Rhodes's Blog

Is the Economy Pushing People Towards a Greener Way of Life?

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:26:00 -0500

Would love to hear everyone's perspective on this, and any simple tips/ideas YOU have to add. Thank you Mark for creating such an innovative post...and such a great topic for discussion. This post helps remind me that there is a good side to everything, and that it's often all about perspective.

PLEASE SHARE your ideas on how to green one's life (even in small ways) and save money at the same time.

Via Mark Hall Vancouver Washington Real Estate:

The other day, I noticed that although gas prices are creeping up, my monthly gas bill has gone down. Why is that? The answer is simple; I haven't been driving nearly as much as I did just a few months ago. Not only is it better for my wallet but it is also better for the environment. (If I would start to ride my bicycle more often, it might even be better for my health)

This got me to thinking, as the American dollar loses a bit of its Green-ness, what kind of benefits might we see in the area of Green living? It has been said that Americans tend to think with their pocket book, so let's look at ways to save money while drifting over to the green side. Who knows? This might catch on!

Re-purposing things around the house - I have relatives coming into town later this week and I have a list of chores that, if written on paper, would decimate an entire forest! Sweep the driveway, clean out the garage, buy new patio furniture... wait just a second... several gallons of left over paint in the garage... Patio furniture that is in good condition except for fading and chipping paint? I have an idea. Total cost= $0.00 - Total benefit = I have new looking patio furniture, I saved over $350 by not purchasing new furniture, I saved a big space in a landfill by not throwing out the old furniture, and I didn't have to drive the old paint to the recycle center. PLUS I now have patio furniture that matches the trim on my house!

Conserve Energy - Power is expensive. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who has lived in California for the past 5 years and they will tell you that energy is REALLY expensive. Saving energy is saving money. Right? I don't have the time or space to address this one topic completely so I will just throw out these two cost saving ideas. First, Compact Fluorescent bulbs save money/energy. They new ones look just like the old incandescent bulbs and prices have dropped significantly. There are no more excuses. I am not saying to replace every bulb in the house all at once. That costs too much money. Buy a three pack of CF bulbs and just replace as needed. Secondly, learn how to use your thermostat! You know that you have never set it correctly! Get out the little booklet that came with it and start saving money. Use the timer function so that you aren't wasting money why you are at work or sleeping or whatever. You can easily save 30% on your heating and cooling bills by spending 5 minutes programming your thermostat.

Conserve Water- STOP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER! In the good old U.S. of A. we have the best water technology in the world. (We got it from the Germans! Lol) Why do we insist on drinking bottled water? The carbon footprint of a bottle of water is astronomical. Each bottle is filtered, bottled boxed, loaded on a ship, unloaded, loaded on a truck, unloaded... over and over... until you drink it and toss the bottle into a landfill! It is absolutely crazy. Your refrigerator probably filters water just as good as the water that comes from the store. Dare to compare and save a few bucks at the same time.

I could go one for ever but instead, I invite you to share your simple and easy ways to green up your life while saving money. Extra points will be awarded for ideas that are FREE or really cheap!

photo credits:

Gas pump - bradleypjohnson
Water - kazanjy

Asheville's Sustainable Communities. A Series. 1. Montford, a Charming, Sustainable Neighborhood of Asheville, NC

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:52:35 -0500

I like the way you worded it... "a place of complex overall character" -- you couldn't have picked better words to describe it. Please read on to get a little insight into the wonderful Montford neighborhood here in Asheville. Thank you janeAnne

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

The Montford Neighborhood ~ Asheville, N.C. ~A Community Embracing a Sustainable Future. Part I.

     MONTFORD: Where one picture tells the story.  (see photo)

The MONTFORD NEIGBORHOOD in Asheville, North Carolina: Historic and Happening!

Here is a neighborhood of about 300 acres that expresses a rich diversity of architectural styles,   most constructed between 1890 and 1920.

Montford, like its residents, is a place of complex overall character.. .Romance and history are in the air, so expect to " feel" the artistic influences.

Even residents of other neighborhoods in and around Asheville find themselves drawn to Montford. Maybe you will see them strolling down a tree-lined boulevard. Maybe you will notice how often they stop to gaze at the majestic homes that grace the streets.

Maybe you will be amazed when you see this for yourself!

Certainly, you will find wondrous architectural details including those from such  trendsetters as Bruce Price, Bernard Maybeck, the prominent Arts and Crafts architect, and Frank Lloyd Wright.   The Arts and Crafts style made popular in Asheville by noted society architect, Richard Sharp Smith, supervising Architect to Biltmore House is well-represented here in Montford. According to the National Park Service, "Smith's preference for pebbledash, shingles, high-pitched roofs and heavy stone foundations contributed to an overall form for the neighborhood.

UPDATE: Thought you might like to see a portion of the Spotlight on Montford - from presentation made by Sharon Fahrer and Joe Masters at the June CAN meeting.

Montford Neighborhood Association has the distinction of being one of the longest and most successful established neighborhood groups in Asheville. Montford has always been a diverse neighborhood, not only in terms of residents but also in housing stock, with lots of big and little houses and everything in between.  ...close to downtown and to 19/23 and 240, it is a neighborhood [that has] made everyone a stakeholder in an effort to create a ["safe"] neighborhood ...One strength of the Montford Association is their newsletter, which is produced by Montford resident Joe Newman. There are 10 editions each year, with 1600 copies printed per issue. Residents all have the opportunity to contribute to the newsletter - it is a true community effort. The newsletter goes out to all residents and businesses in the neighborhood. Hard copies are hand delivered by 50 people to residents and community locations including Pack Library. The most current newsletter and 12 years of archived issues are available on the Association's web site www.montford.org. ..The Association also has a listserv to reach out to residents and interested folks. It is a great tool for fostering community discussion and dialog and keeps people in touch with each other and current issues.

for more on the Coalition of Neighborhoods
Check Out   www.AshevilleCAN.org

* # 2. Stay tuned for more on this very delightful neighborhood you may, one day, call home.

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The Eco-Steward Firm, Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants Copyright. © 2008 All Rights Reserved

~ Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ? Read the latest news about mountain and valley neighborhoods, day trips, picnics, and local eco-tourist attractions you'll just love then ~

Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)       ____________________________________________________________________________________

Hickory Nut Forest in Gerton N.C Evolving Eco-Community

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:28:41 -0500

Make it to the Honey Bear Orchard Organic Apple Fest if you can!!! Thank you again janeAnne for your wonderful post below, and for all of the great information you continue to share with us about the amazing eco-community of Hickory Nut Forest.

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

Hickory Nut Forest in Gerton N.C. is an evolving eco-community and conservation neighborhood . This eco-community- is an easy drive from Asheville's, cultural amenities, arts, music and delicious cuisine, as well as excellent healthcare all nearby. (17 miles, 23-27 min.)   And just 4 minutes to the CSA. If you enjoy farm-fresh produce, you will appreciate how close it is to the eco-community.

The Greater Asheville area is an important "hub" for green and sustainable development. Buyers and investors and sellers of real property will tell you- "GREEN" is the word here in Western North Carolina's mountains. "We are in a sustainable framework, and we're lovin' it!"

Possibly that explains why numerous eco-communities are popping up in and around Asheville, including Asheville area's Hickory Nut Forest. Honoring the Land, the eco-developers placed just 17 lots here, and they are surrounded on three sides by over 800 acres of conservation land. What a place.

From the eco-community, trails (like those seen in the photo) "forever wild" of conservation partners' land.The adjoining 250 acres will serve the community with a activities building and an organic garden. To me this means healthy possibilities.

If you are like me, and you relish just standing by a waterfall , or take pleasure in hiking trails that lead to wildflower meadows and beyond them, rock-climbing adventure, you have got to visit this eco-community! Oh! And while you are there, pick an heirloom apple or grape as you meander over to listen to Hickory Nut Creek . Simple treat? Yes. And satisfying.

Honey Bear Orchard Organic Apple Fest

Saturday, September 20, 2008
1:00 to 6:00pm
Click here for flyer

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Read  GREENOLINA'S news about mountain and valley neighborhoods, real estate, local day trips, picnics, and ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious aboutgreen building, remodeling and eco-communities ? ...Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov ....... We are in a sustainable world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

HickoryNut Forest in Gerton N.C   Evolving Eco-Community.The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Asheville the "Sweet Spot" for Eco Development and Communities

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:23:22 -0500

A well written post by janeAnne below. And I have to say that is a fantastic waterfall picture!!! Thank you for your sweet words about the "sweet spot"

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

We live in the mountains, a"sweet spot" for for Eco Development and Communities and for people who make choices for quality of life.....

Just one look at our   view-sheds says more than a thousand words in that regard. The Asheville area mountains, the valleys, the streams and waterfalls are natural gifts in-which to delight.

(photo is of the AMAZING waterfall at Asheville area Three Creeks Eco-Community)

And not only a sense of place announces itself,  but, equally many say,  a sense of community.

During difficult days and uncertain times, how good it is to be able to connect with such gifts. The uncommon blessing of neighborliness and verve, prevails here, despite the challenges.

Was it only yesterday that a friend remarked, " Aren't we glad we live in interesting times?"
To which I replied, with a glimmer and a grin, "You bet!'

Possibly we have inherited a "can-do" attitude that comes with the magical blend of our mountain heritage; the indigenous peoples , the Scots-Irish highlanders, the singers and dancers and craftspeople whose legacy is written into the Land. I I feel refreshed with pure possibility when I stand in the mists of the waterfall, or look out on the local harvest of organically-grown produce and the happy faces of the families who provide food for our tables.

Like the Big Laurel River,a beautiful," intact example of a healthy high mountain riparian ecosystem" where children play and churches baptize , and fisherman, paddlers, and grandparents converge, it feels to me, even more today than yesterday, that Asheville holds the promise of welcoming celebration of life to all. No wonder then that Asheville is the "Sweet Spot" for Eco Development and Communities I am proud to represent and love to visit.

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__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov ....... We are in a sustainable world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

Asheville the "Sweet Spot" for Eco Development and Communities. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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Lot 12 Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community Gerton NC 28735

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:20:53 -0500

Hickory Nut Forest is amazing. I give credit of this post below to janeAnne at The Eco Steward Real Estate Firm in Asheville. Thank you janeAnne!

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

Lot 12 could be called the IDEAL LOT in the authentic eco-community of Hickory Nut Forest in Gerton, North Carolina.

This ECO COMMUNITY adjacent to 250 acres of "forever wild" land and with trails leading to 800 acres of conservation partners' lands is just 23min to the cultural center of Asheville, NC. . ALL HealthyBuilt homes are planned for the eco-community which is also aiming to be a net zero energy community.

Especially desirable for Lot 12 is that is offers very good southern sun. Home builders and gardeners can take good advantage of this aspect of Lot 12.

You will love the nature trails from Hickory Nut Forest Eco-community. There are 6 miles of trails in the neighborhood alone and these stretch out to meet 800+/- AC of conservation land, awesome waterfalls and streams, (see photo) distant mountain vistas, heirloom apple orchard, and grape garden (see photo below).

The Asheville, N.C.-based eco-developers dubbed Site # 12 , with it's hand made path into the hardwoods, "Striped Maple".

Here you will find a flag flying in the mountain breeze to mark the path to take as you walk the terrain that softly rises into the trees. The 1.25 AC Lot 12 could be calling ..."welcome to this conservation neighborhood" (just 17 lots surrounded on three sides by over a 800 acres of conservation land)... Yes, here is an .easy building site, good southern solar-orientation...and a friendly atmosphere.....

location

Ashevile's "green" real estate market

community

....Looking to the Future.... THIS Asheville, NC eco-community is amazing, because, right from the start, the eco-innovators who designed and planned this conservation neighborhood have "done it right"!

Welcome to the Greater Asheville, NC Area, and
Lot 12 Striped Maple, Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community in Charming
Gerton, North Carolina



CONTEXT- Location: Building Site 12 is within 30 minute pleasant drive from Asheville, N.C. and the city's healthy impetus for sustainable development,  diverse economic structure bases on tourism, services, and eco-innovativeattitudes. Overall education levels, wages and per capita income levels are on the "plus" side. Standards of living are, too.

CONTEXT- Asheville Area Sustainable Real Estate Market:GREEN is "red-hot" here. Greater Asheville, North Carolina's GREEN real estate market enjoys clients who are hungry for sustainable neighborhoods, energy-efficient design and green-built homes. Now take a look at the natural amenities in the conservation neighborhood in which Site 12 at Hickory Nut Forest Eco-community rests, and you may conclude, as I have, that THIS IS THE PERFECT SPOT for your eco-friendly construction.

CONTEXT The Eco-Community & Conservation Land : Just A Few of the Conservation Neighborhood's Perks

(below-- the Old Apple Orchard and future farm on adjacent conservation land. You can hike to it from Site 12)

  - FEATURES & BENEFITS  FOR YOU

- Site 12 is within the first development in the USA to combine wide-ranging land conservation  with an eco-friendly community of green-built homes, to be powered by renewable energy  -(wind power, hydropower , geothermal) - to create a "net-zero-energy community".

You are on the leading edge + save $$.

Living in this conservation neighborhood means enjoying the forever-wild mountain forests, soaring cliffs and pristine, cascading streams, out your back door. You can walk for miles in the serenity of nature.

Great perks for body mind and spirit! This Eco-Community- is easy drive from Asheville's, cultural amenities, arts, music and delicious cuisine, as well as excellent healthcare all nearby. (17 miles, 30 min)

You get the "best of both worlds."

Hiking trails lead conveniently from Site 12 into 800 + acres of nature preserve lands with waterfalls, streams, cliffs and mountaintop vistas.
You are IN a sustainable world.

LOCATED in the quaint village of Gerton, Site 12 is tucked away in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. . You have found the place to rest and relax, deeply.

Tennis courts, (a stone's throw from Lot 12)and close-by- hiking trails, horseback riding, bird watching, fishing, picnicking, boating, over a dozen golf courses in the area, biking, gardening, and community social events. Within walking distance: Nita's Grocery/General Store, the Post Office, Gerton Fire Department.

Building Site 12. 1.25 AC.
Listed at $159,000.
MLS 414754

If you are not committed to another real estate professional, then please call me at 828-255-1082 . For more information on THIS and other featured properties, please visit: http://www.ecostewardrealty.com/ . We invite you to specify your property needs, design your dream , see our my "prime property picks" and search the MLS that covers a 5-county area here in mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm specialize in working with eco-developers and land for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Lot 12 Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community Gerton NC 28735. Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribeto Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep those creative wheels a turnin'

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)

200,000 Points at Active Rain...Already?? Thank YOU!

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:44:35 -0500

As I'm just getting my feet on the ground here at active rain, I found a lot of encouragement and inspiration from this recent post written by janeAnne, my Broker in Charge here at The Eco Steward Real Estate Firm. She just hit 200,000 points and mentioned that she was first introduced to active rain exactly 2 years ago. Way to go janeAnne! It's amazing what can happen in such a short period of time. Thank you for introducing me to this amazing network of people and information.

PLEASE go to janeAnne's original post directly and give her a big congrats...I'm hoping that she gets 200 comments on her 200,000 points post - wouldn't that be cool!

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

It's a prodigious reckoning...hitting 200,000 points. Makes one feel as if a word or two is in order ..something special, something rare...something appropriate...and, most especially, something to express appreciation for all the positives that have arrived in my life as the 200,000 points collected themselves around my BLOG since I stepped out into the (ACTIVE) RAIN..

200,00 points!

First of all, I sure didn't accumulate those points all alone! Thank you for reading my BLOG and commenting. Thanks for the posts you write that make it hard not to comment. For me, stepping out into the RAIN, has turned out to be an umbrella turned UP that now captures the most amiable surprises-really valuable real estate information, networking, learning, expanding, and most of all, it has been about Y- O- U...

It feels to me that You RAINERS would welcome me into your neighborhoods...so...thank you in  Hawaii ... to Randy,Sally, (we play the CD you sent us over at the Office, especially when the stress-factor is in play), Kimo,   Georgina and Pete...and thank you in Florida and Broker Bryant and TLW, (with prayers for TLW)  Ines, who got me thiking about art deco, and Sharon, who got me thiking about DINGS, and Janie, who makes me want to get out on more equestrian acreages than I have time to do, and  Lloyd, and  , Katerina (how does she find time to do all she does??) and Bill and Barbara Jo ...

...and out on the West Coast, thanks ... Jeff Turner , Laurie , Bill Roberts, Roberta Murphy to name just a few. . .do you all know that I am at least a slightly improved version of my old self because of Y O U ?

Thanks to Karen Hurst  who, way back in 2006, taught me about Groups, to Jeff Belonger, who generously offers mortgage advice, to Carole Cohen, a teacher with absolutely top-notch Localism posts!) and thank you to The Charmingly Comedic, Linda Davis, , and to the energetic, Missy . I sure like your videos!

And heartfelt thanks to my almost 800 pals in the Eco-All-Stars Group  including : Mary Bigelow,
( through AR we found out that we are long-lost cousins!) , and "Ms. GREEN" , Stephanie Edwards-Musa,    and Jeff G (this guy has lots to say and most of it is worthwhile!=) , and "Right-from the-Heart" ,Sarah Cooper, and The Wise and Wonderful, Joan Whitebook,   and Joni M.  (where does she find those cute little doo-dads she sprinkles around her posts?) and the exotic Margaret Rome, and sincere Jennifer F. and thanks to horse lover Tricia J (I collect her recipes)    and Dan (the Running Man) Cummings...Sylvia, Lane, Rich...

THANK YOU to all the amazing writers here at Active Rain..I'll mention just a few: The brilliant Lola who opens the windows to fraiche aire for all of us at AR, to the Luminous, Patricia Kennedy, the Superb, Jo-Anne Smith , The Gifted, Eloise Gift,..I've already mentioned Sally C and Margaret R...each day it seems more and more I am inspired by these people...

and Dear Colleen  (we talk on the phone and she sent me cosmos seeds this year that you see in the photo on this post!) and......and Friend, Ann Cummings, whom I've met and lunched with twice now! ... so many, many more... Back home here in North Carolina, I'm hoping that 2009 holds the possibility of meeting...Michele, Ginger, Susan , Leigh, the original NC Ladies of AR, and Diane and Penny .

I already know so many Active Rain Members here is Asheville, many of whom are leading edge trend-setters and Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants and 1031 Consultants including: - Matt, the 1031-derful Guy , and Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultants Arlene,(Senior Broker),  "Doc" Bill W., the Dashing Dowser, Sami, who has a 20-year track record as a 1031 real estate investor and is completing her Green Building Contractor Education, Rhodes,  Permaculture Person, Organic Farmer and REALTOR®, and My Favorite professional fine arts photographer and REALTOR® my son, JT...

Thanks to Land Pro, Bill Kaminer, (it's probably your fault that I am a Land Specialist) ,Staging Expert, Leslie G. to whose expertise we directly can attribute the sale of two properties this year, to Musician and REALTOR®, Scott Raines , and REALTOR® and Graphics Guru Gwen . Hmmmm. We Active Rain Members and REALTORS® right here in Asheville, North Carolina must be Cultural Creatives

I hereby tender repeated thanks to Steph and Mary, the moderators who help me moderate the Eco-All-Star Group, where camaraderie reigns supreme. I founded that Group back in November of 2006. There were just 2 of us then,my much appreciated pal, Dena Stevens and me. Now we have almost 800 members! Join us if you have a funny-bone, or you are an artist, poet, "greenie", possibility thinker or you just want to find out what the green trend is all about real fast. This Group "writes great stuff" about what is happening in green real estate, building, eco-communities and development and has fun doing it.

I wish I could sit here for the next many hours to name all of you, but will you understand and excuse me if I don't? .

Thank you ALL. I am SO appreciative of the SUBCRIBERSwho subscribe to my BLOG
   Y-O-U are what keep me going...shall I try for 300,000 points by this time next year?

I wrote my first post at Active Rainexactly two (2) years ago today! I was shaking like a leaf when I posted it. Didn't have a clue what would happen next. ...but, along the way, as you now know,   it turned out to be a GIFT and a BLESSING. Daily, I connect with amazing people, read and learn more than I ever expected to, refer business and receive referrals for clients relocating to Asheville.

And, in the past two years, I have closed ten (10 ) transactions I can attribute to connections I made through Active Rain.

To the "Rain Gods" back in Seattle, and All....Wow! "Y'ALL ROCK Active Rain!" Again...Thanks so much to all for helping me achieve this 200,000 point milestone!

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Keep Rolling.......Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov ....... We are in a sustainable world, so grab hold of your Muse... dream that world... and make it happen!. .........................    .............

The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants! Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Asheville Evenings a Series: Shindig on the Green

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:08:15 -0500

This post created by janeAnne is a great example of what a true community looks like. And this is just one of the many wonderful things happening in the greater Asheville area.

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

It was one of those perfect, clear evenings in Asheville. Not a cloud in the sky. Good fortune for the folks arriving at the Shindig on the Green festival. Shindig on the Green is a long-standing tradition here in the Asheville area. The summer series of family-friendly community get-togethers commences "along about sundown." and usually runs until around 10:00 p.m.

We got there early.

Even after all these years, LXS could hardly wait to check out the "Jammin Tents" with music-makers warming up for their performances.

(see photo)

I can almost hear them now, even as I write...and I can almost see the young fiddlers' sweet expressions as they come to the jammin' tents for the very first time, novices...still a little nervous...still a little shy...

I can almost feel the welcoming handshakes of their elders, more accustomed to the energy wrapping around these great evening performances at SHINDIG, but still generous to the core.

Since way back before most of us were born (1928), banjo pickers, dulcimer sweepers, dancers, storytellers, singers and (my favorite) mountain fiddlers have shown up at Shindig on the Green. I think they come not only to delight those of us in the audience, but to enjoy themselves, as we all can participate in the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in one way or another.

We brought lawn chairs and a little picnic basket with locally grown fruits, cheeses from a nearby organic dairy, and home-baked bread secured at the Asheville City tailgate market earlier that day.

We found a nice spot beneath the huge old trees, and settled in to enjoy the lively music and dance (see video)  traditions of Southern Appalachia.

It was, as I said, one of those perfect evenings-one of many summer Asheville Evenings in the mountains full of memories that I will treasure for many years to come.

Look just to the right in this photo. Can you pick out the lawn beyond the yellow streamers where kids in the audience have their own place in which to dance or cavort to their hearts' content ? Possibly the very act of sharing good times with everyone in the community is one of the elements that makes Asheville a sustainable community. .

As an "old schoolteacher' I love this element in the festival. From the moment the first fiddle tunes up until the final notes, kids, parents, and grandparents can absorb the happy tradition. Adults and kids can join when the square dance is called. It's quite a sight to see and often is comical, as you might imagine, so it is accompanied by waves of laughter and much clapping. No wonder Artists, Musicians, Dancers, Poets and Creative People love it here in the land of the "Cultural Creatives". Inspiration. . . and Pure Potential really are in the air! .

Yes. . . one of those perfect evenings.  Something exciting,on so many levels, arranges itself between the coves and rising ridges. And you know, YOU are invited and welcome here in the venerable Appalachians, almost as old as time itself.

The mountains, the festival, the community reminded us tonight that it actually is easy to get in touch with something much larger than those of us who gathered at Shindig. Maybe it is the sense of community. Maybe that's why Asheville ranks as the "Happiest City in the USA". In any case, a gentle soul once told me,

".....there's a pathway to contentment here.
It is like the rainbows over the ridges.
It's an uncommon force.
When you see it you can measure it by your heartbeat ...
an all-at-once coming together and letting go... ." ...

and I believe it's true.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read the latest news about mountain and valley neighborhoods, day trips, picnics, and local ecotourist attractions you'll just love. Check THIS  out! Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ?   Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

__~o
-\_<,
(*)/'(*)

WE are IN a sustainable world.

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My First Post

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:43:45 -0500

When's the last time you got out to experience the true beauty of WNC?:

I'm asking you to check in with yourself and see how long ago it was that you got out into the mountains of WNC.

And then ask yourself how many hours you think you've spent at your desk in this last week alone?

If you’re like most of us, then I can say it’s been way too long, and I would challenge you to give up 1 of those hours at the office to “get out there” and live! Take a hike, take a bike ride, or even just go sit by a waterfall or a running creek. Give yourself this gift and remind yourself of what’s important. See what shifts you notice upon hearing that flowing water, watching a young bird’s first flight, or seeing the sunset over the mountains.

I bring this up not only to help us all live a little more balanced, but because it’s an essential that we often take for granted…and we just can’t do this. Without nature we would not exist.

Not only does it have more of an emotional impact on us than we think, but it is what enables us to live – the oxygen created by the trees, the water that we drink and which feeds the plants we eat, the diversity of living beings (as well as the inspiration, beauty, and creativity it provides).

We need to protect and preserve the land that allows us to live our lives -- so go out there and enjoy it, embrace it. Remind yourself of these simple things, and hopefully a new steward will be born in us all.

-Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville's Eco Communities (series) : Hickory Nut Forest

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:30:51 -0500

A TRUE Eco Community! And a model for others to follow.

~15 waterfalls, 800+ acres of pure land surrounding, a net-zero goal, and even an electric vehicle provided by Hickory Nut Forest to visit the local CSA...can it get any better than this!?! (Oh yeah, and I've just touched on some of it's great features...there are more!)

Please read this fabulous post that follows written by janeAnne here in Asheville.

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

Asheville is the "hub' of green and sustainable development. Whether in an urban environment, or in the rolling regions beyond Asheville's city limits, buyers and investors and sellers of real property will tell you- "GREEN" is the word here in Western North Carolina's mountains. "We are in a sustainable framework, and we're lovin' it!"  Numerous eco-communities are popping up in and around Asheville. This post is the first in a series on those eco-communities. Today I'm taking you on a jaunt (about 20 minutes or so) to Asheville area's Hickory Nut Forest.

Hickory Nut Forest is an evolving "green" community and conservation neighborhood . Honoring the Land, the eco-developers placed just 17 lots here, and they are surrounded on three sides by over 800 acres of conservation land. What a place. From the eco-community, trails lead to those 800 + Acres and to the adjoining 250 acres where community buildings and an organic garden will expand into healthy possibilities.

Natural beauty inspires: You can stand by a waterfall and talk with me, your Eco Certified® Real Estate Consultant , about the 15 or more waterfalls on the Conservation Partner's Lands- or about the trails leading to wildflower meadows and rock-climbing adventure- or about the heirloom apple orchard (seen in photo JT took , above) and the "grape garden"... that is . . .if the noisy Hickory Nut Creek doesn't first beckon you to visit.....and you can "sense" the special energy this Land offers.

Would you choose to visit each one of these "gifts of nature" many, many times ? Possibly the answer is "YES!" ...especially when you consider how much the kids, future grandkids, family and friends are going to love it at Hickory Nut Forest.. "YES!"... views from building site, good solar-orientation... "YES!"... the whole CONTEXT  from the perspectives of

location

Asheville's lively "green" real estate market

an opportunity to help create a sustainable eco-community

Now, I said that there are a number of very worthy eco-communities in and around Asheville. So you may wonder why I'm taking you to Hickory Nut Forest first...The reason is CONTEXT.

CONTEXT The Eco-Community & Conservation Land

-  Hickory Nut Forest is one of the first ECO developments in the USA to combine wide-ranging land conservation  with an eco-friendly community of green-built homes, to be powered by renewable energy  -(wind power, hydropower , geothermal) - to create a "net-zero-energy community".

Living in this conservation neighborhood means enjoying the forever-wild mountain forests, soaring cliffs and pristine, cascading streams, out your back door. You can walk for miles in the serenity of nature.

This eco-community- is an easy drive from Asheville's, cultural amenities, arts, music and delicious cuisine, as well as excellent healthcare all nearby. (17 miles, 23-27 min.)   And just 4 minutes to the CSA. Positive perks for body mind and spirit.

Hiking trails lead conveniently from the building sites into 800+ acres of nature preserve lands with waterfalls, streams, cliffs and mountaintop vistas. And, here to enjoy are tennis courts,(adjacent to Site 1) and close-by- horseback riding, bird watching, fishing, picnicking, boating, over a dozen golf courses in the area, biking, gardening, and community social events.

This is convenience where adventure abounds...

Stay tuned for the next in my series on Asheville's eco-communities and Green communities.
And let me know what you think!
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Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place  Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep those creative wheels a turnin'

__~o
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(*)/'(*)

WE are IN a sustainable world.

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RA, RA- THE Original Solar-Powered Delight, Remodeled-Part II

Rhodes Waite (Kraft Professional Realty) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:11:25 -0500

Simple solar water heaters are the coolest! And they are so easy to make too...anyone can do it!

I was first introduced to the concept during an internship at Aprovecho (a sustainable living center and community) in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

We pretty much took an old broken water heater headed for the dump, a few plywood scraps, a little bit of paint, and an old window pane and quickly turned those "waste" items into a solar water heater shower, powered 100% by the sun. We all had the best outdoor showers EVER the next day!

It can be quite sustainable too -- taking items that would be thrown away otherwise and using them to create a shower that requires ZERO energy to run once it's in place. I don't know why we're not all doing this. Why don't we?

Via janeAnne, "Green-o-Lina" e-PRO, ECO, Owner/Broker:

Part II. SUN POWER.

It is amazing how we have evolved over the years. These days, we can pull together a stylish, comfortable, and beautiful "palace" that is also non-toxic and eco-friendly. Here in Asheville, we are really getting into Solar Power.

Just today I heard about a Hands-on Workshop: Building a Solar Water Heater, that will take place at the Long Branch Environmental Education Center.

Here, ladies and lords, you can learn about a solar design even RA may have envied. It is "the essence of simplicity: Put water holding tanks in an insulated box, with glass on the side facing south and fill it with water. No moving parts, nothing to break down, free fuel and no pollution."

You do NOT need building skills (though architects, engineers, and building contractors are welcome), and you will be most welcome. Workshop leader is a solar designer, inventor, and builder with tons of experience who holds an international patent on a unique solar device.

Expect to discover:

Basic Design Principles- radiation, available solar energy in various parts of U.S., emmitance, absorption, reflection, transmissivity, reflector types, conduction, convection

IPSWH Design - placement, performance related to slope and orientation, color, heat retention, glazing layers, shutters, shades, insulation, reflectors, sizing, hot water needs, backup system, construction, concepts for virtually free solar water heaters, concepts for advanced solar water heaters

Operating an IPSWH - reflector adjustment, open lids, conservation or staging of hot water use

Backup Heating - wood stoves and heaters, gas, electric, flash heaters

Building Your Own - step by step guide to designing and building your own solar water heater including safety considerations

If you cannot come to see us in Asheville, you may want to connect with the Long Branch Environmental Education Center. For more on solar power, see Mary's re-blog guest post that follows one or two below this!

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Read  GREENOLINA'S newsabout mountain and valley neighborhoods, real estate, local day trips, picnics, and ecotourist attractions you'll just love.   Curious about green building, remodeling and green communities ? You can start here ...Then...Subscribe to Greenolina's "Green Wheels" BLOG.

__~o
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(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............and always remember that " poets are soldiers that liberate words from the steadfast possession of definition." -Eli Khamarov ... We are in a sustainable world, so dream that world and make it happen!. .........................    .............

The Eco-Steward Firm, Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

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