John Myers of Hickory Nut Forest, LLC, who has spent the past 18 years protecting over 20,000 acres for parks and trails, has designed a unique conservation development project in Hickory Nut Gorge, just 17 miles from Asheville. Over the past two years, John and a small group have acquired over 200 acres of pristine land on Little Bearwallow Mountain. Rather than seeking to maximally develop this land, their goal is exactly the opposite, to work to keep this rich habitat natural as an undisturbed forest.

Overall in the entire Little Bearwallow Mountain project, an amazing 90% of the land is planned to remain forested! In addition, just across the road is another 560-acre nature preserve with miles of hiking trails, and a few miles down the gorge is the new 1500-acre Hickory Nut Gorge State Park. John envisions hiking trails eventually running the length of the gorge linking all these areas together. (more…)

search for : Hickory Nut Forest, Hickory Nut Gorge, Asheville, Little Bearwallow Mountain, Hickory Nut Gorge State Park

Stretching some 469 miles along the Southern Appalachian Mountains and linking two eastern national parks — Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and North Carolina/Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains — the Blue Ridge Parkway has often been referred to as “America’s Favorite Drive.”

It’s certainly the country’s first rural route — parts of it date back to 1930s (when construction began as a make-work project during the Depression) -– and one of its longest, with breathtaking scenery and dozens of recreational opportunities to distract you when you need to stretch your legs. (more…)

search for : Southern Appalachian Mountains, Virginia, Shenandoah National Park, North Carolina, Tennessee, Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s Favorite Drive

High Country Conservancy recently completed a land protection project on Horseshoe Farm located in northern Ashe County. This property consists of 190 acres of farmland and forestland along Big Horse Creek. This donated conservation easement will permanently protect water quality, open space, forested and agricultural lands as well as half acre, intact rare Southern Appalachian bog. Approximately 2,100 feet of Big Horse Creek, a tributary to the North Fork of the New River will be permanently protected including a 300 foot wide riparian buffer on either side of the creek.

Horseshoe Farm’s owner, Terry Reeves, lives in Raleigh, NC, but comes to the farm every chance he has to enjoy the mountains. He has reserved the right to use the land for recreational purposes such as hunting, hiking and camping and may build and maintaining footpaths and hiking trails. He can also continue to use fields that are already opened and cleared for agricultural purposes such as livestock or planting crops. Reeves has amassed an extensive history of the property and surrounding area through stories collected from neighbors over the years. His love for the property makes him anxious to help HCC protect more land in the Big Horse Creek Area. (more…)

search for : High Country Conservancy, land protection project, Horseshoe Farm, Ashe County, Big Horse Creek, conservation easement

Baby boomers have a higher rate of homeownership than the national average and one out of four own more than one property, according to a new study of the largest generation in U.S. history commissioned by the National Association of Realtors(r). Initial results were released here today at NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. The comprehensive study of nearly 2,000 Americans born between 1946 and 1964, conducted for NAR by Harris Interactive(r), also shows boomers are optimistic about the future, but many are not adequately prepared for retirement.

Nearly eight in 10 boomers own their own homes and almost nine out of 10 have owned at some point in their lives; 96 percent believe owning a home is a good financial investment — evidenced by their actions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the overall rate of home ownership is 69 percent. For the portion of baby boomers who have never owned a home, 85 percent cited financial reasons but 38 percent simply didn’t want the responsibility of homeownership. One-quarter of respondents own one or more other kinds of real estate in addition to a primary residence: 13 percent own land, 8 percent own rental property, 7 percent a vacation home or seasonally occupied property, 2 percent commercial real estate and 3 percent some other kind of real estate. (more…)

search for : Baby boomers, homeownership, National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau, home ownership

At one time I wanted to build myself an earth home (meaning 1 or two sides of the house would be underground); heated by solar power; and operated by photovoltaic panels, which would convert solar energy into electricity stored in a bank of batteries. Ah, yes, the dream of green living. Unfortunately, builders have not seen the public support swelling for such alternative, renewable energy sources, thus houses are continuing to built with energy technologies that haven’t changed at there core over the last several decades: central air conditioners, forced air furnaces, heat pumps, fossil fuels and natural gas. At least the politicians are getting it

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by the Department of Energy, is the nation’s primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. The group operates on a $220 million budget, dedicated to the development of renewable energy. An example of the group’s mission was depicted in a Habitat for Humanity house build last year in Wheat Ridge, Col. The home, on Carr Street in that town, is a net zero energy house, meaning it creates as much energy as it consumes — now that’s what I’m talking about. (more…)

search for : solar power, photovoltaic, solar energy, electricity, batteries, central air conditioner

The new crop of homes and commercial buildings in Western North Carolina may encroach on farmland, but it has a major upside for some growers, especially those in landscaping and greenhouse-related businesses. Savvy producers of flowers, perennials, shade trees and sod have tapped into a burgeoning market that has supplanted tobacco as the top crop in North Carolina. In Henderson County — long considered the apple capital of North Carolina — the nursery and greenhouse industry generates 10 times the revenue of that traditional crop.

The robust greenhouse and nursery industry has surpassed tobacco as the top crop in the Tar Heel state. In 2004, the industry generated $832 million in sales, compared to $620 million for tobacco. And that doesn’t count Christmas trees, which generated another $101 million. In his nine years on the job, Cliff Ruth, an agent specializing in ornamentals for the Henderson County office of the N.C. Cooperative Extension, has seen ornamental and greenhouse-related businesses increase from 240 to more than 500 in Henderson County alone, and from about 1,000 employees to 3,000. (more…)

search for : Western North Carolina, flowers, perennials, shade trees and sod, North Carolina, Henderson County, N.C. Cooperative Extension