BIRDING:
Attracting Bluebirds
Fostering Bluebird Trails
Wild Bird & Garden Nature Photo Contest Winners
Volunteerism: Directory of Local Environmental Organizations
My sister Mary lives in Oregon, where her lawn is lush and enviably green year-round, thanks to their rainy winters. But in spite of its beauty, she believes lawns should be replaced with more useful things—food production, or native species—things that take less water and support more creatures. Every year she removes a little more lawn and replaces it with a variety of new plantings.
I’m visiting her this week, and this morning when I looked out the front door, was startled by the change. My memory of that view is of unbroken green grass. But now I see an appealing path flanked by mounds of winter-dry plants of all sizes and shapes. Even in this dormant winter landscape, I find six birds—of three species—interacting with the landscape: perching in the native vine maple, in the waist-high winter stalks and seedheads, and exploring the mulch and leaf litter on the ground. So what used to be a green, flat lawn is now a front-yard haven, even mid-winter. How much more exciting is a view that changes daily, and that invites wildlife into her space? Mary’s out there now, laying strips of cardboard over another strip of turf, chewing away the green, bit by bit. “I don’t know what’ll go here, but I do know it won’t be lawn,” she says.
It reminds me of a basic tenet of improvisational theater: “Start where you are.” Facebook and other social media, those endemic cellphones, and even the age-old “hand-lettered sign on a fencepost” have made it easier for folks to connect, to spontaneously gather for needed actions, like the recent “scavenger hunt” for trash in Wallace Park, right down the street.
This issue of Going Green includes our annual list of local resources to help you find an environmental group or cause that is just right for you. Don’t see one that clicks? Pick up a trash bag and start one yourself, right where you are.
Valerie L. Robertson Editor3 Want More Bluebirds? Here’s How
5 Wild Bird & Garden Holds Second Annual Nature Photo Contest
7 Local Resource Directory
13 StriperFest Catch & Release Tournament Aids River Restoration
Efforts
13 Why We Should Value the Cape Fear River—Junior Angler Essay
15 Andy Wood— Life Under Logs
16 Wilmington Book Club Fosters Discussion of Environmental
Issues
18 Science Friday’s Ira Flatow to Come to Wilmington
19 Your Ecological House™—
One Step to a Cooler Planet: The Power Tower
20 Native Plants
22 Farmers’ Market in Elizabethtown Goes Solar
23 Recipe Page
24 Food News
Front Cover: Our cover image of a baby chickadee asleep in its nest was taken by Wilmington’s Michelle Frazier. She took the photo in her backyard, where the same pair of Carolina chickadees returns each year to the same birdhouse. This year there were six babies in the nest. How big are they?The opening of the birdhouse measures only one inch across.
See article on page 5 for photos of other winning photo entries in Wild Bird & Garden’s Second Annual Nature Photo Contest.
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: Audubon North Carolina, Jennifer Butler, Chuck Carmack, Jerry Coons, Alan Cradick, Sandra Fascher, Katharine Frazier, Michelle Frazier, Thomas Guinn, the Kuuskoski family, Cathy McEntee, Jeanne Oxenfeld, Jill Peleuses, Christie Perry, Ida Phillips, Thomas Quinn, Adeline Robertson, Gretchen Schramm, Tiffany Strickland, John Sutton, Frannie Sweeney, Hope Sylvain, Philip S. Wenz, and Andy Wood.
Cape Fear’s Going Green
Going Green Publications
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 100 area eco-friendly businesses and locations, including:
Angela’s Pepper-Pickled Foods, B + O Design Studio, Carolina Farmin’, Lovey’s Market, Old Books on Front Street, Old Growth Riverwood, Pomegranate Books, Progressive Gardens, Sambuca, Sapona Green Building Center, Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, WHQR, and the Shelton Herb Farm booth at area farmers’ markets.
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.
Ask any enthusiast about bluebirds, and most every one has a favorite story or experience to share. With its beautiful color and cheerful, warbly song, the Eastern Bluebird continues to be one of our most beloved songbirds. Although it can be found in our area any time of year, the bluebird was just recently a rare visitor. Thanks largely to grass-roots efforts, bluebird populations are on the rebound today.
trying to support bluebirds by the late 1960s and by the mid-1980s the population had begun to rebound. The most significant factor in the recent population recovery is volunteerism—people putting up and monitoring nest boxes, spreading the word, and encouraging others to get involved.
There are several steps one can take to help support the Eastern Bluebird, and one of the most effective is the creation and placement of suitable nesting boxes. The Eastern Bluebird is a cavity nester and naturally chooses dead trees in which to build their nests. As the human population increased and more land was developed, there were fewer choices available for nest-building. Providing a “Bluebird Trail,” or series of nesting boxes strategically placed to mimic the lost nesting habitat, can be of great help.
While it is true that bluebirds are territorial of other bluebirds, they do not seem to mind other species in nest boxes closer to their own. We found this to be true in our yard when the brownheaded nuthatches wanted to use our bluebird house. The nuthatches usually won in my yard because they seem to nest a week earlier then the bluebird. We put another bluebird house about twenty feet away from our original bluebird house and within days we had two families, the happy little nuthatches and the sought-after bluebirds. Both nests were successful and we have had this situation repeat itself in many nesting seasons since. This is one of the best tricks to getting nesting bluebirds put out additional houses.
— JillNesting boxes make excellent homes because they can be placed in areas that
Due to a series of factors, by the mid1950s the population of Eastern Bluebirds was in serious decline. Widespread pesticide use, the introduction of non-native species like the House (English) Sparrow and European Starling that compete with the bluebirds, and loss of nesting habitat, all contributed to the plummeting bluebird population. Guided by groups like the North American Bluebird Society, citizenscientists and backyard birders began can be maintained and safe from predators. Bluebirds are looking for a house that is situated in the most open space available. During nesting season these birds become very territorial. In order to protect their home, they stand on the roof of their house and look around at a 360 degree angle to make sure no predators are near. So houses located on freestanding poles with a predator guard or baffle tend to be the most successful. However, bluebirds may still choose a house that is placed on a tree or a fence post.
Bluebirds often return to the same nesting box year after year, so it’s important to maintain the boxes and to clean them routinely to minimize any mold, moisture or parasites that might affect future broods. It’s also possible to add a “nesting cup” to nesting boxes to make cleaning simpler.
Nesting behaviors can start as early as February and go all the way into August, with some pairs having three broods of chicks in a year. Not all bluebirds nest at the same time; some may not start their first nest until April or May. The female lays one egg a day for several days, then the eggs must incubate about two weeks
(continued on page 4)
Want More Bluebirds? – continued
before hatching. Once hatched, the young will stay in the house for two to three weeks and the parents will feed them insects, mealworms and sunflower chips. After the birds have fledged and left is a good time to clean out the box; if done
right away the parents may start building a new nest there within a week.
Another strategy for encouraging bluebirds is maintaining a year-round food and water supply—this can be in the form of native plant species or bird feeders. Bluebirds are primarily insect eaters, and planting or keeping native species in your area helps provide habitat for the insects that these birds need when raising their young. Native berries are a particular draw for the birds. Bluebirds will also eat insect suets, which are cakes of food that are high in fats and proteins. The main seed that they prefer are shell-free sunflower chips. They also love mealworms and will fill their beaks and take them into the bird house to the young. In winter the bluebirds are not so territorial and you may see multiple individuals eating worms together.
Many other birds enjoy the same diet, so if mockingbirds or others are scaring away your bluebirds, placing feeders in the open where bluebirds can see them but away from shrubbery where mockingbirds
like to nest may help. There are also special feeders designed with a 1.5 inch diameter entry hole so larger birds cannot enter but the bluebirds will be able to feed freely. And, as always, squirrels enjoy a plate of free food, so a baffle or weight-sensitive addition may help keep them out of the bluebird feeder.
Water is essential to all songbirds, and a shallow birdbath—less than three inches deep—is recommended for all bird-friendly yards. Birds love clean, moving water, and arranging for the water to ripple or move also cuts down on the possibility of housing mosquito larvae in summer. A bottle suspended above the birdbath with a small hole for dripping can provide enough movement to attract birds and discourage mosquitos.
Combining habitat, food, and water will greatly increase chances to attract nesting birds. And, as the last few decades have shown, providing nest boxes can help the populations of songbirds continue where habitat loss and development have squeezed them out of natural surroundings. Bluebird trails have been highly successful and continuing to place more nesting boxes will help ensure nesting success in the future.
Jill Peleuses is one of North Carolina’s Certified Environmental Educators in Brunswick County (www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/ certification/certified.htm) and is co-owner of Wild Bird & Garden, Inc. in Wilmington. She sponsors educational events on bird habits and habitat, and leads birding hikes at Airlie Gardens.
Want to help attract Eastern Bluebirds to your neighborhood? Wild Bird & Garden has started a new program called the “Community Bluebird Trail,” designed to help support bluebird recovery by creating trails at the neighborhood level. Wild Bird & Garden staff will evaluate a given neighborhood or community, then provide education and help residents create a plan for optimal placement of nesting boxes. Groups that sign up for the Community Bluebird Trail will get assistance in nest monitoring and can receive discounts on nesting boxes from the store. For more information, visit Wild Bird & Garden at 3501 Oleander Drive in Wilmington or call (910) 343-6001.
Every year Wild Bird & Garden invites photographers of all ages to participate in its annual nature photo contest. There are separate categories for work submitted by adults (17 years old and over) and by kids (0-16 years old), to encourage youngsters to get out in nature and record what they see.
Photo subject matter must be related in some way to wildlife or nature, and must be submitted as an 8" x 10" photo on an 11" x 14" mat. No digital tweaking is allowed except for cropping and sharpening. Entrants must be able to submit a JPEG digital image of their entry in addition to their print.
Entries may be submitted October through early December of any given year. As they arrive, entries are displayed in
Local photographer Chuck Carmack, who provided the bluebird photos for the article on pages 3–4, was one of the judges for the Wild Bird & Garden Nature Photo Contest.
Carmack grew up in the Mountains of Western North Carolina and moved to the Coast in 1986. His passion for photography started in high school when he joined the camera club. He studied photography at the local community colleges in Asheville and Wilmington. Having enjoyed the outdoors all his life, after his retirement his interest turned to nature photography, where he has won numerous photography contests and has had work published in books and magazines. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm and experiences with others at the art shows in which he participates and in teaching classes.
Carmack is on the Board of the Cape Fear Audubon Society and is a member of the Cape Fear Camera Club, Carolina Nature Photographers Association, Carolina Bird Club and NC Wildlife Artists Society. You can see more of his work at www. chuckcarmacknaturephotography.com
the store so the public can vote for their favorites in each category. Every visitor to the store is allowed to cast one vote per day for work in the adult category and one vote per day in the kids category.
Photos submitted by adults will also be judged by a team of local professional photographers. Entries are due early in December, but the sooner you enter, the greater your chances in the popular vote.
Prizes are given to the winners in each category, and the winning entry (or entries) is published in Cape Fear’s Going Green. Winners of the judged competition and the popular vote are usually announced in mid-December. Entrants retain all rights to their entries, which must not contain any time stamp or text.
Award-winning photos from the 2011 competition appear throughout this issue of Going Green, with (WB&G 2011) in the caption. The winners were announced December 15, 2011. Look for some of the winners of the Third annual photo contest
in an upcoming issue. And get outside with a camera, in anticipation of next winter’s photo contest!
Wild Bird & Garden hosts a variety of workshops about birds and how to support them in your own backyard. Many of these are free Saturday morning workshops just down the street from their shop.
Owner Jill Peleuses leads bird walks at Airlie Gardens the second Wednesday of each month. Regular admission is $5 (free, for Airlie members). Stop by Wild Bird & Garden for a free admission pass for this month’s Airlie Gardens bird walk. Airlie has wonderful bird habitat including marsh, fresh water ponds, woods, and open lawns. Coming up in September, 2013: a birding Kayak weekend adventure in Charleston, South Carolina. Wild Bird & Garden is located in Hanover Center at 3501 Oleander Drive, Wilmington. For more contest details or to learn the dates of next winter’s contest, call (910)343-6001 or visit www.wildbirdgardeninc.com.
Photo
Cape Fear’s Going Green is proud to be a sponsor of Wild Bird & Garden’s Nature
Contest!photo by Cathy McEntee Egret in the Marsh • First Place Winner WB&G 2011 Cathy McEntee took this photo on Lea Island, on a windy November day.
avian news
nature photo contest winners – continued
The biodiversity of the Cape Fear Region makes it a rich place for birders and aspiring bird-watchers to enjoy our bird populations.
In addition to the workshops, bird hikes and other opportunities offered by Wild Bird & Garden (see details at www.wildbirdgardeninc.com), many area groups and organizations make it easy for beginners and experts alike to get started. Cape Fear Audubon Society offers monthly presentations and also field trips. Halyburton Park offers programs and summer nature camps (call (910)341-0075). Leland Parks and Rec has free bird walks at area parks the second Thursday of each month. (www.townofleland.com.) Airlie Gardens offers a bird walk the second Wednesday of each month.
Check out our list of local resources on the following pages, put your name on a couple of mailing lists that interest you, and go outside!
Hampstead Feeding Time • Second Place Winner (WB&G 2011)
A pair of nesting eagles has been returning to the Hampstead area for years, and John Sutton finally spotted their nest past Hampstead. He sat in the bushes hiding in the brush, and was finally rewarded with the chance to document a bald eagle clutching food it was carrying back to its baby in the nest. This shot was taken at a distance of 500-600 feet, to not disturb the eagle.
Wild Bird & Garden has teamed up with guide company Mahanaim Adventures to offer kayaking and bird watching. Earlier tours have visited Eagle Island, Fort Fisher Basin, and Masonboro Island. These tours are great for kayakers of all skill levels. No kayaking experience required. Participants meet at Wild Bird & Garden at 7:30 a.m. for each tour. Participants are reminded to dress for the weather, pack water, snacks, and spare clothing! Tickets are $45 and pre-registration is required. Call (910)343-6001 for details.
www.goinggreenpublications.com
Great Egret in the Marsh • First Place Winner – Kids category (WB&G 2011)
Fifteen-year-old Katharine Frazier took this photo just as she was leaving Huntington Beach State Park, in South Carolina. The previous year Frazier was winner in the Kids category and was also awarded Viewers’ Choice.
photo by Katharine Frazier
photo by John Sutton
Joining a local environmental organization is a great way to meet people who share your interest in the environment. Groups can vary considerably in their focus: some are activist, others educational, others social. Check with the group to find out what type it is—most have a website, facebook presence, or a contact member happy to chat by phone. Use this listing of local environmental organizations to find activities you’ll enjoy while you make every day earth day. Visit our Web site for a more comprehensive list, which includes national resources as well: www.goinggreenpublications.com/tips.html
Airlie Gardens
Historic public garden providing cultural and environmental education. www.airliegardens.org
American Institute of Architects— Wilmington Section
Continuing education seminars to members as well as public outreach to educate the public. www.aianc.org
Audubon North Carolina— Cape Fear Audubon Society
To conserve and restore natural ecosystems within our region, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and North Carolina’s biological diversity. www.capefearaudubon.org
Bald Head Island Conservancy
Protects and preserves the natural environment of the Smith Island complex. Offers educational programs throughout the year weekly during the summer season to educate visitors about Bald Head Island’s unique environment.
www.bhic.org
Brunswick Beekeepers Association
Established chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Receive personal advice from beekeepers in the local community to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date on successful beekeeping methods.
www.ncbeekeepers.org/chapters.htm
Brunswick Community College
Offers Associate in Applied Science Degrees in horticulture and in aquaculture technology. BCC’s 2+2 agreement with UNCW enables BCC Aquaculture Technology students to transfer aquaculture coursework into UNCW’s B.S. Marine Biology program. www.brunswickcc.edu
Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Office
Information resource for residents of Brunswick County. brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu
Brunswick Electric Membership Cooperative
BEMC is North Carolina’s fastest growing electric cooperative with over 62,000 customers.
www.bemc.org
Cape Fear Arch Conservation Collaboration
A nonprofit partnership of organizations and individuals created in 2006 to realize a vision for the Cape Fear Arch region where man’s and nature’s needs are properly balanced. Their mission is to develop
and implement a community conservation vision to build awareness, protection and stewardship of the region’s important resources. www.capefeararch.org
Cape Fear Beginning Farmers Guild
Inspires and empowers beginning farmers through educational and technical support. Beginning and aspiring farmers are combining their talents and skills to grow a new generation of sustainable agrarians.
Cape Fear Citizens for a Safe Environment
Organized to fight the building of Hugo Neu landfill, now encouraging legislation to strengthen landfill regulations in North Carolina.
Cape Fear Cyclists
The information hub for Southeastern cyclists. www.capefearcyclists.org
Cape Fear Community College (CFCC)
Offers Architectural Technology and Sustainable Development Programs. www.cfcc.edu
Cape Fear Economic Development Council (CFEDC)
CFEDC is an all-volunteer endeavor promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as essential to successful local economic growth, regional competitiveness, and jobs and income generation. www.capefearedc.org
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance (CFGBA)
Promotes the construction of environmentally responsible, profitable, healthy places to live and work. www.cfgba.org
(continued on page 8)
With three flash units already set up around the feeder in his North Carolina backyard, Jerry Coons used high speed film to capture this hummingbird from his dining room as it approached. His set-up enabled him to “stop” the action of the hummingbird’s wings, which typically beat 60-80 beats per second.
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
Oldest museum in North Carolina tells stories of area history, science and cultures through exhibition and educational programs.
www.capefearmuseum.com
Cape Fear Regional Beekeepers Association
Regional chapter of the NC State Beekeepers Association. Advice from beekeepers in the local community. email: methods.gldeagle@bellsouth.net
Cape Fear Resource Conservation & Development
Cape Fear R&D works cooperatively with individuals and groups to improve social, economic and environmental conditions, thus enhancing the quality of life in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover and Pender Counties.
www.capefearrcd.org
Cape Fear River Watch
Environmental education, advocacy and action for the Lower Cape Fear River basin.
www.capefearriverwatch.org
Carolina Bird Club
Non-profit organization represents and supports the birding
Jeanne Oxenfeld photographed this green lynx spider at the Green Swamp in Supply, North Carolina. The spider was so well camouflaged she didn’t even notice it until she zoomed in on the blossom.
community in the Carolinas through its official website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships.
www.carolinabirdclub.org
Carolina Butterfly Society
Society emphasizes identifying and watching butterflies in the field rather than collecting them. They organize butterflying field trips to the various biogeographic regions of the Carolinas. They give advice on butterfly gardening, encourage photography and record-keeping, provide fact sheets for outdoor educators, sponsor gardening workshops, and collect data for conservation use. www.carolinabutterflysociety.org
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Promotes local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating and organizing farmers and consumers. Produces Carolina Guide to Local & Organic Food.
www.carolinafarmstewards.org
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
CEFS develops and promotes food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. CEFS is one of the nation’s largest centers for the study of environmentally sustainable farming practices.
www.cefs.ncsu.edu
City of Wilmington Stormwater Services
Maintains and improves the City’s stormwater drainage system for the protection of the community and the environment. Provides comprehensive stormwater management that takes into account both the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff. Stormwater education, outreach, and public involvement.
www.wilmingtonnc.gov
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) - Cape Fear Chapter
Buck • Honorable Mention Winner (WB&G 2011)
Sandra Fascher photographed this buck in Colorado near Estes Park, while on a field trip with another photographer.
CCA advises and educates the public on conservation of marine resources. It conserves, promotes and enhances the present and future availability of these coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.
www.ccanc.org
(continued on page 9)
Coastal Plain Conservation Group
CPCG provides property owners and managers in southeastern North Carolina with ecosytem research, conservation education, and habitat management, emphasizing: longleaf pine, pocossin, and bottomland hardwood swamp habitats. CPCG is working to prevent extinction of two critically rare species of freshwater snails endemic to North Carolina. www.facebook.
com/pages/Coastal-Plain-Conservation-Group/334620366558736
Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Conserves land to provide clean air, safe drinking water, fresh local foods, and parks and trails. Works with landowners, local land trusts, communities, and government agencies to save streams, forests, farms, parks, and scenic vistas. www.ctnc.org
Dogwood Alliance
Nonprofit works to educate people about the importance of forests and the negative environmental impacts of business-as-usual paper production. They now address protection for forestsin the South and all over the world.
www.dogwoodalliance.org
Earth Day Alliance
Organizers of the Lower Cape Fear Celebration of Earth Day. www.wilmingtonearthday.com
Electric Vehicle Automobile Association (EVAA) – Coastal Carolinas / Wilmington
Local chapter provides e-mails of current developments and legislation www.eaaev.org or e-mail: pagepaterson@mac.com
Environment North Carolina
Statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. Staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for North Carolina’s environment.
www.environmentnorthcarolina.org
Friends of Mountains to Sea Trail
The Mountains to Sea Trail (MST) of North Carolina is a 935+ mile trail consisting of footpaths, roads, and state bike routes. Friends of MST’s efforts are underway to one day complete a foot trail across the state, from the Mountains to the Sea. www.ncmst.org
A locally created website to provide information about Titan America’s plans to build the 4th largest cement plant in the nation, along the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River, just outside of Wilmington, NC. Friends of the Lower Cape Fear opposes this proposed cement plant because of the environmental impacts it will have. See also Stop Titan Action Network, below. www.StopTitan.org
Full Belly Project
Non-profit organzation dedicated to empowering people in rural communities.
www.fullbellyproject.org
Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
For 41 years the Historic Wilmington Foundation has worked to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of the Lower Cape Fear region. The HWF is a resource for advice on historical renovations and repairs and provides rehabilitation product advice and technical assistance, as well as tax credit information and assistance. www.historicwilmington.org
Ingram Planetarium
State-of-the-art facility in Sunset Beach seats 85 people in its 40-ft dome theater. Mission is to stimulate the general public’s interest and understanding of natural science, environment, and cultural history of the coastal Carolinas as well as a broader understanding of our Earth, solar system, and universe. They do this by providing quality educational facilities for the public and school students through activities and exhibits. www.museumplanetarium.org
Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Dedicated to rescuing sea turtles and educating the public about them. Founder and Director Jean Beasley is Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year. www.seaturtlehospital.org
Keep America Beautiful of New Hanover County
This is a local non-profit that seeks to prevent litter, encourage waste reduction methods such as recycling, and promote community beautification projects. Their efforts include education and outreach, litter cleanups, and tree and flower plantings.
http://keepnhcbeautiful.org
(continued on page 10)
The Coalition honors development projects that demonstrate outstanding environmental stewardship through the protection, conservation, improvement, and awareness of our natural resources. www.stewardshipdev.com
Moms Rising– Wilmington
New local chapter of the national grassroots MomsRising organization. Issues of concern include access to healthy food and eliminating toxins. www.facebook.com/MomsRising.org
Mothers United
Formed in Wilmington, NC to defend children’s health by ensuring they have a healthful environment in which to grow and flourish. Events and monthly “Moms’ Night Out” meetings for mothers to strategize how the group can protect children’s health in New Hanover County. www.facebook.com/ MothersUnitedWilmingtonNC
Michelle Frazier had long tried to photograph this barn swallow. Her success came only after she watched him long enough to learn his flight patterns and anticipate the timing of his movements, including the moment he would light on the Wilmington riverwalk.
The museum’s mission is to stimulate interest and understanding of the natural science, environment, and cultural history of the Coastal Carolinas.
www.museumplanetarium.org
The Nature Conservancy
Three decades of conservation in North Carolina have led to 700,000 acres protected.
www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/northcarolina
New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Office
Information resource for residents of New Hanover County.
The River to the Sea Bikeway (WMPO Bicycle Route 1) is an 11-mile, on- and off-road bicycle route that follows the Historic Beach Car Line, which carried vacationers from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach by trolley. The bikeway comprises neighborhood residential streets, off-road multi-use paths, and a few busy arterial roadways.
newhanover.ces.ncsu.edu
NC Beautiful
Since 1967, NC Beautiful has helped preserve the physical beauty of North Carolina by providing environmental education and beautification opportunities that elevate the quality of life of North Carolinians. NC Beautiful is committed to fostering environmental stewardship through education and outreach to perpetuate the natural beauty of North Carolina. http://ncbeautiful.org/
NC GreenPower
It begins at the foot of Market Street at the Riverwalk, within sight of the Battleship USS North Carolina. The bikeway then traverses the Old Wilmington, Bottom and Forest Hills neighborhoods before crossing Independence Boulevard and passing by Empie Park. From Empie Park to South Kerr Avenue, the bikeway follows Park Avenue, a quiet local street that passes by Audubon Station.
Winter Park area on Pine Grove and McMillan Avenue, before up with Park Avenue again. Between Wallace Avenue and 52nd Street, bikeway utilizes an off-road spur to the University of North at Wilmington (WMPO Bicycle 1A) via Wooddale Drive. Between Street and Hinton Avenue, the follows on-road bicycle lanes Avenue. Beyond Greenville Avenue, ride is much more uncomfortable recreational cyclists. Oleander Wrightsville Avenue are busy roadways with few bicycle facilities high-speed traffic, and there eral bridges to cross. This section recommended for recreational
Independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy. First statewide green energy program in the nation supported by all the state’s utilities.
www.ncgreenpower.org
After merging with South Kerr Avenue and crossing South College Road, the bikeway passes through the
NC HealthyBuilt Homes program
The NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program provides a certificate for homes meeting “green home guidelines” built by residential builders who practice sustainable, high performance building strategies. www.healthybuilthomes.org
Ann Street Bicycle Boulevard Grand Opening Celebration
NC Native Plant Society – Southeast Coast Chapter Promotes enjoyment and conservation of native plants and their habitats through education, protection, and propagation. e-mail: lara@ncwildflower.org
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Celebrate the opening of the fi rst bicycle boulevard in North Carolina with Mayor Bill Saffo on April 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center on So. 8th Street.
To reach the downtown trailhead, follow U.S. Highway ward Wilmington; take the Wilmington DOWNTOWN exit. Proceed south North 3rd Street. Take a right Street and follow west to Riverfront Parking is available on-street city of Wilmington parking deck at Market Street and North 2nd The bikeway begins at the foot Street at Water Street. Follow Route 1 signs.
River to the Sea Ride
WRC is dedicated to the wise-use, conservation and management of the state’s fish and wildlife resources. www.ncwildlife.org
Take part of a free group bicycle ride from downtown Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach and back on May 1 at 8:30 a.m., starting at the foot of Market Street in downtown Wilmington.
(continued on page 11)
To reach the Empie Park follow U.S. Highway 76 to Independence Boulevard northbound. Take Park Avenue and an immediate the park driveway. The bikeway Avenue. Follow the bicycle Route
340 Goodman Road, Leland 910-253-5964
Year-Round • M-Sat 8-5
web page: LocalHarvest.org
North Carolina Aquariums
Inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. The North Carolina Aquariums operate three facilities located on Roanoke Island, at Pine Knoll Shores, and at Fort Fisher.
www.ncaquariums.com
North Carolina Coastal Federation
NCCF is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to involving citizens in decisions about managing coastal resources. It provides citizens and groups with technical information and assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.
www.nccoast.org
North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Non-profit organization formed to help protect locally and regionally valuable natural areas and waters.
www.coastallandtrust.org
North Carolina Conservation Network
Network of organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health. “Action Center” gives suggestions on making your voice heard on environmental issues. Their “Legislator Look-up” lists Federal and North Carolina elected officials, complete with email addresses.
www.ncconservationnetwork.org
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina Cooperative Extension is based at North Carolina’s two land-grant institutions, NC State University and NC A&T State
University, with representatives in all 100 counties and on the Cherokee Reservation.
www.ces.ncsu.edu
North Carolina Office of Environmental Education
The Office of Environmental Education serves as a clearinghouse linking people to Environmental Education (EE) materials, facilities, programs and professionals across the state. Their staff serves all North Carolinians whether in the field of education, business, government, non-profit, or members of the general public.
www.eenorthcarolina.org
North Carolina Shell Club
Dedicated to providing a friendly and enthusiastic organization where people of all levels of expertise, can meet and share knowledge and information about the fascinating world of shells.
www.ncshellclub.com
North Carolina Sierra Club – Cape Fear Chapter
The Sierra Club works to pass groundbreaking environmental legislation from local to national levels.
nc.sierraclub.org/capefear/index.html
North Carolina Solar Center Clearinghouse for solar and other renewable energy programs, information, research, technical assistance and training, for citizens of North Carolina and beyond.
www.ncsc.ncsu.edu
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA)
NCSEA is a non-profit membership organization of individuals and businesses interested in sustainable energy. It works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in North Carolina through education, public policy and economic development.
http://www.energync.org
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Engages students in universities, colleges and community colleges to learn and apply the lessons of sustainable design and construction. Each year statewide winners see their design built as part of the grand prize. http://ncsc.ncsu.edu/index.php/technology/high-perf-building/nc-sustainable-building-design-competition/
Pender County Cooperative Extension Office
Pender County Center gives the county’s residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension agents deliver unbiased, research-based information to Pender County citizens. They can answer questions on a wide array of topics.
pender.ces.ncsu.edu
Penderwatch & Conservancy
Advocates for the environment in Pender County. www.penderwatch.org
Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project works within federal and state guidelines to ensure the preservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles. Project volunteers patrol Kure Beach and Carolina Beach during nesting season (May 1 through August 31) to help protect all sea turtle species. www.seaturtleproject.org
Save the Cape’s mission is to protect the Lower Cape Fear Region from reckless development, starting with blocking development of the North Carolina International Terminal (NCIT) proposed for Southport. www.facebook.com/SaveTheCape
Located in Oak Island, North Carolina, the shelter cares for injured and orphaned wild birds. Once an animal is able to care for itself, it is released to the wild. http://seabiscuitshelter.blogspot.com/
The Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems (SENCFS) Project is a partnership of public and private institutions and agencies among counties along and adjoining the I-74 corridor east of I-95. SENCFS includes both rural and urban counties in order to maximize market opportunities and profits from the sales of local farm products for both local and regional markets.
www.feastsoutheastnc.org
A nonprofit, volunteer-based organization committed to the rescue of injured and orphaned wild birds in and around Wilmington, NC.
www.skywatchbirdrescue.com
The EV Challenge expanded its focus to include not only electric but additional alternative transportation fuels and technologies. The program is now called the SMARTT Challenge. (Students Making Advancements in Renewable Transportation Technology.)”
http://thsev.blogspot.com/
Locally created website to provide information about Titan America’s plans to build the 4th largest cement plant in the nation, along the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear River, just outside of Wilmington, NC. Stop Titan Action Network (STAN) opposes this proposed cement plant because of the environmental impacts it will have.
www.stoptitan.org
Surfrider Foundation – Cape Fear Chapter
Holds our elected officials responsible for the preservation of our natural resources and continued smart, well planned growth of our city.
www.surfrider.org/capefear
Tidal Creek Co-op
Natural foods cooperative business.
www.tidalcreek.coop
Toxic Free NC
Members believe toxic pesticides are over-used in North Carolina and around the world, polluting food, water and our bodies. Fights pesticide pollution in North Carolina by advocating for common-sense alternatives.
www.toxicfreenc.org
UNCW ECO
Main environmental group at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington, comprising energetic and friendly allies of the environment.
www.facebook.com/groups/UNCWECO
University of North Carolina—Wilmington (UNCW)
Environmental degree programs, extensive environmental course offerings.
www.uncw.edu/evs
Wilmington–Cape Fear Home Builders Association
The largest trade association in eastern North Carolina, WCFHBA serves as the voice of the building and development industries in New Hanover and Pender Counties. It represents more than 1,025 memberfirms, employing 9,000 individuals.
www.wilmingtonhomebuilders.com
Wilmington Vegan
Support group on Facebook where vegans can share information about food and plan local get-togethers. Join online at or email wilmingtonvegan@gmail.com to have your email address added to the contact list.
www.facebook.com/#!/groups/wilmingtonvegan/
The Cape Fear is North Carolina’s largest river basin and nearly one third of the state’s population lives with in our watershed. Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW) was founded in 1993 to protect and improve the water quality of the Lower Cape Fear River Basin through education, advocacy and action. Its biggest fundraiser of the year is its annual catch-and-release Striper Tournament. The event raises money for education and advocacy efforts, and the tournament itself raises awareness of the value of maintaining a healthy fish population in our river. In this tournament some of the region’s top guides and anglers partner with fisheries biologists to catch and tag striped bass with sonic tags that allow scientists to learn more about the health, movement, and spawning patterns of anadramous fish in the Cape Fear River. (Anadramous fish like striped bass live in salt water but travel upstream to spawn in fresh water, if there are no barriers to doing so.)
With the help of Division of Marine Fisheries Biologist Chip Collier, 11 sonic tags were inserted into striped bass. (As of StriperFest 2013 there were 40 such tags in place; an upcoming issue of Going Green will discuss what we can learn from tracking fish movement with these tags.)
Saturday, May 4 10a.m. – 2 p.m
Cape Fear River Watch has planned lots of family-friendly activities for LakeFest this year. There will be guided nature walks ($3 per person or $5 per family) and paddle boat, canoe, and kayak rentals for $10/hour or $5/hour!
Numerous free activities including: Live Animals (turtles, alligators & snakes), face painting, fish identification, casting clinics, arts & crafts, leaf printing, bird identification, Greenfield Lake history and more! (910) 762-5606.
New in 2012: long-time CFRW supporter Art Brownell sponsored one slot in the tournament, for the student who would write the best essay explaining why it’s important to promote a strong and healthy Cape Fear River fishery. This allowed a young angler to go out with
the professional guides to learn first-hand about measuring and tagging fish as a means of learning how to restore their natural environment. The winning essay for StriperFest 2012 was written by Thomas Guinn. His essay appears below, in its entirety.
Thousands of years ago, when nomadic peoples first began settling down in sedentary societies, many of these societies lived along rivers. In fact, Mesopotamia, one of the first known civilizations, was built along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers because it allowed people to have source of fresh water to irrigate their crops. The rivers were crucial to the survival of the people. They provided fish as a source of food, water for drinking and agriculture, and a quick and efficient means of transportation. Great empires were built along rivers and just as quickly the same empires collapsed if the environment was altered. Soil erosion and poor irrigation practices contributed to the fall of the Sumerian empire. Though times have changed, the Cape Fear River is no less crucial to the survival of the cities and towns that border it today. Like rivers in societies of old, the Cape Fear River provides food, water, and jobs to the areas that border it. If the fishery declines so will other businesses that rely on it, and in turn the overall revenue and beauty of the area will decline. That is why a healthy Cape Fear River is crucial to the entire area.
However, the Cape Fear River is at risk due to a sharp decrease in the fishery. Fisheries on the Cape Fear River have dramatically decreased since the construction of lock and dam systems that block access to some fishes’ traditional spawning grounds. In the early twentieth century, many locks and dams were constructed
photo courtesy Cape Fear River Watch Thomas Guinn’s essay explaining the importance of restoring and maintaining a healthy Cape Fear River fishery garnered him a tournament slot in the 2012 StriperFest Tournament.
along the Cape Fear River. The locks and dams inadvertently blocked the migratory habits of fish such as striped bass, shad, and short-nosed sturgeon. As a result, the Cape Fear River fishery has decreased by 90% since 1915. The only way to restore the fisheries to what they once were is to help fish migrate to their desired spawning grounds.
However, the solution is not as simple as tearing down the dams that block the fishes’ migratory paths. The dams in the area benefit humans—they hold fresh drinking water for many communities—so
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they cannot be torn down on any time soon. One good solution to this problem is to construct rock ramps. Rock ramps are essentially steps that fish would use to get over the dam. The ramps are pools of water that fish can jump in and out of until they have crossed the dam. Rock ramps will allow fish to travel over dams to their traditional spawning grounds without disrupting the water contained by dams. If the construction of rock ramps proves to be successful and the fish population can be restored, it will have vast economic benefits to the fishing industry, including more “green” jobs and less heavy industry.
Here’s how: If the populations of striped bass, shad, and herring were restored it is estimated that the fisheries would have an income of five million dollars per year (US Fish and Wildlife Service). However, the money going directly to the fisheries would not be the only benefit of an increased fish population. If the region were to put money and effort into restoring the fishery, that in itself would help create jobs in the area. The increased number of fish would also lead to more fishing jobs along the river. If the Cape Fear River begins to produce more and more jobs, then the appeal of heavy duty industry being built along the river will diminish. Heavy industry always has the potential to damage many natural aspects of the area. The fishery, if regulated and kept healthy, could provide jobs for centuries to come,
and could generate many new kinds of jobs relating not only to the tourism we already enjoy, but to new kinds of agritourism and eco-tourism.
However, if the Cape Fear River fishery continues to decline, so will the income and livability of the entire area. If the river does not continue to provide income and job opportunities for people in the areas that border it, the river will likely become used for more industrial purposes. As the river becomes polluted, so will every town that depends on it. A polluted Cape Fear River will greatly damage tourism at areas such as Bald Head Island, Southport, and Wilmington. One of the main ways that the Cape Fear Region generates jobs is through tourism. Tourists typically come to the area for its clean rivers, great beaches, and stunning wildlife. They also eat, shop, fish, and rent hotel rooms and beach houses. If the river fails, who will want to vacation in a polluted industrial area?
The single most important reason in my mind for restoring the Cape Fear River is in order to allow great memories to be created there. I have been fishing my
entire life and I can truly say that some of my best memories come from early mornings spent out on the river fishing with my mother and father. For nearly ten years now I have fished on the Cape Fear and have caught, photographed, and released flounder, blues, spanish mackerel, gar, and many other species of fish. I want to continue making new memories out on the river and I am sure that this can happen if an effort is made to restore the fishery. But I do fear that if action on this matter is not taken soon, then my children may not be able to have similar memories of fishing out on the river. While jobs and money can always be created quickly by new heavy industry, the memories, joy, and the safe and healthy waterway of the Cape Fear River are nearly impossible to regain once they’re gone. That is why it is crucial that everyone who loves and cares about the Cape Fear River must act now and work to promote a strong and healthy Cape Fear River fishery.
Thomas Guinn wrote this essay while a junior at Eugene Ashley High School. He will attend Davidson College in the fall of 2013.
photo courtesy of Cape Fear River Watch
Captain Jot Owens (center) holds up a striped bass he caught late in the day. The team on his boat (from left, Curry Guinn, Owens, Thomas Guinn) had only caught one fish leading up to the final hour of fishing before they found this spot and landed three consecutive fish to end the day. “Overall it was a great day that ended on a great note,” concluded junior angler Thomas Guinn.
Data provided by the sonic tags in now 40 fish will yield information on where these striped bass are spending their time. Tracking their movements will tell whether they are succeeding in getting over the fish ladder designed to help them continue upstream at Lock and Dam #1 in order to spawn.
My earliest outdoor explorations were adventures with my father, who taught me the practice of turning logs and rocks in search of salamanders, beetles and other fun beings. I learned early on that logs and rocks served as rooftop shelters for the animals I sought, so I have always taken care to return objects to their original position.
Looking back on my lifelong habit, I realize I am responsible for disrupting many a slumbering animal, and probably damaging some very sensitive habitats that exist only in those dark, damp places. Logs, rocks, and other protective cover, including mulch beds, are homes for myriad forms of life. Any time you lift the roof off somebody’s home, you place that being in harm’s way. When you explore life under a log, take care to look gently, and replace the log to its original place. If something is under there, move it out of the way, replace the log and then place the animal next to the log so that it can find its way back under on its own.
My first hard lesson in the importance of returning objects to their rightful position came after I had systematically lifted every flagstone in our neighbor’s walkway, which was known to harbor a snake I wanted to find. While my parents accepted off-kilter flagstones in our own walk as a price of childhood curiosity, our neighbor, Mr. Cochran, did not share this acceptance.
I was maybe five years old, and lifting the heavy stones up and over was about all I could muster. I recall finding the snake, a large black rat snake that I decided was too big for me to mess with. Needing help, I went to the Cochrans’ door for assistance. The details of what happened after that are blurry, but I imagine the scene that greeted Mr. Cochran was one of total disarray. I never again turned flagstones on anyone else’s property but our own.
The Connecticut woods around my childhood home contained a mix of deciduous trees, including white birch and various oaks. The forest floor was carpeted in a thick layer of leaf litter and mulch, and dotted about were logs in various stages of decomposition that provided me with endless opportunities to look for red-back salamanders, earwigs and other fun stuff. Our woods also contained great stone walls composed of rocks and boulders pulled from long-abandoned fields. These stone walls, a century old and more, served as travel corridors for chipmunks, and hideouts for toads.
I knew early on that I was not supposed to play on the walls, probably being told a rock might tumble on me, or the poison ivy would make me itch, but I wasn’t clear about taking the walls apart in search of garter snakes. That is, until I was discovered doing just that.
Looking back on it, I really should feel guilty at some of the things I did as a young nature explorer. I made a mess of Mr. Cochran’s walkway, and I probably all but destroyed our own. Not satisfied with those exploits, I single-handedly disassembled
stone walls that today might be considered historic structures. Then there are the many puddles, ponds, streams, and ditches that I have muddied with dip nets and jars.
My early explorations may have been harsh for some of the plants and animals I was investigating, and I regret collateral harm to the objects of my curiosity. No doubt my actions resulted in injury and loss of life to more than a few insects, spiders, and I shudder to think, my beloved salamanders and their kin. But had I as a child, stoically refused to explore nature for fear of causing unintended consequences, I might not now so deeply appreciate the smaller things in nature; the less glamorous plants and animals that make up the pyramid of life we are inextricably connected with, and wholly dependent upon.
The health of an ecosystem is measured, not so much by the largest predator in the woods, but by the littler things that make its life possible. The robin is beholden to the worm, just as the bass is beholden to the minnow. Only with understanding of worms and minnows can we more fully understand the robin and bass. Now, go outside and explore.
Andy Wood is director of Coastal Plain Conservation Group and is author of Backyard Carolina, a compilation of his nature commentaries on WHQR. Proceeds from the book support his work to protect two critically endangered species of freshwater snails, both endemic to southeast North Carolina. His commentaries can be heard every other Monday on WHQR 91.3FM.
The Cape Fear’s Going Green Environmental Book Club is starting its third year. The club was founded in April 2011 to encourage discussion of environmental topics, and meets the first Tuesday of the month at Old Books on Front Street. Members come early for informal conversation, then staff wheel bookshelves away to create seating space and the real discussion begins. Organizers say pairing the local environmental magazine with repurposed books is a natural combination.
“We love having the Environmental Book Club here,” says bookstore owner Gwenyfar Rohler. “It’s completely in line with our values; we are about recycling, sustainability, local support, conservation, and, above all, community involvement.”
Going Green publisher Valerie Robertson agrees. “Bookstores are great meeting places. And at Old Books on Front Street they like to host literary events of all sorts, and have been good supporters of Going Green since day one. Best of all, their advertising tag line is: ‘Save trees. Buy used books.’ How perfect is that for an environmental reading group?”
Robertson attends numerous lectures and meetings in the course of a week, but finds the networking sessions they offer too rushed. “I thought it would be fun to host a forum that would encourage more in-depth conversation among environmentally-minded people.”
“So far we’ve read Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gift from the Sea, Amory Lovins’ Reinventing Fire, and Michael Pollan’s The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World.” For April the group honored spring by discussing Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards by Sara Stein. Coming up in May: Soaring with Fidel, by local author David Gessner.
Longtime member Bill Brown, coowner of Angela’s Pepper-Pickled Foods,
agrees that the group dynamic is what draws him each month. “I can easily enough read piles of environmental books on my own, but I find that discussion with the rest of the members informs and broadens my understanding in ways I just cannot accomplish by myself.”
Robertson stresses there is no age requirement for membership. “If they’re able to read the book—or have it read to them—and participate in the discussion, they are welcome. I’d like to see everyone from high school students to folks like me, old enough to remember the first Earth Day.”
The Going Green Environmental Book Club next meets at 6 p.m., May 14, at Old Books on Front Street, 249 N. Front Street, Wilmington, NC. (910) 762-6657. New members and one-time guests are always welcome. (The group’s May meeting date was moved to the second Tuesday of the month to avoid scheduling conflicts.)
A list of titles for upcoming months appears on the calendar page of website www.goinggreenpublications.com and on the Cape Fear’s Going Green FaceBook page. It’s also posted inside the entrance of Old Books on Front Street, which offers a 15% discount on book club selections. See also page 17 of this issue for a list of 2013 book titles.
You’ll think of a tropical vacation when you wear these diffuser pendants
Cape Fear Audubon and the Friends of the New Hanover County Public Library will co-sponsor a presentation by co-author Rhett Johnson on his recently-published book Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See: A New Vision of North America’s Richest Forest. The event will be at 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 10 at the Northeast Branch Library on Military Cutoff Road in Wilmington. The event is free and open to the public.
Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. The longleaf pine was the “alpha tree” of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and has come to define the southern forest. Examples of this forest type in and around Wilmington can be found at Halyburton Park, Carolina Beach State Park and Holly Shelter Game Lands in Pender County. There are several “descendants” of the old growth longleaf pines in the Wilmington communities of Forest Hills and Longleaf Acres. Cape Fear Museum’s exhibit Land of the Longleaf Pine tells the inside story of the tree’s importance to our local history.
Rhett Johnson is cofounder and past-president of the Longleaf Alliance. He has a wildlife biology degree from NC State and a Masters in Forest Management from Clemson University.
The book is published by the University of North Carolina Press. Pomegranate Books will sell copies before and after the presentation.
Come join us 6–8pm at Old Books on Front Street
249 No. Front Street • Wilmington
2013 Book Titles
February 5:
The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World (2002) by Michael Pollan
March 5:
Hope Beneath Our Feet: Restoring our Place in the Natural World (2010) anthology edited by Martin Keogh
April 2:
Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of our Own Backyards (1993) by Sara B. Stein
May 14: (2nd Tuesday of the month)
Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond (2007) by David Gessner
June 4:
Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy (2008) by Lyle Estill
July 2:
Moral Ground: Ethical Action for a Planet in Peril (2011)
anthology by Kathleen Dean Moore & Michael P. Nelson
August 6:
Unbowed: A Memoir (2006) by Wangari Maathai
September 3:
When Women Were Birds (2012) by Terry Tempest Williams
October 1: The Future of Life (2003) by E. O. Wilson
November 5: (Election Day - date may change)
Ecotone: The Environmental Issue (Vol 4, Iss. 1&2) UNCW
December 3:
NPR’s award-winning TV and radio journalist Ira Flatow is coming to the Hilton Riverside Grand Ballroom to speak at WHQR’s Fundraiser Luncheon on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.
Ira Flatow is the host of Science Friday, a weekly call-in radio program that connects listeners with scientists for informative discussions about science, technology, health, medicine, space, and the environment.
On television, Flatow was host and writer for the Emmy award-winning Newton’s Apple on PBS and has been a science reporter for CBS and CNBC. In his 35-year career, Flatow has talked science on the Today Show, Charlie Rose, Merv Griffin and Oprah.
Flatow has also written numerous books and received many awards including the National Science Board Public
June 15
is the deadline for our Summer 2013 issue Send
call (910)547-4390
Service Award (2005), AAAS Journalism Award (2000), the Carl Sagan Award (1999), and the Nierenberg Prize for Science in the Public Interest (2010). Most recently, he was named as the winner of the 2012 Isaac Asimov Science Award.
Flatow’s topic at the luncheon will be “Talking Science In A Science Challenged Society: How Science Friday and Public Radio are uniquely paired to meet the challenges of a more informed public.” Guests will also be invited to ask questions during the Question & Answer session.
Reservations are required and space is limited. Guests are each asked to make a donation of $100 or more to WHQR by check or credit card at the event. Hilton Riverside is located at 301 No. Water Street in downtown Wilmington, NC.
More information can be seen at http://whqr.org/whqr-table-host luncheon-featuring-nprs-ira-flatow.
If you would like to attend this fundraiser, please contact Mary Bradley for all of the details, at mary@whqr.org or by phoning (910) 343-1640.
Science Friday airs on WHQR 91.3FM every Friday from 2–3 p.m. It can also be heard online at www.whqr.org.
The receiver sits atop a slender column, 40 stories above the desert floor. It glows like a giant, white-hot torch in the clear blue sky as it gathers limitless free energy from outer space. The energy is converted first into heat, and then into electricity which is transmitted hundreds of miles across the earth—almost at the speed of light.
At the base of the column a small team of earthlings performs low-cost, routine maintenance tasks. Occasionally they look up at the receiver and marvel at its simplicity, its efficiency, its beauty. They chat about how it will render obsolete polluting, fuel-based electricity production from coal, gas and uranium.
This could be a scene from a futuristic science fiction movie, but it’s not. It’s a description of Gemasolar, the world’s first commercial concentrated solar-power (CSP) plant with a central tower receiver and a molten-salt thermal storage system, completed and brought online in 2011.
Located in southern Spain’s “sun belt,” the Gemasolar plant generates 19.9 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 25,000 homes. But that’s not the big news, since other solar-power plants have similar capacities. What makes Gemasolar a game changer is that it continues to produce a steady stream of electricity after the sun
Ecotecture is pleased to announce that our editor, Philip S. Wenz, was invited to participate in the 2012 U.S. Biochar Conference as a journalist and a preconference publicist. The Conference, sponsored by the Sonoma Biochar Initiative, was held from July 29 through August 1, on the campus of Sonoma State University, located one hour north of San Francisco in California’s wine country.
The 2012 U.S. Biochar Conference emphasized practical applications of this rapidly emerging technology.
See Wenz’s column on biochar in Vol. 4, Issue 2 of Cape Fear’s Going Green.
goes down—and until the sun comes up the next morning, reenergizing the system.
Here’s how it works. Gemasolar’s central tower is surrounded by a circular array of 2,650 “heliostats” (mirrors) that focus the sun’s rays on the receiver. Pipes inside the receiver are filled with common salts that melt in the intense, 900-degree heat. The molten salts are circulated through a heat exchanger, where some of the heat is used to boil water which in turn drives a steam turbine that generates electricity. The salts, in a closed loop, are then returned to the tower for reheating.
But more salt is heated than is needed to drive the steam turbine, and the excess hot salt is stored in tanks and used to generate steam for up to 15 hours after the sun wanes and sets.
That’s a game changer because the big drawback of solar electricity has been its inability to provide “baseload” power, keeping up with demand as the sun begins to set and people return home from work and turn on their air conditioners and TVs and cook dinner. That’s when conventional power, mostly provided by coal-fired or nuclear power plants, comes on—and stays on until the next day.
But with Gemasol leading the way, reliable baseload CSP plants are beginning to crop up all over: in the American Southwest, Israel and, most important from a worldwide energy perspective, in Morocco and Tunisia.
Enter Desertec, the non-profit foundation working toward developing “power tower” CSP plants in the world’s desert latitudes, and transmitting the electricity wherever it’s needed.
The brainchild of a German nuclear engineer who, after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, decided that we must find a clean source of energy, Desertec has assembled an international consortium of investors and developers using three selling points: (1) CSP with molten-salt storage works, (2) enough sunlight strikes the world’s deserts in six hours to power human civilization for one year, and (3)
high-tension power lines can transmit electricity more than 1500 miles with minimal power loss.
Based on studies by the German Aerospace Center—and backed by investments from heavy hitters such as Deutsche Bank and Siemens and the governments of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia—Desertec’s pilot project involves building CSP plants in North Africa. The electricity will energize the host countries and transmit a portion of the power to Europe, where it will enter a developing European super-smartgrid providing baseload backup for local wind and solar installations.
One plant is already under construction in Morocco and, in 2014, a larger plant that will produce as much electricity as two average-sized nuclear power plants will be built in Tunisia. Among the byproducts of the development: creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and cutting million of tons of CO2 emissions.
CSP is already coming to America and, who knows? The day may soon come when you can turn on the lights without causing global warming at your ecological house.
© Philip S. Wenz, 2013
This article is one in a series on global warming solutions. Read more of the series at http://www.ecotecture. com/global-warming-solutions/
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 and divides his time between various writing projects and retrofitting his older home to be more environmentally friendly. He may be reached by email through his Web site at www.your-ecological-house.com.
OCEAN - The N.C. Coastal Federation will mark Earth Day on April 22, 2013 by beginning its year-long native plant sale.
Instead of having a two-day festival like it’s had in the past, the federation will sell plants throughout the year at its headquarters at 3609 N.C. 24 in Newport (Carteret County), about halfway between Morehead City and Swansboro. Plants will be on sale during the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting on Monday. During the first week, federation members will receive a 10 percent discount on plant purchases. Memberships can be obtained at the sale or by visiting the group’s website, www. nccoast.org. The non-profit group will also sell plants on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’ll be offering the most popular native plants during this time,” said Rose Rundell, the plant sale coordinator. “These plants are sometimes hard to find so while the sale is a fundraiser for the federation;
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.
it’s also providing a great service to people who want to improve their landscaping.”
Native plants provide a beautiful, hardy, drought-resistant, low-maintenance garden that benefits the environment. Coastal natives have adapted to the geography, hydrology and climate of the region and will thrive with less care. Native plants also provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species such as songbirds and butterflies, turning your yard into a haven for animals. Once established, they save time and money by eliminating or significantly reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides and water.
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.
Native plants that will be offered during the sale include: American beautyberry, bald cypress, black-eyed susan, eastern purple coneflower, eastern sweetshrub, highbush blueberry, little blue stem, live oak, purple muhly, red bay, sea ox-eye, sweet bay, Virginia iris, water tupelo, wax myrtle, yaupon holly.
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.
Plant information and care instructions will be available for each plant sold.
Rundell suggests that people call before coming to the sale if they are looking for a specific plant. If the federation doesn’t have it, she may be able to order plants for customers. Rundell can be reached by telephone at (252) 393-8185 or by email at roser@nccoast.org.
General registration is now open. The complete list of workshop topics and dates is posted below:
The is a non-profi the mission building CFGBA through industry public. second informational and open
May 12 – Building Science/ House Characterization
Learn more about the activities of the N.C. Coastal Federation at their website: www.nccoast.org.Lorperae sequis at. Duisim am do
local resources
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Cape Fear Citizens for a Safe Environment
ty to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date on successful beekeeping.
email: methods.gldeagle@bellsouth.net
Cape Fear River Watch
Dogwood Alliance
Organized to fight the building of Hugo Neu landfill, now encouraging legislation to strengthen landfill regulations in North Carolina.
Environmental education, advocacy and action for the Lower Cape Fear River basin. www.cfrw.us
Nonprofit works to educate people about the importance of forests and the negative environmental impacts of business-as-usual paper production. Having achieved systemic change throughout the paper industry through public campaigns against offi
www.stopthedump.com
Cape Fear Climate Action Network
A local citizen network providing support, advocacy, and recognition for climate action initiatives in the Cape Fear region. www.capefearcan.com
Cape Fear Cyclists
After more than five years of operation, the owners of Sapona Green Building Center have announced they will be closing the store in May 2013. Dedicated to promoting cleaner buildings for a greener tomorrow, Sapona was the first area store dedicated to providing green, sustainable, non-toxic building materials to the region.
The information hub for Southeastern cyclists! www.capefearcyclists.org
Cape Fear Community College (CFCC)
Architectural technology curriculum. www.cfcc.edu/programs/at
Cape Fear Economic Development Council (CFEDC)
Elaine Logothetis Jack, who owns the store with her husband Matt Jack, became known for efforts to educate the community about alternatives to traditional building materials. She hopes to continue working for sustainability, possibly continuing in the field of sustainable building products. Sapona is located at 716 So. 17th Street, Wilmington. (See ad on this page.) Displays and inventory will be for sale.
CFEDC is an all-volunteer endeavor promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as essential to successful local economic growth, regional competitiveness, and jobs and income generation.
www.capefearedc.org
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance (CFGBA)
Promotes the construction of environmentally responsible, profitable, healthy places to live and work.
www.cfgba.org
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
Oldest museum in North Carolina tells stories of the region’s history, science and cultures through exhibition and educational programs. www.capefearmuseum.com
Cape Fear Regional Beekeepers Association
On January 26, 2012 the City of Wilmington joined with the Historic Preservation Commission, Residents of Old Wilmington (ROW), Wilmington Tree Commission, and the Bellamy Mansion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Historic Preservation Commission. The anniversary was marked by planting 50 live oak trees along historic 5th Avenue. The trees were purchased by ROW and were planted by city staff.
Newly-formed chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association. Receive personal advice from beekeepers in the local communi-
Representatives from community organizations, churches and local officials were on hand for the plantings. The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a reception at the Bellamy Mansion following the event.
In concert with other local preservation organizations, HPC held a year-long celebration with a series of events including competitions, exhibits, tours and presentations. Created in June 1962, the HPC is appointed by City Council to “protect, conserve and safeguard the character and heritage of the city.”
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s mission is to promote local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating and organizing farmers and consumers. Produces Carolina Guide to Local & Organic Food. www.carolinafarmstewards.org
largest retail paper sellers in the U.S.--they are now addressing protection for Southern forests and forests all over the world.
www.dogwoodalliance.org
Earth Day Alliance
Organizers of the Lower Cape Fear Celebration of Earth Day.
www.wilmingtonearthday.com
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Coastal Plain Conservation Nursery has changed its name to Wetland Plants, Inc. They sell native plants to businesses, government entities and nonprofit organizations.
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) develops and promotes food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. CEFS is one of the nation’s largest centers for the study of environmentally sustainable farming practices.
Electric Vehicle Automobile Association (EVAA) – Coastal Carolinas / Wilmington
Local chapter provides e-mail of current developments and legislation
www.eaaev.org or e-mail: pagepaterson@mac. com
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www.cefs.ncsu.edu
City of Wilmington Stormwater Services
The nursery specializes in plants that can be used to manage stormwater, clean up pollution, and stabilize shorelines. Wetland Plants Inc. propagates wild-type native wetland plants for projects in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Maintains and improves the City’s stormwater drainage system for the protection of the community and the environment. Provides comprehensive stormwater management that takes into account both the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff. Stormwater education, outreach, and public involvement are important components of this mission.
Learn more on their new website at www.wetlandplantsinc.com—you may experience some delays as they restore the technical guidance provided by their former site—or call (252) 482-5707.
www.wilmingtonnc.gov
Harvesting Rain Water can help you:
• Save money and energy
• Preserve precious resources
• Meet your sustainability goals
Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)–Cape Fear Chapter
Call or visit us today to find out what Rain Water Harvesting can do for you: www.CFGreenSolutions.com
910.763.1630
The purpose of Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. The objective of CCA is to conserve, promote and enhance the present and future availability of these coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.
www.capefearcca.com
The monthly Green Drinks networking group is being revived in Wilmington. Contact Shannon at ripvanred@gmail to have your name added to the contact list, or to learn more about upcoming events and their locations. This is a local chapter of Green Drinks International: www.greendrinks.org.
Residential • Commercial • Industrial Federal • Municipal
NC Licensed General Contrator & Plumbing Contractor 1608 Queen Street, Wilmington, NC
Residential • Commercial • Industrial 1608 Queen Street, Wilmington, NC
Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC, Southeastern North Carolina’s leading provider of solar system design and installation services, has completed a commercial installation of a solar water heating system at the newly opened Cape Fear Farmer’s Market in Elizabethtown, NC.
The solar thermal system will enable this renovated building to benefit from the sun’s energy and offset the majority of the town’s monthly expenses related to hot water heating. “Using solar in new construction is a forward thinking approach to managing water heating costs as all new buildings have a water heater in the budget. With a slightly higher investment up front for a solar thermal system, property owners can profit from 25+ years of free hot water, courtesy of the sun,” states John
Donoghue, President of the Wilmingtonbased Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC.
The Town of Elizabethtown worked with contractors and architects to embrace green practices and actively integrate them in their planning and construction. The installed solar system not only instantly saves money on the building’s operating costs, it promotes good environmental stewardship by burning less fossil fuel while providing more energy independence for the future. All together, this solar system will have a positive impact on the environment and the entire Elizabethtown community.
Four U.S.-manufactured AET solar thermal collectors were installed on the roof and are visible from the parking lot. However, for those who would like to understand the functioning of the solar thermal system in more detail, a glass window has been placed in the wall of the storage room, where the solar hot water tank is located. “We simply wanted to display the tank and associated electronic measuring devices, which demonstrates to people what is going on so they can be aware of the system’s function and resulting benefits to the community,” states J. Terry Cox, Architect of the new Farmer’s
Wholistic Health Counsel w/Greg Patch. Process embraces whole Body, Mind & Spirit Self. Whole diet/herbs, physical practices & Spiritual path recommendations. (910) 616-9930 or greenartstudio@ icloud.com
In-home Health Care Services. Compassionate care for your special needs, provided by Choice Caregivers, Inc. (910) 790-3376.
Native plants for sale through NC Coastal Federation. Plant sale for one year starting 4/22/13. Open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm. 3609 N.C. 24, Newport (Carteret County). (252) 393-8185 or roser@nccoast.org.
Market building. A sign board with supporting graphics and a schematic installed next to the viewing window explains further “How It Works.”
Elizabethtown Farmers’ Market received funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create an area for farmers to sell their locally grown produce. “This project, which supports USDA’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative, includes modifications to an existing grocery store to accommodate the farmers market, as well as the construction of a covered outdoor air market space and new parking layout,” states U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre on his web site. “The grocery store is a 60-year-old local landmark and the revitalization helps Elizabethtown retain its small town charm while enhancing economic opportunities, strengthening local food systems and creating a stronger link between local food production and local consumption,” the article closes.
The Cape Fear Farmer’s Market is available for all Bladen County farmers. Farmers may sell their fresh produce, plants, and other specialty items produced on local farms. Plants are available starting in March and local fruits and vegetables are sold throughout the growing season. The Cape Fear Farmer’s Market is located at 106 Martin Luther King Drive in Elizabethtown, NC.
Learn more about the farmers’ market by calling (910) 862-2066; learn more about Cape Fear Solar Systems at www.CapeFearSolarSystems.com.
Winter Park area on Pine Grove Drive and McMillan Avenue, before joining up with Park Avenue again. Between Wallace Avenue and 52nd Street, the bikeway utilizes an off-road path, with a spur to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (WMPO Bicycle Route 1A) via Wooddale Drive. Between 52nd Street and Hinton Avenue, the bikeway follows on-road bicycle lanes on Park Avenue. Beyond Greenville Avenue, the ride is much more uncomfortable for recreational cyclists. Oleander Drive and Wrightsville Avenue are busy arterial roadways with few bicycle facilities and c, and there are several bridges to cross. This section is not recommended for recreational cyclists.
Daley and Caitlin Campbell have started a 100% vegan food company in Wilmington, named Kitchen Ahimsa. They specialize in organic vegan food, which they prepare in a kitchen shared with Angela’s Pickle-Peppered Foods at 2105 Carolina Beach Road. Their offerings will soon be available also through local stores, farmers markets, and via the online Down East Connect. Their kale chips come in four flavors: Spicy curry, “cheeze” pizza, apple caramel, and coconut cacao. Not to be missed: individual “cheezecakes” in blueberry or chocolate. The Campbells hope to one day open Wilmington’s first 100% vegan cafe. Contact kitchenahimsa@gmail.com or (910) 726-6948 for details.
To reach the Wrightsville Beach trailhead, follow U.S. Highway 74 toward Wrightsville Beach. At the intersection of Salisbury Street and North Lumina Avenue, continue straight on Salisbury Street to the on-street parking area. The bikeway begins on Salisbury Street west of North Lumina Avenue. Follow the bicycle Route 1 signs. There is also additional parking at the Wrightsville Beach municipal complex at the intersection of Salisbury Street and Seawater Lane.
To reach the downtown Wilmington trailhead, follow U.S. Highway 74 toward Wilmington; take the Wilmington DOWNTOWN exit. Proceed south on North 3rd Street. Take a right onto Market Street and follow west to Riverfront Park. Parking is available on-street or in the city of Wilmington parking deck located at Market Street and North 2nd Street. The bikeway begins at the foot of Market Street at Water Street. Follow the bicycle
The distinctive old blue and white building at Wrightsville Avenue and 17th Street is now home to a new bakery focusing on gluten-free baked goods, sweet and savory. The FaceBook page for Uprising: “Not Just a Bakery” often lists what’s just come out of the oven, and every day offers local, organic, and vegan foods to eat in or carry away. Owner Bree Peterson-Resnick, a graduate of the Cape Fear Community College Culinary School, operates the bakery with her husband, Michael Scott. In addition to singleserving treats such as scones, cupcakes, muffins, and cookies, she particularly likes making specialty gluten-free or vegan tiered cakes for weddings and other special occasions. Uprising won the Gold Medal for Best Dessert at the 2012 Wilmington Epicurean Evening held at the Wilmington Convention Center.
For more information, contact the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO), which is the regional transportation planning agency for the lower Cape Fear region of southeastern North Carolina. Write WMPO at P.O.Box 1810, Wilmington, N.C. 28402, call (910)341-3258 or visit www.wmpo.org. Information above provided courtesy of www.rivertoseabikeway.com.
Live music on Sunday afternoons and outdoor seating accommodate those who want to meet friends for coffee or beer or wine, or just lounge in the hammock for the afternoon. Open every day but Monday, at 1701 Wrightsville Avenue in Wilmington. Call (910) 399-1313 or visit www.itsanuprising.com.
To reach the Empie Park parking area, follow U.S. Highway 76 to Independence Boulevard northbound. Take a right onto Park Avenue and an immediate left into the park driveway. The bikeway is on Park Avenue. Follow the bicycle Route 1 signs.
June 10 is the deadline for our Summer 2010 issue
Editor@goinggreenpublications.com or call (910)547-4390
Trish Papoulias has started a new Wilmington-based business, Dog Connection, Inc., that carries more than 20 lines of premium, natural and holistic dry dog food, and delivers it to your home for free. Papoulias will be servicing all of New Hanover County, northern Brunswick County, and parts of Pender County. Learn more at www.dogconnectioninc.com or call (910) 540-6611.