Storms: Topping Hurricane Harvey Coastal Storm Damage Reduction
Greener Homes
Goldenrod
Hemp Farmacy
My birthday, which is in September, is always a time for me to reflect. However, I find that I don’t do this on the day of my birthday, but on the day before. There’s something meaningful to me about the last day of being a particular age. So that’s the day I spend quiet time outdoors, and think back over the events and accomplishments and failures and milestones of the previous year.
Similarly, as I look forward to the ten-year anniversary of Cape Fear’s Going Green next month, I find that it’s now that I’m starting to review the events of the last ten years. I may share my thoughts next issue—our anniversary issue—but all week I’ve been reflecting on how special it has been to spend my time learning about the wonderful environmental ideas people throughout our region are pursuing. Every article I write, every environmental meeting I attend, gets me better acquainted with you, the individuals in our community who care about making a difference. I am grateful to each and every one of you for following your passion, and for sharing it with me so that I can share it with others who might not yet know you.
And I’m especially grateful to all the people who have supported this publication through the years—advertisers, sponsors, writers, photographers, designers, advisors, and friends. Thank you.
In this issue you’ll find articles on storms and beach nourishment, on people who can help you buy green homes, and on wildflowers. We’ll visit Holly Shelter, learn about area festivals, and think about seasonal foods. And of course—as always—we’ll celebrate our local environmentalists. I’m looking forward to the next ten years!
— Valerie L. Robertson Editor3
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Front Cover:
Master Gardeners have devoted themselves to developing this demonstration garden at the New Hanover County Arboretum. Designed to showcase plants native to our area, it’s the perfect spot to see what these plants might look like in your own garden. All the plants are labeled, so you can tell what they are, and printed handouts available in the little hutches in the garden list all the plants as well as their optimal growing conditions.
Cape Fear’s Going Green is a quarterly publication promoting eco-friendly resources and lifestyles in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin.
Publisher & Editor in Chief: Valerie Robertson
Sister City: Eugene, Oregon (Voted “Greenest City” 2006 by The Green Guide)
Eugene Contributing Editor: Mary Robertson
Advisors & Editorial Contributors: Carol Bales, Shannon Bradburn, Sue Cag, Jamie Enright, Gail Johnson, Emily Lyons, Sherry O’Daniell, Philip S. Wenz, Jessica Wilson, Charley Winterbauer.
Cape Fear’s Going Green
Going Green Publications
P. O. Box 3164 • Wilmington, NC 28406 (910) 547-4390
publisher@goinggreenpublications.com
www.goinggreenpublications.com
Cape Fear’s Going Green is available by subscription or on our Web site. Print copies are available at more than 140 area eco-friendly businesses and locations, including:
Arboretum/New Hanover County Extension Service, Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop, Azalea Coin Laundry, Lovey’s Market, Old Books on Front Street, Pomegranate Books, Re-eco Design, Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, WHQR, Shelton Herb Farm, and the YWCA.
Editorial: If you have story ideas or calendar items to suggest, email us at editor@goinggreenpublications.com, or call (910) 547-4390.
Advertising information: Email ads@goinggreenpublications.com.
Cape Fear’s Going Green is distributed free through Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties. If you have a business and would like to receive multiple copies for the public, please contact us.
The views and opinions expressed in articles in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this publication.
The housing market is constantly shifting. One decade popcorn ceilings are in and the following decade granite tiles are the newest “must have.” But, the opinions of the buyer tend to not shift as dramatically. People are always concerned with obtaining the most value for their dollar, yet, most people do not know what an EcoBroker is.
People are, for the most part, in agreement with “the environment matters.” The Outer Banks of NC has banned plastic bag usage and Wilmington is a major component of the NC Costal Federation. But,
what about the homebuyers and owners in Wilmington? How can they help and where should they go?
An EcoBroker is a Real-estate Agent who is knowledgeable about the environmentally friendly options for homes. These are the people who know which housing complexes use geothermal energy and which can guarantee the home’s organic practices. An EcoBroker can also help investors who want to insure their properties meet energy efficiency and they understand how environmental labeling works.
Investing in green building can be
a fiscally wise choice. The United States Green Building Council published a press release in July of 2017 regarding the financial significance of green building. They stated that a home that meets LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are on average worth $25,000 more than non-LEED homes.
In the world of green homes, the EcoBroker is a massive catalogue of information for the local area. For Wilmington, Elise Rocks of JC Morgan is an excellent resource for those who would like to start the home buying or improvement process.
What does it mean when someone tells you “I’m a green REALTOR®”?
Your first reaction to that question should be what is “green.” We hear it all the time. We see ads for product and services written in lovely green fonts or those popular lime or grass green backgrounds. HONEY, STOP THE CAR!
There’s another familiar term for that; it’s called “green-washing.”
“Green” at home means different things to different people. It can be as simple as changing your bulbs to LED or getting a little more aggressive and changing your light sources and appliances to ENERGY STAR®. It can be as complex as constructing a home from the ground up from products like SIP (Structural Insulated Panels) or ICF (Insulated Concrete Foam) and then finishing the home with mostly recycled materials.
There is one thing that these products have in common, third party verification and certification. A question to ask: is there someone or a place to go to verify that the product or service will do what is being advertised?
So, what is a “green” REALTOR®? Again, back to third party verification. What level of education does an agent have? Many homeowners are already on board with
spending money to improve the efficiency of their homes, and when they list their homes for sale they hope to recover some of those costs. Does the agent they are interviewing actually understand the meaning of energy efficiency, and, what are they doing to help with the appraisal process to see that these energy improvements get a dollar value when it’s time to sell? First, let’s take a look at a few of the designations/certifications available to real estate professionals.
In 2001 a company called EcoBroker® was the premier provider of training for real estate professionals to acquire the
knowledge and resources to become Certified EcoBrokers®. I signed up for this course in 2008, which was an online course. Easy you say…the course took me six weeks to complete (they give you six months). It was in three courses: Environmental Advantages, Energy Advantages and Marketing Advantages. Each section is tested before moving on to the next section and then an overall exam for each course.
In 2008, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) developed the first classroom course offering the NAR “GREEN®”
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Green Real Estate – continued Designation. I attended this three-day course in Orlando, Florida and was the first REALTOR in Arizona to complete the designation. NAR leads the way in real
estate designations thus providing real estate professionals the option to be a distinguished REALTOR®, one who seriously abides by the NAR Code of Ethics and contributes financially to the development of national regulations regarding the real estate industry. Why wouldn’t you become a REALTOR® if you take your job seriously?
During this same time period the USGBC (US Green Building Council) developed their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes and the LEED for Homes credentials. In some states the chapters of the USGBC have developed Residential Green Build Committees. Arizona has such a chapter and I was a volunteer from 2008–2012 and not only organized the first ever Phoenix Green Home Tour in 2011, two other REALTORS® and I met for breakfast and discussed the first ever changes to the Arizona MLS.
The information that is submitted into an area’s MLS is the information
“It is now within the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to “make a difference”... to the future of biodiversity, to the native plants and animals of North America and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
“It is now within the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to “make a difference”... to the future of biodiversity, to the native plants and animals of North America and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
that is picked up worldwide on sites like Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com and a multitude of others. The goal in making changes was to uniform the fields so that eventually all multi-list services’ information gets delivered the same. The importance being that homes with these energy improvements get found by Buyers looking to purchase homes with them. The Green Resource Council established by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NAR, has taken this goal to a new level and has been instrumental in assisting GREEN® Designees in “greening” their MLS. What came out of years of input from gathering information nationwide was the GREEN MLS Toolkit.
Currently, volunteers of several USGBC RGBC (Residential Green Build Committees) around the country are hosting classes for appraisers to educate them on how to use the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum created by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), allowing a dollar value on appraisals to be given to homes with money saving improvements. My friend and referral partner, Jan Green, REALTOR® in Scottsdale, AZ and the current USGBC RGBC Committee leader for 2017 organized the first education event for Appraisers in Arizona.
This represents years of work by thousands of professionals to assist the financing industry in recognizing that value should be given to the price of a home that costs less to operate.
Gail Johnson...educating homeowners to efficient and healthy homes—a personal goal!
—Douglas
Tallamy—Douglas
“It is now within the power of individual gardeners to do something that we all dream of doing: to “make a difference”... to the future of biodiversity, to the native plants and animals of North America and the ecosystems that sustain them.”
Bringing Nature Home
TallamyBringing Nature Home
—Douglas
TallamyBringing Nature Home
This is the third of a new series of Cape Fear area native plant articles to appear in Going Green. The articles will include interesting stories about each of 10 common native plants that would enhance any coastal North Carolina garden or landscape. Goldenrod is the subject of this third article.
What native plant looks beautiful, smells lovely, comes back year after year, and is fabled to mark buried treasure and fresh underground water, in addition to its usefulness as a healing herb? Goldenrod, of course! It is such a great plant that it has been designated as the official state flower of Kentucky, Alabama and Nebraska.
There are more than 80 varieties of goldenrod that are native to almost all of
the contiguous United States. Its botanical name starts with “Solidago,” meaning to bring back to health, from the Latin words Solidus (whole) and agree (to perform). Of all those varieties, only eight are considered native to New Hanover County. According to our best resource, Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas,1 the most common variety in our area is Solidago nemoralis Aiton, commonly called prairie goldenrod. It pokes its pointed crown of golden feathery blossoms up to grace our roadsides in August through October.
For the botanically inclined, the other varieties that are native to New Hanover County are: S. stricta, S. sempervirens, S. arguta, S. tenufolia, S. fistulosa, and S. ellieotii. To impress your local garden center, try memorizing all eight of our native varieties and let them roll off your tongue as you inquire as to their availability!
Now, what about this buried treasure…? Well, legend has it that Germans
immigrating to America discovered the golden wild flower and used its leaves and flowers to make tea. They then exported it to China! Can you believe that?! They must have been paid handsomely for it, because they would look for goldenrod growing wild and then build their homes on that site, believing that they would have improved fortunes. When they looked for a place to dig a well, the dousers would use goldenrod branches as dousing rods.2 Unfortunately, the English soon realized that this goldenrod plant grew natively in their own countryside in a place called Hampstead Woods, North of London.3 Hmmm… there must be a connection between our own Hampstead and theirs.
There is more to these intriguing stories. The botanical name mentioned above was given the variety name Aiton, after the eighteenth century English
(continued on page 6)
botanist named William Thomas Aiton. Mr. Aiton was the director of Kew Gardens as well as the royal gardener, appointed by the English Monarch.4 So, when we incorporate goldenrod into the Arboretum’s native plants gardens, we can envision Mr. Aiton doing the same in the King’s garden way back when!
Another goldenrod oddity is the myth that it causes hay fever. However, hay fever is usually caused by ragweed that is not readily identified because it does not have colorful leaves or flowers. But it blooms during the same time of the year as goldenrod, hence the bad press. Ragweed pollen is disbursed by the wind, and at certain times of the year can be a rampant allergen. Goldenrod pollen is spread by insects, and its sticky rosin prevents it from blowing around in the wind.5
A different variety of goldenrod that is native to our area and Solidago odora Aiton.6 It has a lovely anise (licorice) scent to its leaves when crushed. It can also be used as a tea. It can be identified by holding one of its leaves up to the light, and thus revealing tiny little translucent dots.
Come autumn, it is easy to identify goldenrod as it blooms profusely. Seeds can be collected as the flowers turn brown and dry. It has been known to be invasive, spreading not only from seed, but through rhizomes as well. One reference says that it can become invasive if grown in rich soil.7 Its preferred terrain is sandy, dry, poor soil. That sounds like most of our gardens!
It can be lovely included in our flower beds along with Gaillardia, Echinacea, balloon flower, gay feather, bonesets, asters and native grasses. It is one of the few decorative plants that tolerates salty soil and ocean breezes.
For those of you who wonder how goldenrod can be used medicinally, there are numerous references that cite use of goldenrod tea made with leaves and blossoms to heal wounds,
Solidago nemoralis Aiton. Illustration courtesy of USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 395.
cure kidney stones, and to treat bee stings. Apparently it can be combined with Chamomile tea and used to alleviate pain, water retention and diarrhea.8 Of course, one should check with the doctor to find out if it is safe to use.
Maybe we won’t find buried treasure under the four goldenrod plants in our garden. But they are going to look just as gorgeous as the ones in the native plants garden at the Arboretum in the fall.
Carol Bales is an avid gardener and seed saver, and grows several kinds of milkweed in her yard.
References:
1 Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. Radford, Albert E., Ahles, Harry E., and Bell, C. Ritchie. University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill. 1968. P. 1090.
2 Brown, Kathleen and J. Pollak. Herbal Teas – 101 Nourishing Blends for Daily Health and Vitality. Storey Books. 1999.
3 McIntyre, Anne. The Medicinal Garden – How to Grow and Use your own Medicinal Herbs. H. Holt and Company. 1997. P. 125.
4 Frank Pagmenta. The Aitons: Gardeners to Their Majesties. 2009. Richmond Local History Society. https://www.amazon.com/AitonsGardeners-Their-Majesties/dp/0955071755
5 Ellen Phillips and Burrell C. Colston. Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Perennials. Rodale Press, Emmaus, PA. 1993. P. 471.
6 Wade T. Batson. Wild Flowers in the Carolinas. University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill. 1987. P. 139.
7 Phillips. P. 471.
8 McIntyre.
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space. One of the tenants will be the Wilmington-based software company Untappd, creator of the popular beer app.
Local Wilmington business, The Hemp Farmacy, opened their doors to a second location at 1402, #1, South College Road on Monday, May 22nd. The Hemp Farmacy first opened their downtown location, 117 Grace Street, in November, 2016 to help better serve individuals who are looking for a more natural and holistic way to help treat daily wellness and medical conditions with CBD products.
Farmacy, offering sample goodie bags, special hemp classes and a week dedicated to the beauty and benefits of the hemp plant.
It’s Mott’s hope that, through the success of this green wall, they will grow in popularity in our area. And that way, more building occupants will enjoy the health and aesthetic bene ts of systems like these in the near future. Although Steve Mott has once again proclaimed himself to be retired, you may be able to reach him through his website, www. mottlandscaping.com.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound that is found in hemp and medical marijuana. The Hemp Farmacy offers products with CBD used to treat a variety of ailments, as well as physical and mental illnesses. Separate from THC, the most prominent compound found in marijuana, CBD does not have psychoactive effects and therefore can safely be used throughout the day by children, animals and adults of all ages without the undesirable cognitive effects of THC. Common issues CBD products have proven to be successful with include, but are not limited to, inflammation, anxiety, stress, chronic pain, autism, ADD/ADHD, epilepsy, cancer, nausea, anxiety and severe pain.
Both locations carry a wide variety of CBD and hemp based products ranging from tinctures, edibles, vapes, lotions, honey, creams, and even pet treats! Additionally, both locations offer free hemp education classes that are open to the public on Thursdays from 5:30pm-6:30pm at Grace St and with morning and evening classes at the S College Rd location on Saturdays. Hemp History Week, June 5-11, was celebrated at The Hemp
In partnership with Hempleton Investment Group, The Hemp Farmacy owns and operates the NC Hemp Farm and will be growing hemp, creating product that will be processed and sold in their stores. This has also allowed for the creation of the Hempleton Farmer Outreach Program, a cooperative group of farmers that want to help bring hemp into large scale production in the 2018 growing season.
The new storefront on South College Road will be open Monday–Saturday between 10–9 and Sunday 10–7 while Grace Street is open Monday–Thursday from 10–6:30, Friday and Saturday between 10–7 and Sunday from 12–5.
“We have been overwhelmed with the amount of support from everyone, and
the hemp plant. They offer organically grown CBD products from a large number of American manufacturers while supporting local North Carolina farmers and businesses.
For more information contact Jordan Miller, The Hemp Farmacy at (404)8957421 or farmacymarketing@outlook.com, or visit their website: https://www.hempfarmacy.org/ .
You can reach thousands of environmentally-minded folks of all ages with an ad in Cape Fear’s Going Green.
Contact Valerie today to learn more: (910)547-4390 or ads@ goinggreenpublications.com.
are so grateful to be able to offer a second location of natural alternatives to the east coast.” Christina Sessoms, Hemp Farmacy Manager/CBD Educator The Hemp Farmacy offers a wide variety of nutritional supplements derived from
A scissor lift was used to allow placement of the plants. The lift only reached 22 feet, so Mott had to place a ladder on top of the platform shown at the top of this photo, in order to reach the last several feet of wall.
Cape Fear’s Going Green
Welcome to Going Green’s recipe page, where we bring you new ideas for how to enjoy local and seasonal foods. For the purpose of this page, “local” will include North and South Carolina.
Paw Paw Ice Cream
• 1 cup paw paw pulp
• 2 large frozen bananas
• Splash of water
Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until smooth. Add water to desired consistency. Note: A substitute for paw paw is the use 1 cup mango and a splash of fresh lemon juice.
Basil Herb Lemonade
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup agave (or similar sweetener)
• Water
• 1–2 springs fresh basil
• 1–2 springs fresh mint
Add all ingredients to a pitcher and stir until mixed thoroughly. Adjust flavors to taste and let sit for a couple hours.
• 1/4 cup tomato, chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup cucumber, chopped
• 1/4 cup carrot, shredded
• 1 sweet pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup raw green beans
• 1 cup raw collards, roughly chopped
• 1 cup green or dino kale, roughly chopped
Vinaigrette:
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 13 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2–4 basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• Salt and pepper
Add all vinaigrette ingredients to a small box and whisk until incorporated. Add all salad ingredients and vinaigrette to a salad bowl and toss.
Fresh Tomato Sauce
• 6 large tomatoes
• Splash of olice oil
• 1/2 yellow onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
• Salt and pepper
Recipes courtesy of Chef Emily Lyons. Emily Lyons is the local vegan chef of Eatery 17, and also provides private plant-based chef services. During the week you can find her either serving up healthy Southwest- and
South Pacificinspired cuisine at Eatery 17 or volunteering with Cat Adoption Team. On the weekend, Emily enjoys traveling for marathons and Spartan races.
tomatoes are done boiling, let them sit until cool or rinse under cold water. When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel the skins, chop them, and add them to the pan of onions and garlic. Cool until tomatoes are cooked down and then add herbs, salt, and pepper.
Watermelon Fennel Basil Salad
• 2 cups watermelon, cubed
• 6 pieces basil, thinly sliced
• 1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Add all ingredients to a salad bowl and toss.
In a large pot, boil tomatoes until the skins start peeling. While tomatoes are boiling, heat up a splash of olive oil over medium high heat. When the oil is hot, add onion. Cool until onion is translucent and then add garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes or until garlic is fragrant. Once
On a historic farm with structures dating back into the early 1800s or before, the Annual Colfax Persimmon Festival celebrates the native American persimmon and historic farming with a wide range of exhibits, demonstrations, arts
and crafts, live music, and of course, many persimmon-related items for purchase.
This year’s event is Saturday, November 4, from 10a.m. to 4p.m. at Historic Stafford Farm in Colfax, between Kernersville and Greensboro, in central
The red poppy is the official emblem of remembrance of the American Legion, and has been used as a symbol to commemorate war dead since World War I. It’s use was inspired by the opening lines of the poem “In Flanders Field,” written by Canadian Army officer John McCrae during WWI when McCrae noticed poppies blooming around the mass graves of soldiers on the battlefields.
The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Wildflower Program installs and maintains wildflower beds across the state in each of the 14 highway divisions. They plant one third annuals, one third perennials, and one third N.C. native wildflowers. This year, NCDOT coordinated with other states to plant fields of red poppies to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I. This
coordinated effort meant that red poppies could be seen by people traveling through many states.
The native species planted each year along state roadsides include Clasping Coneflower (Rudbeckia amplexicaulis), Bur-Marigold (Bidens aristosa), Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Maximillian Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani), to name a few. Revenue from the sale of personalized license plates provides the principle source of funding for the wildflower program.
The Garden Club of North Carolina is the lead sponsor of the Wildflower Program. Other important partners include N.C. State University and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
North Carolina. (Rain date is Saturday, November 11.) Admission is $10 for those aged 12 and older, free for ages 11 and younger. Learn about persimmons and what to expect at the festival at colfaxpersimmonfest.com.
Resigned to temporary defeat, I stopped trying to work in my yard. Driven indoors by soaring midday temperatures in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and smoke from wildfires in the nearby Cascades, I sat at my computer, and became further demoralized by reports of Hurricane Harvey striking Texas. “It’s happening everywhere,” I thought.
“It,” is the effects of climate change, ranging from the debilitating—it’s dangerous to work or even walk about in excessive heat—to the utterly destructive— extreme weather events that kill dozens or even thousands of people and cripple entire regions.
In late August, concurrent weather events smashed records worldwide. The Pacific Northwest heat wave hit 109 degrees; the record monsoon in India and Southeast Asia has killed more than 1,000 people so far; and, Harvey dumped 52 inches of rain on Houston in four days. For comparison, Corvallis, Oregon, gets about 44 inches of rainfall in an average year.
Naturally, many observers brought up the connection between Harvey’s severity and climate change. We’ll get to that shortly, but first, sadly, it’s necessary to debunk a ruse that climate change “skeptics” usually resort to during such debates: namely, claiming that it’s inappropriate to discuss climate change during an emergency, when we should be focusing on the victims. This is a moralistic ploy that exploits the victims’ situation in order to draw attention away from the root causes of their suffering.
In fact, we can walk and chew gum at the same time. We can focus on helping the victims and on understanding their predicament so we can begin to forestall its repetition. There is no better time to discuss cause and effect than when the nation’s attention is focused on a crisis—which is exactly why some people would like to postpone that discussion… indefinitely.
Concerning connections: Climatologists have never claimed that global warming “causes” extreme weather events; just that it increases the odds of their occurring and the odds that they will be…extreme.
Due to climate change, the water and air in the Gulf region have warmed, this summer being one of the warmest on record. Warm air can carry more moisture than cooler air, and warm water helps energize hurricanes.
Each of the past three years has seen a “500-year storm” hit the Houston area. (A 500-year weather event is one that has a 500-to-1 chance of occurring in any given year.) The 2015 and 2016 storms weren’t hurricanes, proper; just exceptionally heavy, exceptionally unlikely storm systems that caused extensive flooding.
Vast, super-energized and carrying 33 trillion gallons of water at landfall, Hurricane Harvey has actually been deemed an 800- or 1,000-year storm. It would be hard to find a clearer example of the connection between a warming planet and extreme weather than that illustrated by the Gulf’s storm systems, especially Harvey.
It’s been said that the wealthy U.S. would remain relatively free from the ravages of climate change. But “relative” is a relative word. While Harvey took probably fewer than 100 lives, compared to thousands of lives lost in some extreme weather events in poorer, more crowded countries, Harvey’s economic toll is staggering. Reconstruction costs are estimated at up to $200 billion.
More important is the impact on humans. The aftermaths of floods are often worse than the events themselves. Eleven million Americans have been traumatized by Harvey, a single storm. What can they expect the future to bring?
Because the Gulf will keep getting warmer, some climatologists have already predicted that Harvey’s flood records soon will be broken. If they’re right, our $200 billion could go down the drain, and people could lose hope at our ecological house.
© Philip S. Wenz, 2017
Philip S. (Skip) Wenz is the author of the E-book Your Ecological House, available at all major electronic book distributors.
The strengthening winds churn the ocean and waves roll across the continental shelf. Each breaking wave spraying foam as it fiercely approaches the shoreline. The crash of every wave is breaking down and changing the coast, moving sand, making the beach dynamic and perpetually in motion.
The strength and beauty of the ocean is one of its largest attractions, but it may also be its greatest ruin. Eighteen percent of North Carolina’s shoreline is severely eroding at a rate greater than 4.5 feet each year according to the 2015 N.C. Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel.
So what is a beach without sand and what does that mean for its town? Other than economic and tourism effects, “there would be much greater risk of life or property,” said Jeremy Hardison, Carolina Beach Senior Planner. “It’s really a buffer and a mechanism for beach protection and for reduction of storm damage.”
Coastal Storm Damage Reduction (CSDR), commonly known as Beach Nourishment, can and is being used to protect the North Carolina Coast. Through the process of dredging or dumping sand from elsewhere onto the eroding shoreline, the possibility of severe storm damage is greatly reduced.
CSDR is not about beautifying beaches or increasing the amount of room for sunbathers to lay out. “When I say ‘beach nourishment,’ people assume I want to put sand in front of the rich people’s homes and that’s so wrong,” said Layton Bedsole, New Hanover County’s Shore Protection Coordinator. “I want to put a natural reduction effort to minimize effects to our town and small businesses—I’m working to protect Robert’s Grocery, Trolley Stop, South End Surf Shop, and any of those small businesses that support our economy.”
Wrightsville Beach, NC had a total impact output of $187,405,093 in 2006. In that same year, $7,260,000 was spent on shore protection. “You can’t directly prove that the funds spent on shore protection
added to the town’s total revenue, but there is good causation that the nourishment directly benefitted the town’s economy,” said Dalton Bealer, Financial Consultant and Wrightsville Beach resident. “Not only that, but it’s an investment in the future of the town.”
The amount of money spent on preventative measures, such as CSDR, does not compare to the amount that emergency flood damage requires. “It’s just like paving a road or painting a bridge,” said Layton Bedsole. “You have to stay in front of the maintenance, you don’t wait until it’s completely broken down.”
North Carolina’s State Constitution specifically states that preserving the beaches is part of the state’s common heritage and the responsibility of state government. Effective management to preserve the natural functions of the beaches has greatly benefitted North Carolina because of the state’s constitution.
“The state of North Carolina has had probably the best coastal management in the country,” said Rob Young, director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University. “It’s always been that way, but we have seen vast improvements in the last 50 or so years.”
Since the 1950s, Congress has authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to construct specific coastal storm damage reduction projects. “Beach nourishment has been going on since its beginning,” said Joshua Cole, weekend manager of the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. “The modern system of beach management really evolved from the 1960s 1970s after the authorization of the Corps.”
The Corps is an agency in the Department of Defense and at the direction of Congress, the Corps plans, builds, operates, and maintains a range of water resource and related recreation facilities, including CSDR. Its civil works responsibilities are principally to support navigation, reduce flood and storm damage, and protect and restore aquatic ecosystems.
“The federal mission is about reducing storm damages,” said Jonathan Bingham, Project Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District. “I feel as if our developed shorelines are at a point where, without some nourishment, we would see negative impacts—erosion past where properties are built, land loss, and when hurricanes come there would be more damage.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, residents of Carolina Beach, NC expressed their appreciation for their ongoing CSDR works. “The storm surge was up to the very end of dunes before high tide,” said Carolina Beach, NC resident, Josh Johnson. “I can’t imagine the damage it would have done if the beach was as thin as I remember years ago.”
Jeremy Hardison, Carolina Beach Senior Planner explained that: “We just went through a nourishment cycle in the fall and if we hadn’t had that we would have seen a lot more beach run up and with the storm surge more homes and dune over wash would be damaged.”
CSDR planning isn’t as simple as just moving sand—with the systems available now that may be the easiest part. “The key to these projects being successful is developing a purpose and need for the project, and analyzing its financial support, cultural susceptibility, and environmental compatibility,” said Hardison. “All of our projects have environmental clearances, we observe and limit the impact CSDR has on the existing environment, and we do everything in coordination with NEPA.”
Sand compatibility is vital when evaluating environmental impacts of CSDR. “From an ecological standpoint, the sand that’s being put on the beach has to match the sand that’s already on the beach and the sediment must be compatible,” said Hardison. “Not every beach is blessed with the amount of sand that matches their beaches in such a close proximity that it is feasible to use that sand in CSDR.”
CSDR or beach nourishment has protected North Carolina’s coast for decades, (continued on page 12)
There are several wonderful natural spaces in the Wilmington area. Ilovetrees.net is a new photo blog documenting these local treasures. Profiled here are the native plants and natural wonders of Holly Shelter Game Land.
by Sue CagWhen I leave my wooded neighborhood and pull into Holly Shelter from Route 17, I’m always struck by how exposed and hot I feel, even when it’s not the middle of the blistering summer. The dusty roads lead through fire-scorched pine savannah, then fields and bogs. There’s not much cover here, but stop and look closely
and you’ll find an amazing diversity of life.
Swallowtail butterflies are swarming. They fly across my view and pounce on the hip-high yellow thistle that lines the road. This plant is also called “horrible thistle,” presumably because it’s covered with menacing thorns. Cinnamon fern and wildflowers appear along the drive and the long dusty road changes the color of my car to a tan gray as the dirt clings on and I can hardly see out the windows. I turn the wrong way down an unmarked road, but I’m not worried because it’s usually how I find something new.
I’ve been coming to Holly Shelter for years. It’s big, but I know where to find the threatened venus flytraps that are native only to the Carolinas, within 60 miles or so of Wilmington, NC. They blanket the ground, so low you might miss them as
they are disguised by other plants and grasses. I also know where the alligators are, and the turtles, bullfrogs, coots, herons, wild blackberries, pitcher plants, bog laurel, and wild iris. I walk down side roads and through fields. I admire the bright yellow pitcher plant flowers and the vivid red mouths and long eyelashes of the venus flytraps. I look closely at a Virginia chain fern leaf from last season and notice how the sunlight highlights all the intricate pathways along each leaf.
I find all sorts of other wildflowers and ferns I can’t identify. It’s spring and life and color surrounds me. Small cypress trees line bogs next to what were previously farm fields and logging operations. Hawks dip in the air and land on far away branches. The white and pink flowers of wild azaleas
dot the landscape in the dry grasses below longleaf pine trees. I walk through a field of heartwing sorrel and crimson clover. I find plenty of deer tracks, but no bear tracks as I’ve seen in the past.
The sun sinks lower as I walk along the waterfowl impoundment area. A snake plays dead as I approach, while several others race through the water. A very large turtle allows me to sit nearby and observe. I listen to the bullfrogs belch and zip back into the water as I walk by. How can they sense me?
This land is teeming with diversity seldom explored. I see few other people here, and unfortunately they’re always hunters, even in the off-season. More people should claim this space for hiking and nature exploration. Holly Shelter is our public land, a natural wonder available for all of us to immerse ourselves in the wildness and beauty of our area.
Holly Shelter Game Land consists of 63,494 acres in Pender County owned by the State of NC and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Primarily used for hunting, the land is also available for hiking and nature exploration (with no hunting permitted on Sundays). The gates are closed for the summer/off-season in May, allowing only walking or biking access. The approximate coordinates to enter from Hwy 17 are 34.409968, -77.656676 or enter across from 7471 Shaw Hwy, Rocky Point. Contact: (910) 259-5555.
Sue Cag is a local musician in the band Folkstar, co-owner of Karmic Fury Records, founder of the organization Wilmington Vegan, avid traveler and tree hugger.
but Bedsole explained that it doesn’t work for every environment. “Each project really must be evaluated independently.”
“CSDR works for Wrightsville, Carolina, and Kure,” said Bedsole, “but if you have a tool box, I hope that it has more than just a hammer in it.”
Jamie Enright wrote this article while interning with Cape Fear’s Going Green, and a student at UNCW.
The North Carolina Wildlife Federation presented twenty 2016 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards to exemplary conservation heroes at NCWF’s 54th Annual Awards Banquet on September 9, 2017. These awards—the highest natural-resource honors given in the state—honor individuals, associations, businesses and others who have exhibited an unwavering commitment to conservation in North Carolina.
Bonnie Monteleone of Wilmington received the Governor’s Award for Conservation Communicator of the Year. As founder and executive director of the Plastic Ocean Project, Monteleone has studied and collected plastic marine samples globally. She developed an art initiative that has now traveled more than 4,700 miles, highlighting marine debris pollution. She shares her broad knowledge on pollution and prevention with tireless effort, teaching consumers about the impact of their purchasing decisions on fish and other wildlife.
Fritz Rohde (Wilmington) received the Natural Resources Scientist of the Year Award. As a fish biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service, Rohde is a staunch defender of freshwater, estuarine, and marine resources. He is known for his work on the Cape Fear River Passage and the Roanoke River fish restoration plan. Currently serving as president of the North American Native Fishes Association, Rohde’s many publications and volunteer work well describe the uncommon breadth of his contributions to fish resources.
Bill Register (Wilmington) was awarded the Marine Fisheries Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. From patrolling heavilyfished coastal waters to monitoring pollution levels, nursery areas and endangered species, Officer Register made a huge impact on southeastern North Carolina’s sounds and rivers. A former Navy Seal, Register helped develop and implement a Water Survival course for Marine Patrol and Division of Marine Fisheries employees, ensuring safety for countless officers and staff in the future.
Lives vegetarian lifestyle, understands and supports vegetarian and vegan lifestyles.
910-762-9995
douglasdixonmd.com or stop by 720 Market Street, Wilmington downtown
January
Two popular Topsail Beach businesses, Topsail Island Trading Co and The Gift Basket, are the first businesses on the island generating their own electricity using the sun’s energy. The roof-mounted solar systems, designed and installed by Wilmington-based Cape Fear Solar Systems, have produced over 51,000 kWh of electricity to date, enough to power approximately 57 average size homes for an entire month. Both businesses are run by Topsail residents Grier and Kristin Fleischhauer, their daughter Claire, and son-in-law, John Noto. Approaching their one year anniversary of going solar, Cape Fear Solar would like to congratulate the business owners for their choice to generate clean energy from the sun.
Learning about the technology from fellow residents, the Fleischhauer family decided to install solar panels on both of their businesses in July of 2016 to lower their dependency on the utility company and contribute to the environment by generating clean renewable energy. A 20.80 kW system has been placed on the roof of the Topsail Island Trading Co, located by the entrance of the island in Surf City, and a 19.84 kW array at The Gift Basket in Topsail Beach. Both systems combined are expected to save $171,555 over a 25-year span.
“Cape Fear Solar Systems has been a pleasure to work with,” says Grier Fleischhauer. “Their professionalism, expert knowledge of their technology and caring for the customer is impressive. The Welcome Service
installation was efficient and punctual, taking less than a week to get our systems up and running,” he notes. “To date, we have saved $1,857.00 at The Gift Basket and $2,181.00 at the Topsail Island Trading Co in utility expenses,” Grier says excitedly. “In addition to these savings, both locations produced more electricity than consumed, selling the excess power back to the grid. Our systems, due to the tax savings, tax rebates and energy savings will pay for themselves in about four years. That is a great return on investment,” Grier highlights.
The solar systems were designed using SunPower solar modules, holding the world’s record for the most efficient rooftop solar panels. Topsail Island Trading Co and The Gift Basket are being powered by the same solar panels that powered the first solar plane to ever travel around the globe without using a drop of fuel. The panels are rated #1 for durability with the ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, making them perfect for Topsail Island businesses and homes. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance and even comes with a 25-year warranty. SunPower solar panels can only be installed by an approved solar installation company and Cape Fear Solar is proud to be an Elite SunPower dealer for the region.
The number of Topsail Island residents looking to make a positive impact on the environment by producing their own power is growing. “Currently, we have
Give Nancy Wilcox a call at 910-793-0950, email at nkwilcox@ec.rr.com, or check out our website at www.welcomeservicellc.com.
environmental and financial benefits of going solar, it is a no-brainer for most,” he explains.
Additional photos from the solar panel installations can be found on Cape Fear Solar Systems’ website, capefearsolarsystems.com. Established in 2007, the company has designed and installed over 450 solar systems to date.
The company is the only Sunpower Elite dealer in the region. SunPower solar panels are recognized globally as the most efficient, and therefore, the most powerproducing panels, and are used by NASA, Apple, Costco and other major organizations world-wide.
installed solar energy systems on seven properties on the island,” says Matt Palmer, Cape Fear Solar Systems’ Technical Sales Consultant. “I truly enjoy educating property owners about the many benefits solar energy offers. Once I explain the
In July, Cape Fear Solar Systems was named one of the top solar contractors in the United States by Solar Power World magazine. They were recognized nationally—making the top 500 solar contractor list—but also ranked sixth in the state of North carolina, and number one in Southeastern North Carolina for residential solar rooftop contractors. This recognition “is a big deal to us because we are a smaller company and pride ourselves in providing exceptional service,” says John Donoghue, President of Cape Fear Solar. “I am extremely proud and grateful for having such a skilled team,” Donoghue adds.
The Top Solar Contractors list is developed annually by Solar Power World to recognize the work completed by solar contractors across the United States.
At the August 1st Wilmington City Council meeting, six Tree Awards were presented to those who have gone above and beyond to reforest and to preserve Wilmington’s urban canopy. This year’s Wilmington Tree Commission awards recognized:
The Wrightsville Beach Brewery, for preserving a number of large oaks when developing their site off Oleander Drive.
Arbor Trace Apartments, developed by Tribute Companies, for preserving a large oak on their property near Echo Farms. The developer acknowledges that the tree has become a valuable selling point for the development.
Doug Sherwood of Sawyer, Sherwood, & Associates Architecture for preserving trees at a private residence on Dogwood Drive, designing the home and coordinating construction to preserve the mature trees.
Connie Parker, for her work to establish the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees and expand Wilmington’s urban forest.
Bill Akers of Akers Tree Movers, for his gracious and generous donation of time each year to the Arbor Day tree planting and preservation of trees at large.
Michael Werner, of the Ogden Preservation Group, for his work to save the “Ogden Oak” and other Live Oaks that were scheduled to be destroyed at the Market Place development.
As Mr. Werner said when receiving his award, “Trees give our
city real beauty and a sense of place. No one comes here to look at asphalt parking lots.”
The purpose of the City of Wilmington Tree Commission is to promote and endorse programs and policies to support, maintain and grow our urban forest, increase public education, and establish award and recognition programs as incentives to encourage a healthy, safe and attractive natural environment within the City.
October is Fire Awareness Month, and what better way to honor it than to attend a free festival designed to educate about the importance of fire for our ecosystem. For North Carolina forests, animals, and native plants such as the Venus Flytrap, controlled fire burning is as important as rain is to the rain forests. You’re invited to come learn why at Fire in the Pines.
The Fire in the Pines Festival is a family-friendly, environmental education festival organized by The Nature Conservancy, the City of Wilmington, and the North Carolina Forest Service. The intention is to create a fun-filled day in the park for families to learn about the importance of fire to the native plants, animals, and ecosystems of our region, while promoting understanding and engendering support for why forests need regular controlled burns.
The Fire in the Pines Festival takes place Saturday, Octover 14, 2017 from 10a.m. to 3p.m. at Halyburton Park, 4099 So. 17th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Parking is available at 3147 So.
17th Street (the corner of Independence and So. 17th Street) for those who want to take the FREE Festival Trolley to the park. Admission is free, and food will be available for purchase from a variety of food trucks.
Here is a sample of exciting features at the Fire in the Pines Festival:
• Smokey Bear
• NC Forest Service firefighting equipment, including their helicopter
• Live birds of prey, reptiles, & snakes
• Hay rides, scavenger hunts, raffle prizes
• Carnivorous plants exhibit
• Hands-on activities with over 40 environmental and youth organizations
• Colorful arts & crafts, face painting, fun activities
• Live music & family entertainment
The grand finale to the festival— weather permitting—will be a controlled burn by the NC Forest Service. This is a rare
opportunity to witness a controlled burn up close in a safe setting.
The Fire in the Pines event has grown every year, with last few years’ estimated attendance of 3–4 ,000 people! Families report they have fun, learn a lot, and look forward to it every year.
Rain date is Saturday, October 28. For more information, contact Francine DeCoursey at f.decourseysmith@tnc.org or call (910)470-2582, or Mansfield Fisher at mansfield.fisher@tnc.org or 910-395-5000.
Photos and more details are also available at www.fireinthepines.org.