Cape Fear's Going Green • Spring 2015

Going Green

What Banding Pelicans Tells Us Environmental Book Club

Weed Warriors Tackle Invasive Plants

Whiteville Welcomes New Natural Sciences Museum

dependence on fossil fuels. I just wanted to eat fresh, healthful food while supporting North Carolina farmers and retailers.

7 Neighborhood Gardens Building Community

8 Friends School Gets Their GOAT—Quaker Ideals Inspire

Environmental Stewardship

10 Hiring a Landscape Architect

Letter from the Editor

I’ve always liked frogs, and I was thrilled to walk into the Frog Call Workshop at Halyburton Park early this year.

But recent events in the Gulf force us to rethink the consequences of our actions. One large and unyielding consequence of our love affair with “things” is that in order to continue making and shipping them, we will have to look for oil in increasingly hostile environments, sometimes with disastrous results.

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12 2010 Wilmington Tree Awards

13 Your Ecological House The Blot Heard Round the World

14 Global Climate Treaty Remains Elusive

14 Global Warming—A Look Inside Copenhagen

Don’t get me wrong—I’m a fan of capitalism. But capitalism doesn’t mean “just buy more stuff.” Capitalism means making decisions about what and when we buy in order to support and sustain our chosen way of life.

And I should be clear that I’m a big believer in “citizen science”—where nonscientists like me can go online and report what birds I see in my yard, for example. I understand that if lots of people participate, we can really contribute to what we know collectively about bird populations and how they’re doing. But I don’t know how to identify many critters.

If I buy a pineapple at the grocery store, I’m telling the grocer, and the wholesaler, and the farmer, and the fertilizer company, and the ad company—pretty much everyone—that I want that pineapple, even if it comes from far away. That I want that pineapple despite the fuel needed to bring it here.

So I wasn’t sure what to expect from the workshop, but I was confident there was no way I would be able to learn to distinguish frogs by their calls. My interest was just the novelty of seeing what the training was all about, and I assumed I might get to see some nice frog pictures. I had no illusion about my ability to learn to participate.

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17 Education & Business News

21 Faith-Based Environmentalism

23 Stormwater 101—Did You Drop Something? Wilmington Adopts New Pet Waste Disposal Ordinance

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Now, signing up for the food challenge was easy; I could make up my own guidelines. So I pledged that all the food I purchased during the month, and particularly anything I took to a potluck event, had to come from this area.

I walked into the room, packed with people—some in family groups. The first slides told me there are 30 or 31 different frogs and toads in North Carolina, and the task at hand was to train everyone in the room to be able to distinguish them by their calls.

Thirty different calls? How could I possibly learn to do that? To complicate matters, evidently, since we live in such a biodiversity hotspot, all but three or four of these live and call for mates in Southeastern North Carolina.

“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.”

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Front Cover: Pelecanus occidentalis

— Aldo Leopold (A Sand County Almanac)

We are accustomed to seeing Brown Pelicans flying over the ocean, diving for fish. This issue we get a glimpse of them in their breeding grounds, off limits to the public. On our cover, a mother tends to her day-old chick.

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

But then, it turns out, they only call during mating season. AND, it turns out, the seasons in which they call out for mates are staggered. The Carolina gopher frog calls out in early spring, while the bullfrog waits until late spring or summer. So that’s a clue. Then, there’s the map: not all frogs and toads live in our region.

At the grocery store last week I stood in front of the blueberry display—which of the two brands to choose? Normally I’d just look for the nicest berries at the best price. But because of my “eat local” pledge, I examined them more closely: one brand came all the way from Canada; the other from Rocky Point just a few miles north of me. Had I not paused a moment to read the label, I wouldn’t have known one choice would let me support a local farmer, and require less fuel to bring the food to me.

I start to understand—it’s partly a process of elimination! I might not have to learn to distinguish but five different calls in the month of September. Then the presenter paged through a website, frog by frog, playing their calls and describing the habits of each. And... many of the calls are notably different from each other.

Reducing our dependence on foreign oil can be just that simple. The choices we make with our doIlars do make a difference. Granted, it’s not always easy to determine the best alternative—it might take less fuel to bring something by train from California than by truck from Florida, for instance. And it’s hard to find alternatives for some products that are not produced here—olive oil, for example. Sometimes the best choice can seem elusive.

So the calls are different, the geography is a clue, and the month is a clue. And numerous websites and apps are always available as reference. I’ll go back to the next free workshop, on May 2 (see page 8) and practice my listening skills again. I hope to see some of you there!

But if we read the label, we can almost always figure out the better choice.

— Valerie L. Robertson Editor

— Valerie L. Robertson Editor

Cape Fear’s Going Green is a quarterly publication promoting eco-friendly resources and lifestyles in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin.

Sister City: Eugene, Oregon (Voted “Greenest City” 2006 by The Green Guide) Eugene Contributing Editor: Mary Robertson

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: Jennifer Butler, Nicole Carpenter, Vanessa Haugh, Leslie Hossfeld, Brinkley Hutchings, Daniel Kay, Alexei Kouminov, the Kuuskoski family, Jaimie Lang, Karen Linehan, Adeline Robertson, Steigerwald, Philip S. Wenz.

2www.goinggreenpublications.com

Cape Fear’s Going Green

Going Green Publications

P. O. Box 3164

Advisors & Editorial Contributors: Lindsay Addison, Bonnie-Jeanne Berg, Jennifer Butler, Abigail Chiaramonte, Nathaniel D’Domenicus, Melanie Doyle, Kathy Hannah, Emily Lyons, Kiersten Newtoff, Jill Peleuses, Adeline Robertson, Samantha Sahlman, Frannie Sweeney, Philip S. Wenz, Charley Winterbauer.

Cape Fear’s Going Green

Wilmington, NC 28406 (910) 547-4390

Going Green Publications

www.goinggreenpublications.com

P. O. Box 3164 • Wilmington, NC 28406 (910) 547-4390

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:

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:

Angela’s Pepper-Pickled Foods, B + O Design Studio, Old Growth Riverwood, Pomegranate Books, Port City Java, Progressive Gardens, Sambuca, Sapona Green Building Center, Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, WHQR, and the Shelton Herb Farm booth at area farmers’ markets.

Arboretum/New Hanover County Extension Service, Aunt Kerry’s Pet Stop, Azalea Coin Laundry, Lovey’s Market, Old Books on Front Street, Pomegranate Books, Progressive Gardens, Re-eco Design, Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, WHQR, Shelton Herb Farm, Uprising, the YMCA, and the YWCA.

Editorial: If you have story ideas or calendar items to suggest, email us editor@goinggreenpublications.com, or call (910) 547-4390.

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.

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.

Cape Fear’s Going Green is distributed for 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 to pick please contact us.

Photo by Lindsay Addison.

Front Cover: Lettuce in a raised bed invites harvesting by those who walk by. See page 7 for story.

Cover photo by Mary Robertson

Measuring Mercury Levels in Pelicans

by Kiersten Newtoff

Pelicans are a welcome sight at the local beaches year-round: skimming close to the water surface—almost, but not touching, the waves. Beginning in April, thousands of migratory Brown Pelicans

(Pelecanus occidentalis) make their way to the coastal North Carolina area from the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast. As well as providing enjoyment to onlookers, these pelicans can provide vast amounts of information on pollution and the health of our ecosystems.

Mercury, a heavy metal found naturally in the atmosphere, is being released in unusually large amounts by human activity: by mining and extraction, coal combustion, and other industrial processes. Methylmercury—the toxic form of mercury—is absorbed by fish muscle tissues, and does not get excreted. Fish-eating predators then consume the mercury of their prey, causing the concentration to increase up the food chain, a process known as “bio-magnification.”

High levels of mercury in wildlife can cause a wide array of health problems. In birds, mercury is indicated in lower reproductive success and neurological problems for growing chicks. Humans suffer similar developmental problems when exposed. The several forms of mercury can be ingested, breathed in, or absorbed. Predators atop the food chain, such as the Brown Pelican, have the potential for the highest concentrations of mercury in a food web, and can be used to help monitor mercury trends in an ecosystem.

My research area involves examining the mercury levels in egg membranes and chick feathers, in order to understand variation in levels between three pelican breeding colonies in the Cape Fear River Area. During the summer 2013 breeding season, I traveled out to these Brown Pelican breeding colonies with the aid of Audubon North Carolina, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and Dr. John S. Weske, who bands several types of colony-dwelling, or colonial, waterbirds along the East Coast.

We examined three islands in the Cape Fear River where brown pelicans live, all between Carolina Beach and Southport. The northernmost is North Pelican Island, near Kure Beach; the next is Ferry Slip Island, visible from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal; and finally, the farthest downstream, South Pelican Island.

We can estimate these Brown Pelican chicks are two to three weeks old because they are starting to develop down. Audubon’s coastal biologist, Lindsay Addison, explains: “Chicks hatch without down, but start to grow white fuzz in a couple of weeks. At one month of age, about halfway to fledging, their down makes them resemble ungainly little lambs. Until they develop their flight feathers, they can’t regulate their body temperature very well, so the attentive parents must brood them (sit on them) to keep them warm and shade them to keep them cool. They also flutter their pouches to cool down.”

At these sites I collected eggshells from already-hatched chicks. The mercury in the eggshells is an indicator of the female parent’s diet when she first arrives

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photo by Bonnie-Jeanne Berg, BJB Photography

environmental science

Measuring Mercury – continued

at the breeding grounds. The highest mercury concentration in the eggshell membranes among the breeding colonies was at South Pelican, with an average level at 0.27 ppm. This level is higher than background mercury levels, or those that can be attributed to non-pollution sources. It could be causing some reduced reproductive success, but is not nearly high enough to cause detrimental effects to the subsequent offspring. Both Ferry Slip and North Pelican had lower concentrations. We’re not positive what is causing this trend.

Later in the season, I went back to the breeding colonies to gather feathers from the growing chicks. These feathers provide information on the mercury in the chicks’ diet, which is all locally-obtained fish brought to it by the parents. Unlike the results we found in the eggshells, chicks living in North Pelican had the highest levels of mercury (1.25 ppm), followed by Ferry Slip (1.03 ppm) and South Pelican (0.86 ppm).

Why are these trends so different from those seen in the eggshells? The answer is likely that the mercury we found in the eggshells is not indicative of the adult female’s diet while actually at the breed-

ing colonies, but of her diet during her migration to the colonies, or ingested at her wintering grounds. The higher levels in the chick feathers found at North Pelican indicate a local exposure.

Of note is that the North Pelican colony is located furthest up the Cape Fear River, whereas South Pelican is closest to where the river empties into the ocean. This suggests that the river itself may be the source of mercury for the chicks in this system, and that at South Pelican the river water is diluted by being mixed with incoming ocean water.

Another factor could be the feeding habits of the pelicans. All pelicans on the Cape Fear River are likely feeding on the same fish: menhaden. However, pelicans at each of these islands (which are only a few kilometers away from one another) had significantly different mercury loads, which suggests different foraging ecologies. The discrepancies could be due to the pelicans on different islands feeding on different menhaden age-classes. Older fish have been shown to have higher levels of mercury, since ingested mercury remains in the fish tissues.

In addition, pelicans inhabiting South Pelican Island feed on fish that live around the local salt marsh; salt marshes have many naturally-occurring bacteria that convert inorganic mercury to the more lethal methylmercury

It is heartening to know that at current concentrations, mercury is likely not a problem for Brown Pelicans. Although the mercury concentrations in the eggshells are higher than background levels, they are not elevated enough to be causing severe declines in reproductive success. Mercury should continue to be monitored. Because it biomagnifies, it has the potential to cause large-scale negative repercussions similar to DDT’s effects on top predatory birds in the 1940s and 50s. The Brown Pelican was on the verge of extinction due to pesticide exposure until government bans on DDT in the 1970s allowed populations to rebound.

The main producers of atmospheric mercury—coal-burning power plants and other industrial processes—are required to comply with the new regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency that drastically reduce emissions of mercury and other toxic chemicals. Ongoing monitoring over the next few years will help determine the efficacy of this new legislation in reducing environmental toxins. Collecting non-invasive tissues from top predators is an excellent way to monitor these pollutants in the ecosystem; ongoing study will allow us to analyze trends and resolve potential problems.

Kiersten Newtoff wrote this article while a graduate student at UNC–Wilmington, where she worked with Dr. Steve Emslie on her Master’s in marine biology. Her thesis research focuses on Brown Pelicans, and how their diet and mercury exposure varies along the North Carolina coastline in their breeding colonies.

Did you know?

Islands created from dredged sand provide essential nesting habitat for many species of waterbirds. As natural habitat was lost to development or human recreation, some species were able to find new habitat on man-made islands. However, natural nesting sites remain essential for healthy waterbird populations in North Carolina.

photo by Lindsay Addison

These corralled pelican chicks are about two months old, just the right age to be banded. Spoil islands are off limits for humans except when part of a research team.

Pelican Banding Extravaganza on the Cape Fear River

by Abigail Chiaramonte

I gathered with a large crew of Audubon North Carolina volunteers at the Carolina Beach boat ramp on a hot July morning last summer. We were going to band Brown Pelican chicks, and I was nervous. As Audubon North Carolina’s summer communications intern, I had handled many shorebirds, but I’d never been up close and personal with a pelican’s giant bill.

At 6:30 a.m. we squeezed onto three boats and sped down the Cape Fear River to Ferry Slip Island. Deposits of dredged sand formed the island, but the seven acres are hardly barren desert. The level of vegetation makes the island a perfect summer nursery for Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls. Everyone chattered excitedly as we approached the island.

“It looks like the island has fur,” said volunteer Katherine Frazier. She was right; birds were congregated so densely that it looked like Ferry Slip Island was covered with a feathery carpet.

Altogether, 27 participants gathered on the beach to receive instructions. Lindsay Addison, Audubon North Carolina’s coastal biologist, told us to slowly encircle the birds, forming a human barricade. Three professional bird banders and three Audubon employees outfitted themselves in sashes of aluminum bands resembling ammunition bandoliers. Each band has a unique code that will provide information about the pelicans’ demographics and migratory patterns if the bird is discovered later.

The volunteers became a human fence, corralling the birds. Whenever a chick tried to stray, we picked it up and held it until a bander came and attached the bracelet around its right leg.

“The most important thing,” Lindsay said, “is not to let them get into the water or pile up.” She pointed out the size of chicks we needed to band: the larger ones covered in white down and already growing adult plumage. Their legs had reached full size, so the band would fit nicely without providing discomfort. The smaller chicks

that had yet to grow any feathers were not large enough for banding. The fresh hatchlings looked prehistoric, like wrinkled pterodactyls.

John Weske, the master bander, explained that banding data could be used to learn about the pelicans’ behavior, social structure, migration patterns, lifespan, and population. Unfortunately, the chicks did not understand that we had good intentions, so they snapped at us. John told me to grab the bill first, and effort-

“Never before have I had so much fun being pooped on, scratched, and bitten,” said Nancy Fahey, a volunteer and the coordinator of the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project.

First-timer Robin Vaughn also expressed how fun and informative it was to protect the birds: “The pelican banding was an incredible experience. It was really gratifying. We worked hard and got dirty, but holding these gangly birds was an experience I will never forget,” she said. “The dedication and enthusiasm of the Audubon staff and volunteers to protect all of our birds is inspiring.”

Jill

been leading pelican banding teams for 30 years, as part of a long-term population study now under the U. S. Geological Service. Weske travels to the Cape Fear area to help guide all banding events. As the project’s Master Bander, he instructs all banding volunteers in the code of ethics that all banders must follow. This code of ethics works to ensure the birds’ health and safety during banding. See http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/resources/ ethics.cfm to read the ethics guidelines that must be followed.

lessly scooped up a chick that had been intimidating me. He showed me how to hold the bill gently and avoid blocking the bird’s nostrils. Although I had been wary of the chicks’ flaring gular pouches, I found that their toenails were more likely to inflict damage. Each webbed foot was equipped with sharp talons!

“Need a bird,” was the call of the veteran bird-banders. It only took them a few seconds to adjust a metal band firmly around a bird’s leg. They were careful not to leave any minute gaps that could allow fishing line to get entangled around the band.

By noon we had finished banding the majority of Brown Pelican chicks on the island. We were all covered in a film of feathers as we returned to the boats. John emphasized that if banders are not persistent and consistent in banding each year, our efforts would just be a disturbance with no conservation benefit. Our trip marked the 30th year of pelican banding on the Cape Fear River, just one of many locations on the east coast. That day alone, we banded 885 pelican chicks.

I returned to the dock scratched, bloody, mosquito-bitten, and covered in fishy excrement, but I was incredibly satisfied. Our hard work enables us to better understand the birds. The nearly 1,000 chicks we banded will provide a lot of data for researchers hoping to protect the pelicans. Volunteers like us have provided three decades’ worth of data that can be used in conservation efforts for generations to come.

This account originally appeared as a blog entry that Abigail Chiaramonte wrote in 2013 while she was the summer communication intern for the Coast Office of Audubon North Carolina. Chiaramonte studies creative writing and English at UNC–Wilmington. She enjoys reading, writing, and living near the Atlantic Ocean.

Did you know?

Audubon North Carolina’s sanctuary islands protect 30-35% of the state’s nesting waterbirds, including Great Egrets, White Ibis, and Brown Pelicans.

photo by Kathy Hannah

Peleuses holds a Brown Pelican for Dr. John S. Weske to band. Weske is an ornithologist who has

environmental science

Bird Banding

by Lindsay Addison

Bird banding helps researchers learn about demographics, longevity, and movements of birds. Banding programs have shown that the typical Brown Pelican in North Carolina lives to be 8-9 years old, although some individuals greatly exceed that. They have also shown that most of the pelicans who summer in [coastal] North Carolina actually migrate to South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida in the winter, but that some go as far south as Cuba. Knowing more about populations, and about where birds go throughout the year, helps aid their conservation.

Bands, small bracelets made of metal or plastic, are placed on a bird’s leg. Researchers use color combinations or numbers and letters to distinguish the particular bird. Some bands are metal and carry 8- or 9-digit codes issued by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory. These are the type of band the pelicans receive. Usually they can only be read if the bird is found dead or recaptured alive, but sometimes an enterprising observer manages to read them, often with a zoom lens. Other bands are colored plastic and have only a few large numbers or letters. They are made to be read by researchers and birdwatchers using binoculars or scopes. Locally, many American Oystercatchers wear these “field readable” bands.

The next time you are birdwatching on the coast, look for commonly banded species like the Brown Pelican, American Oystercatcher, and Piping Plover.

Lindsay Addison is the coastal biologist for Audubon North Carolina.

What do I do if a see a banded bird?

To report a bird with a Federal band or color marker, visit the www.reportband.gov or www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL and follow the instructions, or call the phone number on the band. Even if you do not know what kind of bird you have spotted, the information you provide will be useful. The web reporting page will ask easyto-answer questions such as where you spotted the bird, where on the bird the band is located, and the condition of the bird.

Your report will be added to a database maintained cooperatively by the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory and Canadian Wildlife Service, Bird Banding Office. This database contains more than 4 million band encounter records that document movements, longevity, and sources of mortality for North America’s migratory birds. This information is used to monitor populations, set hunting regulations, restore endangered species, study effects of environmental contaminants, and address issues such as Avian Influenza, bird hazards at airports, and crop depredations.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages the bird bands out of the Bird Banding Laboratory at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, located in Maryland. Bands provided by the Bird Banding Laboratory, such as those in the photograph above, are made of aluminum and inscribed CALL 1-800-327 BAND and WWW. REPORTBAND.GOV as well as a unique 8 or 9 digit number. When you submit a report, the Bird Banding Laboratory will give you details about when and where the bird was originally banded, and will also alert the researcher who applied the band.

source: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL

Did you know?

Brown Pelicans nest in colonies, typically on isolated islands that have no land predators. On the Atlantic coast, they choose barrier islands, natural islands in estuaries, or—as is true in the Cape Fear—islands composed of material from dredging.

In 2014 there were 4400 nesting pairs of Brown Pelicans in North Carolina. 1305 of these pairs nested in the Cape Fear River area, which is 30% of the pelicans in the State.

North Carolina’s coastal islands are an important place for nesting pairs of many species of birds. Responsibility for managing these islands is shared by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and Audubon North Carolina.

Every three years, these organizations, along with other partners like the State Parks and the NC Coastal Reserve, census colonial (group-nesting) waterbirds in North Carolina. Teams of biologists and volunteers count every nest they can find and record species, habitat, and other data. These counts have taken place since the 1970s and provide long-term data to monitor population trends and habitat use.

A permit from the federal Bird Banding Lab is required for all bird banding projects in the country. Typically, projects must have a research or conservation outcome.

photo by Lindsay Addison Banding expert Micou Browne, a biologist from NC State University, holds new aluminum bands, which will be used to identify each pelican as an individual.

birds

Discover the Wonder of Birds: A Traveling Exhibit

Cape Fear Audubon Society (CFAS) has created an interactive exhibit to teach youngsters and their families about birds. This was designed to be a free hands-on innovative learning experience for adults and children, who can explore together the world of birds. Activities include learning centers with knowledgeable staff, bird feeder observation, bird identification, a bird walk and sometimes special guest appearances from live birds.

The CFAS, a non-profit chapter affiliate of the National Audubon Society, developed this educational tool for learning all aspects of birds. The exhibit includes ten learning centers on different topics relating to birds. The goal is to engage the parent and child to view and interact with each learning center at their own pace and according to their interest. Knowledgeable Audubon personnel are available on site to answer questions, and booklets are given to each participant group for continued learning.

Interactive, hands-on learning centers help participants investigate:

• How do birds fly?

• Where and when do birds migrate?

• What ways do birds use feathers?

• How do you use a bird field guide?

• How do native plants benefit birds?

• What is inside an owl pellet? The exhibit is available to organizations and schools wishing to host a Discover the Wonder of Birds event. Events have been hosted by Airlie Gardens, the NC Aquarium at Ft. Fisher, Halyburton Park, and area schools (and will be at Brunswick NatureFest in Southport on May 2). Photos are on the “events” page of the Cape Fear Audubon website: www. capefearaudubon.org. To learn about scheduling an event for your school or organization, email cnesbit@ec.rr.com. Cape Fear Audubon Society is the local chapter of the National Audubon Society,

serving southeastern North Carolina. The Cape Fear region’s diverse habitat includes salt marsh, wetlands, barrier islands, pine forest, woodlands and many nature sanctuaries, and parks. The rapidly growing chapter is dedicated to preserving this wealth of habitat through education and helping people connect to nature. Cape Fear Audubon Society works with Audubon North Carolina in local “Important Bird Areas,” nesting sites, habitat protection and participation in national bird counts.

Area Boy Scouts may earn a birding study merit badge, earned by rigorously examining the various aspects of birds, including—but not limited to—identification, using guides and binoculars, and completing a field trip. Cape Fear Audubon has a BSA-approved counselor who can approve a scout who has completed requirements for this badge, and who will work personally with any scout to help ensure he can earn the merit badge. Learn more at www.capefearaudubon.org.

Cape Fear Audubon Society Can help you Go Green

• Free evaluation of your yard through the “Bird-Friendly Habitat Award Program,” which supports migratory birds through native planting and thoughtful landscaping.

• Monthly meetings, plus field trips and guided birdwalks, open to members and non-members.

• Speakers available for your group www.capefearaudubon.org info@capefearaudubon.org

“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.”

—Douglas Tallamy Bringing Nature

Home

contributed photo

A youngster gets acquainted with a raptor at a recent Discovery of Birds event at Halyburton Park.

citizen science

“Touch Tank Tuesdays” Begin at N.C. Coastal Federation

The N.C. Coastal Federation is launching Touch Tank Tuesdays, a fun, interactive series that takes place on the third Tuesday of each month from May to October at its recently opened Fred and Alice Stanback Coastal Education Center in Wrightsville Beach.

The first Touch Tank Tuesday is scheduled for May 20 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

People of all ages are encouraged to attend and discover what a live shrimp, crab or whelk looks like. These marine animals will be carefully collected from local tidal creeks and salt marshes and released each day, spending a short time in the federation’s touch tank for each session.

“We are excited to unveil this new education program,” Ted Wilgis, a coastal

education coordinator for the federation, said. “It allows children, and even adults, the opportunity to see and feel first-hand some of the amazing and interesting critters that call our local waters home.”

You can find more information about the program by going by the education center, 309 W. Salisbury St. in the Historic Square at Wrightsville Beach; calling the federation at 910.509.2838; emailing nccf@ nccoast.org; or visiting its website, www. nccoast.org. The event is $3 for federation members and $5 for nonmembers. Fees can be paid on the day of the event or in

advance. Space is limited, and pre-registration is recommended. An adult should accompany children under the age of 15.

Other programs that will be offered at the education center this summer include:

• A Coastal Adventures series that features special guests who will provide hands-on, engaging opportunities to learn about the coast, critters and hands-on instruction with simple “do-it-yourself” coastal restoration and water quality protection projects.

• A variety of special events with local artists, writers and coastal experts.

Jump Into Adventure: Become a FrogWatch USA Volunteer

Andy Gould of FrogWatch USA invites you to participate in one of this year’s FrogWatch Training Sessions. Here’s what you need to know:

What is FrogWatch USA?

A group of volunteers who monitor local frog populations by listening for frog calls throughout the spring and summer. What is the commitment for Volunteering?

We ask that you conduct at least four 10-minute monitoring sessions between February and August.

What are the benefits of Volunteering?

• Participate in nationwide scientific research.

• Contribute valuable information for the conservation of amphibians.

• Enjoy learning more about the world around you and your amphibian neighbors!

When are the Trainings?

Join us at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher for an afternoon training session to become a FrogWatch Volunteer.

Time: 1:00-5:00 pm

Dates in 2015:

January 31, February 21, March 21, April 18, & May 2, 2015

The cost is free! To sign up for a training workshop, please visit: http://reservations.ncaquariums.com/fortfisher/Info. aspx?EventID=38.

www.sheltonherbfarmnc.com

420ORANGESTREET

gardening news

Wilmington Weed Warriors Tackle Invasive Plants

All across the country groups of dedicated volunteers are springing into action to combat non-native invading species. Called “Weed Warriors,” these conservation-minded folks aren’t afraid of some hard work for a good cause. Here in the Cape Fear region, we are proud to have the “Wilmington Weed Warriors” eager to do battle with the likes of Chinese Privet, Popcorn Trees, Mimosa, Chinese Wisteria,

and Tree-of-Heaven, just to name a few of our aggressive alien plant species.

Working with the Southeast Chapter of the NC Native Plant Society, the group goes to work at local parks, storm water treatment areas, and anywhere environmentally significant that is being invaded and adversely affected by these harmful species. Removal efforts take place on

weekend mornings, for about two hours, during the warm months. If you’d like to participate, contact the Southeastern chapter of the NC Native Plant Society (see ad, this page) and ask to be placed on the email contact list.

For information about the group and upcoming work parties, contact Melanie Doyle, melanie.doyle@ncaquariums. com, board member and officer of the NC Invasive Plant Council and State Coordinator of the Beach Vitex Task Force.

Go Native

Choosing native plants is one of the best ways to provide natural habitat and food for our area’s birds, bees and butterflies. Once established, native plants are incredibly hardy and require little maintenance.

North Carolina

contributed photo

Two volunteers work together to eradicate invasive plants to keep them from spreading and crowding out other vegetation.

Come for a nature walk

www.ncwildflower.org

Southeast Coast Chapter

Experience the freshest and most avorful local produce delivered to you!

Deliveries to:

• Tidal Creek

• Island Wellness Market

• Family Dog Naturals

Please visit our website for more information and to see more delivery locations.

www.downeastconnect.com

local seasonal food

Winter into Spring Recipes

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.

Simple Healthy Slaw

• I head green cabbage, thinly sliced

• 1/3 cup vegan mayo

• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon agave nectar

• 2 teaspoons sea salt

• 2 teaspoons black pepper

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, coating cabbage. Adjust seasoning to taste. If too sour, add a little more agave. If too sweet, add a little more vinegar.

Where to Find Local Produce

Farmers’ markets are the place to buy local produce and meet the farmer who grows your food.

Tidal Creek Co-op, Lovey’s and Whole Foods provide a selection of local produce year-round.

===========================

Several online sources are available to help you find farms, CSAs, online buying clubs, farmers’ markets, and farm stands near you all year long.

Feast Down East serves eleven counties in Southeastern North Carolina http://www.FeastDownEast.org/

Down East Connect www.farmersfreshmarket.org

North Carolina Farm Fresh http://carolinafarmstewards.org

Local Harvest

http://www.localharvest.org

Check our Going Green Tips & Resources page for more ways to find local produce.

www.goinggreenpublications.com

Loaded Sweet Potato with Guacamole

• 2 sweet potatoes

• 1/2 bunch kale

• One cup black beans

• Extra virgin olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 ripe avocado

• Juice of 1 lemon

• Sea salt

• Black pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Poke a few holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork. Bake sweet potatoes for 45-60 minutes, or until tender. While potatoes are cooking, sauté 1 clove of garlic with olive oil over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add kale and cook until kale is wilted. Stir in black beans and cook until black beans are warm. For guacamole, add avocado, one garlic clove , lemon juice, salt, and pepper to a food processor and process until smooth. Adjust salt/pepper

to taste. Cut sweet potato lengthwise and top with kale, black beans, and guacamole.

Avocado Kale Living Salad

• 1 bunch kale (lacinato works best)

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1/4 teaspoon Sea salt

• 1 ripe avocado

• 1 tomato, chopped

• 1/4 red onion, chopped

• Sprouts (alfalfa, clover, broccoli, radish)

• Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

Cut away the stems from the kale. Stack kale leaves, roll them tightly, and cut into thin ribbons. Put kale into a salad bowl and mix with lemon juice and sea salt. Gently massage the lemon juice and salt into kale leaves and let sit for a few minutes; this will lightly “wilt” the kale. Add the avocado and massage into the kale, coating the leaves. Add the tomatoes, onion, sprouts, and seeds. For a light tasty salad, use alfalfa or clover sprouts. For a spicier salad, use broccoli or radish sprouts.

www.goinggreenpublications.com

Recipes and photograph courtesy of Chef Emily Lyons, Sealevel City Gourmet

Loaded Sweet Potato with Guacamole

people

Interns Assist Going Green During Fall 2014 Semester

We were fortunate to have two interns helping with Cape Fear’s Going Green operations this past fall, both through the Environmental Studies (EVS) program at UNCW. Nathaniel D’Domenicus worked with us through the EVS Applied Service Learning Program, and Samantha Sahlman performed a 120-hour EVS practicum. They brought us skills in researching, writing, and representing us in public, as well as a background in science. We enjoyed having them with us, and wish them success in their careers.

Samantha Sahlman is a senior studying environmental science at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Next fall she will receive her B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Samantha aspires to devote her life to a career protecting the environment. During her time at UNCW she was the Vice President of the Environmental Concerns Organization and aided in getting The Green Initiative Fund passed for UNCW. She is involved in the Tri-Beta Biological Society, where she volunteers in car washes, Adopt-A-Highway trash clean up, and other charity events. Samantha continues to progress her passion for the environment through different mediums such as writing, photography and campaigns as her enthusiasm grows.

Nathaniel D’Domenicus is a graduating senior at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He received his B.S. in Environmental Science and B.A. in Chemistry December 2014. While at UNCW, Nathaniel was a member of the ECO club, Surfrider Foundation chapter, and Sigma Alpha Lambda Honors Fraternity. Nathaniel aims to pursue a career working with and for the environment, using his scientific skills and knowledge attained at university to work towards a healthier planet, as well as his artistic pursuits of music and film to spread the consciousness of the environmental movement to the world.

2015 Wilmington Earth Day Festival

Come out for a fun-filled day of live music, good food, and environmental information and activities for all ages! Discover what issues affect our environment, talk with local groups, and learn how you can get involved.

Bring the whole family to celebrate Earth Day 2015 from noon ‘til 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Hugh MacRae Park. It is a FREE event!

www.wilmingtonearthday.org

photo by Valerie Robertson Nathaniel D’Domenicus and Samantha Sahlman interned with Going Green.

Thank you for doing business with our advertisers!

Sat., May 22: Painted Bunting Workshop

9:15-10:30 a.m.

Native Plant Sale 2:30–4:30

Imagine the Possibilities in Your Backyard

Wild Bird & Garden Hanover Center 3501 Oleander Drive Wilmington NC 28403 910-343-6001

Sat., May 22: Painted Bunting Workshop 9:15-10:30 a.m.

www.wildbirdgardeninc.com

Native Plant Sale 2:30–4:30

Wild Bird Garden

Imagine the Possibilities in Your Backyard

Wild Bird & Garden Hanover Center 3501 Oleander Drive Wilmington NC 28403 910-343-6001

www.wildbirdgardeninc.com

Wild Bird Garden

Vegan Beauty Boutique Relocates to Wilmington

Vegan Beauty Boutique was created by vegan Casey Nelson, to offer ethicallyminded women a place to shop safely for all-natural and organic beauty and body care products that are also vegan and cruelty-free.

Working for several years in the natural health and beauty industry, Nelson created www.veganbeautyboutique.com to provide the conscious consumer with ethically crafted products that deliver superior quality without toxic chemicals. Nelson has now moved her company from Vermont to Wilmington.

Woof in the Waves Natural Pet Supply Store

Patrick and Jenny King have opened WOOF in the Waves, a natural pet products store, at 3410 Wrightsville Avenue in Wilmington. They hope to educate pet owners about the health benefits of feeding holistic pet food. Locally owned, it’s a sister store to WOOF in the Woods, in Fairview, NC. (910)769-3808 or www. woofinthewaves.com.

Native Plant Sale

Wild Bird & Garden will host a native plant sale Saturday, May 23 at 2:00p.m. in front of their store at 3501 Oleander Drive, Wilmington. www.wildbirdgardeninc.com or call (910)343-6001 for details.

Inaugural Southport Nature Fest Planned for May 2

The public is invited to a Nature Fest in the Southport, NC area on May 2. There is no charge, and visitors of all ages are invited. (Certain activities will have fees.)

The festival hopes to increase awareness and appreciation of the balance between human activity and the natural world, to bring tourists to Southport to appreciate its heritage and beauty and inspire them to support efforts to protect it, to provide learning activities for children and adults, and to provide healthy recreation in harmony with the natural world for people of all abilities.

Activities will include an early morning bird walk, pancake breakfast, Birds of Wonder (see page 7), kayak trips, boat harbor tours and ferry rides, and a showing of the movie, “The Lorax.”

Exhibitor tables are $20 for businesses, free for governmental organizations or non-profits. See the City of Southport webpage for updates, or www.goinggreenpublications.com/calendar.html.

LakeFest

Cape Fear River Watch will repeat its popular outdoor festival on May 2 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Greenfield Lake. Free environmental fun for the whole family, plus a kayak race! See www.capefearriverwatch. org’s activities calendar or call (910)762-5606.

your ecological house™

Are You Creating Superbugs?

Disposal of Prescription Drugs in New Hanover County

Is your evil alter ego working to create superbugs, those antibiotic-resistant bacteria that could wipe out humanity? Is your home a chemical warfare lab that uses an underground network to disseminate dangerous agents into the public water supply?

Probably not. But some of your innocent actions might inadvertently contribute to the same environmental problems as those plotted by the Doctor Doom I just described. By using “antibacterial soaps” and improperly disposing of antibiotics—especially by flushing them down the toilet— you could be helping to create superbugs through the process evolution.

That’s because antibacterial soaps and antibiotics don’t just kill their targeted disease-causing bacteria; they kill any susceptible bacteria they contact, both on or in your body and in the environment. But some bacteria are resistant to the antimicrobial chemicals, and they survive and continue to multiply. And when they find themselves in a new, favorable environment because their bacterial competitors have been eliminated by our “chemical warfare,” their populations explode.

This is “Darwinism” or evolution in action: one species of bacteria (or, since bacteria commonly swap genes and are classified differently than more-complex organisms, one “group” of bacteria) has a selective advantage, resistance to specific chemicals, that allows it to increase its numbers over its bacterial competitors. Over time—a very short time since bacteria reproduce quickly—the drug-resistant bacteria dominate the environment and become the group to which we are most likely to be exposed.

The chemicals in antibacterial soaps and most antibiotics both dissolve in water

and persist in the environment, at least for long enough to affect the evolution of the bacterial population, and often for decades more. So each time someone washes his or her hands with antibacterial soap or disposes of leftover antibiotics by flushing them or dumping them in the garbage, the chemicals find their way into the water supply through the sewer system or the ground and contribute to the growth of superbugs.

If only a handful of people committed such sins against nature (and us), the effects would be nil. But it is estimated that up to 75 percent of all U.S. households use antibacterial soap. Also, since antibiotics were discovered in the 1940s, billions of people worldwide have used (or overused) them, and for the most part disposed of them carelessly.

This, along with the extensive use of antibiotics in agriculture, has resulted in the evolution of vast populations of superbugs that are threatening to cause a full-blown health crisis—the great epidemic of the early 21st century. Thus far, two million people in the U.S. are infected by antibioticresistant bacteria annually, and 23,000 of them die.

What can you do? First and foremost, stop using antibacterial soaps and related products, especially those that contain the antimicrobial agent “triclosan” and its close relative “triclocarban.” Triclosan can pose health risks to its users and to anyone who becomes exposed to it through the water supply. The risks include, ironically, reduced bacterial resistance and hormonal effects in the user. (Another irony: some bacteria thrive in a triclosan-rich environment, and others actually eat the stuff!)

Next, dispose of antibiotics and other drugs and chemicals properly. The best method is to drop them off at a “drug take-back” event such as the National Take Back Initiative. Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Initiative occurs twice annually throughout the U.S. Find out where and when you can participate by calling your local city government or refuse disposal service. Additionally, some pharmacies and hospitals will recycle your leftover drugs.

Flushing perscription drugs down the toilet is highly discouraged. Dissolved medications are absorbed by aquatic wildlife as the chemicals cannot be removed through wastewater treatment processes.

• All prescription and over-the-counter drugs can be disposed of at the front desk lobby of the Detention Center, 3950 Juvenile Center Road in Castle Hayne, or Room 201 of the Historic Courthouse, at 24 N. Third Street, Wilmington.

• New Hanover Regional Medical Center conducts a collection event each Spring and Fall in partnerhip with the NHC Sheriff’s Department. Dates are posted at http://news.nhcgov.com/ once selected.

• The Market Street Pharmacy (1612 Market Street) accepts unwanted prescription medications (non-narcotic based only) if they are in their original containers. Call (910) 763-0845.

source: http://recycling.nhcgov.com/ services/disposal-options/

The next-best method of disposal, recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency, is: (1) Remove the drugs from the original container (and remove your name, Rx number, etc.); (2) mix them with used cat litter, coffee grounds or some other undesirable substance; (3) put them into a disposable container such as a margarine tub with a lid or a sealable plastic bag and; (4) dispose of the container in the trash.

Finally, by searching online using keywords such as “antibiotics and bacterial resistance,” and “antibiotics in the water supply,” educate yourself so you can better inform others about the problem at our ecological house.

© Philip S. Wenz, 2015 Philip S. (Skip) Wenz is a freelance writer specializing in ecological design issues. He was a general contractor, residential designer, teacher and writer in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the early 1990s he founded, and for ten years directed, the Ecological Design Program at the San Francisco Institute of Architecture. He also teaches “Creating Your Ecological House,” at Berkeley’s Building Education Center and wrote the book, Adding to a House (Taunton Press, 1995). Skip now lives with his wife, Pam, in Corvallis, Oregon. He may be reached by email through his website: www.your-ecological-house.com.

Antibiotic resistance exemplifies par excellence Darwinism: surviving strains [of bacteria] have emerged under the protection and selection by the antibiotic.

—Stuart B. Levy, M.D., Professor of Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Medicine, Tufts University

green books

Environmental Book Club Announces Reading List for 2015

The environmental book discussion group met in October to select the titles the group will discuss throughout 2015. See the listing on this page for the titles of books they look forward to reading and discussing in the coming year.

The book list is also available on the calendar page of Cape Fear’s Going Green’s website (go to the calendar page of www.goinggreenpublications.com and click on any book club meeting in 2015 for a full list of titles) and it also apears in the “Notes” section of the Going Green Facebook page.

The Environmental Book Club is organized by Cape Fear’s Going Green and hosted by Old Books on Front Street. They typically meet the first Tuesday

evening of the month inside the bookstore. Social time is at 5:30; discussion begins at 6:00 and runs approximately 90 minutes.

There’s no long-term commitment: you can come when the book being discussed is a title that interests you! “We do hope you’ll read the book before you come, as it enriches the conversation,” says club leader Valerie Robertson. “Our group welcomes new members and one-time visitors.”

Snacks, beer and wine are available for sale inside the bookstore, for you to enjoy during the gathering. Old Books On Front Street offers a discount on new copies of the book club selections. Please call the store for details, or ask at the register. 910-762-6657.

Additional Environmental Reading Suggestions:

The following books are NOT on the Environmental Book Club discussion list for 2015 (there was only room for 12!). Group members found it very difficult to narrow the list down to only 12, so below we are sharing the titles of the books they were most reluctant to eliminate .

Tesla: Man Out of Time

Margaret Cheney

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

Jarred Diamond

The Tar Ball Chronicles: A Journey Beyond the Oiled Pelican and Into the Heart of the Gulf Oil Spill

David Gessner

Post Carbon Reader: Managing the 21st Century’s Sustainability Crises

Richard Heinberg & Daniel Lerch

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Naomi Klein

Food Choice and Sustainability: Why Buying Local, Eating Less Meat, and Taking Baby Steps Won’t Work

Dr. Richard Oppenlander

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

John Perkins

The Once and Future Forest: A Guide to Forest Restoration Strategies

Leslie Sauer

Ecology of a Cracker Childhood (The World As Home)

Janisse Ray

Meatonomics: How the Rigged Economics of Meat and Dairy You Consume Too Much-and how to Eat Better, Live Longer, and Spend Smarter

David Robinson Simon

Organic Soil

Erb Thomas & Anne Wigmore

Circles of Compassion: Connecting Issues of Justice

Will Tuttle

Cape Fear’s Going Green Environmental Book Club!

Come join us 6–8pm at Old Books on Front Street

249 No. Front Street • Wilmington

2015 Book Titles

January 6

Green is the New Red: An Insider’s Account of a Social Movement Under Siege

Will Potter

February 3

Flight Behavior

Barbara Kingsolver

March 3

Comfortably Unaware

Dr. Richard Oppenlander

April 7

Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy

May 5

Joanna Macy

Where our Food Comes From

Gary Paul Nabhan

June 2

Tom’s River

July 7

Dan Fagin

Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community

Wendell Berry

August 4

Crossroads of the Natural World: Exploring North Carolina with Tom Earnhardt

Tom Earnhardt

September 1

Dream of Earth

Thomas Berry

September X (date to be determined)

Book Selection Meeting

Gathering to select titles for 2016

October 6

World Peace Diet

Will Tuttle

November 10

This Changes Everything

Naomi Klein

December 1

Winter Count

Barry Lopez

Call (910)547-4390 for details

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville Open February 28

green building

CFGBA Offers Building Performance Workshops

WHITEVILLE, NC—The newly renovated branch of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville was unveiled to the public on Saturday, February 28. The dynamic indooroutdoor nature and science learning center has been repurposed to feature new exhibits, an investigate lab, nature exploration center, an outdoor nature play space, and a distance learning classroom.

Green Social Returns

June 9, 10 Sealed/Closed Crawl

“It is thrilling to extend the reach of our mission into Columbus County,” said Emlyn Koster, PhD, director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. “Made possible through a partnership with the Friends of the Museum in Whiteville, this community now has an indoor-outdoor learning center to enable its students and families to explore the natural world close to home and a base from which the museum can deliver programs to the surrounding rural region.”

Presented by the Cape Fear Green Buillding Alliance (CFGBA), The Building Performance Workshop Series is scheduled to begin on May 12. Made possible in part by a grant award from the NC Green Business Fund and ARRA, the series of professional trainings combines classroom instruction with on-site, hands-on demonstrations. The principles and techniques taught during the trainings apply to both new and existing construction, but special focus will be placed on their application to existing homes. The curriculum is tailored to prepare trainees for certifications and jobs in the emerging home retrofit industry.

June 23 – Sealed Attics

July 7 – Targeted Weatherization

July 21 – High Performance HVAC

Aug 4 –Indoor Air Quality

Aug 18 – Building Science/ House Characterization

Aug 25 – Sealing/Insulating the Envelope

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences, based in Raleigh, an agency of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, is the largest natural sciences museum in the Southeast with Smithsonian Affiliate status. Dating to 1879, it is also the most visited museum in North Carolina and one of the most innovative institutions of its kind globally. The museum strives to reach every region of the state, especially rural communities.

During the on-site training sessions, trainees will be able to apply the techniques they learn in the classroom to existing homes. These green retrofits are being performed through a collaboration with Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministries (WARM), a non-profit organization that performs repairs on the homes of economically disadvantaged individuals.

Sept 8 – Targeted Weatherization

Sept 22 –Water Heating Options

For more information or to register, visit www.cfgba.org or contact Joy Allen, Cape Fear Green Building Alliance, at (910)470-5697 or joy.a@cfgba.org.

The new museum experience in Whiteville is modeled after proven interactive programs at the museum’s Raleigh-based Nature Research Center, Nature Education Center, Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Wildlife and Learning as well as introducing several new features.

Additional grant partners are Building Performance Specialists (BPS) and Sapona Green Building Center. BPS will provide instruction, energy audits and project management for the retrofits. Sapona will act as purchasing agent and materials supplier.

• Investigate Lab: Visitors of all ages can discover the scientific process by trying a range of experiments through tools and techniques including microscopes, pipettes and more.

• Naturalist Center: Featuring an extensive collection of specimens from butterflies to bear claws, snakes to seahorses, and sand dollars to spiders, visitors are encouraged to explore the natural collection.

General registration is now open. The complete list of workshop topics and dates is posted below:

May 12 – Building Science/ House Characterization

Starting April 29, 2010, Cape Fear Green Building Alliance is resuming its monthly “Green Social,” held the last Thursday of the month. Come enjoy the rooftop and meet with people who share an interest in things green. Location: Reel Cafe rooftop, 100 So. Front Street, Wilmington.

Green Drinks at Kefi

Cape Fear Green Drinks, is held the second Thursday of each month, at Kefi, 2012 Eastwood Road, Wilmington. The event offers a casual place to network and a monthly speaker. Coming May 13: rain barrels and rain gardens. For details email Paul Pascarosa at cppascarosa@gba-inc.com.

climb over logs and boulders, roll in the grass, make mud pies, observe nature and dig for fossils.

• Discovery Forest: Developed for young children and families to discover natural wonders from bird wings to beaver sticks, the space is an ideal area for intergenerational learning.

The Cape Fear Green Building Alliance is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation with the mission of promoting sustainable building practices. Formed in 2005, the CFGBA accomplishes its mission primarily through educational programs for both industry professionals and the general public. Monthly general meetings held the second Wednesday of each month feature informational presentations and are free and open to all.

• Nature Play Space: Designed to celebrate the importance of outdoor play in the lives and education of children, the space includes areas for art, digging, and exploration. Children can

(910)279-0100

LocalMetalsmith

• In Your Backyard Resource Center: An information area, featuring material about state parks, aquaria, and other sites within NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, where visitors can plan to continue their explora tion of North Carolina’s natural places.

• Distance Learning Classroom: A space designed to virtually link visitors and students at the Whiteville museum with scientists at the Raleigh museum and other locations. Museum hours will be Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Donations are welcome. The facility is located at 415 South Madison Street, Whiteville, North Carolina. For more information, contact the Museum at (910)914-4185, or plan your visit online at www.naturalsciences.org.

Now you can listen to two full hours of Science Friday, every week from 2:00-4:00 pm, on HQR News 91.3 FM

photo courtesy of NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Discovery Forest: Young explorers will have a place for guided science and nature exploration in the Discovery Forest at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville.

LARA BERKLEY LARA BERKLEY BERKLEY, asla , asla , ARCHITECTURE commercial www.b-and-o.net WILMINGTON, NC 28401 [910] 251.2707 205 PRINCESS STREET

Green Rooftops Green Walls www.mottlandscaping.com (910)254-0500

Award-winning See green roofs at

May 19 – Sealing/Insulating the Envelope

May 26 – Targeted Weatherization