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2020 Spring/Summer 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 We are thinking of you.
372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248 sahc@appalachian.org
Board of Trustees Laura McCue, President Rick Manske Vice-President Matt Moses, Secretary Nancy Edgerton, Treasurer Jeff Needham, At-Large Sheryl Aikman Sarah Davis David Erwin Mary Fanslow Popsie Lynch John Mason Cynthia Poortenga Rich Preyer Chris Soto Allison Williams Tom Williams
Arden, NC Weaverville, NC Erwin, TN Asheville, NC Johnson City, TN Asheville, NC Asheville, NC Asheville, NC Kingsport, TN Fairview, NC Asheville, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Johnson City, TN Charleston, SC Fairview, NC
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 Lauren McTigue Nature Experience Director
I hope you and your family are staying healthy and as happy as possible in these difficult times. Caring for the wellbeing of our planet and communities has always been a guiding principle of SAHC. This includes caring about you, our SAHC family. We stand with those calling for change to end systemic racism that creates injustice and division in our world. Although we say that public lands and outdoor recreation are for everyone, we also know that Black Americans have experienced a long history of violence and exclusion in these spaces. Deep, meaningful action from all of us in the conservation and environmental field is necessary to make this change. SAHC is committed to equity and inclusion in conservation, to addressing structural racism, and to making sure that all people can safely enjoy and engage with nature. I hope you find inspiration as you read this newsletter. The stories in this issue happened because of you. Your generous support enables us to continue moving forward to permanently protect and steward these treasured natural areas. You help protect local farmland for sustainable local food production, countless headwater stream sources that provide clean drinking water for millions of people, and special places to spend time outdoors, improving opportunities for health and wellness. The legacy of conservation that you continue to create will sustain us through these difficult times. SAHC continues to take the long view on our conservation work in order to protect the Southern Appalachians, forever. We will continue to do this work and overcome the current challenges as we have always done — together.
AmeriCorps Hannah Latragna Shaylyn Sargent Hannah Stuart Sam Rames Hanna Peterman
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Communications & Community Engagement Member Conservation Education & Volunteer Member Land Protection & Education Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member Stewardship & Volunteer Member
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.
SAHC honored with The Garden Club of America’s Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal SAHC was recently awarded one of the highest national honors bestowed by the Garden Club of America, the Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal. The Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal is presented to organizations and individuals for their outstanding achievement in environmental protection and the maintenance of the quality of life. We are deeply honored by this prestigious recognition and especially grateful to the French Broad River Garden Club Foundation for nominating SAHC and shepherding our nomination through GCA’s highly competitive year-long process for SAHC to prevail among all the competitors and win the medal. “Members of the French Broad River Garden Club are so proud of SAHC and its dedication to saving our beautiful mountains by protecting land and water. Congratulations!” said Randy Hunter, who along with Elizabeth Brown and Elizabeth Flynn led the nomination effort by the French Broad River Garden Club.
Map: SAHC’s Conservation Focus Areas and NEW Land Protection Projects Jenkins Branch Farm pg. 12
Reemes Sugar North Turkey Family pg. 10-11 Creek Cove Creek pg. 10-11
Highlands Appalachian Trail of Countryside Roan
pg. 4
Tr a il
pg. 10-11
Hampton Creek Cove
n
a hi c ala p p A
Garrett Cove pg. 10-11
Smoky Mountains
French Broad River Valley
Black Mountains i Blue R
dg
y wa k r a eP
Bl
Little Rock Creek
ue
Rid
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P ar kw ay
Balsam Mountains
pg. 5
Hickory Flats and Reed Cove Forest pg.6-7
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Highlands of Roan Focus Area
This gem of a property contains more than 7,500 feet of coldwater streams, including a beautiful, roaring section of Little Rock Creek. It also contains an heirloom apple orchard, healthy Northern hardwood forests, and rare mountain floodplain and wetland habitats. Thank you for helping to protect this delightful place!
Little Rock Creek
Streams and rare mountain wetland habitat Brilliant wildflower blooms brighten forested areas of Little Rock Creek during spring.
Staff Perspective: Carl Silverstein “We’re humbled that SAHC can own and manage this jewel in the Roan for the long term. Within its boundaries are so many conservation values worthy of protecting. These include the pristine trout waters of Little Rock Creek, several mossy headwater tributaries, mature hardwood forests carpeted in spring with lovely ephemeral wildflowers, and a vast heirloom apple orchard. There are views from the property of Roan High Knob, Grassy Ridge Summit and Grassy Gap. It is a serene place to visit, which we look forward to sharing with SAHC members when we are able.”
Little Rock Creek preserve is particularly unique in the Roan Highlands because in addition to healthy forest habitats, it contains many seeps and wetland and floodplain habitats that are relatively rare in the mountains. A beautiful apple orchard, once part of farm production in the 1940s, now provides open habitat and a food source for a variety of wildlife and bird species. Our stewardship staff are looking forward to identifying the unique amphibians, reptiles, crayfish, and plants that may live in the boggy places on Little Rock Creek. Management of the
New conservation properties
Other SAHC preserves / easements
preserve will focus on improving and maintaining wetland and forest health. With a healthy stream and incredible wildflower displays throughout the property, the Little Rock Creek Preserve possesses exciting potential for our Connecting People with Nature program. Of historic interest, neighbors tell us that a portion of the old road bed that led to the Cloudland Hotel near Carvers Gap crosses part of the tract. We are so grateful to all our supporters for making this high priority conservation acquisition possible!
Hampton Creek Cove
Hampton Creek Cove SNA
Appalachian Trail
TN or NC State land
Little Rock Creek
Little Rock Creek
US Forest Service
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Near Hampton Creek Cove SNA
This historic farm in TN makes wonderful Golden-winged Warbler habitat. During a recent bird survey on the property, we heard nine male birds calling!
The combination of forest and fields provide attractive habitat for a variety of species, including the Golden-winged Warbler, one of the most rapidly declining songbird species in our region. This property is a corner of paradise in the Roan Highlands – open fields with prime bird habitat, rushing cold-water streams, and historic farmstead areas. “Like Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, it has been historically grazed, and we will continue that grazing in an ecologically responsible manner, because it maintains habitat for Goldenwinged Warbler and other early successional species,” explains Roan
Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett. SAHC partners with the Southeast Golden-winged Warbler Working Group, which coordinates habitat protection and research efforts across the region for this declining neotropical migratory songbird. We will also manage the tract for aquatic habitat for trout and other cold water species, using best management practices for grazing and stream protection in the future. “Hampton Creek is a wonderful trout stream,” adds Marquette. “Everybody knows it and fishes it – and this acquisition helps to protect the headwaters and main stem of
Hampton Creek.”
Highlands of Roan Focus Area
Hampton Creek Cove
With your help SAHC purchased 98 more acres near Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, adjacent to the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. This stunning property of rolling hills, forest, and farm land reaches over 4,000 ft. elevation and is visible from the Appalachian Trail and the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail. It adjoins another SAHC preserve, and together they protect the headwater tributaries of Hampton Creek.
The public lands of nearby Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area offer a less crowded hiking alternative to the highly popular Carvers Gap area. “The experience at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area feels a little more pastoral and historic than other trails in the Roan,” says Marquette. “It is different from the open balds, but also has open areas and beautiful vistas. You get a good sense of the history of the area and what a farmstead 100 years ago may have looked like.”
Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area Located in Carter County, TN, near the town of Roan Mountain and Roan Mountain State Park, Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area is a breathtaking haven for wildlife with ample opportunity for outdoor recreation – including miles of hiking trails and trout streams. The upper reaches of the cove adjoin Cherokee National Forest, where the Left Prong of Hampton Creek originates. Since 1986, when SAHC purchased 693 acres in Hampton Creek Cove and transferred the property to the State of Tennessee for inclusion in the State Natural Areas program, we Hike a section of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail have partnered with the Tennessee Division of Natural Areas to manage this remarkable tract. SAHC recently received a grant from the TN Recreational Trails program for new footbridges on the trails in Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, and we look forward to working on that project this summer. Land Protection Updates | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 5
Balsam Mountains Focus Area
Hickory Flats & Reed Cove Forest 164 Acres between Mt. Pisgah and Cold Mountain View of Cold Mountain from Hickory Flats
Hickory Flats boasts beautiful views of both Cold Mountain and Mt. Pisgah – a rare sight for a single location. With an open field bordered by mature forest, a rushing stream and road access, this spot could have been ripe for development. Instead, conservation-minded landowner Gene Goodson worked with us to permanently protect this beautiful land in Haywood County. He generously donated a portion of the land, and we are very grateful to supporters who enabled us to purchase the rest of the land at a bargain. “The Hickory Flats property has a wide open pasture and incredible views of both Mt. Pisgah and Cold Mountain, as it is nestled between these two well-known peaks,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “It’s the kind of place that would have been attractive for development. Fortunately, the landowner wanted to make sure the
property was preserved for future generations.” Landowner Gene Goodson, a Haywood County native, wanted SAHC to have the land. His father purchased the Hickory Flats tract in 1941, and it became the family’s beloved weekend/summer spot. Goodson says he “learned a lot there” – hiking the mountains, exploring the area with friends, working in the garden, swimming in the creek, and picking blackberries and apples — including heirloom varieties that he says you can’t find anymore. Goodson acquired the Hickory Flats property from his father in the 1970s, and he purchased
the Reed Cove Forest tract higher up on the mountain in the 1980s. Having spent much of his youth on the land, he continued to enjoy the properties through the years. Goodson recognized that the land had high development potential, and he wanted to see it preserved as it is. He reached out to SAHC for a permanent conservation solution and donated part of the land – the Reed Cove Forest tract – to SAHC. “We are very grateful to Mr. Goodson, all our supporters, and philanthropic leaders Brad and Shelli Stanback for making permanent conservation of this land on the flanks of Mt. Pisgah possible,” adds Hanni. “This land has beautiful bold creeks with trout habitat and amazing views. You can really feel a lot of history in this area.”
View of Mt. Pisgah from opposite side of Hickory Flats
6 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020
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Hickory Flats Reed Cove Forest
Mt. Pisgah
Bl ue R
id
ge
Pa rk wa y
Cold Mountain
New conservation properties
US Forest Service (Pisgah Nat’l Forest)
Other SAHC preserves / easements
Other protected land
Portions of Reed Creek border Hickory Flats, and tributaries of the creek flow through the Reed Cove Forest tract.
Blue Ridge Parkway Landowner Perspective: Gene Gene has had a relationship with this mountain land for almost his entire life. He was born in Canton in the 1930s, where his father ran an auto dealership, and recalls that his father “bought the land on the mountain” at Hickory Flats in 1941. He hired a local Mr. Wooten to build a cabin for the family on the property, and he lived up on the mountain “under a tarp” throughout one summer while building it. Like other mountain homesteads in the area, it did not have electricity or running water for many years — just a spring and outhouse. The family would visit each week, bringing Mr. Wooten a cake of cornbread, pot of stew, and materials for building the house. Gene’s mother, who fervently disliked smoky fireplaces, would ask every week “Are you sure that chimney will draw?” Finally, Gene says she must have asked one time too many, and Mr. Wooten responded “Mrs.
Goodson Goodson – do you have any cats?” No, she said she didn’t. “It’s a good thing. It’ll suck them right up.” Over the years, a series of tenants and farmers leased the cabin and pastures. Gene, a natural storyteller, recalls vivid snippets of local color – personal stories of families in the area such as the Pless and Cogburn families and historic anecdotes of the Vanderbilt family and their Buck Springs Lodge on Mt. Pisgah. They rented the pasture to neighbors for grazing land, and at one point, it had become overgrown with poison oak. Gene recalls that a neighbor brought a goat down and moved it around to eat full circular patches of poison oak. “That’s how crop circles are formed,” he quipps. However, one day the goat worked loose and got into “the ivy” (which is what the folks in the area called mountain laurel), and they found it laying
down with green foam pouring out of its mouth. They fed it tomato juice, as they had been instructed to do if it ever got into “the ivy,” and Gene says it looked like they were offering up the goat as a ritual sacrifice — there was red tomato juice everywhere! “But the goat was okay,” he says, so everything turned out all right. Although Gene moved out of the area and traveled across the country — graduating from Duke University with a degree in mechanical engineering and embarking on a successful career as a leader in academia, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, and the transportation industry — he feels a strong connection and love for the land and kept it through the years. “I spent a lot of time in high school there and with friends during the winters. My parents loved the place, and the family did not want to see the property developed,” says Gene. “I appreciate Hanni and SAHC for the professional way this whole series of transactions was handled. We are very pleased that the property will be conserved for the future.”
Land Protection Updates | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 7
Sandy Mush Game Lands
Br Fren oa ch dR ive r
WNC Sc enic Byw ay
French Broad River Valley Focus Area
Madison County
Haywood County
Buncombe County
Map: SAHC land conservation by decade. In this vicinity SAHC has protected close to 13,000 acres.
1990-1999
2000-2009
2010-2019
2020
Other Protected Land
Sandy Mush - 25 years of Conservation
Mountain ridges, low-lying farms, beautiful streams and forested hills coalesce into a quiet rural community in the corner where Buncombe, Haywood, and Madison Counties meet. This idyllic haven has been the beloved home to generations of hard-working farmers as well as a treasured retreat to relative newcomers. We’ve been cultivating relationships and conserving land in this beautiful area for decades, and we are very grateful to all the partners, landowners, and supporters who make conservation in Sandy Mush possible.
Bee Branch Farm Hike, Sandy Mush, 2009
What makes this area so unique for conservation? A combination of agricultural land and fertile farming soils, secluded coves and ridges that make excellent wildlife corridors, and a plethora of stream sources. All potentially under threat of development as the population and popularity of the region continues to swell. Unlike SAHC’s other five conservation focus areas, where we often concentrate on connecting to or filling in gaps within national forests or state parks, the French Broad River Valley focus area did not have an existing
8 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020
conservation skeleton on which to build. By conscientiously creating long-term relationships with landowners in the Sandy Mush area, we have established a framework of contiguous protected land, and we continue to work diligently to protect important tracts while the opportunity remains. In its remoteness, Sandy Mush is a closeknit community with a shared appreciation for the beauty of the land, history, farming experience, and respect for nature. This land is steeped in history, and families with
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long-standing connections to the area who have farmed here for generations — with names like Duckett, Wells, and Reeves — have worked with SAHC to permanently protect their land. We are grateful to all the landowners who have built relationships with us over time and shared news about conservation in the community. Here are a few of their stories.
Steve Duckett “My parents, Bill and Mabel Duckett, were one of the first to do a conservation easement in the Sandy Mush area — it was really a new concept to the area at the time. Sandy Mush is one of the few remaining farming communities
these large tracts are getting more and more rare with development pressure in Buncombe and surrounding counties. It’s extremely difficult to purchase land and pay for it with farming activity alone. Some people are making it happen with small scale local operations and creative endeavors, but the 2- 3- 400-acre farms of the past are really getting scarce. So it becomes more challenging conserve land. SAHC is doing a good job of putting together parcels to create a protected network of land. Conservation is an option I think people should consider as we’re starting to transition now from larger farms to smaller operations and/or retirement. Many farmers would like to see the land stay more in a natural state or farming landscape. Also, the tourism economy here is dependent on that local food production and these scenic surroundings. It all goes hand in hand.”
Terri Wells Bee Branch Farm Bill Duckett
in Buncombe County. A lot of farmers don’t have retirement resources aside from their land, and may have to sell off land in order to be able to retire. Dad had heard about some people doing that, and he really didn’t want to go that route. He started doing research and reached out to SAHC about the possibility of farm conservation easements. He and Mom were able to get money towards retirement out of the conservation easement purchase [they also donated part of the value of the easement], and the land was preserved for farming, in a more natural state. It was really a win-win for everyone. Connectivity is an important aspect of conservation work in this area. With Sandy Mush connecting over the ridge to Haywood County, you have some large areas of undeveloped land. However,
“Since I was a child, I have had a deep connection to Sandy Mush and to the land that makes up our family farm. Our family has farmed a significant portion of this land for more than 200 years. There are the stories that I heard as a child while working with my family in the tobacco and tomato fields; these stories are part of the history of Sandy Mush that ground me in this sense of place. And beyond the stories, my connection is deeper and more visceral. The smells, the tastes, the feel of the air;
Terri Wells
I am fortunate to call this beautiful and special place home. I am pleased that my family worked together to conserve more than 500 acres of our family farm in a permanent conservation easement with SAHC in 2009, and that many of our neighbors are also working with SAHC to conserve our mountains, forests, and farmland in Sandy Mush. We have a strong community and conservation ethic that makes me proud to call this place home.”
Ray Hearne
Ray Hearne
Ray was born to a Quaker family and studied the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism in her adult life. She nourishes an enduring respect for and consecration of the natural world, which she calls “the sacredness of critters and the environment that sustains them.” Ray grew up as one of six siblings who helped out at the Hearne family dairy farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1967 her parents moved to Willow Cove in Sandy Mush. Visiting them periodically, Ray found that Sandy Mush was one of the most beautiful places she had ever been. In 1991 she purchased 62 acres here and began working to remove exotic invasive plant species. Ray wanted to make sure that the land would remain protected long after she’s gone, so she explored conservation options with SAHC to make that permanent protection possible. She considers her conservation easement with SAHC to be one of her most significant contributions to the “remarkable diversity of Sandy Mush flora and fauna and indeed, to the well-being of Mother Earth”.
Land Protection Updates | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 9
French Broad River Valley Focus Area
Sandy Mush
Adding to the Network of Protected Land This steep, forested tract in Sugar Creek Cove provides habitat in an important wildlife corridor
Sugar Creek Cove The 197-acre purchase at Sugar Creek Cove secures an important natural bridge between other protected properties. This steep, forested tract contains diverse forest habitats - including Rich Cove/ Boulderfield Forest, High Elevation Rocky Summit, and High Elevation Red Oak Forest. “Sugar Creek Cove is strategically important in the Sandy Mush landscape,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “It adjoins another SAHC preserve on one side and conservation easement on the other, connecting more than 2,275 acres of contiguous protected land at the headwaters of Sugar and North Turkey Creeks.”
Conservation in Sugar Creek Cove protects over 2 miles of stream corridor.
Over 11,660 linear feet of stream corridors on the property include portions of Sugar Creek, a tributary of Sandy Mush Creek and the primary water source for farmland in the area. Rare species documented within two miles of the site indicate that it may provide habitat for the Golden-banded Skipper butterfly and the Virginia Stickseed. “This land will always carry the memory of Bill Everett and his wife Joyce, who spent time treasuring this space in their later years, along with their children,” continues Michelle. “Bill and Joyce sold SAHC 70 acres for an adjoining preserve in 2009. After Joyce passed away, Bill wanted us to have the adjoining tract so it would be permanently protected. Sadly, he passed away before this sale was finalized, but we were able to work with his estate to complete the acquisition and secure the protection he wanted for this special cove.” Personal Perspective: Rob Everett “My mom had grown up in West Virginia and always felt a connection to the mountains. She felt strongly that she came from the Southern Appalachian
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Continuing decades of commitment in the Sandy Mush area, we have recently acquired 600 more acres in this growing network of conserved land. Collectively, these new land acquisitions protect wildlife corridors, forests, and water sources that flow into Sugar Creek, North Turkey Creek, and Sandy Mush Creek in the French Broad River watershed. We are extremely grateful to philanthropic leaders Brad and Shelli Stanback and to all of our members for empowering SAHC to purchase these properties. We intend to own and manage these tracts for the long-term as nature preserves. Mountains. When my parents reached retirement age in the 1990s, they found this property in Sandy Mush, and it was like a retirement dream come true for them. This began a 20 year relationship of them with the land, and they very much enjoyed their time here. They visited, worked on the land, and had picnics. It was a wonderful part of the final years of their life. After finishing college I was able to go there quite a bit, to go hiking and explore pretty much every part of the property. It was a really neat destination to run away to, if you were adventurous. In some ways it was not the most welcoming place because it was a remote, steep cove, but for my parents it was a dream come true. It was a very special place to our family. I think my dad felt Mom would have wanted it to be preserved. I think there was some comfort to him, knowing it
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would go into a conservation trust. It’s something our parents held near and dear to their hearts, and it will always be that way to our family. We are glad it is being conserved.”
North Turkey Creek
The North Turkey Creek property includes forested slopes and open pasture.
Across the ridge from Sugar Creek Cove, we secured another critical “bridge” property, filling an unprotected gap between two SAHC preserves. These 96 acres in the North Turkey Creek area contain numerous tributaries to North Turkey Creek. “These ridgeline tracts are biologically important,” says Michelle, “as high elevation areas and ridgelines tend to be important wildlife corridors.” This tract rises to 4,100 ft. in the Newfound Mountain Range, with forested slopes and some pasture in the lower elevations.
worked with us to protect adjoining parcels near North Turkey Creek. The land contains 1.25 miles of stream which flow into North Turkey Creek, and the forested, sloped topography provides wildlife habitat in this important corridor. “In buying this land, we were able to work with a local family who has lived and farmed in the community for generations to meet their needs and see the land protected,” says Michelle. “When the Reemes family members needed to sell their land, they did not want it to get developed and they needed to keep a portion of each parcel for their homes and farming operations. We were able to raise funds from generous private donors and protect a prominent ridgeline in the North Turkey Creek valley, between Early’s Gap and Pinnacle Knob. We are proud to help Sandy Mush remain a rural farming community.” Speaking about why they wanted to protect the land, Jackie Sue
Garrett Cove
Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese on a site visit to Reemes’ family tracts.
Reemes says, “We do not want it to be developed. If you put houses on everything, you won’t have space for gardens and so on. We’ve worked and lived off the land in Sandy Mush growing a garden for the family and raising beef cattle and all kinds of animals. My mother taught us to can food from the garden, and we still can a lot – green beans, cabbage, beets, jellies, tomatoes, stew – pretty much everything that grows in the garden. It’s organic. We’ve been in Sandy Mush all of our lives, and we love the place, the neighbors, everything about this space. It is home.”
Sugar Creek Cove
Reemes Family Tracts
North Turkey Creek — Reemes Family The Reemes family worked with SAHC to conserve a total of 83 acres in 2019 and 2020. In the mountain coves of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee, large tracts of land become broken up over time as they are divided among family members or inherited and sold off. This land was passed down through the Reemes family, who continue to live and farm in the area. Several family members
North Turkey Creek
New conservation properties Other protected land
Other SAHC preserves /easements
Land Protection Updates | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 11
French Broad River Valley Focus Area
Garrett Cove In one of SAHC’s early Sandy Mush conservation projects, Len and Esther Pardue donated a conservation easement on their 256-acre mountain tract to SAHC in 1997. This property rises to a ridgeline on the Buncombe/ Haywood County line in an important wildlife corridor. The couple spent many years caring for the land, removing invasive species, observing wildlife and wildflowers, and finding time to relax and rejuvenate. They have special memories of moving and reconstruct an old cabin on the property, with the help of friends and local mountain carpenters. Now in their 80s and less able to continue tending the property, Len and Esther wanted SAHC to own the land, to assure it will always be managed for conservation purposes. “This was one of our larger conservation easement properties,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “And it has significant diversity of plant habitats and water resources – making it deserving of ownership by SAHC in order for it to be managed long-term as a nature preserve by our non-profit organization.”
Landowner Perspective: Len and Esther Pardue
Esther Pardue
“When we first bought property, we were mostly interested in having a place to get away. The land had Pristine streams flow through the Garrett Cove been logged not too long property. before, so there were young conservation has caught on here. trees at first. As we held onto it and Preserving the headwaters in these watched the young trees and forest coves and ridges helps preserve mature, we became aware of the water quality downslope. Then we diversity of trees and wildflowers became aware of growth of invasive that existed there. We realized it was plant species on the property, and a wonderful piece of land, rich with battling them became a reason we a variety of species and particularly a lot of birds. We were big bird watchers and enjoyed watching and hearing birds; hearing wood thrushes in the evening or watching birds building nests was such a treat. One year Rose-breasted Grosbeaks built a nest in front of the cabin. We loved exploring and finding new things. Umbrella Leaf, a native NC wildflower, was plentiful.
Historic cabin on the property, a favorite place of family memories.
It felt like a very valuable place for wildlife, and our sons enjoyed getting away from civilization and hiking all over the place. It meant a great deal to us, and we wanted to protect it to make sure the land was never developed. We were among the first people in Sandy Mush to do a conservation easement, and we are so glad that land
12 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020
Jack-in-the-Pulpit blooming on the property.
went up to visit and work on the property. We invested many hours in eradication attempts, especially garlic mustard removal, and we hope that by owning the land SAHC will be able to continue these invasive management efforts. We are very grateful that SAHC was able to acquire the land and continue caring for it.”
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Nestled amids the rolling hills and old farms in the Alexander community less than 3,000 ft. from the French Broad River, the Jenkins Branch farm contains rich, fertile soils -- now permanently protected for future generations. With the SAHC Community Farm just around the corner, this farm offers exciting potential for expanding our Farmer Incubator Program and possibilities for partnering with The American Chestnut Foundation. “All the stars aligned in this Jenkins Branch Farm project,” says Farmland Program Director Jess Laggis. “The landowners were conservation-minded and willing to sell their property to SAHC at a bargain in order to ensure that it would remain a viable farm and honor their family’s farming legacy. er road Riv French B
Jenkins Branch Farm
Jenkins Branch Farm Near SAHC’s Community Farm
This 99-acre farm near the French Broad River contains important soils for farming.
Their neighbors, already friends of SAHC, connected them with us when they decided to sell their land. And we had been working with The American Chestnut Foundation to find a parcel that would provide a good location to grow chestnut trees in the Asheville area; this tract may be a good fit.” The land had been owned by a farming family for more than 100 years, and SAHC’s purchase of it ensures it will be available for agricultural production for generations to come. The surrounding landscape, once predominantly farmland, lies close to the historic route of the Old Buncombe Turnpike along the French Broad River, a route that led livestock from the mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee to markets on the coast of South Carolina in the 1800s. James Mitchell Alexander, for whom the Alexander community is named, operated a very successful livestock “stand” – a resting place for drovers and livestock – along the route. “The tract has a beautiful knoll with stunning, 360 degree views of the Craggy and Walnut Mountains, and great road frontage,” continues Jess. “In Alexander, where residential development pressure is intense, these attributes would have made it an enticing site for multi-home development. But instead, we were able to protect the scenic and natural resources for public benefit. Protecting this land ensures that nearly 100 acres of important agricultural soils will be forever farmable. “
We are very grateful to all our supporters, friends of the organization who connected the landowners with SAHC, Brad and Shelli Stanback, and Jim and Jill Gibson for making this acquisition possible. “SAHC’s innovative efforts at the Community Farm and successful farmland conservation program inspired us to support the purchase of the Jenkins Branch farm,” said Jim and Jill Gibson. “We are particularly excited about the prospects of the land being used in partnership with The American Chestnut Foundation.”
French Broad River Valley Focus Area
Thanks to generous leaders like you, SAHC recently purchased this beautiful 99-acre farm! It contains more than 80 acres of important agricultural soils. Jenkins Branch flows along the edge of the property on its way to the French Broad River. The farm is located in Asheville’s rapidly suburbanizing outskirts, and its gentle topography and scenic views would have made it a prize for residential development. Instead, it is preserved as farmland, forever. Thank you!
Partner Perspective: The Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has been fortunate to partner with SAHC in planning the future use of the Jenkins Branch property for potential research plantings and seed orchards in their effort to restore the American chestnut to its native range. “We are grateful to the landowners for their vision and foresight to preserve this high quality site for conservation, when so many historic farms in the area are under tremendous development pressure. We hope someday a grove of stately chestnuts will grace the hillsides of this important acquisition by SAHC,” stated Lisa Thomson, President & CEO of TACF.
New conservation properties Other SAHC preserves / easements Other protected land Land Protection Updates | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 13
SAHC Community Farm Conservation • Education • Celebration
Five new Brahman-longhorn cross calves have been born on the SAHC Community Farm this spring. These exotic-looking cattle are often purchased for their unique look.
Farmer Incubator Program Updates Julia Costa of Wild Jewels Farm was planning to focus her growing operation this year on supplying local restaurants with farm-fresh produce. However, the COVID-19 pandemic squashed those plans. During a weekly Farmer Incubator Program support meeting with Community Farm Manager Chris Link, Julia worked through some alternate ideas, pivoting from her planned focus on restaurant sales to a more secure market. She reached out to a former employer and negotiated Julia Costa, up-front of Wild Jewels Farm sales for her
Agriculture and expansion projects on our innovative farm property have continued moving ahead this year. With a thriving herd of cattle, production of mixed vegetables and salad greens, and progress on adding the 30+ acre expansion tract into production, the SAHC Community Farm has been a hub of socially-distanced activity.
entire production this season. Julia is growing a mix of edible produce — including salad, greens, tomatoes, mixed vegetables — which will go into healthy meals for residents in a women’s retreat/recovery center. Five new calves have been born on the farm this spring, bringing Wes Buckner and Cheyenne Cearly’s herd of Brahman-longhorn cross cattle close to 30 head. They have renovated some pasture areas for the cattle, helping to manage these areas and subdividing pasture to implement more rotational grazing. “These cattle are great foragers,” says Chris, “They are good for helping to manage pasture and often bought for their unique look out on the land. The cattle are very healthy and selfsufficient, and they can graze scrubby areas on the farm, cutting back on growth of invasive plant species and opening up more pasture land.”
Community Farm Expansion A grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service enabled us to engage Carolina Farm Stewardship Association to create an organic production plan for the expansion property. We will open two acres on the expansion property for production by fall. We are preparing for construction of a new hoophouse for farm production and a walk-in cooler to preserve fresh produce, both made possible by a grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Thank you for your support! New perennial fruit-andnut bearing small trees and shrubs will also provide habitat and food for wildlife. The expansion area will include a farm stand, eventually open to the public, for people to purchase directly from farmers in the Farmer Incubator Program and potentially other local farmers in the area.
We continue to accept applications for the Farmer Incubator Program. Info at Appalachian.org SAHC’s 140-acre Community Farm hosts beginning farm businesses, educational workshops open to the public, and service learning experiences. The site includes our Farmer Incubator Program, stream restoration and shortleaf pine reforestation projects, as well as space for special events, workshops, and educational field trips. SAHC’s Community Farm programs are supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2016-70017-25341 for Farm Pathways: Integrating Farmer Training with Land Access. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our Community Farm work is funded in part by grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
14 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020
| SAHC Community Farm
S a nd y Mush Forest Restoration Coa lition Collaboration on Addressing Impact of Invasive Plant Species Oriental bittersweet vines can be extremely prolific, killing trees and harming forest health.
The Sandy Mush Forest Restoration Coalition — a partnership of SAHC, the Forest Stewards Guild, and EcoForesters and many others – has completed its first year of collective effort to increase capacity to control invasive exotic plants and improve forest stewardship in Sandy Mush. The coalition is fostering healthy and resilient forests that protect environmental values, cultural heritage, economic opportunities, and quality of life for people in the Sandy Mush area. “The purpose of the coalition is to increase the community’s capacity to conduct forest management activities and to address the concerns and needs of landowners in the community,” explains Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran. “We just finished the first year of our partnership, in which we’ve been meeting with community members, natural resource professionals, and stakeholders. With the coalition up and running, we have an action plan and are now in the process of implementing that plan as we head into our second year.” The coalition held two introductory information-gathering sessions with community members last fall and a Sandy Mush Forest Restoration Gathering in January, in which a variety of organizations and forest professionals presented. These facilitated listening sessions connected state and local partners and other nonprofits involved in forest health initiatives with community members. “The coalition is providing a means to connect landowners with the technical and financial resources they need in order to improve forest stewardship on their properties,” continues Sarah. “The event in January was a powerful way of gathering
the people together in one room so that SAHC and our coalition partners could answer questions from landowners on the tools and resources available to help them manage their land.” Funding for the coalition also enabled SAHC to treat non-native invasive plants on approximately 50 acres of our conservation properties and preserves. “We’re trying to be good stewards of the land we own and fulfill our own commitment to management, while modelling these management practices for others,” says Sarah. This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. Support from local philanthropic environmental leaders provided critical funding to make the coalition possible. We also want to thank the state and local partners and other nonprofits who presented at the community gatherings and have been involved in these efforts – including NC Forest Service, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Mountain Valleys RC&D,
A tree after the Oriental bittersweet vines have been cut and treated.
MountainTrue, Hemlock Restoration Initiative, and several others. “We’ve all been working together to fulfill community goals for family forests in Sandy Mush — To help gain an understanding of what people value about the land, fears they have, and the needs they’ve identified, so collaboratively we can come up with a plan to address these needs and concerns,” says Sarah. “What I really appreciate about the community is how much they value their sense of place. This community has a tremendous love for their land, their neighbors, and their place. You get a real appreciation for how special Sandy Mush is – the sense of ownership and pride in community.”
Conservation In Action | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 15
Highlands of Roan Stewardship
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!
Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett surveys birds on our Gutches Creek Preserve.
Welcome! Seasonal Roan Stewardship Staff Travis Bordley, Roan Seasonal Ecologist Travis was born and raised in Durham, NC. Growing up, he was lucky enough to spend every summer hiking in the mountains, plunging into shady creeks, and developing a deep connection with the land. He received a BS in Environmental Science from UNCAsheville. There he developed his love for the natural world and also a passion for photography. Travis has worked with SAHC since 2016 as an AmeriCorps member, Roan Naturalist, and Seasonal Ecologist, helping to care for the Roan. Kalie Pierce, Roan Naturalist Kalie grew up in Crossville, TN, exploring the many caves and waterfalls of the Cumberland Plateau. She received a BS in Parks and Recreation Management from East TN State University. Since then she has focused on interpretation and outdoor education, and recently had the opportunity to thru-hike the AT. She is excited to play a larger role in protecting the Roan Highlands and the trail. Erik Rieger, Stanback Intern Erik is currently working toward a Master of Environmental Management degree at Duke University. Before Duke, he worked for the Powder River Basin Resource Council in Wyoming, as a farmer in southwest Colorado, and for the American Alpine Club. Erik has a strong interest in the conservation of farmlands and wilderness areas alike and is excited to deploy his GIS skills outside of the classroom. In his internship with SAHC, Erik is helping to develop an aerial monitoring program to supplement on-the-ground stewardship efforts.
We are grateful to Appalachian Trail Conservation (ATC) for awarding SAHC grants from the NC and TN license plate programs. These grants go to support grassy balds habitat management and restoration, creation of educational peak finders on Roan Bald, and the Roan Naturalist. Hosting the Roan Naturalist position is a partnership between SAHC, ATC, Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoing Club, and the US Forest Service, dedicated to educating hikers about Leave No Trace principles and the ecological significance of the Roan Highlands. Thank you, ATC, for your support! Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett was honored with the ATC Southern Regional Office 2020 Partner of the Year Award, for her work in administering the Roan Naturalist position, partnering with trail clubs to improve wildlife habitat while improving and repairing sections of the Appalachian Trail, coordinated efforts to remove feral hogs, and coordinating input from 30 organizations of the Roan Stewardship Committee into the USFS Pisgah management plan update. Congratulations, Marquette!
16 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020 | Conservation In Action
Con n e c tin g Pe o p le with L a nd Virtual Lichen Hike with “Sarge” In response to “Stay at Home” orders and health concerns over COVID-19, we activated our creative juices and put together virtual hikes and educational content to keep people connected with nature. AmeriCorps Project Conserve Conservation Education and Volunteer Outreach member Shay “Sarge” Sargent created a Lichen Hike – Adventure in Conservation video, in lieu of the postponed hike which he had planned for late March. Sarge hikes through an SAHC-protected conservation property in the local area to talk about lichens — Sarge points out a patch of lichen and you are invited to come along! among mosses. “Today we are going to talk about something that is under our noses every time we step out into nature,” he says. “A lichen is a symbiotic organism, a combination of an algae and a fungi together. The fungi creates the structure of the lichen while the algae is the green portion that has the photosynthetic bodies. They work together in order to form an organism that allows the algae to live in a place that is not wet.”
‘Old Man’s Beard’
“You would usually find algae in a pond, but in this case they can live in a dry area without water for a long time,” explains Sarge during his first stop, pointing out an example of lichen of the genus Usnea with thin,
threadlike structures that looks like tufts of hair caught on the branches of a tree. “These lichens are often called ‘Old Man’s Beard’. It’s is very good for tracking air quality, because it soaks up pollutants in the air. Wherever you see Usnea, it’s likely that the area has good air quality. This lichen is very sensitive, but common in the Appalachian region where there is good air quality.” Continuing on the adventure, Sarge pauses to point out other examples of lichen and fungi. He stoops by a moss-covered embankment along the trail to discuss how lichens are often mistaken for mosses. “They do look pretty similar,” he explains. “Looking at this patch right now, you probably think that everything in it is a moss.” “But n fact, if you get a little closer and examine it,” he says, leaning in to point at a pale clump, “This little lighter green patch here is a lichen. Mosses are more leaf-like or fern-like – they are soft to touch, almost like a carpet. Lichens are very hard. Some lichens may be ribbon-like, with curves and curls, but they don’t have the soft leaf-like structure of mosses. Generally, you will see mosses on the forest floor and towards the bottoms of trees, while lichens can grow on
rocks or all over a tree. I actually find lichens more abundant, once I start seeing them. Another misconception is that lichens kill their host – they do not. Lichens are not parasitic. What they are sitting on is considered a substrate; it’s not actually considered a host. Lichens don’t take energy from the tree.” Want to learn more? Follow Sarge’s adventure and view more videos at Appalachian.org
At one point along the hike, Sarge stops by a branch covered in lichen to demonstrate three different examples of lichen morphology types — foliose, crustose, and fruticose lichens.
Check out Appalachian.org/Video to view the Virtual Lichen Hike and more! Conservation In Action | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 17
Youth Ed uca tion AmeriCorps Reflection: Hannah Latragna
AmeriCorps member Hannah Latragna
Over these months I have been able to help children overcome some of their fears, increase their curiosity about nature and begin to gain their sense of place in the mountains we call home. It has been such a rewarding journey for me to watch the students’ relationships to nature and to themselves grow and transform over time. One of my favorite transformations occurred during the span of one, hour-long fall plant identification hike on a conservation easement in the Montreat area. Upon arrival one of my 6th grade students openly expressed her disinterest in our field trip. She walked towards the back of the group as we began, arms crossed, head down. Although she tried not to look at anything except her feet as we walked along the trail, she could not shut out all of the sounds of the forest. Birds were chirping overhead, calming sounds of a stream rushing over rocks came from our right, and the laughter of classmates surrounded her.
As the Communications and Community Engagement AmeriCorps member at SAHC, I have facilitated monthly youth environmental education programs to seven after-school groups for children in K-8th grade. During my time teaching with SAHC, I have learned more about how students view their personal relationships to nature, what they love and fear about the outdoors, and – most importantly – I have learned that students are willing and excited to learn more about the natural world if they are given the opportunity to do so. After a while, she reluctantly joined a friend who was holding a field guide and began to observe. We stopped every so often to talk about native and invasive species and I would ask students if they could identify a plant correctly. This student eventually raised her hand and took a guess. When I told her she was correct, her face lit up. She walked next to me for the next few minutes and asked me to quiz her on other species as we continued. I would point out things that I knew were on the field guide, and she began to realize how easy it was to distinguish mountain laurel from rhododendron and holly if you take a moment to look closely! The student eventually rejoined her group of friends with a newfound sense of confidence, as they looked at wildflowers, trees and compared leaf shapes together. As we were nearing the end of the hike, this student came up to me and individually thanked me for bringing her on this field trip and admitted that the experience had been more fun than she thought
it would be (for a middle-schooler to admit that something was fun is a huge win in my book!). I believe that this transformation in attitude occurred not because she simply learned to identify a few plants correctly, but because by observing nature she was able to gain a new skill that gave her confidence in a way that truly surprised her. My hope for the future of SAHC’s youth education program is that we continue to provide experiences through which children can connect with nature in ways that are meaningful to them. Although we are lucky to be surrounded by natural beauty here in the southern Appalachian mountains, the reality is that opportunities to engage with nature for education and recreation are not always equally accessible to all students. I am lucky to be a part of an organization and network of environmental nonprofits that are dedicated to eliminating this disparity and promoting equitable access to the outdoors for all.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic postponed a robust calendar of youth education programs scheduled for Spring and early Summer, we continue to build and maintain relationships with educational partners and after-school/community center groups, plan programs for next year and explore additional ways in which we can reach students in diverse communities. SAHC produced educational videos to engage youth and families at home, and as we optimistically look towards next year, we hope to work with the same programs and partners to build consistency, as well as expand our program to additional community centers in the area. Thank you to everyone involved in this work! 18 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020 | Conservation In Action
T h an k You Corp ora te Pa rtners !
Community Partnership
The businesses and clubs that support SAHC recognize the importance of healthy and prosperous communities. We are grateful for all the ways they give back to their communities and for supporting conservation that will nurture future generations. We understand the threat that many small businesses currently face, and our hearts go out to every employee and business owner who has been affected. We are thinking of you. Land Trust Day, the first Saturday in June is a day to recognize the economic impact of conservation work in local communities. Now, in the pandemic, many of our dedicated business supporters are unable to contribute as they have in the past, and the loss of funds generated by Land Trust Day creates a significant funding gap in our operating budget. We need your help. Will you consider a gift to help SAHC offset this funding gap? Wicked Weed Brewing has generously offered to match up to $10,000 raised to help offset this Corporate Giving gap! Be sure to mark your gift “Matching Gift Love.” Wicked Weed Brewing continues to support SAHC through their Beers that Build program by donating a portion of sales from their Appalachia Session IPA. They are also ‘giving back’ to our community in a different way by providing free meals to people in the Asheville area who lost jobs due to COVID-19.
We are extremely grateful for all of you — our partners and supporters — and want to give a huge shout-out to thank you for all that you do to support ongoing conservation efforts. These partnerships play an active role in sustaining the health and economic prosperity of the communities around us. A Special THANK YOU to all past Land Trust Day partners! Corner Kitchen Downtown Yoga Center Farm Burger Fine Arts Theatre Highland Brewing Company Jack of the Wood JRH Brewing
Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+ Bernhardt Furniture Witherspoon, Platt & Associates Waterrock Knob: $15,000+ New Morning Ltd. Salesforce Wicked Weed Brewing 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
“When this all started, we wanted to help in all the ways we know how, so feeding people is where we started,” said Rachel Dudasik, Wicked Weed Brewing’s community engagement coordinator. “After three weeks, we were able to grow our Beers that Build food program from 900 meals per week to 5,000!”
Asheville Hiking Tours Asheville Wine Market Bellagio Art to Wear Bellagio Everyday Blue Heron Whitewater Blue Sprial One Gallery Catawba Brewing Co. Chestnut
Corporate Partners
Laughing Seed Café Mast General Store Mayfel’s New Morning Gallery Second Gear Weinhaus Wicked Weed Brewing
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 | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 19
June Jamboree - June 15-20 Virtual June Jam Conservation Celebration - Live on Zoom Thursday, June 18, 5:00 - 6:00pm Join us for a Celebration of Conservation with live music and storytelling. We will be announcing the 2020 Stan Murray Volunteer of the Year and recognizing our Board of Trustees leaders. This will be an interactive Zoom party you won’t want to miss. Pull out your instruments and join in the fun! RSVP to pauline@appalachian.org to get Zoom details.
June Jamboree Experiences — Details at Appalachian.org Highlands of Roan Driving Tour with Soundtrack (or Virtual Option) Take a driving tour through SAHC’s flagship region and learn about some of our conservation successes. Don’t want to drive it yourself ? You can log in for a virtual tour through Google Tours. We’ve set up an enjoyable route highlighting points of interest, open markets and restaurants, hiking trails and more. Soundtrack included.
Farm Heritage Driving/Biking Tour with Soundtrack (or Virtual Option) Enjoy a driving/biking tour through some of our local farming communities where SAHC has protected important farmland. Learn about new and innovative ideas in sustainable agriculture right from your home, your car, or your bike. Soundtrack included. Music by SAHC AmeriCorps and friends - Shaylyn Sargent, Emma Rast, Travis Bordley, and Lillian Chase
Gray’s Lily Leafspot Disease Update with Biomedical Scientist, Cindy Barrett The Roan’s ecosystem is one of the richest repositories of biodiversity on earth, including the rare and endangered Gray’s lily. Only found on the highest elevations of TN, NC and VA, these incredible blooms bring delight to those who find them during the early summer months. However, the health of the Gray’s lily is being threatened by a serious fungal pathogen – the Lily Leaf Spot Disease. Join Cindy on a virtual tour of an SAHC preserve to learn about Gray’s lily and how conservation organizations like SAHC are coming together to prevent the loss of existing populations. Cindy Barrett received her Bachelor’s in Biology from Tusculum College and Master’s in Biology from ETSU. Cindy is an avid artist and is currently studying fungal pathogens as a part of her Ph.D. work in Biomedical Science.
20 | View from the Highlands Spring/Summer 2020 | Upcoming Events
A Mindful, Meditative Nature Tour with Yoga Instructor & SAHC Director of Nature Experiences, Lauren McTigue We know how good being in nature can make us feel. The sounds and scents of the forest, the sunlight playing through the leaves, the fresh, clean air — these things give us a sense of comfort. They ease our stress and worry, help us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature can restore our mood, boost creativity, give us back energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us. The way that we move in nature physically affects how we interact with it and can enhance the restorative benefits of being in nature. Join Lauren to learn how to be aware of your body’s alignment and use nature as a place for refuge, self-contemplation, and full-body movement.
Night Sky Adventure with Astronomer and Conservationist, Bernie Arghiere The modern light of innovation has lit many of our streets, cities, and homes, but in the process our vision of the heavens has been hindered. Local astronomer and conservationist Bernie Arghiere will open a gap through the haze and show us what’s going on beyond our pale blue dot. From the comfort of your couch, learn about comets, planets, the summer solstice, and astronomical events. Seize the opportunity to take this knowledge and see such celestial bodies for yourself. Bernard Arghiere has been involved in astronomy for over four decades and has taught numerous astronomy-related classes and workshops at OLLI at UNC Asheville. He is the recipient of the 2010 North Carolina Champion of Science award from the NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. Mr. Arghiere has been involved with the design and construction of three astronomical observatories in the Asheville region, and he is the former president of the Astronomy Club of Asheville.
Botanical Exploration with Renowned Botanist & Plant Ecologist, Gary Kauffman and SAHC Highlands of Roan Stewardship Director, Marquette Crockett Join Gary and Marquette on a guided virtual tour exploring one of SAHC’s newly protected nature preserves and surrounding National Forests. Virtually participate as they discover and identify unique plant species and ecosystems. Gary Kauffman in a long time SAHC member (since 1988). He works with the National Forest in NC managing botany programs across 1.1 million acres across 4 NC USFS units from the mountains (Nantahala and Pisgah), the piedmont (Uwharrie), and the coastal plain (Croatan). His work includes forest level planning, maintenance and restoration of rare plants and communities, and non-native invasive plant management.
Driving maps, virtual tours, and video for our week-long 2020 June Jamboree will be available on Appalachian.org during the week of June 15-20. Visit us online or on social media to find out more!
Check our website and get a monthly E-View for more frequent updates! To get the most up-to-date news & event info, be sure to subscribe to our monthly e-News and add us in your contacts so we don’t get lost in junk mail. Or, visit us frequently at Appalachian.org and on Facebook. Upcoming Events | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 21
Mem b e rs ’ Co r n e r Public Comment on SAHC’s Accreditation Renewal
Tributes —
as of May 25, 2020
The land trust accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce it is applying for renewal of accreditation. A public comment period is now open.
Tributes are gifts made to SAHC that celebrate a person, achievement, or special occasion.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, conducts an extensive review of each applicant’s policies and programs.
In honor of Marquette Crockett Friends of Roan Mountain In honor of Rick & Melinda Halford David and Claire Hearne In honor of Dr. Jim Karegeannes Ann Karegeannes In honor of Cassy Karlsson & Thomas Hallman Megan Hale In honor of Jay Leutze Elizabeth O’Connell In honor of Rick Manske Colleen & Larry Murray In honor of SAHC staff Carolyn Novak and Don Johnson In honor of Carl Silverstein Jeanne Conerly Miranda Hunter In honor of Steve Sykes & Beth McPherson Sharon Stafford
“Being an accredited land trust lends weight to our long-standing reputation as a conservation organization that upholds the highest standards in professionalism,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “Accreditation is a mark of distinction, showing that SAHC demonstrates fiscal accountability, strong organizational leadership, sound transactions and lasting stewardship of the lands we conserve.” The Commission invites public input and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/help-andresources/indicator-practices. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org, or email your comment to info@ landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments: (fax) 518-587-3183; (mail) 36 Phila Street, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Comments on Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s application will be most useful by July 25, 2020.
Grassy Ridge Mow-off volunteers, Highlands of Roan
22 | View from the Highlands
Spring/Summer 2020 | Members’ Corner
Memb ers’ Corn er In Memoriam - Mack Prichard
Mack Prichard played an active role in the formation of SAHC via the Roan Mountain Preservation Committee of ATC. For more than 50 years, Mack Prichard served the state of TN as an effective thinker, teacher, advocate and actor for modern conservation. He began his career with the TN Dept. of Conservation when he was just 16 years old. Mack was also TN’s first State Archaeologist when he established the state’s new Division of Archaeology in 1971. From there, he moved to the department’s Conservation Education section where he became TN’s first State Naturalist. In addition to developing a profound knowledge of natural and cultural history, he had a gift for connecting with the public and instilling his appreciation for nature in everyone he touched. He will be deeply missed!
In Memoriam - Ben Hall
Dr. Ben Hall was born in Johnson City in 1924 and had a respected career in medical practice, retiring in 1992. Dr. Hall had a strong commitment to professional service and was active in many professional organizations at the local, state and national level. From Kathryn and Dr. Ben Hall 1987-1993, Ben Hall served as an SAHC at SAHC event in TN. board member and president. We join his family in celebrating his life and are grateful for Dr. Hall’s service to conservation.
In Memoriam - Riley Howell Riley Carl Howell loved spending time adventuring and exploring the mountains, trails, and rivers we call home. Last year, his courageous actions saved fellow students from a shooting at UNC Charlotte. Riley’s memory and spirit live on with us in the beautiful natural spaces that he cherished. In memory of Riley C. Howell Lauren Dearing Jenny Goss Katelyn Hammel Alex Johnson Stephanie Kaleda Ilsa Kelischek Ellen Stover Carter Webb & Leigh Edwards Photo courtesy of Riley Howell Foundation
Memorials
— as of May 25, 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 conserving the places they loved for future generations. In memory of Glenn Curtis Branscome Susan Danner William and Ginger Horton Kelsey Tomblin In memory of Mary Marks Cezus Alex and Kristy Lapidus In memory of Bubba Curtis Jackson Whitfield In memory of Pete Fagg Lisa Jessup In memory of Lucy Gump Mary F Fanslow In memory of Dr. Ben Hall Kimiko and Walter Miller In memory of Nan Maver Helen C. Gift In memory of Charlie McCullough Rodgers “Rod” & Bess Baird In memory of Stan Murray Lee Hyde In memory of Daniel S. Pincu Jane Bramham & Camilla Collins Beverly and Charles Briedis Elise Delfield William C. Dickason Ivy Dyckman Eleanor Goldman Jim and Sarah Holtzman Layton Hower Matthew Moses Susan Mycroft Rory Novell Jeffrey Rusnak Amy Singer Joyce Weinberg In memory of Eric Weigel Jayne Anderson and Larry Weigel In memory of C.B. Willis Susan Peters Steven Willis In memory of Wilson Wallace Wilde James Wilde
Members’ Corner | Spring/Summer 2020 View from the Highlands | 23
Leg a c y S o c i ety Conservation. Passion. Legacy During this new time, many of us are rethinking what is important to us, to our families and for humanity. What will get us through the pandemic? What will be different when we get past it? What is the best thing we can do for our community right now? At SAHC, we believe that the best thing we can do – for this and for all time – is to protect and steward our region’s most treasured and significant lands.
Nature Heals Us. The last few months have shown that people value and need the outdoors more than ever. There is more pressure on public lands than ever before and in order to meet those demands, protecting those lands must continue. Protecting land, water and wildlife protects our own health. Conserving natural areas ensures that everyone in our community has places to hike, bike, boat, see wildlife and enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.
“SAHC protects so many special places, places that are vital habitat for plants and wildlife and places that I want future generations to enjoy just as I have. Including SAHC in my estate planning was an easy way for me to help ensure that this important work continues.” Jeff Needham, Trustee
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, not just of people, but of stately trees, rare wildflowers, undiscovered species of insects and amphibians – the whole web of life that thrives in protected places. You may have questions about just how to name a gift to SAHC in your will, and I would be honored to help. If you have included SAHC in your estate plans, please let us know, so we can thank and recognize your thoughtfulness and generosity. Your support of SAHC is so important. Thank you for all you do that allows us to conserve, steward and protect our region’s most treasured and important places. Be well and take care, Pauline Heyne Director of Philanthropy pauline@appalachian.org 24 | View from the Highlands
Trillium blooming at Little Rock Creek Preserve
Spring/Summer 2020 | Legacy Society
Annua l Rep ort 2020
You helped protect over 2,000 acres during the 2019 calendar year! It was a phenomenal year for conservation, with an incredible variety and number of worthy conservation projects throughout our focus areas. Thank you!
Sandy Mush Acquired 309 acres in Sandy Mush community
Ridgeview Farms 118-acre farmland conservation easement
Haw Orchard Ridge Acquired 51 acres of high elevation habitat
Gutches Creek Acquired 135 acres adjoining Pisgah National Forest
Appalachian Trail Countryside Hogeye Bottomlands 88-acre agricultural conservation easement
Smoky Mountains
French Broad River Valley
Roaring Creek Acquired 42 acres in scenic Roaring Creek Valley Byrd Farm Conservation easement protecting 127 acres of farmland
Black Mountains
Wilkins Creek Balsam Acquired 195 Mountains acres to protect wildlife corridor near the Pigeon Doubleside Knob River Purchased 139 acres Hidden Valley connecting Purchased 50 acres Rough Creek Watershed at Hidden Valley in with SAHC’s Doubleside Haywood County Knob Preserve
Protect
Highlands of Roan
Doll Branch Purchased 62 acres of forest and high elevation habitat
Greene Creek Assisted the State of NC in acquiring 147 acres High Rock Acres Purchased 101 acres of forest habitat & streams in a large network of protected land
Steward
Yellow Mountain Connector Acquired 456 acres to connect protected lands in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area
Connect
photo by Courtland White
Hogeye Bottomlands farmland conservation
Monitoring visit in the Highlands of Roan
Elk Hollow Preserve camping platform
Protect Yellow Mountain Connector
Steward Grassy Ridge Mow-off
Connect Earth Day Outing
Annual Rep o r t — Fin a n c i al State m e nt Revenue $1.3 million Grants 7%
Other 18% Contributions 75%
Expenses $1.3 million
SAHC Assets
2018/2019
2017/2018
Current Assets Cash & Equivalents Receivables Prepaid Expenses Mitigation Credit Total Current Assets
$ 1,466,414 389,533 35,809 165,792 $ 2,057,548
$ 1,798,107 264,509 30,593 312,757 $ 2,405,966
$ 32,020,936 7,466,800 21,888 4,195,581 2,683,60 9,852 -$ 46,398,665
$ 32,127,701 7,180,685 42,725 4,150,375 2,714,865 9,850 54,000 $ 46,280,201
$48,456,213
$48,686,167
$ 944,862
$1,804,480
$47,511,351
$46,881,687
TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS $48,456,213
$48,686,167
Long-Term Assets Permanently Protected Properties Endowments/Investments Planned Giving Receivable Life Estate Land Assets Property & Equipment Escrow Accounts Trade Lands Total Long-Term Assets
Program 91%
TOTAL ASSETS
Fundraising 2% General & Management 7%
SAHC Liabilities & Net Assets Total Liabilities Total Net Assets
Not including $3.4 million for land & conservation easement purchases.
To obtain a copy of the complete SAHC financial statements, please send us a note: 372 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 or email: sahc@appalachian.org
Annua l Rep ort 2020 Gra nts & Su p p o r tin g Fu n d s
Sn aps h ot s of 2019
Thank you to the following organizations and foundations for their critical support that make our work possible. (funding provided in 2019 calendar year)
Appalachian Trail Conservancy — $5,000 for Grassy Balds Management in the Roan, $2,075 for Golden-winged warbler habitat management, $5,000 for a Seasonal Roan Naturalist, $50,000 for land acquisition in the Highlands of Roan The Beattie Foundation — $5,000 to support conservation and stewardship efforts.
“It’s Your Backyard” Bike Ride
Buncombe County — $37,500 to help purchase a conservation easement in Buncombe County. Community Foundation of WNC’s Farm and Food Program — $30,000 to support our Community Farm workshops, infrastructure and new associate staff position. Community Foundation of WNC’s Pigeon River Fund — $50,000 to support land acquisition in Haywood County. Conservation Trust of North Carolina — $33,375 to support conservation easement acquisitions in Buncombe County. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative — $20,000 grant to manage globally endangered red spruce–Fraser fir “sky islands” and rapidly declining shortleaf pine habitats in the southern Appalachians.
East TN State University volunteers in Highlands of Roan
French Broad River Garden Club Foundation — $1,000 to support land and water conservation efforts. McLendon Family Foundation — $10,000 to support active stewardship and management in the Highlands of Roan. NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services — $376,500 to fund conservation easement acquisitions in the Sandy Mush farming community. NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources — $1,160,301 to support land acquisition in the Highlands of Roan.
Charles T. Koontz Intermediate School National Junior Honor Society volunteers at SAHC Community Farm
TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation — $5,031 to support building bridges at Hampton Creek Cove. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service — $595,000 to fund conservation easement acquisitions in the Sandy Mush farming community. Support for the Blue Ridge Forever Coalition Merck Family Fund — $25,000 Z. Smith Reynolds — $30,000
Everett J. Bowman Trail Dedication, Elk Hollow Preserve
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Asheville, NC Permit No. 593
372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 (828) 253-0095 Return Service Requested
Printed on Post Consumer Recycled Paper
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You are not alone! We are part of resilient communities. Natural places can help restore us, while providing homes for diverse species of plants and animals. Nature is Nurturing. These mountains can renew our spirits, and we rely on them for our health and well-being. Thank you for continuing to help protect unique places in the Southern Appalachians. We are holding space for each other in this difficult time. Gutches Creek Preserve, photo by Travis Bordley
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