Participate in Highlands Eco-Economic Community Enhancement Forum
On Tuesday, October 18 at 5:30 pm, Highlands businesses, leaders, officials and community members are invited to share ideas about enhancing our local economy during The Highlands Eco-Economic Forum held at the Bascom. The Forum is part of the Sustainable Solutions Project aimed at developing place-based economic development projects that build on local natural resources to retain wealth within the Town of Highlands. The Sustainable Solutions Project is funded by the Highlands Community Foundation, and the forum will be hosted by the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance.
At this event, J-MCA and program partners will welcome all, listen to and document ideas from all who are willing to share, learn from keynote speaker Matt Raker, allow time for questions and answers and conclude with a group discussion.
Key note speaker: Matt Raker serves as the Vice President of Entrepreneurship and AdvantageGreen for AdvantageWest Economic Development Group, the economic development partnership for western North Carolina. As the director of AW’s entrepreneurship efforts, Matt works closely with regional partners to ensure that WNC is home to a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. This work includes managing the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council, the Certified Community Program and the Advantage Opportunity Fund. Building on his considerable work at the intersection of economy and the environment, Matt also heads the AdvantageGreen program, an initiative to capitalize on WNC’s exceptional natural assets and opportunity to be a leader in sustainable industries. Through AdvantageGreen, Matt has worked with startups, existing industry and regional partners to advance WNC economic clusters in clean energy, green building technologies, natural products, sustainable agriculture, outdoor sports and climate science. Prior to joining AdvantageWest in 2009, Matt was an entrepreneur himself, first starting an interactive marketing firm and then a web-software startup providing social network management and visualization services. Matt holds degrees in Economics and Natural Resources Management from UNC Asheville. He lives in Asheville with his wife Danya, where he enjoys cycling, music, local food and pretty much anything outdoors. Matt also serves as Chair of the Sustainability Advisory Committee for Asheville City Council, on the board of the Western North Carolina Alliance and is a member of the International Society for Ecological Economics.
We encourage all to attend and to participate; refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. The success of this project depends on your participation. We will use the information to develop sustainable economic solutions for the Town of Highlands, which will be presented to the Town Board for adoption in June 2012.
Please save the date: The Highlands Eco-Economic Community Enhancement Forum on Tuesday, October 18 at 5:30pm at the Bascom. If you would like to help with the forum, share your ideas beforehand or to find out more information, contact Michelle Price with the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance at 828-526-0890 x256 or mprice@j-mca.org.
Theodore Roosevelt, the Conservation President
By Michelle Price, J-MCA Executive Director
 Theodore Roosevelt’s life was filled with adventure and great accomplishments. Theodore was born an aristocrat on October 27, 1858, one hundred and fifty-three years ago. He was a puny boy who suffered from asthma most of his childhood. Theodore like his three siblings adored his father. Sometimes in the middle of the night Mr. Roosevelt would take Theodore out for a carriage ride hoping the brisk ride would force air into his lungs. When Theodore was 7 years old he became a naturalist. He collected insects and animals, observed them, measured them and recorded details about his discoveries in his notebook.
“Theodore”, his father said, “you have the mind but you have not the body, and without the help of the body, the mind cannot go as far as it should. You must make your body. It is hard…. but I know you can do it.” “I’ll make my body,” promised Theodore. He worked very hard and slowly he became stronger. As a young teenager, Theodore was building his body and shaping his life. He learned how to skin, stuff and mount animals, including birds, his favorite. He received his first gun and acquired his first pair of glasses. His glasses changed everything. “I had no idea how beautiful the world was,” Theodore said, “until I got these spectacles".
Theodore loved to travel and collect specimens for his Museum of Natural History, which was in the attic of his family home. Whenever he saw a mountain he had to climb it. He conquered the Matterhorn and many other mountains. He and his family supposed one day he would be a naturalist; but Theodore also loved politics. So he decided to studied law in hopes that someday he would be in “the governing class”. A gentlemen from a long-standing aristocratic family, Theodore didn’t mingle with common politicians. However, he decided he wanted to win over this group of rough, tobacco-chewing men whose English was anything but pure. By the Spring of 1881 he did feel that they were speaking the same language, more or less. At the age of twenty-three Theodore, became the youngest assembly man in New York and was one of “the governing class”.
Theodore was a reformer, he loved nothing more than a contest and a chance to right wrongs. He had undoubtedly picked up his strain of righteousness from his father, who not only talked about right and wrong but did something about it. He made much progress but he was a little eager to change everything at once. After a series of unfortunate events, Theodore, turned to the West, he became a rancher and worked alongside the cattlemen. As you know, he did return to politics and in 1887 after a trip to the West, Theodore reported that trees were being cut down carelessly, animals were being slaughtered by “swinish game-butchers,” and the wilderness was in danger. Desperate to save the West from extinction, he founded the Boone and Crockett Club, dedicated to the preservation of wilderness in America. For the rest of his life Theodore Roosevelt worked for conservation.
Theodore Roosevelt at the age of forty-two became the youngest President after the sudden death of President McKinley. Whether or not people worried about his youth, no one worried about him being a weak president. In 1905 he became President for a second term elected by his own merits; he said “Watch out for me!” He had many kinds of changes in mind for American, but nothing was more important to him than to change the way Americans used their land and their natural resources. Unless they began to think more of the public good and less of private gain, there would be little left for future generations to enjoy. At every opportunity, he tried to educate the public to the dangers of waste and pollution, and it is no wonder that he became known as the “Conservation President”. During his time in the White House he established 150 national forests, the first fifty-five bird and game preserves, and five national parks. Under the National Monuments Act be set aside the first eighteen “national monuments”. Indeed, Theodore Roosevelt deserves much of the credit for teaching Americans to respect what nature has given them. When the National Wildlife Federation established a Conservation Hall of Fame in 1965, Theodore Roosevelt was given first place. (Source: Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz)
Friends of Whiteside Mountain
Whiteside Mountain is the centerpiece of the Highlands-Cashiers area and the signature hike for almost anyone who visits. A 2-mile loop trail climbs above sheer 750-foot high cliffs and offers outstanding views to the east, south, and west. The trail is rated “more difficult” because of its steepness, but 2 miles is relatively short. A variety of wildflowers including false Solomon’s-seal and Speckled Wood-lily are abundant and thrive on Whiteside Mountain due to the variety of soils, light and moisture. Whiteside is also home to Peregrine Falcons, nesting on the cliff face, the granite cliff that is the source of its name.
Attached is a jpg titled “Eternal Bear Spirit" by Phillip Philbeck. Footnote for image: A donation of the framed giclee on canvas is being made to J-MCA from the Gallery on Main in Brevard NC. For more information on the image you may call 828-885-7299. |
The lore of Whiteside, its geology, stories of adventures, and a destination to an awe-inspiring view, has been a part of our communities for many generations. In the early 1900s, it was part of the Ravenel family estate. Later, a private corporation purchased Whiteside and used it as a tourist attraction people could drive their cars to the top on a road and sight-see. This road is now part of the trail. In 1947, Whiteside was purchased again for timber harvesting. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) acquired the land in the 70s and it became part of the Nantahala National Forest.
The Nantahala District of the USFS is responsible for maintaining this remarkable resource among several for the public. These high-use sites have amenities like comfort stations and interpretive kiosks. They also have to maintain 380 miles of hiking trails with decreasing personnel and funding. Volunteers are needed and are a “natural” resource to assist with trail maintenance. Volunteers will also be involved in preserving and protecting the many varied natural habitats and endangered species on the mountain.
The J-MCA will work in partnership with the Forest Service to conserve this outstanding natural resource while improving the quality and experience of recreational opportunities on Whiteside Mountain. To join the volunteer corps contact Michelle Price at 828-526-0890 x256 or mprice@j-mca.org and sign up to become a trained volunteer.
Sustainable Solutions Project
By Michelle Price, Executive Director, Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance
Imagine . . . a community with future generations having local food to eat, clean water to drink, a functioning natural environment and a functioning economy. The Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance (J-MCA) is pleased to announce a grant award from the Highlands Community Foundation. The entire community will benefit from this generous gift, which will fund Phase I of the Sustainable Solutions Project.
The Sustainable Solutions Project will contribute to “place-based” economic development projects; that build on local natural resources and retain wealth within the Town of Highlands. Through civic engagement, we will foster community involvement to ensure this project is a success.
We will identify areas for systemic change: first by promoting awareness for and involving its citizens and businesses in conversation regarding environmental protection; second by exploring opportunities for eco-tourism and green businesses; and third by recommending specific actions for implementation.
J-MCA is following the recommendations in the Southwestern Commission’s Region A Toolbox. The “Toolbox is a comprehensive guide to best practices and proven strategies for protecting the best of what we have and for making what we build even better”, stated Bill Gibson, Executive Director, Southwestern Commission. The Toolbox received a 2009 Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award. Many projects have been planned and implemented as a result of this approach, which is a “set of supporting practices for regional sustainability”. By that, we mean “economic, environmental and social sustainability—the triple bottom line”.
"The Highlands Community Foundation exists to provide support for the needs of charitable organizations in the Highlands area. We are committed to supporting community projects that are timely, well-planned and meet demonstrated needs. Our grant to the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance fulfilled all of those requirements”, explained T. Wood Lovell, Chairman of the Highlands Community Foundation.
Project partners and J-MCA will host several educational events and public forums to share information and to gather community input. On August 4, the Highlands Biological Foundation and J-MCA are co-hosting Sustainable Energy Solutions part of the Zahner Lecture Series presented by the WNC Green Building Council at the Highlands Nature Center from 4 to 6 pm.
For more information about the Sustainable Solutions Project or to get involved contact Michelle Price, Executive Director, J-MCA at 828-526-0890 x256.
Sustainable Energy Solutions
The Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance is partnering with the Highlands Biological Foundation to bring the Western North Carolina Green Building Council (WNCGBC) to our community to talk about sustainable energy solutions, on Thursday, August 4th at the Highlands Nature Center from 4 to 6 pm.
The presentation is directed in scope to energy efficiency and financial improvement along with renewable energy. The presentation will be a powerpoint format, no more than 2 hours long. It will be mostly photos with text scattered throughout, there will be a handout to accompany the presentation. The presentation will essentially cover the 'Pyramid of Conservation'. Jacob will basically work his way up the pyramid which will take the end of the presentation through renewable energy options. By structuring the presentation in this way the audience can get a more clear picture of how to save money through conservation and efficiency while exploring renewable energy options as a desired purchase (as opposed to a necessary purchase). Attendees should learn something new about energy efficiency, become more confident about managing energy costs and be able to make and execute a plan for saving energy; the audience will also be able to ask questions about this and other green building issues.
Saving Seed & Season Extender Tips
Now is the time to plant vegetables for round 2! OR round 1 if you missed the chance to start a garden earlier in the year. The NC Cooperative Extension Service and the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance is offering free programs on how to choose the right vegetables for a fall crop (season extenders) and join others in becoming seed savers! A Seminar will be held August 30th, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Cashiers Library meeting room. Come learn from Christy Bredenkamp how cultivar selection, shade, multiple cropping, mulches, floating row covers, low tunnels, cold frames and more will extend your growing season. In addition, individuals will learn the basics in seed selection, harvesting, processing and how to store your valuable vegetable seeds.
Since 1994, Christy Bredenkamp is the Extension Horticulture Agent for Swain and Jackson Counties. Her responsibilities encompass: public education in commercial and urban horticulture. This includes providing leadership, educational opportunities, training, and technical assistance to beekeepers, Christmas tree, nursery, and vegetable growers in the Smoky Mountains of Jackson and Swain Counties. Additional efforts include a Master Gardener program, pro-active and trouble-shooting workshops and assistance for gardeners and homeowners in the areas of plant diseases, insects, and cultural problems in landscape and garden settings.
The Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance will provide light refreshments as we learn ways to enhance our local food production. This program is part of J-MCA’s Sustainable Solutions Series, we will continue to partner with technical experts to bring useful information to our community; so that we may work together to grow sustainably. For more information or to register please contact Christy at 828-586-4009 or 488-3848.
Keeping Bears Wild and Safe
Mission Statement
The goal of the Bear Smart Initiative is to promote safe coexistence between bears and humans by fostering appreciation for bears, addressing the root causes of bear-related incidents, and teaching principles for living safely with bears.
Overview
As more people build homes in bear habitat, more conflicts have arisen between humans and bears. As a result of the improper storage of garbage, the easy availability of bird seed, and the intentional feeding of bears, some bears become habituated to human food sources and become a nuisance to us.
Bears are attracted to garbage cans, birdfeeders, barbecue grills, pet food, yellow jacket nests, termites, and ants. If any of these are present at your home, they will attract a bear. Remove these attractants. If you surprise or encounter a bear, do NOT run! Running can initiate a chase response in the animal. Back away slowly, giving the bear plenty of space and a clear escape route. (Source letter to the editor by Kathy Sherrard and Anne Allison)
IF you know somebody that is feeding the bears an unnatural food source, contact the local police department and/or the Wildlife Resource Commission Enforcement Officers in your county.
Growing Native Plants in the Landscape
 All environmentally conscience people know using native plant material benefits the landscape and are easier to care for because they are indigenous to the area. Native plants also provide a sustainable habitat for insects and other naturally occurring species. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and therefore, have few pest problems.
 Alan will cover why you should use native plants as opposed to other species as well as how these plants can be used to create attractive landscapes. This event is sponsored by the Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance, a local grassroots environmental organization focused on growing a sustainable community.
All photos taken and submitted by Cynthia Strain, owner of Mill Creek Gallery
Early October Ginseng production
Late October Composting and Vermicomposting
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