packaging facilities. Ayles Creek and two of its tributaries run through the property. Conservation of the land protects these water sources, which flow into the South Toe River, a popular river for trout fishing.
Landowner Perspective: Ken and Ida Brown
Bowditch Bottoms
New Conservation Easement Other SAHC Preserves / Easements U.S. Forest Service Land The conservation of the Bowditch Bottoms property was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Agricultural Land Easements. We are very grateful to landowners Ken and Ida Brown, philanthropic leaders Brad and Shelli Stanback, and SAHC members for helping to protect this special place and secure agricultural land for the region!
Ken and Ida Brown sought out SAHC because they wanted to help conserve farmland and make it affordable for farmers to continue to use the land in perpetuity. “We had been involved in philanthropy for several years, but this kind of farmland conservation project was new to us,” shared Ken and Ida. “We’d Plant closeup, photo by Catherine Pawlik, CNPA read a series of articles about the difficulties that farmers are facing and how rising land prices are being pushed out of range for them. It’s becoming more and more difficult for farmers to make a living, to compete with large corporate farms and make enough money to support themselves and their families. So, we wanted to buy a tract of farmland and make it available for farmers to use, and to permanently protect the land with an agricultural conservation easement.” “We started off with SAHC looking for land with good soils, and we discovered this gorgeous piece of property in Yancey County, which contained prime soils and a beautiful stream running through it. Everything about this process was new to us - learning how to deal with different government agencies, learning good agricultural practices (GAP) to ensure that product coming off the land was suitable for distribution.” After purchasing the property, Ken and Ida worked with the TRACTOR food hub in Burnsville, NC to manage it. “TRACTOR makes the property available to local farmers to use; they make all the arrangements with the farmers and the food produced goes through the TRACTOR program for distribution,” say Ken and Ida. “It’s working very well.” “In protecting this land for farming, we have been able to preserve an important part of heritage in this part of state, but this process has also opened our eyes toward how hard it is for farming families to prosper and hand down land through the generations. Bowditch Bottoms had been handed down for many generations; we purchased the land from an elderly couple, and they were overjoyed that it was gong to continue to be farmland and have a conservation easement on it.” “As philanthropists, it’s been a rewarding experience to get to know the farmers and folks in Yancey County, and to know that this land will stay the way that it is and won’t be developed. One of the best parts of this whole endeavor has been getting to know SAHC and Carl in particular. The relationship with SAHC has been wonderful.”
Ayles Creek, photo by Kathleen Brannan, CNPA
Land Protection Updates | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 15
SAHC Community Farm Conservation • Education • Celebration
Fresh produce in greenhhouse, photo by Kathleen Brannan, CNPA
SAHC’s 140-acre Community Farm hosts beginning farm businesses, educational workshops, and service learning experiences. The site includes a Farmer-Incubator Program, stream restoration and shortleaf pine reforestation projects, educational Discovery Trail (which can be visited by appointment), a bee yard, and indoor and outdoor space for special events. It’s a working model that blends productive agriculture with educational opportunities and community engagement.
Farmer Incubator Program
Community Farm Expansion
Three farmers are currently enrolled in the Farmer Incubator Program. Julia Costa of Wild Jewels Farm is producing mixed vegetables and flowers for local restaurants, and Wes Buckner and Cheyenne Cearley with their herd of Brahman-longhorn cross cattle. Eight calves have been born on the farm this year, bringing the herd to 28 cattle. We are currently in the process of interviewing a variety of qualified candidates to begin the program soon, as well as renovating and updating existing infrastructure in the vegetable growing area. New farmers will be growing vegetables, herbs, perennials and flowers.
Design studio students from Clemson University’s Landscape Architecture program are working with us throughout the semester to help create a plan for the expansion of growing operations on the eastern side of the property. We purchased this portion of the property in 2018, and have been able to use the expansion process to create educational workshops and volunteer opportunities, explore a variety of sustainable farming techniques, and begin to create a new space for a farm stand.
A cost-share grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service enabled us to engage Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to create an organic production plan for the farm, and we will use this plan in the process of opening more Brahman-longhorn cattle, photo by Michael L. Pittman, CNPA acreage for 16 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020
| SAHC Community Farm
food production. We’ve completed a 100 SF walk-in cooler for keeping farm produce fresh, and finished grading for a new greenhouse, both made possible by a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Engaging in Community “We have started a vegetable donation plot with donated plant starts in response to the COVID-19 affecting our world and community,”says Community Farm Associate Tamarya Sims. “Earlier this summer we grew squash and tomatoes, and now we are growing sweet potatoes, collard greens, kale, broccoli, and tatsoi, which is similar to bok choy but smaller and more leafy. With this plot, we hope to increase food security for the Asheville community most in need.” Tamarya is passionate about food justice and ending food apartheid. “I’ve started a project to serve Black community gardens in Asheville, spending time in the Burton Street Community Peace Gardens on a new vegetable plot,” says Tamarya.” I’ve been doing garden maintenance and mentoring two young individuals from the community so they can take on garden responsibilities in the future.
Welcome Tamarya Sims Community Farm Associate
Right: Tamarya checks on the bees in the Community Farm bee yard. Left: Worker bees check out the new queen for the hive in her small cage. (Note: The pictured orientation is not the correct placement for the cage; it was placed down in correct position before returning the frame)
This work is helping in the process of getting fresh produce to elders and others in the community.�
education programs at the farm.
Tamarya has also been busy keeping the rapidly growing vegetation along the Discovery Trail at bay, to keep the trail clear and accessible.
Always a welcome, friendly sight, goats on the farm continue munching kudzu and helping to manage invasive species. The herd of 14 goats from K.D. Ecological Services rotates through four paddocks across nine acres of the farm.
French Broad River Academy students have returned for limited volunteer work projects this fall. They are continuing to help manage growth in the stream restoration area and assisting with management of the vegetable growing area.
Goats on Kudzu
Tamarya (she/they) joined SAHC as full-time Community Farm Associate in June. They graduated from UNC Asheville with a degree in Environmental Studies, and after college pursued environmental education and learning how to grow food. They served at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park through American Conservation Experience and at the Durham Public Schools Hub Farm through CTNC AmeriCorps. Tamarya loves teaching, photography, gardening, herbalism, beekeeping, raising chickens, and driving the SAHC tractor. Most of all, they are passionate about food justice and making farm and garden education accessible to all people.
Bees Tamarya is very interested in beekeeping and has been working on getting a beekeeping certification for the past two years. After the bees at the Community Farm swarmed, Tamarya introduced a new queen to the hive and is working to get them settled. We hope next year that we will be able to incorporate more bee pollinator activities into
Goats on the farm help manage kudzu and other invasive plant species, photo by Catherine Pawlik, CNPA
Our Community Farm work is funded in part by grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and a cost-share grant from USDA NRCS.
Tamarya manages the bee hive at the farm.
SAHC Community Farm | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 17
Small groups of volunteers helped manage habitat this summer.
Roa n Stewa rd s hip From seasonal bird surveys to trail management, education, and habitat restoration, the Roan Stewardship crew continues to care for our flagship conservation focus area. We are grateful to our partners at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for their support in this work!
Like many things in our world, SAHC’s grassy balds management looked different in 2020. We hand-mowed a total of 7.5 acres from Round Bald to Grassy Ridge, which is about the typical acreage mowed by our Grassy Ridge Mow Off and Roany Boyz events. Our first priority was to keep staff and volunteers safe and comfortable, so we scaled back the number of folks allowed to be out each day to less than ten people, total. We relied on long term volunteers, who knew what to expect and didn’t mind following safety protocols set by both SAHC and the U.S. Forest Service. However, due to state regulations, we were not able to cooperate with the NC BRIDGE program this year. NC BRIDGE has been doing the “heavy lift” of balds management for more than 15
years, mowing every day for two weeks and carrying out equipment for our volunteers. “There were astounding numbers of people at Carver’s Gap on most days from every state in the nation,” says Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett. “It was interesting (and a little scary) to see so many people out on the trail, but everyone was respectful and friendly. “Despite the changes to our work, many things stayed the same. The Roany Boyz, led by Carol Coffey and Dave Goforth, celebrated their 20th year of fellowship, fun, and mowing on the balds, staying at Roan Mountain State Park and driving up to mow on Round Bald each day. While SAHC was not able to have a
group camp out on Grassy Ridge, David and Melissa Smith and family kept the Grassy Ridge Mow Off tradition alive by doing a family mow off, with equipment hauled up earlier in the week. Other Grassy Ridge Mow Off volunteers joined us for day trips, mowing in Engine Gap and on Round Bald. Because of the loss of the BRIDGE crew, we accomplished a little less than half the mowing that we would have in a normal year. But, we did it safely and happily, and in a globally rare ecosystem, every acre counts.” Thank you to all our volunteers, members, and seasonal staff. Roan Mountain is a more beautiful and ecologically sound place because of you!
Roany Boyz 20th Anniversary
Volunteer Perspective: Carol Coffey The Roany Boyz celebrated twenty years of fighting and mowing blackberry briers on the Roan this July. It has been a labor of love and a joy. While the original five are still active, others have joined over the years, becoming regulars. All are welcome, both boyz and girlz. Roany Boyz volunteers Roany Boyz: Dave Goforth, Bill Ryan, Jamie Burnham, Mike Fisher, Carol Coffey, Bruce Byers, Bob MacKenzie, Will Skelton, Jerry Thornton, Craig Thompson (Active members, in order of joining, original five listed first.)
Carol Coffey
“Time flies when you are having fun,” is the best explanation I can make for the first 20 years of the Roany Boyz. A group of friends came together to spend several days each summer, mowing the encroaching blackberries, keeping the balds of the Roan open. The first years we stayed in cabins at the state park or in Burbank, but once we began camping at Engine Gap, no one wanted to go back to the cabins. The magic of the Roan had captivated and captured us all.
18 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020 | Conservation In Action
Volunteer Perspective: The Smith Family David and Melissa Smith and their children Otto, Clyde, and Asa spent a weekend managing grassy balds habitat at Grassy Ridge and camping under the stars together. It’s become something of a family tradition. Otto has been helping with the Grassy Balds Mow-Off since he was 5 years old and understands the importance of habitat management; now in high school, he asks about it every year before it’s even on the calendar. With the first cancellation of the Grassy Ridge Mow-off ever, a handful of dedicated volunteers who have helped lead it in the past stepped up to fill in this summer. David serves on SAHC’s Land Management Committee. This year, the entire family camped and worked together to help manage grassy bald habitat. “We had a fantastic time,” says David. “It was the first year that it did not
The Smith Family volunteers (photos by David Smith)
rain on us, so that was unusual. The kids were super excited about going up there, and we enjoyed the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. We couldn’t do as much as we normally do, but we wanted to help out.” Otto has been volunteering since preschool, Clyde has been a couple of times, and this was Asa’s first time backpacking there. They were all happy to volunteer and contribute something.
The entire family helped with grassy balds management.
“We missed the social aspects of the Mow-Off and the time with other folks watching stars and swapping stories in the evening,” shares David. “But it was a fantastic time together with the family. Melissa was very excited to be able to go again this year; she loves
the mountain as much as I do.” Daughter Asa feels a special connection to the mountain, too; she was named for renowned botanist Asa Gray, who first discovered the Gray’s lily on Roan Mountain.
Gray’s lily, spotted while volunteering
“I think the kids understand the conservation value and how special this place is,” says David. “We’re excited to go back and do it again.”
Roan Intern - Cecelia Stokes
In her second summer with SAHC, Cecelia studied ground cover on the balds of the Roan Highlands. With the help of her professor at UNCAsheville, friends, and volunteers, she spent the summer meticulously laying transects all the way from Carvers Gap to the top of Grassy Ridge. She is comparing this new data to ground cover data collected 30 years ago. This important information will help steer management decisions of this fragile and endemic ecosystem that we all love. Cecelia’s research project this summer was made possible with a grant from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. We commend Cecelia for her hard work and also thank the University of North Carolina - Asheville for their partnership in this study!
Researchers laying transects in the Roan to collect data on the ecosystem.
Conservation In Action | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 19
F ie l d J ourna l
Roan Naturalist - Kalie Pierce
As Roan Naturalist, I am thankful to have become so intimate with this unique habitat. The Roan Highlands have been a special place for me to visit throughout my years as a student at East TN State University, and as I passed through the area during my AT thru-hike last year. I am proud to have served in this position working with the many different organizations and volunteer groups that protect this land. With the changes to my position this year because of COVID-19 safety protocols and restrictions, I was not able to interact with as many visitors as I would have liked to. Instead of trying to talk to as many visitors as I could, I focused on other tasks and connected with people as they engaged me. When visitors saw me in my Roan Naturalist shirt and gear, they often approached, loaded with questions about what I was doing, plants, the mountains, history, camping, etc. Or, visitors saw us doing fieldwork on or near the trail - monitoring a species or mowing the balds - and when they asked questions I had a chance to teach about the unique habitat. Although this has been an unusual year as the Roan Naturalist I could not be happier with the way the season turned out. I actually had the chance to work on a variety of projects and fieldwork that I would not have otherwise. I am thankful for everyone who helped this summer run smoothly. This position is important for outreach, and it has been incredible to see how everyone works together to make this place possible to both protect and to play in. The Roan Naturalist position is co-hosted between SAHC, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, and Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club.
20 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020 | Conservation In Action
Yo ut h Ed u catio n
with Black Folks Camp Too
Earl B. Hunter, Jr., founder of Black Folks Camp Too, speaks of bringing people together in unity to enjoy the great outdoors. Former Vice-President of Sales at SylvanSport and a recognized speaker in the outdoor recreation industry, Earl began his company as a way to bring all people together to experience and benefit from outdoor recreation. He says they Former AmeriCorps member Hannah Latragna and Earl B. Hunter, Jr. are creating an educational portal, and the campfire of Black Folks Camp Too hold SAHC Explorer patches awarded to participants in the summer programs. in their logo is a way to bring people together for discussion. We were excited to partner with Earl and Black Folks Camp Too during the summer to host outdoor recreation events for two local youth programs - Youth Transformed for Life and the YMCA Horizons program. Earl shared stories about the crosscountry camping trip he and his son enjoyed a couple of years ago. He brought tents and gear so students could try their hands at the outdoor life. Some students started off hesitant about sitting in the grass or trying to put up a tent, while others who had been camping before made quick work of the set-up game. Earl says that it’s important to get these students together, to learn from and share experiences with each other and open the way for people of all races and backgrounds to enjoy the outdoors. Former AmeriCorps member Hannah Latragna organized and helped lead the events as part of her youth education programs. She says
that the students “ended up being captivated by Earl’s storytelling ability and were able to forget their discomfort as they listened to him tell stories about his trip with his son.” “He explained that as he traveled across the country to many different campsites he and his son only ran into one other black family,” says Hannah. “Earl realized this is an issue and used his influence as a former executive in the field to begin to change the minds and hearts of those both those in the industry and of black folks who had never felt invited into outdoor spaces before. By the end of the day most students raised hands when asked if they would like to try camping for real. They loved working as a team to figure it out by themselves. Earl added encouragement but did not step in to show them the steps, and students realized ‘Wow, I figured it out on my own with my friends’.”
Earl spoke to YTL and YMCA Horizons students about experiencing outdoor recreation.
Perspective: Earl B. Hunter, Jr. Black Folks Camp Too is a state of mind, and we want to delve into the reasons why black people do not camp. We are a marketing consultant firm, and our mission is to make the outdoors more fun more accessible, more delightful and a learning experience for the black community. We believe that this particular idea entails getting more black folks into the outdoors, getting them around the campfire, and getting them on the trails. The campfire in our logo holds so much weight to me because I believe that’s where we are going to change the world… when we get black folks, white folks, all folks around the campfire to have amazing conversations. I want to make sure that my children’s children’s children understand that the outdoors is for them, is appreciated by them and they can take care of it. We just want to make sure that we are inviting black folks to the outdoors. More info at BlackFolksCampToo.com
Conservation In Action | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 21
Wel co m e New Tr ustees!
SAHC Trustees provide guidance and leadership for the organization. We are grateful to the following individuals who join the SAHC Board this year and are willing to donate their time and experience to serve with the organization. Larry Pender, Horse Shoe, NC Pender (as he prefers) retired from NYU, where he served as an administrator. He and his wife, Tanya Marie founded Pathways to Parks a couple of years ago to encourage and support inclusivity and access for all people, especially people of color; to enjoy hiking and outdoor recreation. He enjoys many outdoor activities including cycling, hiking and tennis. Pender has been a dedicated member and looks forward to supporting SAHC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiative.
SAHC’s behalf.
Pam Kelley, Kingsport, TN Pam retired from Eastman, where she served as Director of Global Credit. Her background is in the Accounting and Credit Management division. She enjoys the outdoors, hiking and biking. After learning of SAHC’s work, she looks forward to being involved and supporting its mission.
Miranda “Randy” Hunter, Asheville , NC Randy is a long-time, active member of the French Broad River Garden Club and enjoys studying horticulture and applying the science to her garden. She recently led the nomination of SAHC for the Garden Club of America’s national Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal, and the year-long process of securing the award on
Joe DeLoach, Jonesborough, TN Joe is a longtime passionate SAHC leader. He previously served on SAHC’s board in the 1990s and early 2000s, and has served as Board Chair. He serves as a Technology Fellow with Eastman.
Congratulations to Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association, 2020 Volunteers of the Year In 1989 the Stanley A. Murray Award for Volunteer Service was created to honor persons who have made outstanding volunteer contributions to the work of SAHC, emulating the lifelong dedication of our founder, Stanley A. Murray. This year’s Stanley A. Murray Volunteer of the Year Award goes to the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association (CNPA). Over the last two years, these photographers have graciously donated their time and expertise to capture stunning images of many SAHC conservation properties. CNPA has joined us on multiple excursions to photograph SAHC’s Community Farm, SAHC conservation easements and preserves, our Bird House at Grassy Ridge, and on Southwings flights to capture aerial views of our conservation properties. See some of their pictures on pages 14-17. (Gray’s lily photo above by Jorja Smith) 22 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020 | Conservation In Action
2020-21 AmeriCorps Project Conserve Team AmeriCorps members provide service to SAHC and the community for 11-month terms, which begin in September. These members assist with education, stewardship of land, conservation outreach, and more. We welcome two new and three returning members to our AmeriCorps Project Conserve team this year!
Hanna Peterman, Stewardship and Volunteer Hanna returns for a 2nd AmeriCorps term with SAHC. She graduated from Washington University with a double major in Environmental Biology and Spanish, where her accolades include Environmental Studies Award for Academic Achievement, Louis G. Zelson Award, and Tyson Research Center Coles Fellowship. Her research includes wildlife monitoring, invasive plants management, and tick and mosquito sampling. She also spent a semester abroad in Chile and is fluent in Spanish. Hannah Stuart, Land Protection and Education An Asheville native, Hannah graduated from UNC Asheville with a degree in Environmental Studies. She was a student athlete on the swim team, which she also managed. Her research and work experience include water quality monitoring, due diligence analysis and easement renewals. Hannah is also a dog whisperer and avid foster parent to puppies through Brother Wolf. Hannah is returning for her second term with SAHC.
Stephanie Long, Stewardship and Volunteer Stephanie graduated from Smith College with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy and a concentration in Conservation Ecology. She was involved in ecophysiology and spatial analysis research, recipient of the Amy Randall Brown Prize in Botany and the Florence Augusta Merriam Prize for innovative and collaborative approaches to solving environmental and sustainability problems. Stephanie comes to SAHC after spending a year in Vermont serving with the Vermont Land Trust. Cici Wood, Communications and Community Engagement CiCi is from Athens, Ohio and is a recent graduate of Canisius College where she obtained her degree in Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. She spent the past few years working as a Program Facilitator Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Western New York where she taught STEAM to budding scientists in Title I schools. Her passions are social justice, writing, community-based conservation, and her rescue pup, Ruby. Shaylyn “Sarge” Sargent, Conservation Education and Volunteer Outreach Returning for a 2nd term, Sarge graduated from Mars Hill University with a major in History and a Minor in Environmental Studies. During his time at Mars Hill, he was honored as a Bonner Scholar. His volunteer experiences range from addressing food security in rural Appalachia to hosting historical talks, to trail building, and habitat restoration following hurricanes. Sarge loves Astronomy, and his senior thesis was on The History of the Universe.
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
Conservation In Action | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 23
Connecting People with Land Community Farm Weddings and Events The SAHC Community Farm provides beautiful outdoor space for weddings, birthdays, and reunions. More and more people are searching for socially conscious venues to host their milestone events. They are looking to make a positive impact while hosting a special event - and we can help with that. This enchanting space, lovingly and responsibly managed with the same careful attention to detail as all of our work, creates a magnificent and meaningful setting for people to host events. The conserved land of the farm becomes a permanent part of their lives, intertwined in their memories. Weddings and events held at the farm help to support the conservation and education programs here and throughout the region. We hope that our guests will become SAHC members and continue to support conservation long into the future. This year, we have created small, safe wedding packages, enabling people to enjoy socially-distanced outdoor weddings with a limited number of friends and family. For more info, visit Appalachian.org/weddings or email questions to events@appalachian.org.
Welcome Kirin Battaglia, Wedding & Events Coordinator
Kirin is a mother of two who prides herself on being able to raise her children while doing what she loves in the events industry. She received her certification for Event Coordination and has six years of experience as an event/wedding coordinator. Kirin says, “Events are my happy place. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate a special occasion and all the love that is shared, it brings me so much joy.” In her spare time she enjoys taking the kiddos outside and going on new adventures. During the summertime they can usually be found in some sort of body of water; swimming is their favorite thing!
Virtual Tours and Experiences on Conservation Lands Have you seen our video channel lately? Immerse yourself in a few quiet moments of nature, with the calming sounds of streams on conservation preserves. Take a virtual hike on protected land, listen to interviews from naturalists and biologists, or get your Conservation 101 questions answered. We’re adding new content all the time!
Hike Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area Join us for a virtual hike (via YouTube or Appalachian.org) through the historic Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area in Tennessee to the juncture of two major national trails - the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This confluence of a National Historic Trail and a National Scenic Trail makes the area one of the premiere hiking destinations in the southeast United States.
Peruse our full library of videos online: Appalachian.org/video or Youtube/c/SouthernAppalachianHighlandsConservancy. Be sure to subscribe to our channel so you get our latest videos.
24 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020 | Connecting People with Land
T h an k You Corp ora te Pa rtners ! Little Hump Re-Release Friday, October 30 Highland Brewing Company Ten years ago, Highland Brewing Company began donating a portion of proceeds from seasonal beer release parties to SAHC. Little Hump Spring Ale, named for Little Hump Mountain in the Highlands of Roan, was the first seasonal release in this partnership. Although no longer in distribution, Highland is brewing an exclusive Taproom re-release of Little Hump beer to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our partnership, and SAHC staff helped! On Friday, October 30th, $1 per pour from this batch will be donated to SAHC. Membership Director Cheryl Fowler will also join Highland’s Facebook “Live with Leah” at 5 PM that day.
Congratulations!
Corporate Partners Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+ Bernhardt Furniture Wicked Weed Brewing Witherspoon, Platt & Associates Waterrock Knob: $15,000+ New Morning Ltd. Salesforce Roan Mountain: $10,000+ Appalachian Realty Associates Biltmore Company Eastman Mast General Store Cold Mountain: $5,000+ Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Highland Brewing Company Parsec Financial Management RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide Big Yellow: $2,500+ Eastman Credit Union Kee Mapping & Surveying Samsel Architects USA Raft
Oscar Wong - Brewers’ Association Award Highland Brewing Company founder Oscar Wong received this year’s national Recognition Award for “individuals whose inspiration, enthusiasm, and support have contributed to the craft brewing movement.” Congratulations! John Cram - The Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, the highest honor from NC governors, awarded to people who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities. John, who founded New Morning Gallery in 1972, has been instrumental in supporting the artistic and creative well-being of the community and dedicated to conservation of land. Through the sales of the Will Henry Stevens estate that Blue Spiral 1 has represented for over 30 years, John began a revolving loan fund to provide assistance to SAHC and the Conservation Trust NC, enabling land acquisition and protection. John is a successful entrepreneur and visionary who has consistently reinvested in our community. His commitment to conservation, economic growth, and cultural development will have a positive impact for generations. We are grateful to John’s New Morning Ltd. galleries and theater for supporting SAHC as a Corporate Partner, and congratulate him for being recognized with this prestigious award!
Max Patch: $1,000+ Aloft Hotel Downtown Asheville Anchor QEA Asheville Hiking Tours Asheville Tea Company Chestnut Restaurant Corner Kitchen Equinox Environmental French Broad River Garden Club Heritage Restoration & Construction Movement Mortgage Network Computer Solutions Public Consulting Group REI Co-Op Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law Second Gear Starks Financial Group Steelcase Wildwood Consulting, LLC
For information about becoming a Corporate Partner or participating in our Real Estate Partner Program, contact Cheryl Fowler at cheryl@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 209. Corporate Partners | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 25
Mem b e rs ’ Co r n e r Tributes —
Legacy Society
Tributes are gifts made to SAHC that celebrate a person, achievement, or special occasion.
You can shape this region’s future with your legacy. Including a gift to SAHC in your will is a profound statement of your commitment in the present and your vision for future generations and the web of life that thrives in protected places. We are grateful to Joe Manley who recently added SAHC to his estate planning!
as of Oct. 6, 2020
In honor of Wylon Bookwalter Kyle and Anne Wyatt In honor of John Cram’s birthday From his employees In honor of Ed Elam Ann E. Mason In honor of Cheryl Fowler Lynn Cox and John Ramey In honor of Natalie Henry Howell Nancy Blevins In honor of Gary Kauffman Speaking of Gardening In honor of Jay Leutze Ann Babcock and Jim Morgan In honor of John Mason Jane and Graham Holding In honor of Pamela Fry Mitchell Happy Rieth In honor of Hanni Muerdter Mary Alice and Michael Lodico David Muerdter and Nancy Penrose Kent Stewart and Catharine Ellis
Perspective - Joe Manley “For me it was an easy decision to make a will bequest to SAHC. SAHC does such superb and meaningful work in places that mean most to me. My native mountains which I love more than any other mountains in the world. Fairview, location of the farm of Jacob Cauble (originally Köbel), in the 1800’s the first of my family to come to the Asheville area, a family who first came to North Carolina from the German Rhineland in the 18th century. Jacob means a lot as the common ancestor of myself and my very dearest friend in Asheville since childhood. Chestnut Mountain, a great beauty-filled benefit to Canton, the hometown of valued family friends now deceased, heroic Guadalcanal vet Clinton Harrison and my childhood friend Joe Harrison. Roan Mountain – whose beauty has haunted me since I was a teenager. And these particular locations are only part of what the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy does!”
Legacy Lunch & Learn Tuesday, Nov 17 at 12 pm
Join us for a virtual Lunch & Learn with Sheryl Aikman, SAHC Trustee and former VP of the Community Foundation of WNC to learn about the different tools you can use to maximize your legacy giving. This presentation will be beneficial to those who are curious about estate planning. For more information and to reserve a spot contact Pauline Heyne at pauline@appalachian.org. 26 | View from the Highlands Fall 2020 | Members’ Corner
Flame azalea in the Highlands of Roan
In Memoriam - Len Pardue
Memb ers’ Corn er
An ardent leader and supporter of conservation, Len will be missed by all of us at SAHC. He and Esther have been closely involved with SAHC since the 1990’s. They donated a conservation easement in 1997 permanently protecting Sandy Springs, their treasured 256-acre mountain cove hideaway in Sandy Mush. This pioneer easement was one of SAHC’s first protected properties in Sandy Mush, leading the way for dozens of subsequent easements that protect tens of thousands of acres. We will forever be grateful to Len and Esther for their role in getting the ball rolling in Sandy Mush! This year, Len and Esther transferred ownership of Sandy Springs to SAHC for us to own and manage for the long-term. Len and Esther have been mainstays at SAHC’s annual Appalachian Spring and June Jamboree events since the 90’s, hiking, bird watching, wildflower-gazing and enjoying good cheer with SAHC for more than twenty years. All that time, Len and Esther have been incredibly generous donors to SAHC. We’re saddened by Len’s passing, and deeply grateful for his significant impact on our conservation mission.
In Memoriam Martha Ann Claxton
Memorials
— as of Oct. 6, 2020 Memorial contributions to SAHC honor the memory of special individuals. A memorial gift is a gift of flowers in perpetuity. You can remember your loved one by making a gift to SAHC to help permanently protect the places they loved. In memory of Glenn Curtis Branscome Karna Candler In memory of Martha Ann Claxton Laurie Besteman Linda Globuschutz Diane Bennett and James Hanson Patsy Keever Dr. Artus Moser, Jr. J. Michael Smith Ms. Elizabeth Strub Mary Bruce and Stephen Woody Dr. Winfield S Word-Sims In memory of Helga Dohse Heather Newton In memory of Janet Frericks Sandra Lymperis
Dr. Martha Ann Claxton will be remembered for spreading joy and passion for the natural world to many who enjoyed visits to Claxton Farm in Weaverville. Martha Ann grew up in Charlottesville, VA, and graduated from Duke University. She served the community at Asheville Children’s Medical Center and as part of medical staff at Mission Hospital. However, she will be most remembered throughout the community for the “A Day on the Farm” school field trip tours she enjoyed giving for many years. Martha Ann and Porter Claxton worked with SAHC to protect 480 acres of Claxton Farm with a an agricultural conservation easement to preserve its natural beautiful state, forever. We are grateful to Martha Ann and the Claxton family for their thoughtful stewardship and conservation of this land, and we join you in cherishing the memories of Martha Ann sharing this special place with others.
In memory of Dr. Ben D. Hall and Kathryn Hunter Hall David Hall, Katye Hall Hansen and Helen Hall Kasper In memory of Riley Howell Joseph Lazzaro Kaye and William Sebastyn In memory of Duncan Shannon Hobby Karen Murphy-Keddell In memory of Leonard Pardue George Binder Michael & Margaret Brown Julie Keely In memory of Thomas S. Patrick Paul Schmalzer In memory of Daniel S. Pincu Jane Delfield Susan and Bary Easton Linda Langenstroer Dalia & Robert Singer In memory of Hugh Thompson Marilyn Thompson
Claxton Farm. Photo by Steven McBride Photography, www.stevenmcbride.com
Members’ Corner | Fall 2020 View from the Highlands | 27
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
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Asheville, NC Permit No. 593
372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 (828) 253-0095 Return Service Requested
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Leave a Legacy...
Have you considered including SAHC in your estate planning? Legacy gifts help ensure the permanent protection of beloved conservation lands for the future. If you have included SAHC in your estate plans, please let us know. We would like to thank you for your generosity and recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society. For more information about joining our Legacy Society, contact Pauline Heyne at pauline@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 216.
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