During a meeting that lasted almost to midnight, Asheville City Council approved New Belgium’s brewery in the River District. Council also approved funding for sidewalk improvements and a study of alternate truck routes to address concerns of some residents about the traffic the business will bring. (Pictured: City Clerk Maggie Burleson swears in all those who wanted to speak at the public hearing. Photo by Max Cooper)
Tag: sustainability
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Asheville City Council preview: beer, food, drive-thrus
It’s a busy evening for Asheville City Council tonight, as they consider approval of the New Belgium brewery, a plan for local food sustainability, and the second phase of a Harris Teeter-anchored commercial development on Merrimon Avenue.
New Belgium presents transformative plans for Asheville site *UPDATED with video*
New Belgium Brewing Co. and Asheville officials unveiled transformative plans for the company’s site on Craven Street and the surrounding area, such as a new streetscape, greenway, bike lanes, sidewalks and entertainment pavilion.
Clean vehicles coalition celebrate improved CNG filling station
Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Asheville City and Mission Health officials re-dedicated an improved compressed-natural-gas filling station on McCormick Place today, June 27.
(Ronald Paulus, MD, CEO and President of Mission Health at the re-vamped CNG filling station on McCormick Place; photo by Bill Rhodes)
A Christian environmentalist: How faith and environmental stewardship work together
Mallory McDuff, professor of environmental education at Warren Wilson College, is a proud Episcopalian and environmental activist. In her newest book, Sacred Acts: How Churches are Working to Protect Earth’s Climate, McDuff solicited essays by Christian environmentalists across the country to explore what faith-based communities are doing to address climate change.
Warren Wilson College hosts herb symposium in memory of Frank Cook
Who was Frank Cook? That’s like asking who first swam the entire Amazon (Martin Strel, of course.) Quite likely, many of the 150 who attended the April 7 Herb Symposium at Warren Wilson College in memory of Cook didn’t know him. In ethnobotany and herbalist circles, Cook was legendary for his global knowledge of plants and their uses. (photo by Jonathan Poston)
Asheville hosts forum on Growing the Appalachian Food Economy
With local-food sales predicted to reach $7 billion this year, it makes sense for cities, counties, states and regions to focus on the local food company. To that end, the Appalachian Regional Commission is hosting a forum on the issue today and tomorrow, April 4, at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. As one participant noted via Twitter, “Sustainable farming only occurs when social responsibility, environmental stewardship and economic viability work together.”
WNC Green Building Council hosts March 28 lecture on sustainable urbanism
What is sustainable urbanism? It’s “about looking at the cities that we live, work and play in, and working with the existing built environment to create more sustainable opportunities,” says Warren Wilson College alumnus Chad Riley.
PHOTOS: UNC Asheville dumpster dives into waste reducing competition
Coming down the stairs of Ramsey Library, students and faculty faced the unmistakable smell of UNC Asheville’s trash. Despite the cold, grounds workers and the recycling coordinator, Zig, searched for recyclable and compostable items discarded in trashcans and sorted them on a large blue tarp on the quad. The demonstration was part of Recyclemania, an international competition to increase recycling and reduce waste.
When law meets sustainability: an interview with Janelle Orsi
Tonight at Asheville Green Drinks, Janelle Orsi, director of the Sustainable Economies Law Center, will discuss ways to make sharing practical in the modern world. Orsi talks with Xpress about using the law to make local, sustainable enterprises a reality.
Wellness: Food for thought
There are few things more essential to human life than food. And in a city with a dizzying array of options and philosophies, opinions are diverse — and sometimes vehemently held.
Green Scene: The root of the problem
The Blue Ridge Mountains are known the world over for the quality and diversity of their plant life, particularly ornamentals and medicinal herbs. Harvesting these treasures has been a fixture of life here for centuries, but assorted experts at the recent Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Conference in Asheville said our forest products are […]
Buncombe County seeks public comment on draft sustainability plan
Buncombe County officials want to inspire community members and local governments to make sustainable practices a priority, strengthening the local environment, community and economy. See within for a link to the draft plan, and a chance to comment.
WNC a bittersweet challenge for maple syrup production
Every year, there’s something interesting at the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Conference, held Nov. 15-17 this year in Asheville. This time around, a local entrepreneur’s passion for harvesting maple syrup caught my attention.
Public input sought by Buncombe County on its draft Sustainability Plan
One final community meeting allows the public to learn more and provide feedback: Thursday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. Feedback on the draft plan must be submitted by Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. The draft plan is available online.
Local Matters: Sustainable Shelter at NC Arboretum
In this edition of the Mountain Xpress’ local news podcast, Green Scene reporter Susan Andrew discusses the Sustainable Shelter program at the NC Arboretum.
Sustainable dwellings: Living in sync with the forces of nature
You thought your house was hot this summer — and now you’re bracing for another frigid winter? Consider the poor termite’s plight: On the tropical savannas of Africa and Australia, temperatures outside their earthen mounds soar to 115 degrees Fahrenheit by day, then drop near freezing at night.
Take a video tour of Appalachian State’s Solar Decathlon home
The ASU entry in the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition features a compact, 864-square-foot home. The highly respected biennial competition challenges collegiate teams from around the world to design and build innovative, solar-powered dwellings.
Get ready for the Global Transformation: Bill McKibben to provide event keynote Oct. 15 **UPDATED**
If recent environmental news has gotten you down — if you can’t believe the Obama Administration backed away from the chance to establish stronger smog regulations, or if you watch with a sense of helplessness as the N.C. legislature moves to weaken the permitting process for polluting industries — here comes an event that might help you recover your inner enviro-warrior. Bill McKibben will deliver a keynote address via Skype at the Global Transformation Festival in Gerton, Saturday, Oct. 15.
A decade of green: The Western North Carolina Green Building Council turns 10
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has,” anthropologist Margaret Mead said. The Western North Carolina Green Building Council — its founders and its members — demonstrates the truth in those words. The council started as a conversation between two people, a decade ago. It then grew into a group of several people, but the goal remained the same: how to increase green building in the region. This Thursday, April 28, the council celebrates with its annual party (see below).
Localism in Asheville a hoax?
Bernard Carman, who lives in an old eight-bedroom Victorian [in Montford], opened his empty rooms to the people who work, play and create in this city renowned for its vibrant musical, literary and performing-arts scenes [”Sustainable for Whom,” Nov. 17 Xpress]. He has helped his local community grow for 22 years simply by trying to […]