Be among the first to join our newly organized team, the Nature Preserve Stewards!

Date: Every Wednesday

Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, with a break for lunch

What to Bring:

• Appropriate clothing for four hours in nature: close-toed shoes, long pants and shirt sleeves, sunscreen, drinking water. Layers are recommended as the conditions will likely change during the day.
• Sunscreen
• Hat or other personal shade device
• Lunch, snacks, drinking water
• Any medications you may need

This team will be lead by Torry Nergart, along with our Habitat Restoration Associates, Ben Henderson and Alexis Gioia.

The Nature Preserve Stewards will be the steady force behind the loving Earth care we provide to the land we protect. Our Nature preserves are located throughout the southern Blue Ridge, hopefully one close to your own backyard! We will pull weeds, keep erosion at bay, plant trees, make scientific observations, compost, and do other helpful day-to-day tasks. We will be working together in a caring environment focused on safety and wellness, learning and camaraderie, on the land. Workdays will be every Wednesday, rotating between our Preserves:

• First Wednesday: Pleasant Grove – Etowah, Henderson County
• Second Wednesday: Mouth of Mud Creek – Mills River/Arden, Henderson County
• Third Wednesday: Florence Nature Preserve – Gerton, Henderson/Buncombe Counties
• *Fourth Wednesday: Land Manager’s choice of Preserve, location – to be published in each month’s volunteer newsletter and online calendar. This will be a chance to see some neat corners of the world, with exclusive access.  An email from Torry with details of the workday, including meeting place, will be sent to all who have registered by Friday of the preceding week.

We hope that you would feel free to choose as “a la carte” as you like, or pledge yourself to a  steady regime as best suits you.

All workdays will be from 10 to 2, with a well-earned break in between. Please come prepared to stay on site for that long, with water, snacks, lunch. We often will provide an iced drinking water cooler. Be prepared with close-toed shoes, good work clothes, and your own shade. We work shine or rain but not likely hail or snow. We provide training and tools, our staff will be there with you hands on for each day. Our work will include, but in no way limited to: removing weeds like Kudzu, Privet, others. Planting trees, where appropriate, and tending those plantings. Creating habitat for all kinds of animals. Caring for treated Hemlock trees and their young. Preventing and responding to erosion. Maintaining artificial habitats (bird and bat boxes, etc). Volunteers will not be asked to handle any chemicals or herbicides, or asked to operate any fossil fuel-powered equipment.

*RSVP is Required*