Cape Fear’s Going Green 2 lo res.pdf · 10,000 high schools and grade schools, and 20 million citizens participated, nearly ten percent of the U.S. population at that time. American

Earth Day 2008: Trees Please.

Going Greenyour guide to local eco-friendly resources

CFCC Enters Sustainability Design Competition

Earth Day 1970— Recollections

Choosing Trees

Field Trip to Solar Decathlon

Volume 1 Issue 2www.GoinGGreenPublications.com Spring 2008

Cape Fear’s

� www.goinggreenpublications.com

Contents 3 EarthDay—1970and2008 4 RecollectionsoftheFirstEarthDay—April1970 6 EarthDay1990 7 8PragmaticReasonstoNurtureTrees 7 WilmingtonTreeCommission 8 YourEcologicalHouse—ChoosingtheRightTreeforYour “HomeEcosystem” 9 WilmingtonProgramRecordsCity’sHeritageTrees 10 SpringReturns... 13 Brown-HeadedNuthatch 14 FieldTriptotheSolarDecathlon 17 CapeFearCommunityCollegeCompetesinSustainable BuildingDesignCompetition 18 BusinessNews 20 BusinessBriefs&EducationUpdates 21 BookSuggestions 22 CapeFearRiverWatchClean-ups 22 Calendar

Cape Fear’s Going Green isabimonthlypublicationpromotingeco-friendlyresourcesandlifestylesintheLowerCapeFearRiverBasin.

Publisher&EditorinChief:ValerieRobertson

SisterCity:Eugene,Oregon(Voted“GreenestCity”2006byThe Green Guide)

EugeneContributingEditor:MaryRobertson

Advisors&EditorialContributors:BoutyBaldridge,JockBrandis,BrionCapo,Gwenyfar,CarolBowerJohnson,theKuuskoskifamily,RobbynNovak,JenniferO’Keefe,ScottOgden,PagePaterson,AdelineRobertson,MartynSt.David,PhilipS.Wenz,RonWilson,&AndyWood

SpecialthankstoBrionCapoandAndyWoodfortheircontributionstothisissue.

Cape Fear’s Going GreenGoingGreenPublications

P.O.Box3164Wilmington,NC28406

(910)547-4390www.goinggreenpublications.com

Cape Fear’s Going GreenisavailablebysubscriptionoronourWebsite.

Printcopiesareavailableatmorethanfortyareaeco-friendlybusinessesandlocations,including:

B+ODesignStudio,CFCC,OldBooksonFrontStreet,PomegranateBooks,ProgressiveGardens,Sambuca,Sapona

GreenBuildingCenter,TidalCreekCo-op,UNCW,WHQR,andtheSheltonHerbFarmboothatareafarmers’markets.

Editorial:Ifyouhavestoryideasorcalendaritemstosuggest,[email protected],orcall(910)547-4390.

Advertisinginformation:[email protected].

Cape Fear’s Going Green isdistributedfreethroughBrunswick,NewHanover,andPendercounties.Ifyouhaveabusinessandwouldliketoreceivemultiplecopiesforthepublictopickup,pleasecontactus.

Letter from the Editor

Front Cover: Spring comes to the creeks feeding into the Cape Fear River. Photo by Valerie Robertson

Back Cover: Pink dogwood blooms in the woods.Photo by Brion Capo

HappyEarthDay2008!

Justforfun,weaskedseveralpeoplewheretheywereandwhattheyweredoingonApril22,1970—thefirstEarthDay.RuthHaaswasinthePeaceCorpsinSt.Lucia;JockBrandiswasinwar-tornNigeria;GeorgeScheibner’scollegeinNewHaven,ConnecticutbivouackedtheNationalGuardduringtheBlackPantherTrial.

We’veprintedsomeoftheiranswers—theenthusiasmandgrowingactivismofthaterainspiresmeeventoday,thirty-eightyearslater.

MyhighschoolinSt.Louischosetoparticipateinthenationalteach-in:theycancelledclassesforthedayandsponsoredafull-dayseminarforthestudentbodyandfaculty.Severalstudentsrodebikestoschool;oneevenarrivedonhorseback.WelearnedaboutRachelCarson,andtheweboflife;itwasmyintroductiontoecology.

Ifyou’reoldenoughtoremember1970,takeamomenttothinkaboutwhereyouwereonthefirstEarthDay.Ifnot,asksomeone—youmaybesurprisedbytheanswer.

ThisissuecoversjustsomeofthemanylocalcelebrationsofEarthDay2008.“TreesPlease”isthethemeofNewHanoverCounty’scelebration,sowe’refeaturinglocalagenciesthatpromotethehealthoftrees,includingWilmington’sHeritageTreeProgram,whereyoucannominateyourfavoritetreeforanaward.

InthisissuewealsowelcomecolumnistSkipWenz,whoprovidesuswithanarticleonchoosingtreesforyourhome“ecosystem.”ImetSkipattheGreenHomeShowinEugeneOregon,lastJanuary,andlikedhis“reuse,thenrecycle”ap-proachofimprovingthehouseyoualreadyhave,ratherthannecessarilystartingfromscratch.

ThevarietyandbreadthofourEarthDayactivitiescontinuetoinspireme.CelebrateEarthDayhoweveryouplease;ifyoudon’twanttoattendanorganizedevent,justspendafewminutesoutside.Takeyourshoesoffandfeeltheearth.

.—ValerieL.Robertson

Editor

mmm

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

�Cape Fear’s Going GreenSpring �008

Earth Day

Earth Day 2008—trees please.

Earth Day was created in 1970 to promote environmental awareness and to encour-age progressive action around the world. It is officially celebrated every year on April 22, although individual communities around the world and in our region host celebrations throughout the month of April. These festivals are just one way we celebrate the Earth and renew our commitment to building a greener, healthier, more sustainable planet.

NewHanoverCountycelebratesEarthDay2008onSaturday,April26,fromnoonuntil6atHughMacRaeParkinWilmington.

Comeoutforafun-filleddayoflivemusic,goodfood,andenvironmentalinformationandactivitiesforallages!Discoverwhatissuesaffectourenviron-ment,talkwithlocalgroups,andlearnhowyoucangetinvolved.

BringthewholefamilytocelebrateEarthDay2008fromnoonuntil6pmonSaturday,April26thatHughMacRaePark.ThisisaFREEevent!Therewillbeexcitingactivitiesforallages.ThepopularKid’sEcoZonewillbeprovidinghands-onactivitiesforkidsofallages.

Over70environmentalexhibitswillbeondisplayrepresentingvariousorganiza-tionsandbusinesses.Checkoutlocalenvironmentalprograms,entertowinakayakpackage(valuedatover$1200),orgoshoppingintheGreenMarket,plusmuchmore!

OnJune22,1969,theCuyahogaRiveronthesouthernshoresofLakeEriecaughtfireasoil,chemicals,andothermaterials,whichhadoozedintothelake,somehowignited.Thefirecapturednationalatten-tionandmadethepeopleoftheUnitedStatesawareofthemanyinsultsthathadbeenheapedupontheenvironmentofournationandofourplanet.ItalsohelpedlaythefoundationofNOAA’smajorcoastalresourcemanagementresponsibilitesandusherintheenvironmentalprotectionor“green”sideofNOAA.

AsaresultoftheCuyahogaRiverfireandotherhorrendousenvironmentalinsults–thedeclineofthebaldeaglefromthepesticideDDT,whaleshuntedtonearextinction,andtheSantaBarbaraoilspill–WisconsinSenatorGaylordNelson(1916-2005)beganplanninginSeptember1969foranenvironmentalteach-inknownasEarthDay.OnNovember30,1969,GladwinHilloftheNewYorkTimesreported:

“Risingconcernabouttheenviron-mentalcrisisissweepingthenation’scampuseswithanintensitythatmaybeonitswaytoeclipsingstudentdiscontentoverthewarinVietnam...anationaldayofobservanceofenvironmentalproblems...isbeingplannedfornextspring...whenanationwideenvironmental‘teach-in’...coordinatedfromtheofficeofSenatorGaylordNelsonisplanned....”

Grassroots Environmental Activism

Conceivedasanenvironmentalteach-inbyWisconsinsenatorGaylordNelson,nearly10percentofthenation’spopula-tionparticipatedinthefirstEarthDay.

EarthDaytookplaceonApril22,1970.Itwasspectacularlysuccessful,achievinggrassrootsconcernforenvironmentalproblemsfacingthenation.Morethan

Earth Day 1970

2,000collegesanduniversities,over10,000highschoolsandgradeschools,and20millioncitizensparticipated,nearlytenpercentoftheU.S.populationatthattime.AmericanHeritage(October1993)magazinereferredtothisfirstEarthDayas“oneofthemostremarkablehappeningsinthehistoryofdemocracy….”

ThisvastoutpouringofsupportfortheenvironmentmarkedthedaythatthepoliticalsystemintheUnitedStatestrulyrecognizedthatcaringfortheenviron-mentandacceptingstewardshiprespon-sibilityforitsresourceswasthehallmarkofagreatnation.Thisgrassrootspoliticalmovementhelpedestablishapoliti-calclimateconducivetoformingboththeNationalOceanicandAtmospheric

AdministrationandtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyonOctober3,1970....

ThefirstEarthDaymarkedthedaythatournationacceptedresponsibilityforourenvironment;theoutpouringofpublicsentimentinsupportofprotectionandstewardshipofourenvironmentsig-nificantlyinfluencedourpoliticalsystem.EarthDayhascontinuedeveryyearsinceasaniconofthemovementtomonitor,protect,andrestoreourenvironment.Assuch,NOAAhasbeenandcontinuestobeguidedandinfluencedbythespiritandphilosophyofthefirstEarthDay.

—National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationU.S. Department of Commerce

NOAA 200th Anniversary Web sitehttp://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/welcome.html

Printed with permission.

Foodandbeveragewillincludeorgan-icandlocalbeer;localbandswillentertainwithmusicfromfunktobluegrass.

TreesPlease!!!Thisyear’sthemewaschosentoinspireresidentstolearnmoreaboutourlocalcanopycover,andhowithaschangedoverthelast30years.

Wilmington’sEarthDayCelebrationisorganizedbytheEarthDayAllianceconsistingofAirlieGardens,KeepAmericaBeautiful,NewHanoverCounty,NewHanoverSoil&WaterConservation,NCAquariumatFortFisher,andTidalCreekCo-op.


Martyn St. David InAprilof1970IwaslivingatFt.Eustis,

Virginia–marriedtoanofficerinthearmy;aregisteredRepublicanandprettyconservative.IpaidnoattentiontoEarthDayandthehippies.Thefollowingmonth,whentheKentStatestudentswerekilledbyourNationalGuard,IbelievedthattheNationalGuardwasrightandjustified–af-terall,ourgovernmentwasalwaysheretoprotectusandthe“outlaws”werecertainlyheretotearourcountryapart.

ThenIgrewup.

Martyn St. David is Producer and Host of “Life in the Green Lane,” airing Saturday mornings at 8 on WAAV 980AM.

Earth Day 1970— Where were you on April 22?

tochairtheEarthDaycommitteeandorganizethepaneldiscussion.Weknewwewantedavarietyofpointsofviewtoberepresented.Igotarepresentativefromthecoal-burningpowercompanytotalkabouttheireffortstoreducetheirsmokestackemissions;arepresentativeofthecity’swastedisposalprogramwouldspeakaboutwaystoreducetheamountoftrashwethrewawayandfutureplansforthecity’slandfill.Weneededatleastonemorespeaker.MyeconomicsprofessorsaidhehadafriendatMarquetteUniversity,afelloweconomist,whocouldtalkabouttheeconomicperspectivesthataffectbusinessandmanufacturingdecisionstopolluteornotpollute.Thissoundedlikeadifferentandinterestingpointofview,soIaskedhimtoseeifhewasavailable.Asitturnedout,hewas,andLesAspinbecamethethirdpanelistforthefirstEarthDayatU-Rock.

Wehadastanding-roomonlycrowd(OK,itwasjustamedium-sizedaudito-rium),lotsofgreatinformation,livelydis-cussion,andsometoughquestionsfromtheaudience.Theenergyintheroomwaspalpable!Dr.Aspinwaseasilythemost

dynamicspeakerandgavepractical,downtoearthanswerstoallquestionsaddressedtohim.AfterlisteningtohimIbegantounderstand

thattherehadtoeitherbeeconomicincentiveorasignificanteconomicpenaltytoencouragebusiness,manufacturersandcitizenstomakegooduseoftheresourceswehaveandstoppollutingourland,waterandair.

Westartedat7:30andtheTeach-indidn’tenduntilwellafter10:00p.m.Asthechairmanoftheevent,IwastheretotheveryendandhadtheopportunitytotalkwithmyprofessorandDr.Aspinaftermostofthecrowdhadleft.Icomplimented

Dr.Aspinonhoweffectivelyhehadansweredthequestionsdirectedtohim.HethankedmeandthenaskedifI

hadeverworkedonapoliticalcampaign.

Iendeduprecruit-ingmanyofmyfriendstohelporganizehislocalcampaignforU.S.Congress;weworkedhardtohelp

himwinhisfirstelec-tioninthefallof1970.

HeservedinCongressuntilbeingtappedtobeBill

Clinton’sfirstSecretaryofDefense.I’msurethatmuchofhislocalsupportcamefromtheimpressionshemadeonthepeoplewhocametoourEarthDayTeach-in.

It’sgratifyingtoknowthatEarthDayhasbeencelebratedeveryyearinsomeformoranothersince1970,withitsemphasisonlocalenvironmentalissues,whereverittakesplace.I’mproudtohavebeenpartofthefirstEarthDaywithits“Thinkglobally,actlocally”emphasis.IknowSenatorNelsonandCongressman/SecretaryAspinwouldalsobeproud!

Robbyn Novak is now a teacher at Pine Valley Elementary School.

Whenallthetreeshavebeencutdown,whenalltheanimalshavebeenhunted,whenallthewatersarepolluted,whenalltheairisunsafetobreathe,onlythenwillyoudiscoveryoucannot

eatmoney.—CreeProphecy

Robbyn Novak Inordertodivertthemassivenum-

bersofstudentsgoingtocollegeinthemidstofthebabyboomafterWWII,theUniversityofWisconsinbuilt2-yearsatellitecampusesalloverthestate.Tosavemoney,Ipostponedmydreamofescapingmyhometown,andattendUW-RockCounty(wecalleditU-Rock,whichseemedtoreflectthetimes!)formyfirstyearofcollege.AsIlookbackto1969-70I’mthankfulfortheexperiencesandop-portunitiesIhadinthat“littlepond.”

Thatyear,ofcourse,waspunctuatedwithanti-VietnamWarprotests,andtheterm“teach-in”becamethebuzzwordforallconsciousness-raisingactivities,withtheunderstandingthatwhenpeoplejoinedtogether,wecouldinfluencepolicy-makers’decisions.WisconsinSenatorGaylordNelsonproposedtheuseofsimi-lartacticstomakepeopleawareofwaystheycouldhelpimprovetheenvironmentandpromoteconservationofAmerica’snaturalresourcesandwildlife.

Wewerejustlearningaboutthenega-tiveeffectsofDDT,whichhadbeenusedinafutileefforttosavethebeautifulelmtreesfromthedeadlyDutchelmdisease(myhometownwasnicknamed“theCityofElms”priortotheblight’sarrival).EveryonewasreadingRachelCarson’sSilent Spring, andPaulEhrlich’sPopulation Bomb. WaterpollutionbecamefrontpagenewswhentheCuyahogaRivercaughtfire.AsignificantamountofthisenergyconvergedintheactivitiesforthefirstEarthDay,April22,1970.Itwasanewdecade;wewereyoung,filledwithhopeandanxioustodowhateverwecouldtomaketheworldpeacefulandcleaner.

U-Rock’sStudentGovernmentelectedtomarktheoccasionwithtreeplantingsonouryoungcampusandapaneldiscus-sionintheeveningtowhichthecom-munitywouldbeinvited.Iwasselected


Andy Wood

In April 1970 author, ecologist and educator Andy Wood was a budding environmental activist with a Youth Museum near his hometown in Connecticut, an experience that helped direct his life career in the field of conservation.

Inaveryrealsense,Igrewupwiththatmuseum,havingbeenatthegroundbreakingin1960,andlaterparticipat-inginalltheprogramstheyhadtoofferfromweekendbutterflytrekstoweek-longsummercamps.At13whenIwasoldenoughtobecomeaJuniorStaffer,Iproudlyjoinedtheranksofmylike-mindedteenagepeersforalife-formingexperiencethatlaterincludedbecomingaNader’sRaider;anenvironmentalactivistgroupledbyconsumeradvocateRalphNader.

In1970,themuseum’slivelybandofJuniorStaffersspenttheweekendspartici-patinginavarietyofpubliceventsinclud-ingriverclean-ups,roadsideclean-ups,newspapercollections,anti-warprotestsandenvironmentalfairs.Allthisascollegestudentsalsoinvolvedwiththemuseum,workingwithNader’sgroupandEarthDayplannerstoorganizeConnecticut’senvi-ronmentalmovement.

MyinvolvementwiththatfirstEarthDaywasreallymostintenseduringtheweeksleadinguptoApril22.OnEarthDayweekenditself,IwasonCapeHatteras,NorthCarolinaalongwithseveralotherJuniorstaffersandMuseumstaffmembersforaspring-breakfieldtriparrangedbythemuseumasthanksforalltheworkwehaddonethatpreviousyear,includingthe

Earth Day 1970— Where were you on April 22?

WereturnedtoConnecticutfromourHatterasadventures,flushedwithherpe-tologicalsuccesses,andquicklyresumedtherealbusinessoffightingfortheenvi-ronmentandagainstthewarinVietNam.MylifeafterthatfirstEarthDayhasbeenframedbythelessonsandexperiencesIwasprovided,throughmentoringandguidance,fromnumerousyoungadultswhowerethenleadingthechargetohaltwarinparticular,whileencouragingglobalenvironmentalhealthingeneral.

ManysloganshavecomeandgonesincethatfirstEarthDayin1970,butonelinefromaposterIoncehad,andnowparaphrase,stillringstruetoday:“War,andpollution,arenothealthyforchildrenandotherlivingthings.”Thesimplemessagewasaclarioncallthen,andshouldtodaycontinuetospurustogoodworksthathavemeaningfulandlastingbenefitsforpresentandfuturegenerations.Worksthatleadtowiseruseofourpreciouswaterandpricelessarablesoils,andmoreworkintheeducationarenatoincreaseapprecia-tionforallthenaturalresourcesEarth’ssixbillionhumaninhabitantsrequire.

Withthe38thanniversaryofEarthDayhappeningduringthishighlychargedelectionyear,IhopeourcandidateswillrecallthatfirstEarthDay,andaccordinglyprioritizetheircampaignplatformswithafocusonthehealthandwell-beingoftheglobalenvironmentthatconnectsandsupportsalllivingthings.It’sasimpleenvironmentalwish,justlikewehad38yearsagothisweek;awishforahealthyplanet,whichisonethingthattrulybindsusall.

HappySpring,and,HappyEarthDay!

Andy Wood is Education Director of Audubon Carolina, and the author of Backyard Carolina. His nature commentar-ies air every other Monday on WHQR.

Humankindhasnotwoventheweboflife.Wearebutonethreadwithinit.Whateverwedototheweb,wedotoourselves.Allthingsareboundtogether.Allthingsconnect.—ChiefSeattle,1854

Carol Bower Johnson Irememberreading,withhope,about

firstEarthDay,inthenewspaperbeforedrivingovertoworkonbackwardsatBostonStateHospital,preparingwithothernursestomarchonthegovernor’sofficetocallattentiontodeplorableconditions.Hereweare38yearslater.Samedeplorablementalhealthsystemconditions,ANDcarbonemissionscrisisatgloballevelaffectingallcreaturelife.WhatcanIsay.It’seithergiveup,orjoinup.Weneedeveryoneinawatershed(thatisEVERYone)tojoinanenvironmentalgrouphereandinsistongroupsformallyjoiningeachotherinallianceroundtabletoaddressourenvironmentwithcommonstrategy.ThatmeansSierraClub,Audubon,NCCoastalFederation,CapeFearCitizensForASafeEnvironment,CapeFearRiverWatch,PenderWatch–everygroupwithatableattheWilmingtonEarthDay.Guidingprinciple:whatwillwebesayinganddoinginHughMacRaeParkinanother38yearsatEarthDay2046?

Carol Johnson is Coordinating Committee Member of Cape Fear Climate Action Network.

Bouty Baldridge Ihadjustgraduatedfromcollege

andwassettoenterthemilitary.IwasinPortland,Oregon,oneoftheenviron-mentalMeccasoftheworld.WhileIhadnodistinctawarenessofEarthDayatthetime,IbelievethatmyexperiencewiththepeopleofthatareanurturedmyenvironmentalrootstoeventuallypursuethepathsthatIhaveenjoyedthesemanyyearshence.

Bouty Baldridge was an early adopter of electric vehicles, and was the first Cape Fear Riverkeeper.

monthsleadinguptothefirstEarthDay.Thetripwasarareopportunityforusreptileandamphibianfancierstoexploreaplacewellknownforitsfrogs,snakesandlizards.


Earth Day 1990—

Life in Trolldom

Sittinginhispick-uponeday,natural-istAndyWoodcametotheconclusionthatlocaleffortsonthepartofindividualenvi-ronmentalgroupsandinterestedcompa-niescouldbemuchmoreeffectiveiftheyweretocollaborate,andinFebruary1990theEarthDayAlliancewasborn.Theob-jectivesofthenewlyformedenvironmen-talorganizationincludedincreasingpublicawarenessandunderstandingaboutlocalandregionalenvironmentalconcerns,withaneyetohowtheseproblemscontribute

toglobalconditions.Astatedpurposewasadedicationtomaintainingasafe,justandsustainableplanetthroughproac-tiveeducationalprogramsdesignedtoincreaseenvironmentalawarenessamongthecitizenry.

AffiliatedwithEarthDay1990,EarthDayAllianceorganizedtheCapeFeararea’sfirstlarge,organizedcelebrationofEarthDay.HundredsattendedarallyatRiverfrontPark,tolistentospeakersandmusiciansandtocelebratethe20thAnniversaryofthefirstEarthDay.TheWilmington Starreportedthatabout750peoplejoinedintheshortmarchfromCapeFearCommunityCollege,butmanycontinuedontoexhibitsonenvironmentalissuesattheCoastlineConventionCenter.

Theannualcelebrationcontinuestoday.InadditiontothebigcelebrationinHughMacRaePark,areaeventsforEarthDay2008takeplacethroughoutthemonthofApril,andincludeanEnviro-Fair

The Gleason family came from Carolina Beach for the Earth Day rally held on Water Street in 1990.

Like schools throughout our area, Ogden Elementary School devised creative ways to involve students and teachers alike in activities that would encourage discussion of environmental topics.

inSwansboro,anenvironmentalfairatNewHanoverCountyPublicLibrary,andanenvironmentalawardsceremonytohonorlocalindi-vidualsforkeepingOnslowCountycleanandbeautiful.Numerousclean-upeventsarescheduled,whetheronlandorcreeksandotherwaterways.Schoolsatalllevelsparticipateinraisingecologicalawareness,fromelementarychildrenwhoplantflow-ersintheschoolyardandeatwaste-freelunchusingbiodegradableplacesettings,touniversitystudentsinvolvedinongoingeffortstoshareknowledgeandimplementpracticesthataresustainable.(Seewww.uncw.edu/sustainabilitytolearnwhatUNCW’sSustainabilityCommitteeisdoinginAprilandthroughouttheyear.)

WherewillyoubenextEarthDay?

Earth day CElEbration 2008


trees please.

1. Trees increase property values by 5-15%. TheaveragehomeinNewHanoverCountysoldfor$245,687inFebruary2008.Treescouldcontribute$12,284to$36,853tothevalueoftheaveragehome.

2. Property with trees sells better than a properties without them. Asurveyofrealestateagentsrevealedthat84percentfeelahouseonalotwithtreeswouldbeasmuchas20percentmoresaleablethanahouseonalotwithouttrees.

3. Trees help improve water quality and save $$$.Stormwaterrunoffisthenumberonesourceofpollutionofourrivers,creeksandoceans.Forestedareasreducerunoffby17%andcansavemillionsofdollarsininfrastructuretotreatrunoff.Atlanta’scanopycover(27%)saves$883millioninone-timecapitalcoststobuildretentionfacilitiesthatprovidetheequivalentbenefitoftrees.

4. Trees can reduce energy bills. Well-placedtreesaroundahousecancutheatingandcoolingcostsby10-50percent.Theaveragehomeownercouldsavebetween$150and$760peryear.

5. Trees can reduce erosion. Leavesandbranchesinterceptrainbeforeithitstheground,slowingthewaterandreducingtheamountofsoilwashedaway.Treesalsoreduceerosionbybindingthesoilthroughrootsystems.

6. Trees can reduce the impacts of flooding.Maturetreescantakeupbetween50and800gallonsperday,dependingontreespeciesandsize.

7. Trees offset air pollution. Onematuretreeabsorbsapproximately13poundsofcarbondioxideayear.TheaverageAmericancreates41,887poundsofcarbondioxideperyear.

8. Trees provide great places to recreate. Fishers,hunters,birdwatchers,hikers,naturephotographers,horsebackriders,skiers,snowmobilers,andcampersareexamplesofpeoplewhoseactivitiesbenefitfromtrees.

—compliedbyJenniferO’KeefeKeepAmericalBeautifulof

NewHanoverCounty

8 Pragmatic Reasons to Nurture Trees

Wilmington Tree CommissionRecognizingtheneedtoprotectand

promoteoururbanforest,in1996theCityCouncilofWilmingtonestablishedtheWilmingtonTreeCommission.TheCommissionistaskedwithpromotingprogramstosupporttheurbanforest,increasingpubliceducation,andestablish-ingawardsandrecognitionprogramsasincentivestoencourageahealthyandattractivenaturalenvironment.

TheTreeCommissionstewardsmanyprojectsthatincludeArborDay,participa-tionintheTreeUSAprogram,Treefest,andtheLowerCapeFearStewardshipAwardProgramrewardingpositiveworkbyde-velopersinourarea.TheTreeCommissionseekstorewardpositiveactionsinthecommunityregardingtrees.

“Alltoooftenitiseasiertofocusonthenegativethanthepositive,andwearefortunatetoliveinacommunitywithsomanypositiveactionsdeservingofrecog-nition,”saysGwenyfarRohler,amemberoftheCommission.“TheWTCseekstodrawattentiontoandreinforcethepositive.“

Thecity’sHeritageTreeProgramservesasaregistryofsignificanttrees,andisdescribedfurtheronpage9.

AnnualTreePreservationAwardsarepresentedannuallyinuptoninecategories,forpropertieslocatedwithinWilmington’scitylimits.Anyonecannomi-natehisorherowntree,orthatbelongingtoanother(withtheowner’spermission).

Uptofourawardsaregivenannuallyfortreecare,maintenanceanduse,inthefollowingcategories:

• Outstandingpruning,maintenanceand/orgoodtreehealthpractices

• Outstandingtreerestoration• Outstandingtreepreservation• Outstandinghandlingofuniqueloca-

tionchallenges.Uptofiveawardsaregivenforland-

scapedesign,inthefollowingcategories:

• Outstandinguseofnativetrees• Outstandingnaturalizedplantings• Designthatcomplementsarchitecture

ortopographyofsite• Design/styleappropriatetohistory

and/orsignificanceofthesite• Outstandingfunctionaldesign

NominationformsandfurtherdetailsareavailablefromtheCityWebsite,[email protected](910)520-5516.

PLAY THE GAMEI Spy a Tree... for Free

Wilmington’sUrbanForesterhasdevisedanonlinegametoencouragepeopletoobservethetreesaroundthem.EachmonthanewtreeimagefromsomewherewithinWilmingtonispostedatthefollowingsite:

www.wilmingtonnc.gov/tabid/290/Default.aspxIfyourecognizethetreeofthemonth,emailitslocationaccordingtothedirectionsontheWebsite,andyoumightwinatreefromalocalnursery!

Mayor Saffo conducted an impromptu Town Meeting at last year’s Arbor Day celebration.

AttheCityofWilmington’s2008celebrationofArborDay500sap-lingsweregiventoschoolchildrenforfree.Thisyear’scelebrationwasheldatSunsetParkElementarySchool.TheArborDaycel-ebrationmovestoanewelementaryschooleachyear,inordertoreachasmanychildrenaspossible.TeacherspreparechildrenforArborDaybycreatinglessonsontheimportanceoftrees.Aspartoftheevent,atreeisplantedonthegroundsofthehostingelementaryschool.

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your ecological house™

Longleaf Pine Forest

FundraiserEnjoy local art and music

while taking action to stop the destruction of UNCW’s Longleaf Forest

April 30 7pm – 10pm

Jazz Guitar by Roger DavisSilent Auction: gift certificates from eco-friendly businesses

All funds raised will go to:http://earthrescue.blogdrive.com/

bottega art & wine208 no. front st.

wilmington

info:[email protected]

Maturetreesarealmostecosystemsuntothemselves,hostingmoss,insects,birdsandotherorganisms.Onaplanetaryscale,treesabsorbthegreenhousegascarbondioxideandincorporateitintotheirtissue,whereitremainsfordecadesorcenturies.Plantingtreesisoneofourbesthedgesagainsttheworsteffectsofglobalwarming.

Treesalsoyieldeconomicbenefits,evenonthesmallscaleofatypicalhouseandyard,asfruitandwoodcanbehar-vestedforpersonaluseorforsale.Andtreesprovidehandyhangersforropeswingsorhammocksandspiritualcom-panionsforthecontemplative.

However,thewrongtrees,oreventherighttreesinthewrongplaces,canbeproblematicordestructive.Mature“prob-lemtrees”ortheirbranchesthatcanfallwithdamagingorevendeadlyeffectonyourhouseoryourneighbor’shouse.Rootdamagetofoundations,driveways,patiosanddrainscanbeseriousandcostly,andfallenleavesandfruitcanbehazardousonwalkways.

Nonnativetreescandamagetheenvironment,andasaconsequencecandestroyhumanlivesandproperty.WhenAustralianeucalyptustreeswereintro-ducedintoCaliforniainthe1850s,theyspreadrapidly,disruptingnativeecosys-tems.Thehighlyflammableeucalyptustreescontributedtotheeruptionofthe1991fireintheOakland,California,hillsthatkilledseveralpeopleanddestroyedmorethan3,000homes.

Thefirststepinchoosingtherighttreeistodefineitspurpose.You’llneedadeciduoustreeifyouwantsummershadeandwintersun,ofcourse,butyou’llalsohavetodecidewhereandwhenyou’llwantshade.That’sdeterminedbythepathofthesunonyourproperty,thelocationofthetree,anditssizeandshapewhenitmatures.

Woulditbebettertoplanttwosmallershadetreessidebyside?Treessupporteachotheragainsttheelements,andsomespeciesneedamateforpollinationtoproducefruitornuts.

Ifanativetreemeetsyourrequire-ments,itisusuallypreferabletoanonna-tive.Nativessupportothernatives,even

atadistance,throughpollination.Wecanpromotegeneticdiversityandhelppreservethreatenedspecies(suchastheAmericanelm,preytoDutchelmdisease)bygivingtreesahomeandkeepingthemhealthy.

Choosingtherightnativetakessomethought.Forexample,inmostareas,somenativesarewater-lovingandothersneedadrierenvironment.You’llhavetochooseonethatsuitsyourpropertyandwon’tdemandwaterwhereit’sscarce.

Sometimes,yourneedsjustcan’tbemetbynativetrees.Mostfruittrees,forex-ample,havebeenspreadfromtheirplaceoforiginbyhumansforsomanycenturiesthattheyareconsideredpartofthelocallandscape.Trytochooselocally-adaptedtrees,however,andletthearboretumsexhibittheexotictrees.

Peopleoftenbuyatreeforthewayitoritspicturelooksinthenursery,withoutlearningaboutitsmanyrequirementsorunderstandingitscomplexinteractionswiththeirhouseandlandscape.Similarly,peopleplanttreeswheretheythinktheywilllookgood,withoutconsideringhowtheirbranchesorrootswillgroworwhatkindofmaintenancethey’llrequire.(Pruningabig,overgrowntree,forex-ample,isexpensive.)

Thankfully,wearerichinpubliclibraries,well-informednurserypeople,arboristsandextensionservicestohelpyouselecttherighttreesforyoureco-logicalhouse.

©PhilipS.Wenz,2008

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,AddingtoaHouse (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

by Philip S. Wenz

Decidingwhichtreeortreestoplantisoneofthemostimportantchoicesyou’llmakeasyouplananenvironmentallyfriendlyhome.Justastheydominatenatu-ralecosystems,treesdominatetheland-scapeofyour“homeecosystem,”influenc-ingyourmicroclimateandsoilconditionsanddeterminingwhichshrubsandflowerswillsucceedorfailintheirshadows.

Theenvironmental,economicandpersonalbenefitsoftreesarelegion.Ahugedeciduoustreeonthesouthsideofourhouse,forexample,providesenoughshadethatona100-degreedaylastsummerthetemperatureinsideourhousewas82degrees...andwedon’thaveairconditioning.Ourtreedropsitsleavesinthefall,allowingthesuntowarmourhouseinwinter.Iusetheleavesasmulchinourvegetablegarden.

Evergreentrees,especiallywhenplant-edingroups,canprovideayear-roundwindbreak,protectionfromroadpollution,andprivacy.

Choose the Right Tree for Your “Home Ecosystem”


wilmington’s tree canopy

TheCityofWilmingtonHeritageTreeProgramwasestablishedtohelpincreasepublicawarenessabouttheimportantcontributionoftreestoourhistoryandheritage.

TheprogramidentifiesandrecordstreesthatareimportanttotheCity’shistory

Wilmington Program Records City’s Heritage Trees

Photo by Brion Capo

This magnolia tree, in front of the Bellamy Mansion on Market Street, was planted in 1870. Although not yet nominated, both trees pictured on this page are examples of good candidates for the Heritage Tree Program.

Photo by Brion Capo

This Deodar cedar tree by St. James Church at Third and Market Streets in Wilmington measures 42 inches in diameter.

SincetheregistrationoftheAirlieOakin2007,twoadditionaltrees–orrather,onetreeandagroveoffour–havebeenaddedtotheregistry.ThesecondindividualtreerecognizedisacherrytreeoffHollyTreeRoad,measuring50.5inchesindiameter.Thethirdregistrylistingwasgiventoagroveoffouroaktreesonasingleresidentialproperty.

Treesmayqualifyinoneoffourdifferentcategories.Atreemaybenotablebecauseofhis-toricsignificance,orbecauseitisaCitylandmark.Itmightbeaconsideredaspecimen

ornaturallandscape.Atreemaybedesignatedaheritagetreebecauseofitssize,age,rarity,historicalsignificance,oroverallbeauty.Registrationofindividualheritagetreesorgrovesoftreespromotesap-preciationofthesesignificantmembersofourcommunity.

It seems fitting that the Airlie Oak was the first tree to be registered with the City of Wilmington’s Heritage Tree Program. This renowned specimen tree dates back to the year 1545, and is North Carolina’s largest live oak (Quercus virginiana). It graces the lawn of Airlie Gardens, where it can be enjoyed by the 50,000 visitors to the gardens each year (photo, page 11).

tree,becauseofitsexceptionalsize,form,orrarity.Or,liketheregistry’sthirdentry,atreemightbelocatedinanotablegrove,avenueorplanting.

Anyonecannominateatreeforrecognitionandregistrationasaheritagetree.Tolearnmoreaboutthediffer-entcategories,ortodownloadaformtonominateatreeyouthinkdeservestobeconsid-ered,visittheCity’sWebsiteatwww.ci.wilmington.nc.us.OrcallcontactBrionCapo,Wilmington’sUrbanForester,[email protected](910)341-0078.


Where’s your favorite produce stand?Call for Photos:Emailusaphotoofyourfavoritelocalproducestandormarket,alongwithacoupleofsentencessayingwhyyoulikeit.We’llrunsomeofthesephotosinanupcomingofGoing Green.(OurP.O.Boxislistedonpage2ifyou’drathersendaprint.)

Spring returns...

Photos these two pages by Valerie Robertson

11Cape Fear’s Going GreenSpring �008

Support Your Local Farmers!

Buy Local ProduceDowntown Riverfront

Farmers Market

Market & Water Streets

Saturdays

8:30a.m.–1p.m.

Poplar Grove Farmers Market

Hwy 17 North

Wednesdays

8a.m.–1p.m.

1� www.goinggreenpublications.com

1�Cape Fear’s Going GreenSpring �008

Thisbrown-headednuthatchisrestingbetweentasksthatincludegleaninginsectsfromtreebarkandseedsfrompinecones.Apinewoodsinhabitant,thissouthernspeciesusesitslongpointedbilltocacheseedsandotherfoodstuffsincracksandfurrowsoftreebark.ExcavatinganestcavityindeadtreesandlimbsinlateMarchandearlyAprilmaytakethreeweekstocomplete.Eggsarewhitewithuniformreddish-brownspeckling.

Brown-Headed Nuthatch(Sitta pusilla)

Theseenergeticbirdstravelinsmallgroupsthatmayincludeotherspeciessuchaschickadeesandwarblers.Thenuthatch’schatteringcallresemblesthesoundofachild’ssqueakytoy.Adultnuthatchesweightengrams,oraboutasmuchastwonickels.

ConservationNote:Brown-headednuthatchesaredecliningovermuchoftheirrangeduetohabitatlossand

alteration.Theyrequiredeadtreetrunksandsnagsfornestsitesandcannotbreedinforeststhathavebeen“cleaned”ofthisimportanthabitatstructure.

US CoinagePennyStandardweight2.5gramsNickelStandardweight5.0gramsDimeStandardweight2.268gramsQuarterStandardweight5.670grams

Photo and text by Andy Wood | Audubon Carolina


Field Trip to the Solar Decathloninformationabouttheworkingsoftheirdesign.Homescompeteintendifferentcontests,andreceivescoresforeach.ThehomewiththehighestscoreiswinneroftheoverallSolarDecathlon.Thecompetitionisdesignedtomakesuretheentiretwo-yearprocessisavaluabletraininggroundforlearn-ingtousesolartechnology,whilemindfulofthecomfort,appeal,andlivabilityfactors

Photo by Helen Griffith

Members of the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance and friends carpooled to Washington, D.C. to visit the solar homes on the Mall in front of the Capitol building. From left, Valerie Robertson, Sunny Kumar, Gordon Singletary, Elise Rocks, Ari Rapport, Tracy Rapport, and Carl Lorenz.

by Valerie Robertson

Twentyteamsofarchitecturalstu-dentsdescendedonthenation’scapitollastOctober,andtheybroughttheirhouseswiththem.TheycametocompeteinthethirdSolarDecathlon,acompetitioninwhichstudentteamsshowcasetheirideasforbetterlivingwithsolaranddem-onstratehowwelltheycanmakethoseideasreallywork.ThehousetheybringtoWashingtonmustbeafully-functional,energy-efficient,completelysolar-pow-eredhome.

Studentsdevoteuptotwoyearsdesigningandbuildingthecompetitionhome,whichtheythenmustdisassemble,transportandreconstructonthegrassyMallrunningbetweentheCapitolbuildingandtheWashingtonMonument.

Duringthenine-dayDecathlon,thehomesareopentothepublic,andstu-dentsarejudgedinpartonhowwelltheirsignageandstudent-ledtoursconvey

The design challenge the team from Georgia Institute of Technology set themselves was to open their building to sunlight without creating glare or overheating the space. They used several techniques, the most visible of which was their use of transluscent walls, consisting of two sheets of polycarbonate enclosing an aerogel filler. Aero-gel, also called “solid smoke,” is the lightest solid known. It’s transluscent, and allows filtered light into the home. It’s also an excellent insulator. The roof is also made of transluscent material—a product normally used for big installations like football stadiums. The orange and green house in the distance is the entry from two-time Decathlon winner, University of Colorado at Boulder. They consider the Solar Decathlon size guidelines too limiting, and so this 700 sq. ft. entry will, once back home, serve as the core of a 2,100 sq. ft. house. The team’s sponsor, Xcel Energy, has already agreed to buy the final structure to use as a permanent research and education facility.

thatarenecessarycomponentsofanyhome-buildingenterprise.

Eachhouseisjudgedintendifferentcategoriesoverthecourseofthenine-dayevent.Becausegenerationofpoweriskey,specifictestsaresetuptojudgehoweffectivethesystemwouldbeforafamilyinhabitingthehome.IntheAppliancescontest,forexample,it’snotenoughtoshowthatthesolarpowerissufficienttoruntherefrigerator.TogainmaximumpointsintheAppliancescontest,theteammustmaintaincertaintemperaturerangesintheirrefrigeratorandfreezer.Duringthecompetition,theymustwashanddrytwelvetowelsfortwodays,cookandservemealsforfourdays,andusethedishwash-ertocleandishesforfourdays.

Similartestsassesswhetherthesolarhotwatersystemscansupplyallthehot

When you’re in a solar village it’s easy to remember which direction is South, since all the solar panels face that direction. (If you’re in the Southern Hemi-sphere, the panels would be oriented to face North.)

This entry from the University of Maryland got high marks for livability. We were intrigued by the focal point of the living room: a dessicant wall that resembled a water wall, but carried a steady stream of liquid dessicant material, fully enclosed behind glass, that captured humidity within the house and discharged it outside. Designed around the concept of a leaf, LEAFHouse won second place in the Decathlon.

“ItwasasignofthetimestoseetheSolarDecathloninthemostpowerfulandinfluentialcityintheU.S.”

–FrenchSconyers

“MyfavoriteaspectoftheSolarDecathlonwasMaryland’scountertopmadefromafallenmapletree.Ilovedthattheyincorporatedmothernature’sdeceasedforhomebeautification.”

–MichaelTyler


Solar Decathlon

Elise, Carl, and Ari admire the amenities of the kitchen/dining area of the entry from the Univer-sity of Texas at Austin. Note the opportunity for fresh air and cross-ventilation.

Photo by Mike Tyler

Ron Wilson’s architectural technology students included a side trip to the National Building Museum , a metro ride away from the Mall where the Solar Decathlon homes were on display for nine days in October. Back row, from left, Scott Biggs, Ron Wilson, Alex Dortschy, Keith Burke. Front row: J.W. Pegg, French Sconyers, Alyssa Halle, David Bettencourt.

waterneededbyahouseholdforbathing,laundry,anddishwashing.

TheCommunicationscontestchal-lengesteamstoshareinformationwithawideaudienceaboutthetechnicalandexperientialaspectsoftheirproject.Pointsaregivenforclear,consistentmessages,forcompleteWebsitecommunicationabouttheirplansfromdesignthroughex-ecution,andfortheirabilitytospeakwiththepublic.On-sitesignageandstudent-ledtoursprovidedgoodexplanationsoftheprocessesinsideeachhouse.

EachteamwasissuedanelectriccarupontheirarrivalattheMall,forTheGettingAroundcontest,whichgradesteamsonhowmuchelectricitytheycangenerateabovethatneededtorunthesystemsofthehouse.Theychargethecar,andtheirsuccessismeasuredbyhowmanymilestheycandrive.

DecathlonsponsorU.S.DepartmentofEnergymaintainsawonderfulWebsite,www.solardecathlon.org,thatincludesnotonlyinformationonthecompetition,butcontactinformationandlivelinkstotheWebsitesofallthestudentteams.Teamsforthe2009eventhavealreadybeenchosen,andyoucantracktheirprogressonline.Youcanalsochecktheprogressofteamsfromthe2007Decathlon,tolearnmoreabouttheirprojectsandtolearnthedispositionofeachhouse,whetherit’sbackoncampus,orhasbeensoldforcom-munityuseortobeusedasaresidence.

Ifyou’reintriguedbythepotentialofincorporatingsolarenergyintoyourhome,consideratriptoWashington,D.C.forthe2009SolarDecathlon.

“Beingexposedtothevariouswaystheteamsemployedsolarpowerintheirdesignsmadememoreawarethaneverthatcleanalternate-energysourcesarenotjustagoodthing,butanecessity.”

–KeithBurke

“Myfavoritethingwasgettingideasforourupcomingdesignprojectandalsotheincorpora-tionofthoseideasforahealthy,greensustainablefuture.”

–AlexDortschy

“Gogreenandkeeptheenvironmentclean.”

–J.W.Pegg

“Igreatlyenjoyedconversingwiththeinternationalteams(PuertoRico,Spain,andGermany)aboutthesolar/renewablemindsetintheirhomecountries.Itwasstunningtohearhowadvancedtheyareinsolarinnovationandtheincorporationofrenewableenergyandresourcesintheireverydayliving.Wemustpushforwardandcontinuedownasimilarpath.”

–AlyssaHalle

The Santa Clara University team used electrochro-mic windows for their house. The innovative glass used in these windows allows the homeowner to flip a switch to either darken the glass to block the sun’s rays, or lighten to allow the sun entry.Pictured here are the exposed I-beams in the liv-ing area, made of bamboo. Santa Clara came in third overall.

The German entry was encased in a shell of comp uter- o p erated louvered panels. As seen at left, the panels on sunny sides of the house contained a photovoltaic strip on each slat. PV panels also cover the roof, and on this sunny day the house was generating far more energy than it could use.

Germany’s entry, made of their local German oak, was the overall winner of the 2007 Solar Decathlon.


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Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Honored on Stamp

BestknownforherPulitzerPrize-winningnovelThe Yearling andhermemoirCross Creek, MarjorieKinnanRawlingswascom-memoratedonFebruary21atthesiteofherCrossCreek,Florida,home.Rawlingsisrememberedforshortstories,novelsandnon-fictionworksaboutlifeintheFloridabackwoods.Rawlings’collectionsofsouthernrecipesremainapopularadditiontomanykitchenlibrariestoday.[MichaelDeascreatedaportraitofthenovelistwithabackgrounddepictingafawnatawateringholeinFloridascrubcountry.]

But what of the land? It seems to me that the earth may be borrowed but not bought. It may be used, but not owned. It gives itself in response to love and tending, offers its seasonal flowering and fruiting. But we are tenants and not possessors, lovers and not master. Cross Creek belongs to the wind and the rain, to the sun and the seasons, to the cosmic secrecy of seed, and beyond all, to time.

— Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings


Every year students from the CFCC’s Architectural Technology Program compete in a North Carolina design competition. The designs are created in response to an actual building need; the winning design is actually constructed.The 2008 design challenge was to create a duplex designed for seniors, on a specific site associated with a facility in Virginia. Students worked to incorporate design principles tailored to the needs of an older population.This year’s local competition was April 9; at this writing, two student teams of second-year architectural tech students from CFCC are at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh participating in the state-wide competition.

TheNorthCarolinaSustainableBuildingDesignCompetitionincon-junctionwiththeU.S.GreenBuildingCouncil(USGBC)NaturalTalentDesignCompetitionprovidesanappliedlearningexperienceintheprinciplesofintegrateddesign,sustainability,innovationandsocialconsciousness.Initiatedin2000,thetwocompetitionsmergedin2006tocontinuethevisionofincorporatingtheprinciplesofsustainabilityintocollege-levelcurriculums.

UnderthedirectionofRonWilson,leadinstructor,theEngineeringDivision’sArchitecturalTechnologyProgramhasparticipatedinthecompetitionsince2003.Thedesigngoalsofthecompetitioninclude:

• Wholehousedesign• Creativityinprocess,designand

innovation• Conceptualdesignandprogramfulfill-

ment:howtheproject’svisionhasmettherequirementsandthefamily’sneeds

• Engagementofenvironmental,economicandsocialaspectsofprogramandsite

• IntegrationoflocalhomeprogramssuchasLEEDandHealthyBuiltHomes

• Overallenergyreductionanditsdocumentation

Eachparticipatingteam’sdesignmustusethefollowingcategoriestoproduceahigh-performancegreenresidenceforthespecifiedfamily:

• Energy-efficientdesign• Renewableenergy• Buildingscience• Materials• Indoorenvironmentalquality• Water• Communityandhistoricpreservation• Hazardmitigation

• Universaldesign

Thecompetitionhasgrowntoincludetwelvetwo-andfour-yearcollegesfromNorthCarolinaandVirginia.

Thecommit-mentofthefac-ultyandstudentsintheArchitecturalTechnologyProgramhasal-lowedgreatsuccessinthecompetition.

Theprogramisconsideredaleaderineducatingstudentsaboutenergyefficientdesignandrenewableenergy.Thededica-tionandhardworkhasresultedinthefollowing:

• 2003–ThirdPlace(firstyearinthecompetition)

• 2004–FirstandSecondPlace(unprecedented)

• 2005–FirstPlace• 2006–SecondandThirdPlaceand

HonorableMention• 2007–SecondandThirdPlace

• 2008–?

Thusfarinthecompetitions,localandstateprizesawardeddirectlytoCFCCArchitecturalTechnologystudentstotalover$24,500.00

Photo by Ron Wilson

Student teams from CFCC come to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences to compete in a state-wide program, hoping their entry will be judged the best high-performance green residence.

sustainability

Cape Fear Community College Enters the North Carolina Sustainable Building Design Competition


Sapona Green Building Center Grand Opening

business news

EarlythisyearElaineandMattJackopenedthearea’sfirstbuildingcenterfeaturingexclu-sivelygreenproducts.ThestoreislocatedatAndersonSquare,4113OleanderDrive,SuiteBinWilmington,andcarriesawiderangeofnon-toxicandeco-friendlyproducts,includingpaint,flooring,countertopsandpartitions,andwallcoverings.Stopintoenjoyallthedifferenttexturesandcolors,orlearnhowaffordablesolarcanbe.Formoreinformation,visittheWebsite:www.saponagreen.com.

More New Businesses in Our Area

Save Trees.Buy Used Books.

Old Books on Front Street“Connecting good people with good books since 1982”

22 North Front St. Wilmington, NC 28401(910) 763-4754

Local rain barrel sources NorthCarolinamanufacturer:

RainWaterSolutions,Inc.www.rainwatersolutions.com(919)835-1699

RainWaterSolutionsdesignsareavailableyear-roundinWilmingtonfromthefollowing:

LocalRetailoutlet: ProgressiveGardens,5732-A

OleanderDr,Wilmington,NCwww.progressivegardens.com(910)395-1156

Barrelfundraiser: CapeFearRiverWatchwillsoon

offerbarrelsasafundraiserfortheirprograms.CallJoeAbbateat(910)762-5606.

LocalRetailoutletsforotherbrands:

WefoundtwolocalAceHardwarestorescarryingrainbarrels–callaheadtomakesurethey’reinstock.Theyare:

Harold’sHardware,6756MarketStreet,(910)791-6991.Viewtheirmodelonlineatwww.haroldshardware.com(ororderfromtheirsiteifyouprefer).

HampsteadAceHardware,15597USHwy17,Hampstead,(910)270-3237.

Lowe’shadtwoinstockwhenwecalled,andcanorderthem.LowesHomeImprovementWarehouseofUniversityCity,354So.CollegeRd,Wilmington,(910)395-8433oratMonkeyJunction(910)397-0137.

Inaddition,severallocalcom-paniessuchasSolarWeatherWorksandOneWorldDesigncandesignandinstallcustomrain-gatheringsystems.

MikeandPaulaMooreofAmpmobileConversionsLLCareofferingaworkshopinconvertingyourcartoaplug-inhybrid.May21istheregistra-tiondeadlinefortheworkshop,whichwillbeheldJune6-9outsideofCarowinds.Ifthereisenoughinterest,asecondclasswillbescheduledforJune.

TheMooresspecializeintheconversionofcarsand

Workshop for Plug-in Hybrid Conversionstrucks(andsoon,motorcycles)toall-electricpower.Theyalsoconductongoingresearch,developmentandeducationinalternativeenergies,aswellaspromotingalternativemodesoftransportationandalterna-tiveenergy.

Formoreinformation,visitwww.ampmobiles.com,[email protected](866)831-1082.

New Gourmet Market Mr.SeyoumJoseph

openedTheGourmetMarketindowntownWilmington,andprovidesfreshfruits,veg-etables,locallygrownproduce,healthysnacks,healthydrinks,andmore.Lunchtimesandwichesandsaladsarenowavailable,andheplanstoexpandhisofferingseachmonth.Comingsoon:gluten-freeitems,organiccoffee&juicebar,andsupplements.

The Gourmet Market is located at 27 No. Front Street, near the corner of Front and Princess Streets, Wilmington, and is open 9a.m.–10p.m. daily.

Door to Door Floors Opens in Belville

ThomasandAmyBritehaveopenedDoorToDoorFloors,thefirstAnsoPremierDealerinthestateandtheonlyoneintheWilmingtonarea.Ansonylonistheonlycradle-to-cradlerecyclablecarpetonthemarketandtherearehundredstochoosefromwithpricepointsbetterthantraditionalcarpetandgreatrebatesforgoinggreen.TheshowroomatDoorToDooris90%“Green”withtheselectiongrowingeverymonth.Nomatterwhatyou’relookingfor,Tile,Laminate,Hardwood,

May 15 is the submission deadline for the June/July issue of

Cape Fear’s Going Green(910)547-4390

Cork,Bamboo,orCarpet,theenvironmentalyfriendlyfloorsatDoorToDoorFloorshaveit.ComespeakwithThomasandAmytoseehowaffordablegoinggreenis.LocatedattheWaterfordshopsbesideUrgentCareandbehindEdwardJones.

Door to Door Floors is located at 497 Olde Waterford Way, Suite 108 Belville, NC 28451. Telephone: (910)371-9662.


Shell Recycling Increases Sharply; New Site at Hilltop Grocery“Afterpickupsthrough

mid-March,thetallyofshellsdumpedontothestockpilesinceOctoberfirststoodat800bushels,”reportedJackSpruill,headofthePenderWatch&Conservancyshellrecyclingprogram.“Theresponseofcitizens,ourfivemerchantsandvolunteershasbeentremen-dousandmuchappreciated.”

Anew,fifthsiteatHilltopGroceryandServiceStationonHighway17inHampsteadbecameactiveinJanuary.

“HilltopGroceryshoulddevelopintoahighvolume

site,”saidSpruill,“becausetheSloopPointareahasalong,richhistoryofoysterandclamfishingandharvest.Commercialoysterfishermen,aswellorbetterthananyone,knowthatwehavetogetshellsbackinthewatertoreplacethestructurefornewoystergrowthwhenweharvestoys-ters.And,theownerofHilltopdoescommercialfishing.”

SpruillsaidthatwearewellonthewaytoseeingasmanybushelsofclamandoystershellsrecycledbackintoPenderCountywatersasare

bushelsofoystersharvestedeachyear.

“Thisshouldbodewellforouroysterhabitatsinthefuture,”saidSpruill,“ifwecancomplementthiswithtwofurtherachievements.”

First,hesaid,PenderWatchvolunteersplantoworkincooperationwithUNCWandMarineFisheriestogetrecycledshellsproperlyplacedinPenderwatersduringthe2008spawningseason,JunethroughAugust.

Second,citizens,alongwithlocalbusinessesand

governmentneedtostemthetideagainstfurtherdeteriora-tionofourwaterqualityduetostormwaterrunoff,runoffofchemicalsfromlawnsandgolfcourses,anddestructionofvaluablefilteringvegetationalongPenderwaters.

“Thislastachievementre-quiresacommitment,”thepro-gramdirectorconcluded,“butitcanbedone.”ForfurtherinformationonPenderWatch&Conservancyortobecomeamember,call270-4133,[email protected].

Spring Rain Barrel Sales a Success in Area CountiesOnemonthaftertheCityofWilmington’sspringrain

barrelsalesoldarecord270rainbarrels,BrunswickSoil&WaterConservationDistricthosteditsfirstSpringRainBarrelSalethisyear.Organizersweregratifiedtosell106attheirfirstsuchevent.

BarrelsforbotheventsweredeliveredfromRainWaterSolutions,inRaleigh.Ifyoumissedyourchance,seethesidebaronpage18foralistofplacesyoucanbuyabarrel...ifyoudon’twanttowaituntilnextyear!

Transporting the barrels home took a variety of forms, although many were happy just to stash their barrel in the back seat of the passenger car.

Mike and Lynn Ruck of Rain Water Solutions delivered freshly made barrels to the parking lot of the Brunswick County Government Complex in Bolivia.

This enterprising shopper rounded the corner and filled the other side of his Rabbit with plants from the Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Plant Sale.

�0 www.goinggreenpublications.com

Street,onthethirdflooroftheRoudabushbuildingatthecornerofDockandFrontStreetsindowntownWilmington.LookfortheCFGBAsignatthebackentrance(theonewithastreet-levelelevator)onDock.ComeearlyorstaylatefordinneratYosake.

Education/County PolicyShawnRalston,SeniorEnvironmental

PlannerwiththeNewHanoverCountyPlanningDepartmentandCFGBABoardmember,recentlyparticipatedintheNationalAssociationofCounties(NACo)first-everCountyClimateProtectionForuminWashington,D.C.Thistwo-daydialogueandpeer-to-peernetworkingforumprovidedcountyofficialsfromacrossthecountrytheopportunitytodiscussandlearnmoreaboutbestpractices,toolsandresourcestoassistcountiesindevelop-ingandimplementingsuccessfulclimatechangeprogramsathome.Tofollowuptothismeeting,NewHanoverCountywillbedevelopingaclimateactionplanwhichcouldincorporateenergyefficiency,renewableandalternativeenergy,greenbuilding,waterquality,landuse,pur-chasingandrecyclingtofacilitategreengovernmentpractices.

business briefs & education updatesMilestones & Awards

Martyn St. David hasstartedanewhour-longradioenvironmentalshowcalled“LifeintheGreenLane”onWAAV908AM.TuneineverySaturdaymorningat8tolearnhowyourdailyactionscanmakeadifference.

UNCWnamedJock Brandistheir2007“AlbertSchweitzerHonorsScholar”forhisinventionoftheUniversalNutShellerandhispursuitofsolvingtheproblemsofhungerindevelopingcountries.ThepurposeoftheawardistorecognizeapersonintheCapeFearareawhoexem-plifiestheattributesandidealsofAlbertSchweitzer.ThehonoreedeliversalecturetotheHonorsScholarsFreshmanSeminarclassinthefall.

New Meeting Day for CFGBATheCapeFearGreenBuildingAlliance

hasmoveditsmonthlymeetingstoanewnightofthemonth,toeliminatescheduleconflictswithmeetingsofCityCouncilandwithmeetingsofotherbuilding-relatedgroupsintown.StartinginMay,theNEWmeetingnightisthesecondWednesdayofthemonth.Visitorsarealwayswelcome.MeetingsareheldatTheBalconyonDock

TheTakeActionTouronClimateChangeiscomingtoWilmington.“FeelingtheHeat?SolutionsforClimateChange”willmakeitssecondstoponSaturday,May3rdfrom1p.m.–3p.m.inUNCW’sWarwickCenter,Ballroom3.TheeventisbeingsponsoredbytheNorthCarolinaCoastalFederation,SouthernAllianceforCleanEnergy,EnvironmentalDefenseFund,NorthCarolinaConservationNetwork,andEnvironmentNorthCarolina.

Fromrisingsealevels,tomoreintensetropicalstormsandhurricanes,NorthCarolinafacesnoshortageofconsequenc-esasaresultofglobalwarming.Inordertoavoidadangerousshiftinourclimate,significantchangesneedtobemadeimmediately.Intheabsenceoffederalaction,manycities,states,andindividualsaretakingactiontoreducetheamountofcarbondioxidebeingemitted.NowitistimeforNorthCarolinatojointhegrow-

ingnumbersofpeopleandgovernmentstakingaction.

LearnhowachangingclimatecanimpactNorthCarolinaandfindoutwaysNorthCarolinadecision-makerscanaddresstheseproblems.We’lldiscusswhyNorthCarolinashouldsetagoaltoreducecarbondioxideemissions,howwecancleanupourcarstoreducecarbonemis-sions,andwaysourstatecanadapttotheanticipatedharmfulimpactsofawarmingclimate.

Don’tmissthisopportunitytolearnwhatNorthCarolinacandotosolveglobalwarmingandfindoutwaysyoucaninflu-enceNorthCarolinaleaderstomakewisechoices.

FormoreinformationandtoRSVPvisitwww.ncconservationnetwork.orgorcontactVeronicaButcherveronica@nccon-servationnetwork.orgorMargaretHartzellmargaret@environmentnorthcarolina.org.

Take Action Tour on Climate Change— May 3

Kokopelli Kilts

2376 Friendly StreetEugene Oregon 97405

[email protected]

Fun practical kilts for the whole family!

Mary Robertson, Kiltmaker

Community Supported Agriculture willbethefocusofourJune/Julyissue.IfyouknowofaCSAinourareayou’dlikeforustomen-tion,[email protected](910)547-4390

�1Cape Fear’s Going GreenSpring �008

book suggestions

Going Green on the road... Eugene, OROurJanuarytriptotheGoodEarthShowingreenEugenewasachancetoseenewtechnologiesinactionandmeetnewfolks.One“find”waswriterPhilipS.(Skip)Wenz,whohaskindlyagreedtowritearegularcolumnforthispublication.Seepage8for“YourEcologicalHouse.”

The World Future Society ranked nature-deficit disorder as the fifth most important trend (on a list of 10) that would shape 2007 and the years to come.

Unbowed A Memoir Wangari MaathaiAnchor Books• $14.95

WangariMaathaiisaremarkablewomanwho,dismayedbythedisappearanceoftreesinhernativeKenya,startedplantingtreesandcreatingsystemstoencouragepoorruralwomentoplantandnuturetrees—acrimepunishablebyjailingsandbeatings.Hercontinuedeffortstobuildtree-plantingnetworksresultedintheplantingofmorethan40milliontrees.ElectedtoParliamentin2002,in2003shewasappointedAssistantMinisterfortheEnvironment.In2004,shebecamethefirstenvironmentalist,andthefirstAfricanwoman,toreceivetheNobelPeacePrize.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit DisorderRichard LouvAlgonquin Books of Chapel Hill• $13.95

“Everyparentwouldbenefitfromread-ingLast Child in the Woods,”saysKarenLinehan,teacheratFriendsSchoolofWilmingtonandaformernaturalscienceeducatorwiththeNCMuseumofNaturalSciences.“RichardLouv’sbookisaninspiringremindertoparents,educators,andcommunityleadersofhowimportantitistocontinuethisworkofconnectingchildrentothenaturalworld.Itisabooktokeephandyandrefertooftenaswecol-lectivelynurturetheuniqueandintimaterelationshipthatchildrensharewiththenaturallandscapearoundthem.”

The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man’s heart away from nature becomes hard.

—Luther Standing Bear Oglala Sioux

Photo by Kelly Windhaven

Skip Wenz and Valerie Robertson met earlier this year at the Good Earth Show in Eugene, Oregon.

LOOKING TO GO GREEN?

FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING ANDHOME PRODUCTS

4113-B Oleander Dr.Wilmington, NC 28403

in Anderson Square by Tazy’s & CopyCat

910.313.6606www.saponagreen.com

~open M-F 10-6, Sat 10-3

VISIT sapona green

�� www.goinggreenpublications.com

calendarSend us your calendar items! Email us at [email protected], or call (910)547-4390. The online version of the calendar is updated weekly. June and July items received by May 15 are candidates for our print calendar as well.

May 1BrunswickBeekeepersAssociationmonthlymeeting.BoliviaComplex,7p.m.ContactBarryHarrisat(910)352-7868.

May 3CapeFearRiverWatchoffersafreeeducationalseminarat9a.m.thefirstSaturdayofeachmonth,attheirheadquartersat617SurryStreet,downtownWilmington.Comeearlyforbreakfast.ChecktheirWebsiteforthetopicofthemonth:www.cfrw.us.

May 7CapeFearCAN(ClimateActionNetwork)monthlymeeting,7p.m.UnitarianUniversalistFellowshipofWilmington,4313LakeAvenue,Wilmington.www.capefearcan.com.

May 8CapeFearBiofuelsmonthlymeeting,intheupstairscommunityroomaboveTidalCreekCo-op,5329OleanderDrive.Meetsthe2ndThursdayofthemonthat6p.m.Seewww.capefearbiofuels.

May 14CapeFearGreenBuildingAlliancehasaNEWMEETINGNIGHT:Itnowmeetsthe2ndWEDNESDAYofthemonth.TheBalcony,3rdfloorofRoudabushbuilding,cornerofSo.Front&DockStreets,Wilmington.7–9p.m.May’sspeaker:BrionCapo,CityofWilmingtonUrbanForester.Fordetailschecknewsletteronwww.cfgba.org.

Cape Fear River Watch Clean-ups Downey Creek Clean-up a Success

Photo by Valerie Robertson

Members of Cape Fear River Watch collected trash along both banks of Downey Creek during one of the routine monthly clean-ups sponsored by the organization. Cape Fear River Watch organizes a clean-up of some local body of water each month, usually the third Saturday. If you’d like to join the group for a future clean-up, visit their Web site to learn of the next event. No experience is necessary; wear old cloth-ing and bring rubber gloves. The group will provide trash bags and tools, unless you have a favorite “pick-up” tool you’d like to bring along. See www.cfrw.us for dates of upcoming clean-ups.

May 15is the deadline for the June/July issue

Send your article or ad requests to:[email protected] or call (910)547-4390

Theme: Community Supported Agriculture

Please support our advertisers. And please mention you saw them

in Cape Fear’s Going Green!

��Cape Fear’s Going GreenSpring �008

calendar calendarMay 162008SMARTTChallengeFinalEvent.ComecheeronthestudentteamfromTopsailHighSchool.May16:HistoricOakViewPark,Raleigh,NC8:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

May17:McKimmonCenter,NorthCarolinaStateUniversity,Raleigh,NC7:30a.m.-3:00p.m.

JoinhundredsofstudentsfromacrossthesoutheastastheyassembleinRaleightodrive,test,present,andcompetewiththeircustom-builtelectriccarsandtrucksintheculminationofthe13thAnnualElectricVehicleChallengeonMay16-17,2008.Freeadmissionforspectators.

May 20CapeFearRegionalBeekeepersAssociationmonthlymeeting.NewHanoverCountyArboretum,6206OleanderDrive,Wilmington.7p.m.ContactBarryHarrisat(910)352-7868orseewww.ncbee-keepers.org/chapters.htm.

May 20NorthCarolinaNativePlantSocietymonthlymeeting,northcampusofCapeFearCommunityCollege.ContactDuaneTruscottattruscottd@bellsouth.netor(910)675-1205fortime.

November 21-23, 2008CarolinaLivingGreenExpo,Concord,NC.Phone(910)795-0292orvisitwww.CarolinaLivingGreenExpo.comforexhibitorinformation.

ONGOING EVENTSDowntown Riverfront Farmers MarketWeeklymarketatMarket&WaterStreets,downtownWilmington.Saturdays8:30a.m.–1p.m.Forinformation:(910)341-0079orseewww.wilmingtonfarmers.com.

Poplar Grove Farmers MarketPoplarGrovePlantation,Hwy17North.Wednesdays8a.m.–1p.m.The3rdWed.eachmonthPender

CountyMasterGardenersofferaplantclinic.www.poplargrove.com/farmers_market.htm.

Life in the Green LaneWeeklyradioenvironmentalshow,8–9a.m.SaturdaysonWAAV980AMHostedbyMartynSt.David.OCEAN: explore. discover.ExhibitthroughJanuary4,2009attheCapeFearMuseum,814MarketStreet,Wilmington.OceanresearchexhibitpreparedjointlywithUNCW’sCenterforMarineScience.(910)798-4350orwww.capefearmuseum.com.For additional calendar listings, visit our Web site, which is up-dated weekly: www.goinggreenpublications.com.

TJ's Clean Sweep

All natural, Earth friendly cleaningservice for your home and office

Go Green With Us!

Jeanne Teri512-1193 620-1668

5732-A Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC • 910-395-1156www.progressivegardens.com

Greenhouse Supplies • Hydroponic EquipmentIndoor Plant Lighting • Natural PesticidesNatural Lawn Care • Beneficial InsectsIndoor/Outdoor Gardening SuppliesVortex Brewers • Science ProjectsOrganic Seeds, Soils, & Fertilizers

Composting • Rain BarrelsSprouts • Much More!!

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Back cover sponsored by


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Cape Fear’s Going Green 2 lo res.pdf · 10,000 high schools and grade schools, and 20 million citizens participated, nearly ten percent of the U.S. population at that time. American

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