Hickory Nut Forest An Outstanding Asheville Area Eco Community
One of my favorite eco communities in the Asheville area (and please note, Asheville is the "hub' of green and sustainable development) is Hickory Nut Forest.Numerous eco-communities are popping up in and around Asheville, but Hickory Nut Forest is demonstrating how to go about creating an eco-friendly habitat. (see video).
THIS evolving "green" community and conservation neighborhood honors the Land and the forests that offer it building materials. (see video). It is surrounded on three sides by over 800 acres of conservation land , so you can hike out from this community on one of the well-tended trails leading to those 800 + acres and to the adjoining 250 acres.
Hickory Nut Forest has set aside a special place for the community/retreat/teaching/learning center. Here is where the new community building is in the process of construction (see video)
From the standpoint of sustainability, here is an example of the "social dimension"--Peace, security, social justice --Human settlements and Human relationship to nature .
Hickory Nut Forest is alive with possibility. EXAMPLE: I was so excited to be able to WATCH how the construction of the new community building happens! ( see video) If you are interested in the "social dimension" of green building, be sure to check this out.
20 Comments on Hickory Nut Forest An Outstanding Eco-Friendly Community
OCT
02
2009
I was so excited to be able to WATCH how the construction of the new community building happens! ( see video) If you are interested in green building, be sure to check this out.
I just love this stuff. However, I did get a chuckle out of the name. Any marketer that names and eco-project with "Nut" in the name is a brave or unthinking soul. Many people think that those of us who think and do green are nuts.
Since you're in Ashville, have you ever been to the John C. Campbell Folk School? Is it even still in operation?
janeAnne, what a great community and video. It truly is exciting to see how these homes are built. Asheville is such a great leader in the "green" housing movement! I wish we could have seen the finished home!
janeAnne, thank you for sharing this footage with us. A couple of things struck me as noteable.
1) There is no one receipe for 'green' building. What works where you live would never work where I live.
2) Use what you've got. From what I could see very little if anything had to be brought in to build this building. Many of the components were close by.
3) Trees are solar energy and sustainable in parts of the world. So for those who hate the idea of cutting down a tree - look around. Looks like Ashville has plenty and more will grow.
Wonderful and interesting to say the least....and with you in the midst of your community there definitely is a strong presence for support in green building!
This video was just shot, so you may get your wish. This will be the community center for Hickory Nut Forest. Come in October when the leaves are in full color, and I will be happy to show you the progress...
I hate to be negative about this video, but this construction was really an example of how to waste good wood. None of the trees/logs used in the building added any structural integrity to the building. They were strictly aesthetic. Since they did not add to the strength of the building, and are there only for looks, I would have to give this building a D in the use of wood. Very wasteful. As far as using local materials, everything that provides structural support of the building was prefabricated elsewhere, then trucked to the site. Maybe they had good intentions, by using the logs, but the implementation was really a very poor use of wood. It would have been better if they would have made the logs into furniture, or milled them into usable 2 x 4s. Then they would have served a functional purpose.
Not only did they use a lot of trees just to look good, but they used chipboard for the exterior, which, I believe is not eco-freindly and hasgclue in it that can cause allergies.
Interesting for sure. I like the idea that they have used fallen trees from the conservation area, reclaimed and honored them in this way. I expect that local people will be using more of this 'salvageable" wood to make furniture soon! Nice also to know that the mill is on the property and that hand work has been done to prepare the logs.
(First time to hear from you, Jirius...glad to know you are interested)...possibly read the comment I made in response to Sally's comment (just above) which alludes to harvesting fallen trees on the conservation property and milling on site...and in the meantime, I shall check with the developer on your comments.
Thanks JaneAnne - I really enjoyed watching that video. Gave me a cool feeling of the "Great Outdoors", hope we can see the project when completed. I'll be watching for it. :-)
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I was so excited to be able to WATCH how the construction of the new community building happens! ( see video) If you are interested in green building, be sure to check this out.