this issue, LOW resolution

Transcription

Cape Fear’s
Going Green
your guide to local eco-friendly resources
Community
Gardens:
Grow Your Own Food
Build Community
Southeast North Carolina Food
Systems—
Supporting local farmers
Hiring a Landscape Architect
Friends School of Wilmington
www.GoinGGreenPublications.com
Summer / Fall 2010
Volume 3 Issue 3
Letter from the Editor
When I signed up for the “Eat Local” challenge at
Tidal Creek Coop, I wasn’t thinking about reducing my
dependence on fossil fuels. I just wanted to eat fresh,
healthful food while supporting North Carolina farmers
and retailers. But recent events in the Gulf force us to rethink the
consequences of our actions. One large and unyielding
consequence of our love affair with “things” is that in order
to continue making and shipping them, we will have to
look for oil in increasingly hostile environments, sometimes with disastrous results.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m a fan of capitalism. But
capitalism doesn’t mean “just buy more stuff.” Capitalism
means making decisions about what and when we buy in
order to support and sustain our chosen way of life.
If I buy a pineapple at the grocery store, I’m telling
the grocer, and the wholesaler, and the farmer, and the
fertilizer company, and the ad company—pretty much
everyone—that I want that pineapple, even if it comes
from far away. That I want that pineapple despite the fuel
needed to bring it here.
Now, signing up for the food challenge was easy; I
could make up my own guidelines. So I pledged that all
the food I purchased during the month, and particularly
anything I took to a potluck event, had to come from this
area. At the grocery store last week I stood in front of the
blueberry display—which of the two brands to choose?
Normally I’d just look for the nicest berries at the best
price. But because of my “eat local” pledge, I examined
them more closely: one brand came all the way from
Canada; the other from Rocky Point just a few miles north
of me. Had I not paused a moment to read the label, I
wouldn’t have known one choice would let me support a
local farmer, and require less fuel to bring the food to me.
Reducing our dependence on foreign oil can be just
that simple. The choices we make with our doIlars do
make a difference. Granted, it’s not always easy to determine the best alternative—it might take less fuel to bring
something by train from California than by truck from
Florida, for instance. And it’s hard to find alternatives for
some products that are not produced here—olive oil, for
example. Sometimes the best choice can seem elusive.
But if we read the label, we can almost always figure
out the better choice.
— Valerie L. Robertson
Editor
Contents
3 SENC Food Systems Program Supports Local Agriculture
4 Grow Your Own Food—The Joys of Community Gardening
7 Neighborhood Gardens Building Community
8 Friends School Gets Their GOAT—Quaker Ideals Inspire
Environmental Stewardship
10 Hiring a Landscape Architect
12 2010 Wilmington Tree Awards
13 Your Ecological House—The Blot Heard Round the World
14 Global Climate Treaty Remains Elusive
14 Global Warming—A Look Inside Copenhagen
17 Education & Business News
21 Faith-Based Environmentalism
23 Stormwater 101—Did You Drop Something? Wilmington
Adopts New Pet Waste Disposal Ordinance
❧ ❧ ❧
“There are two spiritual dangers in not owning
a farm. One is the danger of supposing that
breakfast comes from the grocery, and the
other that heat comes from the furnace.”
— Aldo Leopold
(A Sand County Almanac)
Cape Fear’s Going Green is a quarterly publication promoting eco-friendly
resources and lifestyles in the Lower Cape Fear River Basin.
Publisher & Editor in Chief: Valerie Robertson
Sister City: Eugene, Oregon (Voted “Greenest City” 2006 by The Green Guide)
Eugene Contributing Editor: Mary Robertson
Advisors & Editorial Contributors: Jennifer Butler, Nicole Carpenter, Vanessa
Haugh, Leslie Hossfeld, Brinkley Hutchings, Daniel Kay, Alexei Kouminov,
the Kuuskoski family, Jaimie Lang, Karen Linehan, Adeline Robertson, Jane
Steigerwald, Philip S. Wenz.
Cape Fear’s Going Green
Going Green Publications
P. O. Box 3164
Wilmington, NC 28406
(910) 547-4390
www.goinggreenpublications.com
Cape Fear’s Going Green is available by subscription or on our Web site.
Print copies are available at more than 140 area eco-friendly businesses
and locations, including:
Angela’s Pepper-Pickled Foods, B + O Design Studio, Old
Growth Riverwood, Pomegranate Books, Port City Java,
Progressive Gardens, Sambuca, Sapona Green Building Center,
Tidal Creek Co-op, UNCW, WHQR, and the Shelton Herb Farm
booth at area farmers’ markets.
Editorial: If you have story ideas or calendar items to suggest, email us at
editor@goinggreenpublications.com, or call (910) 547-4390.
Advertising information: Email ads@goinggreenpublications.com.
Front Cover: Lettuce in a raised
bed invites harvesting by those
who walk by. See page 7 for story.
Cover photo by Mary Robertson
Cape Fear’s Going Green is distributed for free through Brunswick,
Columbus, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender counties. If you have a
business and would like to receive multiple copies for the public to pick up,
please contact us.
feast on the southeast
SENC Food Systems Program Supports Local Agriculture
SENCFS Creates Ambitious Range of
Programs to Address Nutrition, Poverty
Across the country, people are starting
to ask questions about their food. Where
does it come from? Who grew it? Was it
genetically modified? Fertilized with toxic
chemicals? Was the farmer paid a living
wage? How far did it travel to get to my
table? Increasing dissatisfaction with global
agribusiness and awareness of the toll
“traditional” agricultural methods are taking
on the earth is prompting interest in “eating
locally.”
In our area, the “Southeastern North
Carolina Food Systems Council” (SENCFS)
has been at the forefront of the local food
movement since 2006, founded by Dr. Leslie
Hossfeld of the UNCW Public Sociology
Department and Mac Legerton of the
Center for Community Action in Lumberton.
SENCFS began in response to the massive
job loss and high poverty in southeastern
North Carolina—an eight-county area that
despite its rich agricultural heritage, remains
persistently poor. A partnership of private
and public institutions, the group provides
a variety of programs aimed at keeping
local food dollars, well…local. By matching
area farmers with local restaurants, schools,
healthcare facilities and military bases,
SENCFS is helping forge relationships that
will benefit both sides of the equation. By
developing a regional food system, the
group hopes residents will have access to
SENCFS recently received a grant for
$375,000.00 from the GoldenLEAF
Foundation to establish a Local Food
Processing & Distribution Center in Warsaw;
they also received $25,000 from the North
Carolina Tobacco Trust Foundation to support the Processing & Distribution Center
efforts.
SENCFS has partnered with James Sprunt
Community College to add an adjoining
Processing & Distribution Center to their
Commercial Kitchen plan. The Processing &
Distribution Center will function as a hub for
small farmers—a place where farmers can
pool their resources and products to meet
the needs of the growing local food market.
Restaurants, schools, hospitals and other
institutions will be able to go to one source
for fresh local produce and other foods. Summer / Fall 2010
safer, fresher foods
and farmers will find
more sustainable
markets for their
products. By creating
relationships between
those who grow
food and those who
consume it, SENCFS
hopes to stabilize and
sustain the region.
The group’s “Farm
to Chef” Initiative has
been successful in
connecting area chefs
with local farmers—
often considered a
crucial partnership.
The group’s first
Farmer-Chef Dinner—
held at Catch restauphoto by Valerie Robertson
rant in Wilmington
Kids at Hillcrest Community Garden proudly display vegetables they’ve
last February—was
grown in their community’s after-school gardening program. Bare dirt has
immediately filled to
been transformed to raised garden beds brimming with produce. They’re
learning the value of eating locally, right out of their back yard. From left,
capacity. Organizer
Mary Wells, Jamani Jones, and Antonio Myers.
Jane Steigerwald,
SENCFS Assistant Program Director, was
nering with community and government
delighted with the positive response.
agencies, SENCFS has created several
“Participants were thrilled to have made
farm-to-school programs that work with
connections they never would have made,
the school’s Child Nutrition Directors to
had it not been for the dinner.” In addition
come up with local solutions. Recent grants
to meetings and events, farmers and chefs
awarded will help the group create an onare encouraged to make use of the online
site processing center that will allow local
“Farm to Chef Directory” at www.feastsouth- farmers to flash freeze some of the region’s
eastnc.org. Establishments interested in
prized agricultural products: blueberries,
increasing their local food purchases and
strawberries, and potatoes. “Bringing fresh
farmers interested in selling to local chefs
local vegetables and fruits into our county
may be included in the directory by conschools would be the ultimate reward
tacting Jane Steigerwald at steigerwaldj@
for our farmers and community,” says Dr.
uncw.edu.
Hossfeld.
Nutrition is key for growing minds;
SENCFS has several programs geared to
increase access to nutritious foods for the
area’s youth, ranging from community
gardens to cooking classes to helping farmers obtain the certification they need to sell
produce to schools.
Budgetary concerns, regulations and
red tape can make it challenging for school
administrators to make use of local food
suppliers. It’s often easier to fall back on
large, familiar national vendors. By part-
The demand for local food is gaining
momentum as consumers realize the
benefits of buying locally: fresher and more
healthful products that require less fuel to
transport. The challenge is finding ways
to connect the market with the consumer.
Partnering with community and government agencies has enabled SENCFS to make
great strides in meeting this challenge.
To get involved with SENCFS activities or sign
up to attend the next quarterly meeting, visit
www.feastsoutheastnc.org.
community gardens
Grow Your Own Food—The Joys of Community Gardening
”What are we doing today?” Steve Lee
hears the same question every Tuesday
in Folk’s Community Garden. “Today,“ he
answers, “We’re weeding that tomato bed.”
except the tomatoes is weeds. I’ll show
you. ” He shares a trick: “That little fork rake
loosens the soil up, too, which makes handpicking them out easier.”
The volunteers look doubtful. “How do
you know what’s a weed?” someone asks
hesitantly. Lee reassures him, “Everything
The day’s volunteers set to work, picking
up speed as they gain confidence. “You stay
as long as you want,” says Lee. “I’ll be here ‘til
about seven.”
By the end of the evening even the
beginners can tell a tomato seedling from
a weed, and beds are clean and ready for
the next planting. “Good job” laughs Lee. “It
looks like a different place!”
With increased awareness of the benefits of nutritious, locally-grown fruits and
vegetables, more and more people want
to be involved in growing their own food.
Those who have the space and know-how
can garden at home. But many have limitations: no land, no sun, or—for many—no experience growing vegetables. Participating
in a community garden offers a solution.
Kathryn Sisler and Courtney Matheson harvest
carrots from Folk’s Community Garden.
Volunteering at an existing garden is a
great way to get a feel for the kind of garden you might like to start yourself. Here
are some in Wilmington with openings.
Folk’s Community Garden
1300 block Princess Street
Communal and individual plots
Steve Lee • stephen.lee@nhcs.net
Castle Street Community Garden
4th & Castle Streets
Communal plots
www.meetup.com/seacc-ilm
Kathryn Sisler • kathryn.sisler@gmail.com
Sisler is also available to advise anyone
with an interest in starting a new garden.
(908)670-1590
Beach Road Farm Community Garden
222 Heathcliff Road, Monkey Junction area
Individual plots for rent
www.beachroadfarm.com
Julie Congleton (910)409-2336
A community garden is a piece of land
gardened collectively by a group of people.
Some are designated for a single community, such as a school or a development; others
invite anyone who wants to participate. The
structure can be tailored to the community
it serves, and reflects the interests of those
who tend it. If the gardeners have an appreciation for organic food, they’ll be willing to
take the extra time to hand-weed instead of
spraying pesticides. Gardens also vary in intent: while many focus on food production,
Birch Creek has a centrally-located flower
garden for all to enjoy. Hillcrest Community
Garden, a SENCFS project, helps schoolkids
learn about growing healthful food. Gardening appeals to all ages. When
Buddy Milliken developed Woodsong,
a sustainable neighborhood in Shallotte,
he included community garden space for
residents to grow good food and enjoy
shared activities. To his surprise, the first
to sign up was a seven-year-old girl; she
still participates regularly. It’s not unusual
for gardeners to bring their children to
help at garden work parties; on any given
day three generations of people might be
pulling weeds, watering, and tending plants
together.
(continued on page 5)
The Castle Street Community Garden yields both
vegetables and medicinal herbs. The Echinacea
shown here thrives in the sandy soil whether or
not soil amendments have been applied. Herbalism classes taught at the Community Action
Center next door frequently involve a trip into the
garden, to examine plants first-hand.
During a Folk’s Community Garden work session
Steve Lee positions a bean trellis he fashioned of
bamboo, wood and twine. “This is where old Boy
Scout skills come in,” he volunteers.
photos this article by Valerie Robertson
community gardens
Getting Started
When herbalist Kathryn Sisler was asked
to start the community garden on an urban
lot on Castle Street, she had a lot of choices
to make. A project of the Southeastern
Alliance for Community Change (SEACC),
whose efforts to strengthen communitybuilding and social justice helped set the
tone for the garden’s development, it came
about when a sympathetic landowner
offered access to the vacant lot next to the
group’s community center. They also agreed
to supply water. But questions remained—
Who would do the work? Would it be open
to the community at large or just neighbors
within walking distance? What would they
plant? Where would the seeds or starts come
from? Would decisions be made by consensus or by committee? How would they use
the resulting food? Would each volunteer
have an individual plot, or would everyone
work the whole garden communally?
Armed with a strong background in
herbalism and with community gardening
checklists she’d found on the internet, Sisler
scheduled an organizational meeting and
invited everyone she knew. The volunteers
she attracted were of like mind: they would
use no pesticides, they would garden the
New to gardening, Heather McLelland and Cedric Turner came to Folk’s Community Garden during a
designated work session, when organizers could explain the work to be done and suggest tips for making it easier. The prize? A new skill, a sense of accomplishment, and a ripe watermelon to take home!
area communally, and offer the food to the
surrounding community.
The result: Castle Street Community
Garden. Anyone can come grow vegetables
and medicinal herbs. Members keep costs
low by seeking donated seeds, manure
and building materials and using simple
mulches of straw and cardboard. All plots are
held communally. Volunteers can work any
time, but regularly scheduled work sessions
ensure that routine tasks get done and that
new gardeners receive any coaching needed.
At first members discussed instituting a
sort of point system: those who worked the
most hours would receive a corresponding
share of the harvest. In practice, it works
out for volunteers to just harvest food when
it’s ready; what they don’t take home, they
deliver to neighbors. “Over time, those who
are here the most are here when food’s ready
to harvest,” says Sisler. “It all works out.”
The Wooster Street Community Garden was started on the site of an empty lot for sale; tilling the soil
for new beds turned up a variety of construction
debris. Volunteers sorted the debris and made creative use of old bricks, concrete rubble and other
finds to edge garden plots and walkways.
Summer / Fall 2010
Beach Road Farm Community
Garden
The nine-acre Beach Road Farm
Community Garden in Monkey Junction
Community Garden Resources
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
www.ces.ncsu.edu
“Home Vegetable Gardening,” publication
#AG-06, is one of numerous useful online
guides to gardening.
American Community Gardening
Association (ACGA)
www.communitygarden.org
Information on starting gardens, with
detailed checklists to help make sure you
don’t overlook anything important.
Rebel Tomato
www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomato
Hosted by ACGA, this offers fun information on learning to grow your own food.
Food Not Lawns International
www.foodnotlawns.net is the movement’s
website, moderated by Heather Flores.
Books we like
Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into
a Garden and Your Neighborhood into a
Community, by Heather C. Flores
Food Not Bombs, by Keith McHenry and C.T.
Butler.
Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of
Companion Planting for Successful
Gardening, by Louise Riotte. For those who have mastered some basics.
community gardens
Share your
green initiative news!
editor@goinggreenpublications.com
The Southeastern North Carolina
Food Systems Program
SENCFS is a BUY LOCAL economic development
project. We connect local farmers with local buyers,
helping to strengthen the local economy & educate
consumers on the many important reasons to
BUY LOCAL!
Join us for quarterly meetings. Volunteers needed.
See website & calendar for details.
W W W. F E A S T S O U T H E A S T N C . O R G
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6005 Oleander Dr., Wilm. • 910-395-1156
offers a different experience. Renting one of its 20' x 20' lots at $12/month offers plenty of
room for production. It’s a great set-up for those who want to do their own work, although
organizer Julie Congleton notes gardeners do like to share information on site. “And people
often sign up with a neighbor, to share the responsibility.”
Folk’s Community Garden
Steve Lee and Kathryn Sisler started Folk’s Community Garden, also a project of SEACC,
as a school project: a neighbor across the street from New Hanover High School loaned the
empty lot, another neighbor provides water. Lee and
Sisler developed an interdisciplinary program. Students
researched plants, planted and tended the garden during the school year—picking up credit in math, biology
and English along the way.
At the end of the school year, the garden was
opened to the community. Some opted to rent individual plots, others were interested in the communal
experience found at Castle Street, so the garden now
offers both options.
Even seasoned gardeners enjoy the opportunity for
community gardening.
Veteran gardener Angelika Lacer can garden on
a much bigger scale at Folk’s than she can at home. “I
have the sunshine and the space there, and the camaraderie—that’s
a big, big piece, too. It’s really nice to meet
Rain barrels donated to Castle Street
Community Garden now provide others that are interested in sharing expertise.”
most of the water required. For a
And although she now has space at home for her
brief time during a work session, they garden, Christina Chiarchiaro continues to help out at
served as a temporary parking place
Castle Street. She enjoys the community aspect, and
for that day’s harvest of kale. Orange
Butterfly weed flowers attract butter- helping others learn as she did at the beginning. “What
better way to learn than to actually do it and have
flies and bees to pollinate plants.
somebody overseeing
it so you can ask questions along the way.”
Even though community gardens range
from large to small,
from private to public,
they tend to share some
characteristics. One
common challenge is
keeping momentum.
“You start out with a
lot of interested people
in the beginning, but
it’s the coming back
every day that’s difficult
to maintain,” says Lee.
Lacer agrees. “There’s
a lot of enthusiasm to
start with but then the
Rows of vegetables in the Folk’s Community Garden, planted by students endurance part can be
in the spring, were tended and watered daily through the summer heat difficult.”
by members of the community who signed up to participate in a waterGardeners agree,
ing schedule. As part of a three-year plan to build up the soil, walkways
though,
that the
between the rows are covered with compost, then cardboard, then a
layer of leaves. The layers suppress weeds, and weeks later evolve into rewards are worth it.
mulch that can be turned into the vegetable rows in the spring.
community gardens
Lacer is looking forward to fall, when leafy
greens grow well and cooler temperatures
make chores easier. She finds gardening
teaches “Patience, and tolerance and a little
bit of faith in...whatever. There are so many
aspects to it that we don’t include in our
busy lives anymore, especially young kids.
I think when they come across something
like nature and interact with it, it really adds
an important piece in their life.” An occupa-
Garden Essentials
What do you need to get started?
•a piece of land (and permission to use it)
•6 or more hours of sunshine on at least part
of the land
•a source of water
•people to do the gardening
•someone knowledgeable about gardening
•materials: tools (and a safe place to keep
them), soil, soil amendments, edging or
fencing material, and plants or seeds
•an organizational approach and a plot plan
•system for gardeners to communicate
tional therapist with the school system, she
looks forward to introducing her students
to the community garden this fall.
Sisler says she is pleasantly surprised by
how much support there is for community
gardening in the area. “If you have the
energy and dedication it will happen.” At
the Carolina Place–Ardmore Neighborhood
Association‘s July meeting two dozen
neighbors showed up, all with garden
savvy and all wanting to get involved in
community gardening.
For Chiarchiaro, it’s being surrounded
with other volunteers, “like-minded people
who don’t mind getting their hands dirty,
like learning about plants, have a general
focus on eating healthfully, buying locally.”
It’s Tuesday, and a new volunteer is
eying the plot he has just adopted at Folk’s
Community Garden. “What can I plant?“ he
wants to know. “Go to the North Carolina Cooperative
Extension Service website: they have a
Veteran gardener Amy Finelli got her first taste of
gardening organically when she planted 600 chilies
in her plot at Beach Road Farm Community Garden.
She plans to make powders to sell to local restaurants. Soccer goal components support the beans.
list and all the planting dates…” Lee starts
listing the vegetables, not wanting to send
the newcomer away without an answer.
”Winter squashes, greens, spinach, almost
all of the hardy greens like kale, collards;
carrots and radishes. There’s a lot of stuff
that can go in now.”
Community Building Oregon-Style
At first glance, Annie and Chris Donahue live in a typical
Eugene, Oregon home: a modest house with a large vegetable
garden out back, a compost heap, and a handful of chickens
scratching behind the rain barrels. The front yard, brimming with
ornamentals and cheerful signs,
is inviting in any of the mild
seasons. But a closer look shows
something more happens here:
community.
Annie had been mowing
the grass alongside their side
fence, facing an alleyway, for
years, when she decided to
plant food there instead. Now
the row holds a dozen towering
tomato plants and fifty feet of
green beans. A clay flowerpot
dispenses plastic produce bags
next to a sign inviting neighbors to pick vegetables for dinner on the way home. photos and story by Mary Robertson
This issue’s cover shot may look like it hails from an organic truck farm—but
it is right out of someone’s front yard. Chris (seen here watering) and Annie
Donahue plant vegetables in the sidewalk strip in front of their house and
encourage neighbors to pick a salad to take home for dinner. Their efforts
have expanded to include the alley alongside their house and the 40' by 80'
lot across the street, now a bustling community garden that helps connect
and feed the neighborhood. See http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2010/07/15/
gardening.html for more on the Common Ground Garden.
Summer / Fall 2010
On almost any summer evening Annie and Chris can be
found out front watering, weeding, and letting folks know that
yes, it is OK to pick the vegetables. A steady stream of neighbors
drive, walk, and cycle home through the quiet streets. They all
seem to know Chris and Annie. Those who don’t, aren’t strangers
long. “Sure, come on by. These beans need to be picked!” Annie
shows a neighbor boy how to find the ripest beans, then how to
check the temperature of her corner compost bin. Another family
heads home, hands full, ready to cook dinner.
“We built the street-side garden thinking it would satisfy the
neighborhood’s need for fresh organic vegetables,” says Annie.
“What we found is it satisfied our need for neighborhood connection and growing community.”
education
Friends School Gets Their GOAT
Quaker Ideals Inspire Environmental Stewardship
collaborative, with
an emphasis on
building relationships between the
school and the
Wilmington community. All students,
from kindergarten
through eighth
grade, participate
in weekly service
work that begins at
school and extends
into local communities and the world.
Established
in 1994, Friends
School has grown to
include two camphoto by Jaimie Lang
puses (Peiffer and
Third- and fourth-graders show off their harvest of greens. With donated starts from Progressive Gardens and Black River Organic Farm, Pine Grove) on eight
students grow organic vegetables; they in turn donate the harvest to Good Shepherd ministries for distribution to the area’s hungry.
combined acres.
already
in
place,
GOAT
is
also
planning
a
Over
the
years,
teachers,
students, and
by Karen Linehan, Jaimie Lang, Jody Ellis and
low
ropes
course
and
fitness
trails
around
parents
have
worked
together
to create
Susan Turner
the grounds. In addition, the committee is
and enhance native habitats for wildlife
It’s four o’clock on a cold, January
expanding the school’s longtime camping
and learning. Students don’t have to travel
afternoon. All of the students have gone
program and dreams of establishing an
far to experience the life cycles of buthome for the day. Around the corner from
terflies and frogs, observe bluebirds caring
educational working farm with chickens
the school’s front door, a small group of
for young, discover earwigs in a rotten log
and goats (the inspiration for the project’s
teachers surveys a scruffy plot of grass
acronym).
pile, and smell the crushed leaves of wax
and exposed soil. Even in the chilly wind,
myrtle. The students love this proximity:
And GOAT is motivated by more than
the teachers are smiling as they look
“I’ve gotten closer to worms, caterpila strategic plan and an earnest work ethic.
beyond the dormant landscape. Coming
Infusing each project are the Quaker values lars, and butterflies,” says second-grader
soon to this location is the next project of
upon which the school is founded: simplic- Charlotte. Preschool teacher and Division
GOAT (Green Outdoor Adventure Team),
Head of School Jane Lawrence notices
ity, peace, integrity, community service,
a faculty committee at Friends School of
this, too. “In the morning on the way into
equality, and stewardship of resources.
Wilmington. Working with students and
school, young children pull their parents to
“Getting children outside so they can
parent volunteers, GOAT hopes to transthe plants along the sidewalk and excitedly
experience the natural world is a major
form this little patch of grass and dirt into
show them a flower or bug,” says Lawrence.
goal of our Quaker curriculum,” explains
a verdant garden of delights for birds and
“With heads bent together, they are fully
art teacher Sharon Ely. “This helps children
other wildlife. experiencing this wondrous ecosystem.” develop an intimate feeling of belong• • •
ing in nature, and ultimately encourages
GOAT hopes to develop outdoor
Although native gardens are at the
environmental stewardship, appreciation
learning environments where children can
top of the list at Friends School, GOAT is
of beauty, and the ability to find joy in
experience the natural world every day
following an ambitious agenda of other
the simplest of things.” Carson, in the first
at school. Each classroom adopts several
green initiatives and adventure programs.
grade, agrees. “My favorite thing is watchgarden areas to study and cultivate—and
As part of the school’s “5-Year Strategic
ing the bluebirds flying back and forth
even to learn in. Art students draw inspiPlan,” the committee is evaluating everyration from the native bog garden that
from a tree and down to their nest.”
thing from eco-friendly control of fire ants
surrounds a pergola-covered classroom, Committee decisions are reached
to reusable dishware and green cleaning
Spanish and music classes are often taught
through consensus. Projects are deeply
products. With an adventure playground
outside where students enjoy
fresh air and sunshine. “Unless it
is too wet, windy or cold, classes
meet every day in our new
outdoor studio,” says Ely.
In order to sustain gardens
and build community partnerships, GOAT supports local
businesses and often receives
donations of plants and landscape materials. In turn, the
gardens give back tenfold as
they inspire student learning,
conserve wildlife and native
plants, and feed students and
others in the Wilmington area.
ers manage a butterfly garden
and plant milkweed as a nectar
and host plant for Monarch butterflies. Taylor, in second grade,
sums up the program with
elegant simplicity: “I like to plant
milkweed for the monarchs so
that they can live.” This year the
milkweed was locally grown by
Shelton Herb Farm, Growing
Wild Nursery, and the Ability
Garden at New Hanover County
Arboretum.
Fifth- and sixth-grade
students conduct research and
nurture saltmarsh plant seedlings
in a school yard nursery
photo by Daniel Kay
Examples of ongoing stewfor
the
NC
Coastal
Federation’s
GOAT
organizers
strive
to
get
the
students
outdoors
every
day. Surrounded
ardship are found at every grade
Student
Wetland
Nursery
by
trees,
grass,
and
sunshine,
these
fifthand
sixth-graders
are learning to
level. Preschool and kinderfind their place in nature.
Program.
Students
work
with
garten students deposit lunch
• • •
the Federation to plant the seedlings at shoreline restoration
scraps in classroom worm bins
It’s four o’clock on a warm,
and add the rich vermicompost sites along the coast. “Students from the Friends School have
planted
over
7,500
plants
during
their
involvement
with
this
spring
afternoon. All of the stuto backdoor flower and herb
coordinaprogram”,
stated
the
Federation’s
coastal
education
dents
have
gone home for the
gardens. First- and second-gradday, their hands and clothes a little
tor and biologist Ted Wilgis. “The
teachers, students and school are in- dirtier than when they arrived at
school this morning. Thanks to
credibly enthusiastic and dedicated
to local environmental stewardship.” their hard work, Friends School has
a new garden habitat for birds. The
With seedlings donated from
students have planted American
local businesses, third- and fourthbeautyberry, “hearts a’bustin,’” and
graders tend organic vegetables;
the resulting harvest helps feed the dwarf palmetto to provide fall
area’s hungry (see photo). Seventh- berries for songbirds. Crossvine,
penstemon, coral honeysuckle
and eighth-graders focus on water
and columbine will offer spring
and soil conservation, maintaining
several rain gardens on campus that nectar for hummingbirds. Most
important, the school’s gardens
help minimize stormwater runoff.
will cultivate life-long connections
In addition to community
between children, wildlife, and the
donations, grant funding from
world around them. It is the dream
local and state organizations such
of GOAT, and Friends School of
as Cape Fear Garden Club and
Wilmington community, that
NC Beautiful have also supported
these simple gifts from the garden
garden development at Friends
will inspire a new generation of
School.
environmental and community
stewards.
Seeking various certifications
provides motivation and a frameKaren Linehan, Jaimie Lang, Jody
work for designing native habitats.
Ellis and Susan Turner are all
The school’s Pine Grove campus is
enthusiastic teachers and members
certified as a Nature Neighborhood of GOAT.
by the North Carolina Museum
Learn more about Friends School
of Natural Sciences, a Schoolyard
of Wilmington and its programs at
Habitat by the National Wildlife
photo by Jaimie Lang
www.fsow.org or call (910)791-8221
Federation, and a Monarch
Fourth-grader Jessica plants a native columbine in the bird garden;
or toll free at (888)644-3769.
Waystation by Monarch Watch.
its nectar is a valuable food source for hummingbirds.
Summer / Fall 2010
landscape architect
transportation
Hiring a Landscape Architect—
Wilmington Celebrates New Riv
The “Top 50” Career You Have Never HeardThe
OfRiver to the Sea Bikeway (WMPO Winter Park area on Pine Gro
by Lara Berkley
“What are the best flowers to plant in
my yard?” is often the first question a landscape architect fields during casual party
conversation. While most could answer
it, they are capable of addressing much
more complex design issues. Landscape
architects design a wide array of projects,
ranging from golf courses to cemeteries,
zoos and hiking trails and community
gardens. They also help shape commercial
and residential development—as well as
civic infrastructure.
Most people have heard of Frederick
Law Olmsted, who designed New York
City’s Central Park and is regarded as the
founder of modern landscape architecture,
but designers such as Ian McHarg have also
influenced the American design landscape.
His 1969 book, Design With Nature, helped
to establish a new direction based on ecological principles and protection of natural
resources. If you have traveled
Blue1) is an 11-mile,
Bicyclethe
Route
on- and
and McMillan Avenue, before
Diversity
Ridge Parkway, exploredoff
a -road
National
Park,
bicycle route that follows
the
uprecognizes
with Park Avenue
Although
registration
a set again. B
walked through a college
campus,
visited
Historic
Beach
Car Line,ofwhich
carried
Wallace
Avenue
and 52nd St
common skills, such as site layout, gradthe Washington Mall, orvacationers
picnicked onfrom
the downtown Wilmington
bikeway
utilizes
an
ing, drainage, plant knowledge, circulation off-road p
new High-Line Park in New
York City, you
to Wrightsville
Beach by
trolley.and
Theland-use
bike- issues,
spur there
to theare
University
design,
plenty of Nor
have experienced the work
of
a
landscape
way comprises neighborhood
residential
at Wilmington
(WMPO Bicyc
of opportunities
for specialization.
Some
architect.
streets, off-road multi-use
paths,
and
a
few
1A)
via
Wooddale
landscape architects have a background inDrive. Betw
busy
arterial
roadways.
Street
and
Hinton
The breadth and diversity of this
horticulture, while others
might
pursue
a Avenue, th
follows
on-road
bicycle lanes
field—as well as the country’s
increasing
It begins
at the footdegree
of Market
Street sociology, or geography.
in ecology,
Avenue. Beyond Greenville A
concerns about land use,
and within sight of the
atresources
the Riverwalk,
Many landscape architects
work more
alone;uncomfor
ride is much
sustainability—has helped
the profession
Battleship
USS North Carolina.
The bikeothers work
on teams with
architects,
engi- Oleande
recreational cyclists.
Report’s
“50 the Old Wilmington,
make the US News and World
way then
traverses
neers, ecologists, and urban
planners.
While are busy
Wrightsville Avenue
Best Careers” list for 2010.
Bottom and Forest Hillssome
neighborhoods
work exclusively at
the residential
roadways
with few bicycle fa
before crossing Independence
Boulevardplanting
Rigor
scale—designing
areas, fountains,
high-speed
traffic, and there
and passing by Empie Park.
From
Empie
arbors,
decks,
and paths—others
focus
on This sec
Landscape architects
are
trained
to
eral
bridges
to cross.
Park to South Kerr Avenue,
the
bikeway
larger
projects
such
as
golf
courses,
planned
analyze, plan, design, and
oversee
recommended for recreation
follows
ParkconAvenue, a quiet
local street
communities,
brownfield remediation, or
struction of outdoor spaces.
Throughout
that passes by Audubon
Station.
Access
and
Parking
zoo
exhibits. A landscape
architect
working
most of the United States, including North
After merging
South
a cityKerr
planning office might
provide
To reach
the downtown
Carolina, they must hold a state-issued
cer-withfor
Avenue
and
crossing
South
College
input
and
oversight
for
large
civic
projects;
trailhead, follow U.S. Highwa
tificate of registration to be able to practice
Road, the
bikeway
through
these
requirethe
a detailedward
understanding
Wilmington; take the W
and to use the title “Landscape
Architect.
” Inpasses
of
land-use
patterns,
cultural
influences,
DOWNTOWN
exit. Proceed s
order to become state-registered, aspirpedestrian
and
vehicular
circulation,
and
North
3rd
Street.
Take a right
Events Celebrating the
ingTwo
practitioners
municipal
codes.
Street and follow west to Riv
Bikeway
generally
must
Parking
is available
have
accredited
AnnanStreet
Bicycle Boulevard
SomeGrand
newer subdivisions
have
begun on-street
city
of
Wilmington
Opening
Celebrationto require residents consult a professional parking d
degree
in landscape
at Market
and North 2
Celebrate the
opening to
of ensure
the first their
bicycle
architecture,
work
landscaping
meetsStreet
the stanbikeway
begins at the fo
in North Carolina
forboulevard
several years
dardswith
andMayor
codes for thatThe
area.
A residential
Bill
Saff
o
on
April
17,
2010
at
10:00
a.m.
Street
at
Water
Street. Follow
for a registered
customer starting with a complicated site,
at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community
Route
1
signs.
landscape
for instance one with a steep grade or
Center onarchitect,
So. 8th Street.
and must pass a existing wetland, could alsoTo
benefit
reachfrom
the Empie Park
River to the Sea Ride
registration exam.
the comprehensive perspective
of
a
landfollow U.S. Highway 76 to Ind
Take part of a free group bicycle ride from
Todowntown
keep theirWilmington
license scape
architect.
More
recently,
landscape
Boulevard
northbound. Take
to Wrightsville
they
must
continue
have been involved
in ecological
Park Avenue
and an immedi
Beach
and
back on Mayarchitects
1 at 8:30 a.m.,
to starting
learn throughout
at the foot of Market
Street assisting
in
restoration:
ecologists
efforts The bikew
the parkindriveway.
downtown
their
career. Wilmington.to re-establish wildlife habitat,
Avenue.create
Follow the bicycle R
Herbs • Vegetables
Natives
Butterfly & Bee Plants
340 Goodman Road, Leland
910-253-5964
Year-Round • M-Sat 8-5
web page: LocalHarvest.org
A Century Farm & Bird Friendly Business
10
Earth Day Edition 2010
landscape architect
urban wildlife corridors, or repair damaged
ecosystems.
A typical process?
Regardless of the scale, every landscape
architect follows the same general pattern.
This starts with a site analysis, which may
be as simple as walking the site and collecting soil samples, or as complex as helping
prepare an extensive environmental impact
statement. Understanding the existing conditions and surrounding context are critical
to the design process, and an effective
landscape architect will ask many questions
before ever putting a pencil to paper or
opening a drafting program.
Skilled communication is important—an effective landscape architect is
able to express design ideas both verbally
and graphically. Their final product might
simply be an artist’s rendering for a marketing campaign. Or, the landscape architect
might be responsible for a complete set
of construction documents outlining tree
preservation, grading and drainage; construction of walls, fences, and decks; and
detailed planting plans. Many landscape
architects also oversee site installation:
that is, ensuring that contractors construct
and install the landscape according to the
requirements of the design.
Working with a landscape
architect
In North Carolina, one can go to the
NC Board of Landcape Architects to find
a registered practitioner. Most landscape
architects also have websites that describe
their specialty. As when hiring any specialist, it’s worth a visit to the local Better
Business Bureau to confirm the professional
reputation of a firm or individual.
A common misperception is that
landscape architects provide only planting
designs and minimal layout advice late in
the game. Hiring a consultant early in the
process can often save money. For example,
by establishing building locations and code
Native Plant Society Plant Walks
Keeping current in one’s field can extend far beyond subscribing
to trade journals. Lara Berkley helps organize plant walks for the
SE Coast chapter of the NC Native Plant Society, like this one led by
orchid expert David McAdoo through the Green Swamp in August.
Learning the habits of native plants in the wild helps equip her to
incorporate natives successfully in landscape designs.
restrictions and designing drainage solutions early on, a skilled architect can help
minimize site disturbance, reduce excavation costs and save mature trees and other
desirable natural features.
Is landscape architecture a
‘green’ profession?
Most landscape architects have chosen
their profession because of its unique combination: art, science, and for many, a deep
appreciation of nature. Almost all landscape
architecture degree programs now teach
“sustainable” design, which emphasizes the
interconnection between people and the
landscape and the responsibility to create
and maintain a healthy environment. Just
like other design professions, in practice
there are shades of green, or relative
degrees of sustainability.
Landscape architecture is by nature a
profession of observant planners. If you are
thinking of doing anything with your land,
consider hiring a landscape architect at
the beginning of your efforts—you will be
rewarded richly by the scope and creativity
of solutions she or he will contribute.
Lara Berkley ASLA is co-owner of B+O Design
Studio in Wilmington, NC. She can be reached
at (910)251-2707 or at her company’s website:
www.b-and-o.net.
Online Resources
American Society of Landscape Architects
(ASLA) – professional association
www.asla.org
Sustainable Sites Initiative
www.sustainablesites.org
The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™)
is an interdisciplinary effort by the
American Society of Landscape Architects,
the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
at The University of Texas at Austin and
the United States Botanic Garden to
create voluntary national guidelines and
performance benchmarks for sustainable
land design, construction and maintenance practices.
North Carolina Board of Landscape
Architects – professional registration
http://ncbola.org or 919-850-9088
Suggested Reading
Finding a native orchid in bloom is more fun in threes: Esther Murphy describes the find, while
Mary Vigueras locates it in a wildflower book and Lara Berkley records it on camera. Despite
its orange color, this is a yellow fringed orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), which in North Carolina
blooms July through September. Photos by Valerie Robertson.
Summer / Fall 2010
American Landscape Architecture, Designers
and Places c. 1989, National Trust for
Historic Preservation in the United States
Design with Nature 1969 Ian McHarg
11
owner wanted to reduce lawn and create a birdfriendly and accessible landscape as well as a sound
and visual buffer to nearby streets. The design
incorporated existing trees and new plantings,
including blueberry, yaupon holly, inkberry holly,
Florida dogwood, redbud, winterberry, water oaks,
laurel oaks
and many others. This property is a fine
To reach the Wrightsville
Beach
example of conservation landscape and does not
trailhead, follow U.S. Highway
74
toward
require irrigation or pesticides.
ew River to Sea Bikeway
ea on Pine Grove Drive
Avenue, before joining
Wrightsville Beach. At the intersection of
venue again. Between
Salisbury Street and North
Lumina Avenue,
e and 52nd Street, the
Outstanding
pruning and maintenance;
continue straight on Salisbury
Streettree
to restoration
es an off-road path, with a
Outstanding
the on-street parking area.
The
bikeway
iversity of North Carolina
2502 Market Street
begins on Salisbury Street
west
ofand
North
(WMPO Bicycle Route
Owner:
Jon
Michelle Carne
Lumina Avenue. FollowLandscape:
the bicycle
Route
ale Drive. Between 52nd
Tex Floyd
1 signs. There is also additional
parking
at
ton Avenue, the bikeway
This property
has experienced
tremendous hurthe Wrightsville Beach ricane
municipal
complex
d bicycle lanes on Park
damage
over the years, but the owners have
consistently
restored
at the intersection of Salisbury
Street
andand replanted after each storm
nd Greenville Avenue, the
to maintain the beauty of the existing plantings on
Seawater Lane.
ore uncomfortable for
this property and to replant same species when reclists. Oleander Drive and
quired.
There are
For more information,
contact
the40-year old Azaleas and Camellias,
50-year old Dogwoods, and 100-year old Pines.
venue are busy arterial
Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan
few bicycle facilities and
Planning Organization Outstanding
(WMPO), which
pruning and maintenance;
ffic, and there are sevis the regional transportation
planning
Outstanding
tree preservation
cross. This section is not
agency for the lower Cape
Fear
region of
5014
Wrightsville
Avenue
d for recreational
cyclists.
southeastern North Carolina. Write WMPO
City of
Wilmington
Owner: Inman Park, LLC
at P.O.Box 1810, Wilmington, N.C. 28402,
Parking
Site Designer: Brad Sedgwick
2010 Tree Awards
call (910)341-3258 or visit www.wmpo.org.
he downtown
Wilmington
Landscape Architect: Josh Milaly
On behalf
of the Wilmington City Council,
Information above provided
courtesy of
w U.S. Highway
74
toThe Wilmington Tree Commission annually Arborist: Connolly Tree Service
www.rivertoseabikeway.com.
on; takepresents
the Wilmington
This property was developed under a special use
awards in up to nine categories,
permit in an O&I zoned area. The design contemexit. Proceed
south
on
for properties located within the city of
plated creation of a wooded buffer area along a
et. Take aWilmington.
right onto Market
Selling
a for
green product?
The awards and
criteria
common property line and preservation of two
ow west nominations
to Riverfront recognize
Park.
large oak trees. The large oak trees ensure plenty of
outstanding
tree
We’ll find you green
buyers!
able on-street
or
in
the
shaded area on the site and an inviting pedestrian
preservation, outstanding landscapes,
area.
Numerous
features were incorporated in this
gton parking
deck locatedcommitment
Cape Fear’s
and outstanding
to treeGoing Green
site to reduce runoff and overall impact, create walket and North
2nd Street.
Sales:
maintenance.
In 2010, theAd
Wilmington
Tree ing paths and aesthetically pleasing property.
egins at Commission
the foot of Market
(910)547-4390
recognized seven proprties in
Street. Follow
the bicycle
Outstanding Tree Preservation
six categories.
Cameron Art Museum
June 10
Owner: Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
he EmpieOutstanding
Park parking Functional
area,
Design
Property Manager: Johnnie McKoy
hway 76218
to Independence
Bretonshire Drive
is
the
deadline
for our
thbound.Owner:
Take aMaggie
right onto
Arborist: Akers & Parker Tree Movers, Inc.
Parish
Summer 2010 issue
nd an immediate
left into
The widening of Independence Blvd. required
Site Designer:
Sandy Wood
Editor@goinggreenpublications.com
proactive measures to ensure the viability of ten
way. The This
bikeway
is
on
Park
project began in the early 1990s and has been
Live Oaks planted along Independence Blvd. Due to
or
call
(910)547-4390
a
work-in-progress
for
many
years.
The
property
w the bicycle Route 1 signs.
the efforts of the museum’s Property Manager and
Hand packed in small batches
using only local produce
es
Angela’s
nts
Pepper-Pickled
Foods
and
Pickled okra, collards, cucumbers, and more!
Available at local farmers’
markets and at our kitchen:
-5
2105 Carolina Beach Road
Mike Bryand
1 Block North of Legion Stadium
.org
12
M–F, 9:00–4:00
(910) 343-8103
www.angelasppf.com
17
Please do
business with
our advertisers.
And remember
to thank
them for their
support of
Going Green.
staff and the joint efforts of the City of Wilmington,
the trees were relocated in various areas on the
museum’s grounds. All of the trees survived the
move.
Outstanding functional design
New Hanover Regional Medical Center –
Betty H. Cameron Women’s and Children’s
Hospital
Owner: New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Landscape Design: Mott Landscaping / Steve
Mott
This property is a rare example in the City of rooftop
habitat for people and wildlife. Due to height and
weight considerations, the site utilizes dwarf varieties of native trees such as Gem Magnolias, Japanese
Maples, and Forest Pansy Redbud. The trees were
planted in large containers that will lie down in the
event of a hurricane. All trees are located in drip
zones operated by a central controller that automatically adjusts for seasonal changes.
Outstanding use of native trees
Wilmington Riverfront Project
Site Owner: Plantation Building Corporation
Site Designer: Coastal Site Design
Landscape Architect: Neal Taylor/One World
Design
The site developer’s commitment to planting trees is
evidenced by the fact that even before construction
of buildings the developer planted large, wellformed, but slow-maturing trees to be enjoyed now
and by future generations.
Outstanding naturalized plantings;
Design appropriate to site
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Site Owner: State of North Carolina
Site Design and Landscaping: UNCW
Landscape Services
Superintendent: Robert Warren
To preserve and ensure the viability of the Long Leaf
Pine forest located throughout the UNCW campus,
the division of Landscape Services has embarked
on a series of succession plantings of Long Leaf
Pine, including as many as 500 seedlings planted
in the past three years. This is just one example of
the good works being done by Landscape Services
at UNCW. The UNCW Landscape Services plants,
maintains and cultivates a wide variety of plant life
on campus and has created a beautiful, pedestrian
and wildlife environment that will be around for us
to enjoy for a very long time.
Photos of the award winners can be seen in
the video of the awards presentation, held
at the City Council meeting on June 1, 2010.
Visit http://wilmington.granicus.com/
MediaPlayer.php?view_id=25&clip_id=2250
(Note: the presentation starts 9 minutes 30
seconds into the video.)
Nominations for tree awards are accepted
year-round; details are available at the City
of Wilmington website.
your ecological house™
The Blot Heard Around the World
It is fascinating, in a ghastly way, to
track the growth of the Deepwater disaster
in the Gulf. It’s like watching cancer spread
throughout your child’s body.
The event that started as an oil-rig fire
that incinerated 11 workers soon led to
the collapse of that rig and the report of
a minor oil leak a mile below the ocean’s
surface. That “minor leak” quickly morphed
into a major gusher that couldn’t be
stopped—exposing the lie that today’s
technology has made deepwater drilling
safe.
Exposed, too, is our government’s
complicity in this disaster. The relentless
flow of oil into the Gulf has been paralleled
by the flow of disclosures about corruption
in the Interior Department and the ongoing collusion of the government in BP’s
public relations and legal-cover campaign
to hide the scope and effect of the spill.
But this disaster is just too big to contain. It’s now threatening the long-term
productivity of one of the world’s great
fisheries; the solvency of the world’s thirdlargest corporation (BP); Anglo-American
economic relations; the global financial
recovery; our faith that government can
protect us from disaster; and the myth of
U.S. energy-independence via domestic
fossil-fuel extraction.
More significantly, some independent
scientists are questioning the efficacy of
the “final-solution” relief wells scheduled
for completion around the end of August.
Possible damage to the well head or its
surrounding geologic structure could render the relief wells useless. If that happens,
we’re out of solutions—there is no known
way to stop the gusher.
It is sobering in this regard to consider
how the oil-soaked birds in the Gulf die.
When exposed to the semi-tropical sun,
Summer / Fall 2010
It’s easy enough to hate BP. Their
greed, arrogance and reckless behavior
are the proximal causes of the spill. But we
are all stuck in this dysfunctional system.
BP is merely a symptom of a disease called
fossil-fuel dependence. And they are
operating in the fever-consumption stage
of the disease—the era of peak oil.
“Peak oil” means that we’ve used
up half of the world’s oil reserves. If you
envision a bell curve depicting the total
amount of oil that was available when we
began large-scale petroleum extraction
in the 1800s, there is a midpoint on that
curve—the peak—at which half the reserves are used and only half remain. (This
applies to any nonrenewable resource.)
Once the peak is reached, the half that
remains rapidly becomes more expensive,
but not just because there is less of it; in
the case of extracted resources such as oil,
most of the easy-to-get stuff disappeared
before we reached the peak around 2005. The remaining oil must be extracted
from increasingly remote and hostile
environments. This is particularly true
for the U.S., which used up its “easy” oil
decades ago, then became dependent on
foreign oil, and now finds that its remaining domestic supply is in, well, deep water.
Our dilemma can be summarized as
an expression of the law of diminishing returns customized for energy supplies—the
principle of EROEI, energy returned on
energy invested. At the beginning of the
industrial petroleum era, oil wells typically returned a lucrative EROEI of 12 to
14 times as much energy as it took to drill
and operate them. Today, wells return an
average of 1.5 times the energy invested,
October 12
is the deadline for our Fall Green Building issue
Ads@goinggreenpublications.com
or call (910)547-4390
and sometimes they return less energy
than they consume.
Silhouetted against the backdrop of
peak oil, the Deepwater disaster is at least
comprehensible; entrenched powers are
desperately trying to keep their impossible
fossil-fuel game going. What is incomprehensible is that we need an event on the
scale of Deepwater to give us a wakeup
call.
There is an expression from the 1960s
that I still see on the occasional bumper
sticker: “NATURE BATS LAST.” It’s worth
contemplating at your ecological house.
© Philip S. 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,
Adding to a House (Taunton Press, 1995).
Skip now lives with his wife, Pam, in Corvallis,
Oregon and divides his time between various
writing projects and retrofitting his older
home to be more environmentally friendly.
He may be reached by email through his Web
site at www.your-ecological-house.com.
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people
garden designs & consultation
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PEOPLE, BIRD AND ECO-FRIENDLY
Worse, there is no end in sight for this
catastrophe. Although BP finally began
capturing some of the flowing oil two
weeks ago, and hopes to be able to siphon
most of it by the end of June, the upcoming hurricane season could thwart that
effort.
they are slowly cooked to death inside
their tar-and-feather casings—thousands
of them.
NATIVE & NON-INVASIVE ORNAMENTALS
by Skip Wenz
Cultivating more than just gardens since 1992
USE LESS WATER
13
underlying roof, the roof is less subject
to UV damage and the normal expansion and contraction of its waterproofing
membranes.
Greenspots
TheRemains
hospital’s garden is one
of the
Global Climate Treaty
Elusive
first of its kind in the WIlmington area.
Copenhagen Talks Result in Few Agreements:
Developing
It was designed by
Steve Mott ofCountries,
Mott’s
Landscaping,
locally-owned, LEED-certiDismayed, Point to “Leadership Crisis”
AmongaIndustrialized
Members
by Vanessa Haugh
photo by Shannon Rippy
The newly installed green roof atop the hospital is filled withWorld
30-40 species
local nativein
plants, which
leadersofconvened
will require little or no maintenance once established. The
growing
medium
is
much
lighter
in weight
Copenhagen last December to design
a
than soil, and allows for good drainage; excess rainwater is stored for future garden use. Signage
global
climate
treaty
aimed
at
lowering
planned for the garden will allow children to learn about the plants they find in the garden.
fied company,
tailored tomajority
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An overwhelming
of sciengoals
of
the
hospital.
Learn
more
about
tists agree that humans are affecting the
rooftop
see photos
of other
globalgardens
climate and
by creating
greenhouse
projects
at
www.mottlandscaping.com.
gases, primarily in the form of carbon
dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels.
The warming trend ofWATER
recent decades
RENEWABLE
has resulted in melting
of ice caps and a
ENERGY
CONSERVATION
corresponding
rise
in
sea
levels,
as well as
solar, wind and
low-flow
fixtures,
other
far-reaching
effects.
geothermal
rainwater harvesting
Small island states in particular are
Negotiators had high hopes when
INTERIORS
united
in their
commitment to reduce
U.S. President Barak Obama took office:
sustainable,
recycled
& non-toxic
materials
emissions—and
in their
disappointment
unlike his predecessor, Obama promised
counters
by United
Icetone, floors
by Plyboo
& Teragen,
by Safecoat
in the
States
and
otherpaint
industrialclimate change would be near the top of
ized nations for their inaction. President
his administration’s agenda. A year later,
716 S. 17th Street
of the Maldives,
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NC 28401 a
the U.S delegation failed to take two steps Mohamed Nasheed
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country
striving
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remain
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negotiators deem vital to the effort by
level,
put
the
Copenhagen
treaty
in bold
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not setting emission reduction targets
OPEN
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terms: “Let’s be very frank about this:
nor specifying the amount of money to
Copenhagen can be one of two things. It
invest in cleaner and greener economies
Cape Fear’s
11
can be an historic
eventGoing
whereGreen
the world
in developing nations. The United States
unites
against
carbon
pollution,
in
a
collecis the second-largest emitter of global
tive spirit of co-operation and collaborawarming pollution and the number one
tion.
Or, Copenhagen can be a suicide
per capita, consuming 36% of the world’s
pact.
The choice is that stark.”
energy while comprising only 5% of the
world’s population.
global warming pollution. The United
Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) hoped to create
the successor to the Kyoto Protocol, set to
expire in 2012.
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A Look Inside Copenhagen
UNCW Student Selected to Represent U.S. Youth at Recent
Climate Change Discussion
as told to Nicole Carpenter
Brinkley Hutchings, an Environmental Science
student at the University of North Carolina
Wilmington and president of the UNCW
Environmental Concerns Organization (UNCW
ECO), was chosen to represent U.S. youth at the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with
her about her experiences in Copenhagen.
Can you provide a brief description of
what took place in Copenhagen?
Last December, United Nations
delegates convened in Copenhagen for
the 2009 UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC). The goal of
these recurring meetings is to “[prevent]
‘dangerous’ human interference with the
climate system” by negotiating interna-
14
tional treaties that set binding goals for
meeting environmental standards. What was your role at the Convention?
I was the US representative for the
Greenpeace (GP) Student Network on a
team with 40 other student activists from
14 different countries, including France,
China, Brazil, Philippines, and Germany.
For a week prior to the negotiations, we
worked together raising awareness in the
city and supported each other while we
lobbied our respective delegates. During
the convention, we attended the talks
daily to ask questions and hold delegates
accountable.
Who was at the convention?
Five hundred young adults from the
US comprised the largest youth delegation and there were thousands of youths
from other countries, too. People of all
Global Climate Treaty Remains Elusive
continued
Despite cries from activists around
the world for a fair, ambitious, and legally
binding treaty, Copenhagen ended largely
in failure. A day of talks between 115
world leaders produced eight drafts but
no treaty. President Obama and Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao were left to strike
a political agreement. The resulting
Copenhagen Accord “recognizes” the case
for keeping temperature rise to no more
than two degrees Celsius, past which most
scientists agree would result in unchecked,
catastrophic climate change, but it does
not contain any binding commitments to
reduce emissions. In particular, low-lying
countries likely to be most affected by a
rise in the sea level were disappointed
by the lack of commitment to emission
cuts that were originally designed to hold
global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees
Celsius this century.
At the last minute all references to the
1.5 degree goal were removed; the goal of
reducing global carbon dioxide emissions
by 80% by 2050 was also removed. The
accord does provide $30 billion through
2012 for adaptation and mitigation
projects in poor countries; this amount
increases to $100 billion by 2020. Member
nations have promised more than the $30 billion mark to date, although some
questions remain regarding the exact
nature of the pledged funds.
On the last day of the talks Greenpeace
International Executive Director Kumi
Naidoo blamed a lack of effort, particularly
by industrialized nations, for the failure to
produce a treaty. “We have seen a year of
crises, but today it is clear that the biggest
one facing humanity is a leadership crisis,”
said Naidoo.
Lumamba Di-Aping, Sudanese diplomat and chief negotiator for the G-77
group of 130 developing countries, also
expressed his disappointment at the talks
as showing “the lowest level of ambition
you can imagine. It’s nothing short of
climate change skepticism in action. It
locks countries into a cycle of poverty
forever. Obama has eliminated any difference between him and Bush.”
President Obama assured that
negotiations were not over, saying, “we
have come a long way but we have much
further to go.”
Member nations met in Bonn,
Germany in April and in June 2010 to continue the talks. According to the UNFCCC,
nations made progress in forming the
final package of operational measures
that will be presented at the UN Climate
Change Conference in Mexico November
29-December 10 of this year. However,
industrialized countries are still not doing
enough, said de Boer. “Take all current
pledges and plans from all countries and
we still won’t stop emissions growing in
the next 10 years.”
For more information, read:
http://unfccc.int/2860.php = United
Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change site
http://www.350.org/ = information on
worldwide efforts to reduce carbon
emissions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/10/maldives-climatechange = article on efforts by Maldives
to buy a new homeland before theirs is
overrun by the rising sea
Climate Change: One Student’s Perspective
by Alexei Kouminov
Many people have heard how much
they have done to hurt the environment
in their lifetimes and how we have ruined
the earth’s atmosphere from driving cars
and polluting the oceans, destroyed large
areas of forest and driven many animals
to extinction. But even the smallest things
can have a huge difference on our environment. But one person cannot save the
earth, we must all work to bring an end to
Climate Change.
UNCW student and environmental activist
Brinkley Hutchings, at the December 2009 climate
talks in Denmark. Selected by Greenpeace to be
the sole representative of the Greenpeace Student
Network from the U.S., she spent two weeks
lobbying delegates and networking with fellow
activists from around the world.
Summer / Fall 2010
By the time we are three we have
already used thousands of sheets of paper
and plastic, in the form of diapers. From
the age of five to eighteen we use tens of
thousands of sheets of paper for school.
And for an entire school you need millions
of sheets of paper. And for all schools
around the world you need trillions of
sheets of paper, killing around two million
two hundred trees every year.
Of course this paper is required, but
if every single school would recycle then
we would no longer need to kill trees; we
could just use the paper we had made
before. Schools could provide classes
about climate change to make the next
generation more earthconscious. At home,
we can take smaller showers and only use
the dishwasher and washer when they are
full.
We can keep the doors open on hot
summer days and closed on cold days.
Students could ride their bikes or carpool
with each other to save money and gas.
Like drops of water filling a water basin,
many small things can add up to a solution
for a large problem.
Alexei Kouminov wrote this while a 7thgrade student at Myrtle Grove Middle
School. He chose the issue of climate change
as the focus of his year-long study project. He
wrote a research paper, gave presentations
to three schools, planted trees, volunteered
at a nursery, and created a website. This
article was written to fulfill his final assignment, which was to raise public awareness.
15
A Look Inside Copenhagen
continued from page 16
ages attended, representing the diverse
interest groups of civil society, from animal
rights and social justice organizations to
water issues and natural disaster groups.
[The climate movement] is now the largest
social movement in global history. People
are finally becoming aware of the urgency
with which we need to address climate
change.
What did you learn from your peers?
So much. I realized just how much the
rest of the world is looking to the US to
show leadership and significantly reduce
their emissions. We are the largest emitter
of greenhouse gases per capita. We are the
ones that need to make a move. Also, some
African governments had sent students
to the conference, encouraging the participation of youth in decision-making
processes. They actively collaborated with
their delegates at the end of each day. This
differs from the U.S., where youth often feel
shut out.
What was your experience like at the
conference?
Going into the first week of talks, I
was pumped, determined to push our
delegates to show progressive leadership
at these negotiations. I prepared my questions for the day’s talks and arrived early so
that I was first in line. I was determined to
ask why we weren’t showing leadership at
these negotiations and why we weren’t doing what the science claims is necessary to
avoid the worst effects of climate change.
And I was going to get answers, damn it!
Many youths asked tough, pointed
questions. After stumbling over our first
few, mediators stopped calling on us in
front of global media. This, I believe, is
for fear we would reveal that our “world
leaders” were not doing all they could to
protect the future of humanity. To top it all
off, during the second week of talks, civil
society was not allowed in the conference
center at all! They claimed it was a security
issue but this has never happened before
in conference history. Usually, the plenary
is packed by civil society. Their presence
puts pressure on delegates and holds them
accountable. They removed the transparency of the process by keeping us out. I
was boiling. I could touch the door behind
which decisions were being made that
were deciding my future, the world’s future, but I couldn’t go in. It was outrageous.
Based on your observations, were the
climate negotiations successful? Did they
meet your expectations?
[The negotiations] were a complete failure. I went to Copenhagen with hope that
President Obama would do something big.
He made promises during his campaign
that addressing climate change would be
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In July Coyle brought the device onto
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Beach. Surfing enthusiasts—typically champions of a clean environment—were pleased
to avoid the noise, fumes, and toxicity a diesel
generator would have brought to the party.
Coyle’s invention is seen increasingly around
Wilmington, powering music events day or night.
Recently he has been providing area charitable
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16
a top priority. And he had the power at
Copenhagen to override Congress, through
the Global Climate Protection Act. He could
have committed to an aggressive reduction
in carbon emissions, and inspire the rest
of the world to do the same, but he didn’t.
It was so depressing. After reflecting on it,
though, I found strength in it all. I realized
how many activists are working across the
globe, how huge this movement is. I came
home ready to fight harder and push for a
rapid clean energy transition.
As president of the Environmental
Concerns Organization at UNCW, have
your experiences and knowledge gained
changed the goals and actions of ECO this
year?
Our goal before Copenhagen was to
pressure Obama to sign onto the climate
agreement and to surpass Congressional
goals for carbon emissions reductions.
From the negotiations I learned that the
corporate coal and oil industries are acting
as roadblocks to progressive energy and
climate change policy. So, the new goals of
ECO this year are to work towards removing
those roadblocks. We started a relationship
with Progress Energy’s regional vice-president, Bob McCall, and generated hundreds
of calls to their office, urging them to raise
their renewable energy targets and to
withdraw from the American Coalition for
Clean Coal Energy.
Has your trip to Copenhagen changed
your plans and/or goals for the future?
This experience definitely broadened
my perspective. Climate change has become a lot more tangible to me. I’ve made
friends in other countries where the effects
of climate change are already being felt:
famines, droughts, sea level rise. My friend
Leah in Fiji is watching her country and
culture slowly go under water. Abigail, from
the Phillipines, her family has been dealing
with severe flooding due to climate change.
The fact that my country’s way of life is
having a negative affect on the livelihoods
of others has strengthened my dedication
to this movement.
ECO hopes to get more of the community
involved with their endeavors. Information
on public meetings, to be held in the Tidal
Creek Community Center, will be posted on
the ECO website: www.uncweco.com.
education & business news
Call for Environmental
Education Research
Manuscripts
A new international academic journal is
scheduled to start publishing this fall.
The International Electronic Journal of
Environmental Education (IEJEE–Green) will
publish research papers on all aspects of
environmental education. By making such
research freely available to the public, they
hope to support a greater global exchange
of knowledge. If you have research you
wish to publish, see www.iejeegreen.
com/index.php/iejeegreen/index.
NC Sustainable Building Design
Competition
Cape Fear Community College’s Team
Atlantis was second place winner of the
2010 NC Sustainable Building Design
Competition.
This year’s design problem was to
design an 880SF house for a Katrina-ravaged neighborhood in New Orleans.
Competition rules required the house to
be built on 8-foot pilings and be accessible to the elderly couple who would
occupy the home. The home had to be
designed to 140mph wind standards, cost
less than $100,000, and fit the context of
the Broadmoor neighborhood. The NC
Sustainable Building Design Competition is
a component of the USGBC Natural Talent
National Competition.
Led by Ron Wilson, Architect and
Architectural Technology Program Director,
Team Atlantis consisted of Lisa Ball,
Chancey Drew, Bryan Gillespie and Charles
Hagler—all Architectural Technology
Graduates. Ball presented the team’s awardwinning design at the August meeting of
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance.
Sapona Green Building Center
Sapona Green Building Center welcomes new employee Laura Flessner, who
is starting her master’s in Environmental
Studies at UNCW after completing her undergraduate courses at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University. Laura
managed and helped initiate Stormwater
Rain Garden Education Program through
Cape Fear River Watch, and was a design
consultant with Stevens Fine Homes of
Wilmington.
Summer / Fall 2010
CFCC Offers Sustainability Technologies Program
From energy efficiency to solar
panels, green technology is spreading
into more businesses than ever before.
To prepare students for careers in the
growing number of green industries,
Cape Fear Community College is offering
a new academic program in Sustainability
Technologies. The program has started this
fall with a full class of students.
The program is designed to train students for jobs in environmental, construction, alternative energy, manufacturing,
or related industries, where key emphasis
is placed on energy production and
waste reduction along with sustainable
technologies. CFCC students have been
exploring green technology for years with
a wide variety of projects. The new degree
program will expand greatly the sustainability expertise available in our region.
“As businesses become increasingly
more green-savvy, we need to make sure
our students have access to the latest
trends and technology so that they can
stay competitive in the job market,” said
Bob Philpott, CFCC’s Dean of Technical and
Vocational Education. The Sustainability Technologies program is available in two tracks: A two year
Associate in Applied Science Degree and
a fifteen-hour Certificate. The program will
focus on alternative energy, green building technology and energy use analysis.
Additional topics include sustainability,
environmental science, waste reduction,
renewable energy modeling, site assessment and environmental responsibility.
Graduates should qualify for careers
within the alternative energy, design,
construction, environmental, and/or
manufacturing industries. Employment
opportunities exist in both the government and private industry sectors where
graduates may function as energy managers, sustainability consultants, alternative energy installers, environmental
technicians, green building supervisors, or
entrepreneurs.
“The new Sustainability Technologies
program will combine comprehensive
knowledge of sustainability with in-depth
analytical and technical training to prepare students for a wide variety of green
industry jobs,” said John Wojciechowski
AIA, LEED AP, the Lead Instructor for the
program.
For more information about CFCC’s
new Sustainability Technologies program,
email jwojciechowski@cfcc.edu or call
(910)362-7761.
The New Wilmington Comes to Wilmington
Capt. Doug Springer
and partners have
brought a new 46-foot
catamaran to Wilmington,
a sleek new option for
exploring the history and
ecology of the Cape Fear
River. Operating under
Wilmington Water tours,
LLC, the Wilmington can
carry up to 49 passengers
on eco-tours, historic
tours, and cruises along
the upper and lower
Cape Fear River. Private
charters are also available. Reservations can be
booked at www.wilmingtonwatertours.com or by
calling (910)338-3134.
Doug Springer, Diane Upton, Mary Delollo and Garland Valentine are
proud co-owners of the Wilmington, new addition to the Cape Fear.
The specially-designed catamaran offers daily cruises from downtown
Wilmington to Carolina Beach, Southport and Bald Head Island. Come
see her at the Cape Fear Riverwalk; she docks at 212 S. Water Street.
17
education
Planet Ocean Seminar
Series at CMS
The UNCW Center for Marine Science
(CMS) offers four distinguished lecture
seminars each academic year, featuring
prominent speakers from UNCW faculty
and other leading research institutions,
from well-known environmental organizations, and from government agencies. The
2010-2011 Planet Ocean Seminars will be:
September 14, 2010
Climate Change: Where Are We Now?
Dr. Otis B. Brown
NC State University and NOAA’s National
Climatic Data Center
November 9, 2010
Mitigate, Adapt, or Suffer?
Preparing North Carolina’s Coasts for a
Changing Climate
Dr. John Rummel
East Carolina University
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UNCW is
one of 120 prestigious institutes founded by Bernard Osher
since 1997 for seasoned learners aged 50 and older. Since 2005
the Bernard Osher Foundation has awarded the Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute at UNCW $1.35 million to continue to
expand its educational and cultural programming. Becoming a
member of OLLI, which costs $50/year or $30/semester, offers
benefits including access to Randall Library and discount
prices for classes and special events.
Science and Environmental
Academy
Science and Environmental Academy (SEA
and Coffee) meets weekly to present relevant
environmental and science information. UNCW
professors and knowledgeable community
presenters share their expertise
and offer opportunities for enjoyable interaction in a friendly,
relaxed setting.
Sept 23 Bird-friendly Habitat Award Program
with Charley Winterbauer, Cape Fear
February 8, 2011
Audubon Society
Climate Change or Coastal Change?
Sept 30 The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue
The Future of the Carolina Coast
and Rehabilitation Center with Jean Beasley,
Executive Director
Dr. Douglas Gamble
UNC Wilmington Department of
Oct 7 Climate Change and Sea Level
Rise – What’s in it for North Carolina with
Geography and Geology
Lawrence Cahoon, Ph.D., Center for Marine
April 12, 2011
Science
Responding to Climate Change
Oct 14 Dive into the NC Aquarium at Fort
Dr. Larry Cahoon
Fisher with Joanne Harcke, Conservation and
UNC Wilmington Department of Biology
Research Coordinator
and Marine Biology
Oct 21 Agriculture and Health: an Historical
Perspective with Leslie Hossfeld, Ph.D.,
The Series is free and open to the public.
sociology and criminal justice
Due to limited seating, reservations are
Oct 28 Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century
required. To make reservations or for more
with Brian Triplett, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
details, please call (910)962-2301.
Nov 4 Nature Photography with Chuck
Carmack, Nature Photographer
Join the Bluefish Society
Nov 11 Critical Issues in Environmental
The Bluefish Society is the annual giving
Anthropology with William Alexander, Ph.D.,
anthropology
program of the UNCW Center for Marine
Science. All Bluefish Society funds are used
Nov 18 Sustainable Biofuels with Matt
Collogan, Airlie Gardens
for CMS public outreach efforts, helping to
defray operating costs for the Planet Ocean Dec 2 The Gulf Stream: Exploring One of the
Ocean’s Greatest Rivers with John Morrison,
Seminar Series and other community enrichPh.D., physics and physical oceanography
ment programs. Annual memberships are
Dec
9 Fish Restoration of the Cape Fear River
$75 for individuals; $150 for couples; $200
with Doug Springer, Cape Fear Riverkeeper®
for families. Member benefits include invitations to special events, and the opportunity Dec 16 The Plight of Coral Reefs in the 21st
Century: Climate Change and More with
to interact with world-renowned scientists
Alina Szmant, Ph.D., marine biology
and other environmental experts featured
at Planet Ocean Seminars. For information
about joining the Bluefish Society, call
(910)962-2301 or visit http://uncw.edu/cms.
18
Registration Begins September 1!
Visit www.uncw.edu/olli for class details or
to register, or call (910)962-3195.
WIN: Wednesdays in Nature
Based on the success of SEA and Coffee, a new
weekly series is being launched in Leland,
covering the nature, beauty and history of the
Cape Fear region.
Sept. 22Cape Fear River Keepers with Doug
Springer, Cape Fear Riverkeeper
Sept. 29Improved Fish Passage at Lock
and Dam #1, Cape Fear River, with Frank
Yelverton, Army Corps of Engineers Fisheries
Biologist
Oct. 6 History of the Wilmington Harbor
with Beverly Tetterton, Local History Librarian,
New Hanover County Library
Oct 13 Ecosystems of the Cape Fear River
Basin with Captain Joe Abatte, Cape Fear
Naturalist
Oct 20 Changes in the Cape Fear River,
Economic and Environmental Impact of Sea
Level Rise
with Jim Leutze, chancellor emeritus, UNCW
Oct 27 Conserving Biological Diversity in
the Southeast Coastal Plain with Dan Ryan,
Project Director for The Nature Conservancy
Nov 3 Pollution Problems in Wilmington with
Michael Mallin, Center for Marine Sciences
Nov 10 What’s Up With Birds: Bird-Watching
With a Purpose with Andy Wood, NC
Audubon Society
Registration Begins September 1!
Visit www.uncw.edu/olli for class details or
to register, or call (910)962-3195.
The Pathways course catalog detailing current semester offerings is available at the
new OLLI building, located at 620 S. College
Road, Wilmington. It can also be viewed
online.
Oct. 12
is the deadline for our
fall Green Building issue
Send your news to:
or call (910)547-4390
Emerging Green Business
Conference
The Wilmington-Cape Fear Home
Builders Association will host its 2010
Emerging Green Business Conference on
Wednesday, September 15 from 9a.m.–
3p.m. at Shell Island Resort, Wrightsville
Beach. The Conference will highlight
emerging green industries and innovative
technology in a number of areas including
solar energy, nuclear energy, water resources, recycling and solid waste. Attendees will
be able to talk with key federal, state and
private partners, which can assist growing
green businesses and green job creation
through identifying available capital
resources.
This conference is ideal for those with a
business or product idea that lacks capital
required to get to market, as well as those
with a current business they want to grow
in a sustainable manner. To learn more see
www.wcfhba.com or call (910)799-2611.
Entrepreneurship Summit
The 2010 NC Entrepreneurship Summit
is a collaborative of leadership from
across the state on a mission to create
“homegrown” jobs. This year’s summit,
“Keys to NC’s Economic Future,” will be the
fourth state-wide gathering to celebrate
and work for small businesses and highgrowth entrepreneurs. The Summit will be
held September 19–20, 2010 at the Hilton
Wilmington Riverside. Visit www.ncentresummit.org/ for details or to register.
Solar + Green Building Tour
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance
will host its 6th Annual Solar and Green
Building Tour on Saturday, September 25,
from 10:00a.m.–3:00p.m. Visit “the greenest
home in America,” 3404 Talon Court, and
other high performance buildings in our
area. The Talon Court residence has been
featured in USA Today, EcoHome and Green
Source. A tour of this house alone is worth
the price of admission: $12 for CFGBA
members and $15 for non-members. See
www.cfgba.org for details.
2010 Green Living Conference
and Expo
Wednesday, October 13, Cape Fear
Green Building Alliance, the Greater
Wilmington Business Journal and Wilma
Summer / Fall 2010
Magazine present the second annual Green
Living Conference and Expo. The event will
feature an exhibition hall, keynote luncheon and classes for green builders, the
public and businesses exploring sustainable initiatives. For information about
sponsorships and exhibit spaces, contact
Judy Budd at (910)343-8600, ext. 212. For
information on classes, visit www.cfgba.org.
Student Milestones
Nicole Carpenter graduated from
UNCW in December 2009 with a degree in
Environmental Science and minors in biology and chemistry. She is now employed
by CZR Incorporated, a woman-owned
environmental consulting company headquartered in Jupiter, Florida and serving
the southeast. Carpenter works as a field
biologist out of CZR’s Wilmington office.
Shar Olivier, a principal of Biofuel
Advance Research and Development,
LLC. (BARD), has been accepted into the
Nicholas School of the Environment at
Duke University where she is in the Duke
Environmental Leadership Master of
Environmental Management (DEL-MEM)
Program. http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/
After a summer working at Sapona
Green Building Center, Alyssa Halle has
left Wilmington for Blacksburg, Virginia.
She is enrolled in the dual masters degree
program: Masters of Public Administration
and Masters of Urban & Regional Planning
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University.
Pender Early College Competes
in NC Envirothon Program
The North Carolina Envirothon is an
annual competition in which high school
and middle school teams compete for
recognition and prizes by demonstrating
their knowledge of environmental science
and natural resource concepts. Hard work
by the Pender Early College High School
students, team Bueno es Verde, qualified
them to compete at the state level in this
year’s competition. Four students travelled
to Burlington, NC to compete against fifty
other schools across the state at Cedar Rock
Park. The program encourages students
to develop a basic science background
knowledge of our natural resources so they
can make good environmental decisions as
adults. www.ncenvirothon.org.
Actuary Alan Jameson uncovers
a plot that threatens to blow the
life insurance industry sky-high!
Follow his adventures in this
elegantly-plotted murder mystery.
“A gripping, fast-paced story”
“I could not put it down”
“Cloaked with mystery”
Read the latest from the former
Chief Actuary of the Social
Security Administration.
The Silver Pendant
by Haeworth Robertson
Venture Books,
Now a
a
s an evailable
Washington, DC
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80 pages; $14.95
on Am
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Buy it for
your Kindle
Follow us on
Facebook
19
plated ways for ordinary people to survive
what I believe we’re headed for: a breakdown of the global economic order in
which we Americans function as the great
DOWNTOWN DELIVERS
Bicycle Courier Service
###
910-465-4117
8:00am – 3:00pm Weekdays
All purpose delivery service for Wilmington.
We deliver between the bridges and out to
17th Street, using pedal power.
www.staythereillbringittoyou.com
Documents • Restaurant Orders • Groceries
Waterproof and Insulated • Fast and Green!
18
Mitzy Jonkheer
Jewelry Art Studio
4410 Wrightsville Avenue
910.409.8758
www.mitzyjonkheer.com
and accommodate the production of
bartered goods and services as well as
cash-based income. Some combination of
self-sustenance, direct exchange and cashgenerating activity will be needed to build
a sustainable economy within the disintegrating but still-dominant economic order.
business news
green building
Mother
andmany
Daughter
Honored
by YWCA
CFGBA
Offers
Building Perfo
You can provide
types of ser- Both
vicesIt at
or afrom
home.
example,
was
first your
for the
CapeFor
Fear
YWCA:
in
Oakland,
California,
where
many
people
a mother and daughter were honored
have
long
been
pressed
to
provide
extra
as 2010 Women of Achievement in their
income forfields.
their families,
seen garages
respective
Adeline I’ve
Robertson,
Ph.D,
converted
into
shops,category
bakeries and
was
honored
inbarber
the Business
even
a Red-Wing
shoe
store. Today’s
home
for
founding
Choice
Caregivers,
Inc.; her
businesses
include
all
types
of
internetcompany provides long-term health care
providers to allow people to stay in their
own home with dignity. Her daughter,
Cape Fear’s Going Green publisher Valerie
is the deadline
our
award
in the
Robertson,
received herfor
Summer 2010
issue
Environmental
category.
To learn more
about
Choice Caregivers, Inc. call Adeline
or
call
Robertson(910)547-4390
at (910)790-3376. For a list of
all this year’s award recipients, visit YWCALowerCapeFear.org.
June 10
Soil to Soul
Opens
Soil to Soul is the new place to learn about all things sustainable and self-sufficient. The brainchild of Mary
Margaret Folds, Nicole Lancaster, and Evan
Folds, Soil to Soul will follow an evolving
business model based on the premise of
“Coopetition.” It will encourage alternatives to the depructive business model
built on competition and profit at all costs.
Soil to Soul is located in Wilmington at
6005 Oleander Drive in the Progressive
Gardens building.
ARCHITECTURE
residential
sustainable
LARA BERKLEY
BERKLEY,, asla
SCOTT OGDEN, aia
ited production capacity and vulnerability
to psychological and economic isolation.
In a future column, I’ll explore partnering
with others to establish a modern-day “cottage industry” at your ecological house.
© Philip S. Wenz, 2009
Philip S. (Skip) Wenz is a freelance writer
specializing in ecological design issues. He
was Presented
a general contractor,
residential
designer,
by the Cape
Fear Green
teacher
and
writer
in
the
San
Francisco
Bay
Buillding Alliance (CFGBA), The Building
Area.
In
the
early
1990s
he
founded,
and
for
Performance Workshop Series is scheduled
ten
years
directed,
the
Ecological
Design
to begin on May 12. Made possible in
Program
the San
Francisco
Institute
of
part
by aat
grant
award
from the
NC Green
Architecture. He also teaches “Creating Your
Business Fund and ARRA, the series of
Ecological House” at Berkeley’s Building
professional trainings combines classroom
Education Center and wrote the book,
instruction with on-site, hands-on demAdding to a House (Taunton Press, 1995).
onstrations. The principles and techniques
Skip now
lives with
wife, Pam,
in Corvallis,
taught
during
the his
trainings
apply
to both
Oregon
and
divides
his
time
between
new and existing construction, but various
special
writing
projects
and
retrofi
tting
his
older
focus will be placed on their application to
Dr.
Adeline
Robertson
(left) and Valerie
Robertson
home
to be
moreThe
environmentally
existing
homes.
curriculum
isfriendly.
tailored
were
two
of
the
many
women
honored
by
theWeb
Cape
Heprepare
may be reached
by
email
through
his
to
trainees
for
certifi
cations
Fear
YWCA,
for
making
a
different
in
their
commusite at www.your-ecological-house.com.
and
the emerging
home
retrofit
nity. jobs
Both in
received
2010 Women
of Achievement
Awards
at
this
year’s
awards
ceremony.
industry.
During the on-site training sessions,
trainees will be able to apply the techSeptember Classes at Soil to Soul
niques they learn in the classroom to
Classes will be held at Soil to Soul. Preregister
existing
homes. These green retrofits are
at (910)920-9890 or visit soiltosoulonline.com
being performed through a collaboraWednesday 9/15/10 & 9/29/10
tion with Wilmington Area Rebuilding
Wheatgrass 101: Learn benefits of wheatgrass
Ministries
(WARM), a non-profit organizaand how to grow and juice your own. Class
tion
that Cost
performs
the homes
6-7pm;
of $40repairs
includeson
wheatgrass
kit. of
economically
disadvantaged
individuals.
Saturday 9/11/10
Additional
are Building
Hydroponics
101:grant
Learnpartners
about indoor
growing
and hydroponics.
Time: 11-12
Cost $10.
Performance
Specialists
(BPS)noon.
and Sapona
Saturday
9/18/10Center. BPS will provide
Green
Building
instruction,
energy
audits
and project
Composting 101:
Learn
how, why,
and what
to compost! 11am-12noon.
is $10, will
management
for the retrofiCost
ts. Sapona
on composters.
actdiscounts
as purchasing
agent and materials
Saturday 9/25/10
supplier.
Kombucha 101 and Tasting!: Come learn the
General registration is now open. The
benefits of this fizzy fermented elixir, and
complete
list of workshop
taste for yourself!
4-5:30pm.topics
Cost isand
$15, dates
is posted
below:
discounts
on kombucha kits. Beginning
Thursdays
in September,
9/9/10
May 12 – Building
Science/ House
Ashtanga with Larry Hobbs. Class is at 8:30amCharacterization
10ish, by donation.
M
Envel
M
Ju
Ju
Ju
Ju
A
A
Chara
A
Envel
Se
Se
Fo
visit w
Cape
(910)4
Th
is a no
the m
buildi
CFGB
throu
indus
public
secon
inform
and o
commercial
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
rd- ing
Awaw
inn
Green Rooftops
Green Walls
See green roofs at
205 PRINCESS STREET
20
WILMINGTON, NC 28401
www.b-and-o.net
[910] 251.2707
www.mottlandscaping.com
(910)254-0500
Earth Day Edition 2010
205
make every day earth day
local resources
ty to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date
on successful beekeeping.
email: methods.gldeagle@bellsouth.net
faith-based environmentalism
Cape Fear River Watch
Cape Fear Citizens for a Safe Environment
Environmental education, advocacy and action
Organized to fight the building of Hugo
for the Lower Cape Fear River basin.
Neu landfill, now encouraging legislation
www.cfrw.us
to strengthen landfill regulations in North
Pledge
to reduce your congregation’s carbon footprint by 10%
Carolina.
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Many congregations nation-wide have will
be experts
with the EPA
Energy Star
www.stopthedump.com
Carolina
Farm Stewardship
Association’s
mis-for
Join the Ten Percent Challenge to Save Energy
signed
up Climate
for the 10%
Challenge
Cape Fear
Action
Networkto Save
Energy,
working
to
reduce
theirsupport,
congreA local citizen network providing
gation’s
footprint.for
Participants
in
advocacy,carbon
and recognition
climate action
initiatives
in the
Fear
region. from
thirty
states
areCape
doing
everything
www.capefearcan.com
installing
energy efficient lighting to
planting
trees
and native landscaping, to
Cape Fear Cyclists
encouraging
members
to walk or carpool
The information
hub for Southeastern
cyclists!
www.capefearcyclists.org
to
services.
CapeOrganizers
Fear Community
College
(CFCC) to
encourage
participants
Architectural
technology
curriculum.
help
speed the
transition
to a clean energy
www.cfcc.edu/programs/at
future
by working to reduce their congregation’s
footprint
10%
by 10/10/10.There
Cape Fear
Economic
Development
Council
(CFEDC)
will
be a free Q&A webinar September 14,
CFEDC
is anof
all-volunteer
endeavor
promoting
for
friends
Interfaith Power
& Light
and
innovation,
creativity
and
entrepreneurship
participants in the Challenge. On the callas
essential to successful local economic growth,
regional competitiveness, and jobs and income
generation.
www.capefearedc.org
Church of the Servant held its annual
Congregations
program
well asagriculture
consion is to promote
local andasorganic
gregation
leaders
who have
successfully
in the Carolinas
by inspiring,
educating
and
organizing
farmers
and
consumers.
Produces
completed projects to save energy. If you
Carolina
Guide
toor
Local
& Organic
aren’t
sure
how
whether
yourFood.
congregawww.carolinafarmstewards.org
tion can participate in the Challenge, this
is
an opportunity
to hear Farming
what others
are
Center
for Environmental
Systems
The
Center
for
Environmental
Farming
Systems
doing, share ideas, and ask questions.
(CEFS) develops and promotes food and
lnterfaith
Power
& Lightthe
is environment,
a national
farming
systems
that protect
campaign
The
Regeneration
strengthen of
local
communities,
andProject,
provide
economic
opportunities
in North devoted
Carolina and
which
is an
interfaith ministry
to
beyond.
CEFS
is
one
of
the
nation’s
largest
deepening the connection between ecolcenters for the study of environmentally
ogy
and faith. For more information, consustainable farming practices.
tact
Executive Director Susan Stephenson
www.cefs.ncsu.edu
advice
from beekeepers
in theattendees
local communiDuring
the conference,
realized it would be helpful for members
of area faith-based organizations to be in
Creating with
healthier
lives...
communication
other groups
to share
NC IPL Seeks New Director
North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light
is seeking a new director. The position
announcement is posted at the NC IPL
website: www.ncipl.org.
• Weight-management system
• Anti-aging tonic
• Personal care & beauty products
• Nontoxic home care products
the deadline
for our
•isEssential
nutrition/multivitamins
Oct. 12
fall Green Building issue
Send your news to:
Earth
Day Edition 2010
or call (910)547-4390
Summer / Fall 2010
2010 Critical Issues
Seminar
Seminar on Thursday, October 14 at the
Earth Day Alliance
Congregational
Church
Christ
Organizers of the United
Lower Cape
Fearof
Celebration
in
Greensboro,
NC.
The
theme
for
this
of Earth Day.
year’s
seminar is “Loving God’s Creation:
www.wilmingtonearthday.com
Fully
Integrating
Creation Care with the
Electric Vehicle Automobile Association
Church’s
Mission
and Ministry.
” Rev. Canon
(EVAA) – Coastal Carolinas
/ Wilmington
Sally
Bingham,
founder
of
Interfaith
Local chapter provides e-mail of currentPower
developments
&
Light, will beand
thelegislation
keynote speaker. Cost
www.eaaev.org
or e-mail:
for
the day is $25,
whichpagepaterson@mac.
includes lunch
com for students) and some scholarship
($15
on page 14)
assistance is available.(continued
Call (919)828-6501
for more information or to register.
at action@theregenerationproject.org or
City(415)
of Wilmington
call
561-4891.Stormwater Services
Maintains and improves the City’s stormwater
drainage system for the protection of the
community and the environment. Provides
comprehensive
stormwater
management
information
about
becoming
more green.
that takes into account both the quantity
A listserv named ILM-green-faith has now
and quality of stormwater runoff. Stormwater
been
established,
toinvolvement
anyone in
education,
outreach,available
and public
the
Wilmington
faith
community
interare important components of this mission.
ested
in environmental stewardship.
www.wilmingtonnc.gov
Pathways Conference Yields Email Connections
Pathways
in February,
and this
Cape Fear conference
Green Building
Alliance (CFGBA)
Promotes
thewas
construction
of to
environmentally
year’s
topic
“Pathways
a Greener
responsible,
profitable,
healthy
to live
Planet.
” Keynote
speaker
Bethplaces
Norcross
and work.
offered ideas on how a congregation can
www.cfgba.org
start to determine their own approach to
Cape Fear Museum
of History and Science
becoming
more environmentally
conOldest
museum
in
North
Carolina
tells
scious. The following day, she lead astories
sesof the region’s history, science and cultures
sion
on
designing
a
creation
care
program
through exhibition and educational programs.
at
one’s own place of worship. Members of
www.capefearmuseum.com
the community gave presentations sharCape
Fearthey
Regional
Beekeepers
Association
ing
how
incorporate
environmentalNewly-formed chapter of the North Carolina
ism
their own
work andReceive
life. personal
Stateinto
Beekeepers
Association.
Dogwood Alliance
Nonprofit works to educate people about the
importance of forests and the negative environmental impacts of business-as-usual paper
production. Having achieved systemic change
throughout the paper industry through public
campaigns against office super stores--the
largest retail paper sellers in the U.S.--they
are now addressing protection for Southern
Theand
North
Carolina
of
forests
forests
all overCouncil
the world.
Churches
will hold its Critical Issues
www.dogwoodalliance.org
Harvesting Rain Water can help you:
• Save money and energy
• Preserve precious resources
• Meet your sustainability goals
Anyone
can subscribe
to receive
these
Coastal
Conservation
Association
(CCA)–
Cape Fearfor
Chapter
mailings
free: visit http://lists.uncw.
The purpose of Coastal Conservation
edu/mailman/listinfo/ilm-green-faith.
Association of North Carolina is to advise and
Subscribers
receive occasional emails and
educate the public on conservation of marine
are
also
allowed
to post
of
resources. The objective
ofinformation
CCA is to conserve,
interest
to
the
group.
If
you
have
questions
promote and enhance the present and future
availability
coastal
resources
about
howofitthese
works,
you can
emailfor
thethe
benefi
t
and
enjoyment
of
the
general
public.
person managing the list at ilm-greenwww.capefearcca.com
faith-owner@lists.uncw.edu.
Call or visit us today to find out what
Rain Water Harvesting can do for you:
www.CFGreenSolutions.com
910.763.1630
Residential • Commercial • Industrial
928 No. 4th Street, Wilmington, NC
Your body is mostly water.
RENEWABLE
WATER
Leading the environmental
Did youby
know
that cancer and most ENERGY
other diseases thriveCONSERVATION
in acidic
movement
example
but cannot
in anwind
alkaline
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Shaklee environments
is the first company
in the survive solar,
and
low-flow fixtures,
world to obtain Climate Neutral
geothermal
rainwater harvesting
certification and totally offset its
Alkaline
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INTERIORS
Ionized
zero impact on the environment.
sustainable,
recycled
simplest
and
most
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way &
to non-toxic materials
Anti-oxidant
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floorsand
by Plyboo & Teragen, paint by Safecoat
alkalize, counters
hydrate,
detoxify
Electron Rich
Micro-clustered
Dawn Berard
mineralize the body. It is
716 S. 17th Street
Active
Hydrogen Saturated
910-228-8879
also one of the most powerful
Wilmington NC 28401
Oxidation
Reduced
Dawn@MyCinchStory.com
910.762.1505
antioxidants
on
the
planet.
Powerful Living Water
Kangen water is
Is your body alkaline or acidic?
www.MyCinchStory.com
“Kangen water changed my life. I tried the water before
I purchased a system. And you should too.” − David
Slaughter, cancer survivor and Kangen distributor
change your water
change your life
www.saponagreen.com
OPEN M-F 10-5, Sat 12-4
Financing
Available
Cape Fear’s Going
Call David at 910-619-2039
to Green 13
RECEIVE FREE GALLONS OF KANGEN WATER
www.RenewYourBodyWater.com
21
Pledge to Take A Child
Outside
September 24—September 30
Take A Child Outside Week is a
program designed to help break down
obstacles that keep children from discovering the natural world. By arming parents,
teachers and other caregivers with resources for outdoor activities, the goal is to
help children across the country develop a
better understanding and appreciation of
the environment in which they live, and a
burgeoning enthusiasm for its exploration.
Visit www.takeachildoutside.org to
find local activities and see a map of participants. Pledge to take a child outdoors,
and share your experience with others!
Wild
“The great aim of education is not
knowledge but action.” - Herbert Spencer
Friends School
of Wilmington
1SRXLWRH+VEHI
4MRI+VSZI(VMZI
VHXL+VEHI
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Life in Trolldom
22
Bird
&
Garden
Sat.,
Sat.,Oct.
May 9:
22:
11:30
am-1:30
pm
Painted
Bunting
Meet
Live Owls
Workshop
the
&9:15-10:30
Hawks from
a.m.
Outer
NativeBanks
Plant
Wildlife
Shelter
Sale 2:30–4:30
Imagine the Possibilities
in Your Backyard
Wild Bird & Garden
Hanover Center
3501 Oleander Drive
Wilmington NC 28403
910-343-6001
www.wildbirdgardeninc.com
Wild Bird Garden
Products for Building
Green Communities
Robbie Sutton has launched a new
company, Carolina Green Building, located at 928 N. 4th Street in downtown
WIlmington. Carolina Green Building
will offer solar, geothermal, and energy
efficiency products in the Carolinas. The
company’s mission is to combine professional contracting, quality engineering,
and environmental stewardship to aide
their clients’ green ventures.
Carolina Green Building is fully
licensed, trained, and certified to design,
install, and service any renewable energy
system. The company has retained a full
complement of contractors to ensure that
systems are installed by specialized technicians for maximum performance.
Learn more at www.carolina-green.
com or contact Sutton at (910)233-4798 or
Robbie@carolina-green.com.
ADVANCED
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stormwater 101
Did You Drop Something?
Wilmington Adopts New Pet Waste Disposal Ordinance
by Jennifer Butler
I got asked once by a Wilmington resident why the city was educating citizens
to clean up after their pets, because the
“deer, raccoons and wild animals don’t
have anyone cleaning up after them.” Good
question! When this area was minimally
developed with little impervious surface
coverage, even with a lot more wild animals roaming around, we had crystal-clear,
healthy creeks and waterways. Fifty years
later, this area has had an explosion of
impervious surfaces, polluted stormwater
runoff, domestic animals—and waterways
that are suffering the impact. And pet
waste is a large contributor.
A 2006 survey of North Carolinians
found that only one third of residents
were aware that stormwater runoff—and
any pollution in it—flows directly to the
nearest waterway without being treated.
It’s alarming to think that two-thirds of
residents think stormwater is treated, yet
perhaps this explains why some folks don’t
think picking up after their pet is all that
important. Perhaps they are unaware that
leaving pet waste on the ground allows
harmful bacteria, parasites, and nutrients
to wash into waterways when it rains—the
same waterways we use for swimming,
drinking, fishing, boating, kayaking, and
surfing. In fact, most of our tidal creek
waterways are now partly or fully closed to
shellfishing because of bacterial pollution.
It’s enlightening to consider the problem of pet waste from a simple volume
standpoint. In 2008, there were nearly
34,000 registered dogs in New Hanover
County. Veterinary sources estimate that
a dog produces an average of 3/4 to 2
pounds of waste per day. Using the conservative figure of 3/4 pounds of waste,
multiplied by 34,000 dogs, means 25,500
pounds or nearly 12.5 tons of dog waste is
generated per day in New Hanover County.
That’s enough dog waste to fill 331 full-size
Wilmington’s New Pet Waste Ordinance
Pet Owner Requirements
Requirements in Public:
Suggestions for Home:
• Fully and immediately clean up
after pets on any public property.
(Public property consists of streets,
sidewalks, right of ways, parks, plazas, stream banks, public accesses,
pathways, drainageways, storm
drains, creeks, officially accepted
easements, etc.)
• Carry a clean-up device (i.e. bag,
scooper) at all times and be able to
show the clean-up device to a Code
Enforcement Official, if asked.
• Bag and dispose of pet waste in a
closed trash receptacle or refuse
container. It is allowed in the
landfill.
• NEVER flush pet waste down the
toilet because it creates blockages
in the sanitary sewer treatment
system and disrupts the normal
waste treatment process (Cape Fear
Public Utility Authority ordinance). • Pick up pet waste at your residence to
prevent bacteria and nutrients from harming
waterways and public health.
• If you hire a pet waste removal service for
your yard, be sure the waste is picked up
regularly. It’s a bad idea to leave bacterialaden pet waste on the ground too long.
Apartment complexes and HOAs should
encourage residents to clean up after their
pets by adopting/enforcing a pet waste
policy.
• Install a pet waste digester on your property;
it’s like a mini-septic system for pet waste.
• Bury waste in a hole that is at least 6” deep
and away from gardens, wells, ditches, storm
drains and waterways.
• Waste from cats and other pets that “use the
restroom outdoors” should also be collected.
Provide a covered litter box outside, then
place the used kitty litter in a bag in the
trash.
• NEVER flush pet waste or kitty litter down the
toilet (CFPUA ordinance), compost it, dump
it in storm drains or ditches, or leave it on the
ground.
Fines for non-compliance with
the City’s pet waste ordinance
are $250 per occurrence.
Summer / Fall 2010
garbage trucks each year. This total doesn’t
account for unregistered dogs, cats, other
pets, wild animals and birds that contribute even more fecal waste to the outdoor
environment each day.
Pathogens in pet waste are a health
hazard for anyone, but can be especially harmful to children, the elderly, and
persons with weakened immune systems.
While you may not actually witness a pile
of pet waste floating into the nearest storm
drain, when it rains, its cocktail of bacteria,
parasites and nutrients is washing directly
into your nearby creek. Here’s a sampling
of diseases and infections that can be
transmitted to humans from uncollected
pet waste:
Salmonellosis– Common bacterial infection
transmitted to humans by other animals.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches,
diarrhea, headache, vomiting, abdominal
cramps and even death.
Campylobacteriosis– Bacterial infection
carried by dogs and cats that causes diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever in
humans.
Toxoplasmosis– Parasite carried by cats that
can cause birth defects such as mental
retardation and blindness if a woman
becomes infected during pregnancy. Also
a problem for people with suppressed immune systems.
call us today
!"#$% &##% '
23
Stormwater 101
Toxocariasis– Infection caused by parasitic
roundworms that can cause blindness or
temporary vision loss, rash, fever, cough and
pneumonia.
Pet waste can also cause conditions such
as tuberculosis, e.coli contamination,
cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis.
In addition to directly endangering our
health, the pollution from pet waste can
also result in swimming advisories, closed
shellfishing waters, and impaired aquatic
habitat. Nutrients in pet waste can cause
algae and weeds to grow out of control.
This nutrient-rich water can upset the ecological balance of our waterways, leading
to low-oxygen situations and ultimately to
fish kills. Disposing of pet waste properly
can help keep local waterways suitable
for swimming, fishing, drinking, and other
activities.
Protecting our health and our waterways should be sufficient motivation for
most to clean up after the family pet. It’s
good to become familiar with the newlyenacted pet waste ordinance (see page 23)
as non-compliance can carry a hefty fine.
Jennifer Butler is the Stormwater Education
Program Coordinator for the City of
Wilmington Stormwater Services. She, her
husband and their dogs enjoy quiet walks
through the park near their home—and they
always have plenty of doody pick-up bags
handy.
Editor’s note: 12.5 tons of waste plus plastic
bags is a lot to add to our already overtaxed
landfills. When possible, consider installing a
pet waste digester on your property. One of
the benefits of living on sand: it’s easy to dig
the required hole.
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24
Want to find a
green event?
Want to tell the world
about yours?
Be sure to check our
Online Calendar
www.GoingGreenPublications.com
Vote for the Environment
Two upcoming events offer the chance
to hear candidates’ positions on environmental issues, prior to elections.
Cape Fear Green Building Alliance
Wednesday, September 8 at 6:30p.m.
The focus is on environmental issues,
as the Cape Fear Green Building Alliance
hosts the candidates for NC Senate
District 9, NC State House District 16, NC
State House District 18 and New Hanover
County Commissioners. All candidates in
these races were invited to participate. The
following candidates have accepted:
•
•
•
•
ith m e,
Come on kids... pla y w
chemical free!
’s
at
h
n
t
w
la
a
ot
g
I’ve
HOW WE ARE DIFFERENT
your guide to local eco-friendly resources
We may not have control over all the
pollutants running into our waterways, but
we can pick up after our dogs—and it’s
part of being a responsible pet owner.
Contact u
for your s
A Natural Approach
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Proper Soil Nutrition
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Cape Fear’s
Jim Leutze and Thom Goolsby
F.D. Rivenbark and Carolyn Justice
Susi Hamilton and Beth Dawson
Deborah Butler, Sid Causey, Rick Catlin and
Brian Berger
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for networking
and the program begins at 7:00 p.m. The
Balcony, corner of Front and Dock Streets,
third floor, Wilmington, NC. See details at
www.cfgba.org or call (910)470-5697.
Cape Fear Economic Development
Council
Tuesday, September 28 at 6p.m.
The Cape Fear Economic Development
Council will present a panel discussion,
with School Board representatives discussing education and economics.
WHQR Gallery, 254 N. Front Street,
third floor, Wilmington, NC. See details at
http://capefearedc.org.

this issue, LOW resolution

Transcription

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