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Ray Hearne

February 10, 2021/by sahcadmin

Ray Hearne

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https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LogoUpdate_SingleHiker_bluecreek_RGB-283x300.png 0 0 sahcadmin https://appalachian.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/LogoUpdate_SingleHiker_bluecreek_RGB-283x300.png sahcadmin2021-02-10 00:14:302021-02-10 00:22:14Ray Hearne

appalachian_org
We saved you a front-row seat in the spectacular S We saved you a front-row seat in the spectacular Southern Appalachians! But, what you choose to do now will help determine the views, experiences, and viability of future generations. Please make your year-end gift today, to support preservation of the places that nurture and inspire you. Link in bio https://appalachian.org/because-our-mountains-matter/ *Photo courtesy Travis Bordley
Have you heard? Southern Appalachian Highlands Con Have you heard? Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently purchased 78 more acres in the Beaverdam Creek watershed of Haywood County. Continuing land conservation in this area will help protect water quality and corridors for wildlife. “This tract adds to an assemblage of protected land that we have been fortunate to conserve around upper Beaverdam Creek,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “Overall, SAHC has preserved over 1,200 acres on both sides of Beaverdam Creek and in the surrounding area.” THANK YOU to all our members and supporters for helping to protect mountain forests and water sources! Read the full story at https://appalachian.org/78-acres-on-beaverdam-creek-in-haywood-county/
Come #hike with us! Date: Saturday, December 9th Come #hike with us! Date: Saturday, December 9th Time: Starting at 10:00 am Where: SAHC’s Elk Hollow Preserve Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: Moderate (6/10) Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-members Join us for a pleasant stroll through the Elk Hollow Preserve on the Everett J. Bowman Memorial Trail. The trail will lead us through beautiful forests of oaks, maples, and beech trees, as well as early successional meadows perfect for bird spotting. The Preserve boasts a bounty of rare wildlife, including Golden-winged Warblers, Southern Appalachian brook trout, and Gray’s lilies. Additionally, SAHC has installed a camping platform, intact trail system, and a moldering privy which will leave you excited to visit us again. This hike is part of our “For Love of Beer and Mountains” partnership with Highland Brewing Company, celebrating the release of their Nuts and Volts coffee porter. The hike will be led by Katie Greer, SAHC’s Community Engagement and Education AmeriCorps member who will talk about the history of the tract. The Elk Hollow Preserve is an hour and a half drive north of Asheville NC and an hour from Johnson City TN. Please plan accordingly! Register HERE: https://appalachian.org/event/2023-elk-hollow-preserve-hike-with-highlands-brewing-co/
Come #hike with us at our community farm! Date: F Come #hike with us at our community farm! Date: Friday, December 1st Time: Starting at 2:00pm Where: SAHC Community Farm Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate (4/10), several steep inclines are present on the trail Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-members We invite you to join us for a hike around the beautiful SAHC Community Farm with Engagement and Education AmeriCorps member, Katie Greer! Participants will hike along the The Discovery Trail, a 2.5-mile loop that traverses through the forests and fields of the farm. Along the way, we may encounter the resident Scottish Highland cow herd, Texas longhorn cattle, white-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, and more! Our 140-acre Community Farm educational and working farm just outside of Asheville. The farm is a continually evolving home for conservation projects and agricultural production. An ideal place for photographers, nature-lovers, and individuals interested in regenerative agriculture, our stream restoration project, shortleaf pine reforestation project, farm incubator program, and education center, are a few of the highlights. Please note that our Community Farm is an active farm not open to the public unless accompanied by SAHC staff. To ensure safety, staff capacity, and a positive experience for everyone involved it is critical that ALL hike participants pre-register for events before visiting the farm. You will receive an email with specific information about where to meet on the farm and other necessary details. If you do not receive this email, as well as a confirmation email following your registration, we do not have you registered for the hike. The majority of this hike is not disability accessible. Register HERE: https://appalachian.org/event/2023-december-community-farm-tour/?preview_id=24029&preview_nonce=fd96bc05b6&_thumbnail_id=15059&preview=true Photo credit: Nate Parrish
View from our #outdooroffice - looking into Sugar View from our #outdooroffice - looking into Sugar Creek valley from an SAHC preserve in Sandy Mush area. Did you know that our Stewardship team hikes an average of 20 miles or more per week during monitoring and land management visits? Sometimes they trek 8-9 miles a day, ensuring that conserved lands remain protected! #conservation #landmanagement #landstewardship
A huge shout to @pathways_to_parks and everyone wh A huge shout to @pathways_to_parks and everyone who came out with us to visit Deaverview Mountain last week! This was a glorious afternoon spent on the mountain with family, friends, and food. @pathways_to_parks is a fantastic partner of ours who’s mission is to facilitate the accessibility of POC to outdoor spaces. Together we believe that the great outdoors should be a place for everyone to feel welcome which is why our two organizations love to support each other. Look for further partnership outings on our website, Appalachian.org #conservation #avl #outdooroffice
Join us for a #hike! Date: Friday, November 10th Join us for a #hike! Date: Friday, November 10th Time: Starting at 2:00pm Where: SAHC Community Farm Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate (4/10), several steep inclines are present on the trail Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-members Come tour the SAHC Community Farm in all of its autumn glory with Community Engagement and Education AmeriCorps member, Katie Greer! Our Community Farm is a 140-acre educational and working farm just outside Asheville. The farm is a continually evolving home for conservation projects and agricultural production. Highlighted by our stream restoration project, shortleaf pine reforestation project, farm incubator program, and education center, there is always something new to see. Participants will enjoy perfect autumn colors along the The Discovery Trail, a 2.5-mile loop allowing us to view all of the amazing farm projects before returning to the parking area. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks and a camera to enjoy while overlooking the farm and surrounding mountains. Please note that our Community Farm is an active farm not open to the public unless accompanied by SAHC staff. To ensure safety, staff capacity, and a positive experience for everyone involved it is critical that ALL hike participants pre-register for events before visiting the farm. You will receive an email with specific information about where to meet on the farm and other necessary details. If you do not receive this email, as well as a confirmation email following your registration, we do not have you registered for the hike. The majority of this hike is not disability accessible. Register HERE: https://appalachian.org/event/2023-november-community-farm-tour/ Photo credit: Nate Parrish
We have some really amazing artists joining us thi We have some really amazing artists joining us this Saturday for #AppalachiaDay with @wickedweedbrewing at @hickorynutgap Farm! Nov. 4 from 12 to 6 pm - music, vendors, food trucks, farm fun and more! Link to event at Appalachian.org
Happy Spooky Season from all of us at SAHC! 🎃👻
Some things are worth waiting for... This year, So Some things are worth waiting for... This year, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy assisted our partners at North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) in adding 67 acres to the Sandy Mush Game Lands - a project which has been in the works for years. Formerly used for farming, the tract contains rolling open and forested areas, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Importantly, it will provide a connection to the public game lands from the Madison County side. “We really value the partnership with SAHC,” says David Stewart, Southern Mountains Land Management Biologist with NCWRC. “We’re grateful to SAHC for helping make this acquisition a success, and to the former landowners for their willingness and patience to secure a conservation outcome for the land.” SAHC assisted our partners at NCWRC with the transaction and provided a matching contribution which helped NCWRC secure grants from the North Carolina Land and Water Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program. “We’re helping a priority partner achieve goals they wouldn’t be able to reach on their own, and add to public lands for regional outdoor recreation,” says Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “I believe this is one of SAHC’s highest callings – to help secure important properties identified by public agency partners and make them accessible to the people of the region.” We'd like to give a huge THANK YOU to all our members and supporters, for helping make conservation success stories like this possible! READ the full story on our website at https://appalachian.org/sandymushgamelands_2023addition/ Photos by Courtland White of Carolinas Nature Photographers Association.
Join us for a #hike! Date: Friday, October 27th T Join us for a #hike! Date: Friday, October 27th Time: Starting at 2:00pm Where: SAHC Community Farm Distance: 2.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate (4/10), several steep inclines are present on the trail Cost: Free for Members, $10 for non-members Come tour the SAHC Community Farm in all of its autumn glory with Outings Program Manager, Travis Bordley! Our Community Farm is a 140-acre educational and working farm just outside Asheville. The farm is a continually evolving home for conservation projects and agricultural production. Highlighted by our stream restoration project, shortleaf pine reforestation project, farm incubator program, and education center, there is always something new to see. Participants will enjoy perfect autumn colors along the The Discovery Trail, a 2.5-mile loop allowing us to view all of the amazing farm projects before returning to the parking area. Participants are encouraged to bring snacks and a camera to enjoy while overlooking the farm and surrounding mountains. Please note that our Community Farm is an active farm not open to the public unless accompanied by SAHC staff. To ensure safety, staff capacity, and a positive experience for everyone involved it is critical that ALL hike participants pre-register for events before visiting the farm. You will receive an email with specific information about where to meet on the farm and other necessary details. If you do not receive this email, as well as a confirmation email following your registration, we do not have you registered for the hike. The majority of this hike is not disability accessible. Register HERE: https://appalachian.org/event/2023-october-community-farm-tour/
If you love living in the Appalachian mountains th If you love living in the Appalachian mountains then this is your chance to celebrate! Join us for the 2nd annual Appalachia Day, supporting land and water conservation here at home. Live music, local artisan vendors, @garagebbqnc @meadowsweetcreamery @bluntpretzels! Hay rides, pony rides! Stop by on Saturday, November 4 between 12-6 for all the fun and to support your local land trust!! #myappalachia #wickedweedbrewing #hickorynutgapfarm #danielshearin
Join us on Saturday October 21 at 10:30 am for a F Join us on Saturday October 21 at 10:30 am for a FREE, guided hike to Blackrock Ridge! This moderately strenuous 5-mile hike will feature views of Thunderstruck Ridge, Waterrock Knob and other 6,000 ft peaks. We will hike some rugged terrain through mystical red spruce, Fraser firs, and red oak forests while periodically stopping at rock outcroppings for awe-inspiring views. During this time of year, we’ll see spectacular fall colors as well as Saw-whet Owl and Carolina northern flying squirrel habitat. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has been working with many partners in this landscape to conserve over 5,300 acres which will become part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. This guided group hike is FREE and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Grab your boots, call a friend, sign up and come see the artwork of nature with us! More details and registration sign-up at https://appalachian.org/event/2023-fall-color-hike-to-blackrock-ridge/ #conservation #blueridgeparkway #hiking #828isgreat❤️ #hikewnc
SAHC along with our partners at the @appalachiantr SAHC along with our partners at the @appalachiantrail Conservancy and Pisgah National Forest hosted Virginia Tech's "Wildlife Habitat Management in the Appalachians" course, focusing on the complexity of ecosystem management at a landscape scale. #conservation #landstewardship #ecosystems #pisgahnationalforest #environmentaleducation @virginia.tech
Join us for our 2023 Farmer Education Workshop Ser Join us for our 2023 Farmer Education Workshop Series: Whole Farm Planning When: Thursday, October 26 from 1 – 5 pm Where: SAHC Community Farm, 180 Mag Sluder Road, Alexander NC 28701 “Choosing a Property: site analysis & concept design” Ready to create your dream farm? Not sure how to create the best plan for your land? Join us for an introduction to planning and layout of land for small-scale farming. Our case study for this process will be a property just around the corner from the SAHC Community Farm in Alexander. We will have a virtual “walk through” site analysis of the property’s conditions using a number of land planning tools, with a Permaculture approach. We will inventory conditions such as soils, water, wind, aspect and more to create a multi-layered map of the site as a base for decision making. Using this information, we will actively draw up together a concept for the site, which addresses some of the needs and challenges identified in the analysis phase. This workshop will be particularly appropriate for participants who already own or lease land, as well as those who plan to do so in the future. Our focus will be on growers, and the public is welcome! Cost: $50 (no one turned away for inability to pay) Registration/Questions: Contact Chris Link at Chris@appalachian.org or 828.490.2565. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. Rain or shine.
We still have a few spots open on our Blackrock Ri We still have a few spots open on our Blackrock Ridge #hike! Date: Saturday, October 21st Time: 10:30 am Where: Waterrock Knob Visitor Center, Blue Ridge Parkway Difficulty: 5 miles (out and back), rugged, rocky terrain with steep elevation change Cost: FREE for all participants (pre-registration is required) Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy on October 21st for a moderately strenuous hike to enjoy Blackrock Ridge with views of Thunderstruck Ridge, Waterrock Knob and other 6,00ft peaks! Participants will travel 5 miles of rugged terrain through mystical red spruce, Fraser firs, and red oak forests while periodically stopping at rock outcroppings for awe inspiring views. During this time of year, we’ll be seeing spectacular fall colors as well as Saw-Whet Owl and Carolina Northern Flying squirrel habitat! Blackrock Mountain in the Plott Balsam Mountains is part of a network of conservation lands in progress of being added to an expansion of national park land at Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 2013, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased the summit of Blackrock Mountain, with more than 250 surrounding acres. The property adjoins other conservation lands: SAHC’s 60-acre Blackrock Ridge tract (protected in 2010), the Sylva Watershed (protected with a conservation easement held by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee), and The Nature Conservancy’s Plott-Balsam Preserve. SAHC’s conservation work in this area protects high elevation habitat and pristine headwater streams. Registere HERE: https://appalachian.org/event/2023-fall-color-hike-to-blackrock-ridge/
Last Friday was our Little Cove Creek Preserve Wor Last Friday was our Little Cove Creek Preserve Workday and it was a huge success thanks to our incredible volunteers. With their help, we were able to clean up and finalize the trail on the property so it can be used for generations to come. We’re looking forward to leading some amazing hikes out here and sharing this new trail with you soon! To learn more about the Little Cove Creek Preserve, visit https://appalachian.org/little-cove-creek-preserve-addition/ To keep up with more events like this one and sign up for the SAHC newsletter, visit https://appalachian.org/
Gorgeous view for an #outdooroffice! Stewardship D Gorgeous view for an #outdooroffice! Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran looking directly into the SAHC-protected Woodfin Watershed. The photo, with perspective into the Craggy Mountains, was taken while the Stewardship team worked on baseline documentation for a conservation project. After we close on a property purchase or conservation easement, the Stewardship team is responsible for ensuring the land remains protected for posterity. On-the-ground documentation is critical for permanent land conservation. It's a tough job in winter weather, but offers perks like this stunning view of fall foliage on beautiful days!
Exciting news! This week, the NC Department of Nat Exciting news! This week, the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources announced North Carolina Land and Water Fund grant awards totaling over $45 million to protect North Carolina’s land and water from the mountains to the coast. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy was awarded $4.37 million towards the conservation of Deaverview Mountain! Located just outside the city limits of Asheville, this 343-acre mountaintop contains high quality forest, important headwater streams, and one-of-a-kind views of Asheville and the surrounding mountain ranges. SAHC is partnering with Buncombe County to acquire the land and later transform it into the county's largest public park. SAHC has three years to raise the funds to purchase the land and ensure its permanent protection, with estimated purchase costs around $8.8 million. Details at www.Appalachian.org "This property holds personal significance for me as a resident who has spent time on the mountain over the years," says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. "We would not have reached this extraordinary position without our partners at the NC Land and Water Fund. The continued support of our state's elected officials and the NC Land and Water Fund's staff and board have been a pivotal key to unlock meaningful conservation across the state. We are grateful for the ongoing vision that makes this fund possible." With the newly enacted state budget, critical funds will be available to protect 16,793 acres across the state, over 14,000 of which will eventually be open to the public for hiking, hunting, boating, birding and other recreational uses. Thank you to our public officials for these investments in North Carolina's natural resources! Read more at https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2023/10/03/nc-land-and-water-fund-awards-over-45-million-protect-natural-areas-waterways-historic-sites-and Photo credits - Carolinas Nature Photographers Association: Francis Nullet, Courtland White, and Michael Fredericks @nclandwaterfund #conservation #ncnature #nclandandwaterfund #ncparks #land4tomorrow
"Sometimes the land protection and stewardship tea "Sometimes the land protection and stewardship teams are really on the same wavelength!!" - Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese, with Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran. #officetwins #conservationist
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Our Mission

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 all people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, enduring for future generations. We achieve this through long-term conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies and owning and managing land. We are committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.

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Email: sahc@appalachian.org

Phone: 828-253-0095
372 Merrimon Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801

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