Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy holds road bike ride, conservation celebration this May

Press release:

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy hosts road bike ride, conservation celebration in May

Pedal to Protect Farmland
Saturday, May 14 at 11:00 am

Take a ride with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) to support local farmland conservation! Join SAHC Land Protection Director and biking enthusiast Michelle Pugliese for a moderate, 25-mile road ride, featuring a stopover at the SAHC Community Farm with light refreshments and a peek at incubator farm operations. The ride will begin and end at The Wedge in the River Arts District and should take about 3 hours. The route is approximately 25 miles, with 2 decent climbs — the first being a fun, short and steep climb at mile 5, the second being a longer gradual slog with a few shorter, steeper stretches on the return. Experience Level: This is a guided but unsupported ride, so participants MUST have experience riding a road bike on city and rural roads alongside vehicular traffic, and be comfortable riding 25 miles. Cost is $10 or free for SAHC members, and registration is required. To register, contact Haley Smith at haley@appalachian.org or (828) 253-0095, ext. 205.

SAHC’s Appalachian Spring Celebration

Thursday, May 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: The Meadow at Highland Brewing Company

Join the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) in celebrating 42 years of conservation — protecting rivers, farms and mountains for clean water, fresh local food, habitat and outdoor recreation in Western North Carolina and East Tennessee! Enjoy small plates catered by the Green Opportunities Kitchen Ready Program and music by the Screaming J’s Band. Participants can compete for biking/camping gear and other raffle prizes, such as a USA Raft adventure package, hiking boots by Salomon, REI half-dome tent w/footprint, two road bikes, a stay at Aloft Asheville Downtown and more. Raffle and event ticket sales will support local land and water conservation efforts. Tickets in advance are $30 for SAHC members/$35 for non-members or $40 at the door for everyone, and include small plates, one drink ticket, music and fellowship. SAHC is grateful for event sponsors: Highland Brewing Company, Equinox Environmental, Samsel Architects, Parsec Financial, Eastman Chemical Company, Eastman Credit Union, Altamont Environmental, Roberts & Stevens Attorneys at Law, and White Oak Financial Management. Tickets and more details are available online at Appalachian.org.

About Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy:
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is a non-profit land trust, founded in 1974 to protect the natural treasures of the Highlands of Roan and surrounding areas. SAHC has protected over 69,000 acres of unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland and places for outdoor recreation of the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. For more info, visit Appalachian.org.