On June 8^th, CTNC’s Land Protection Director, Rusty Painter, took four interns to meet landowner Carolyn Toben on her property in Guilford County, Timberlake Farm.

The purpose of the visit was to conduct annual monitoring of the 165-acre property that CTNC has protected since 2001. It was an opportunity for the interns to learn about monitoring the land, as well as meet the landowner, who is known for her love of meeting young, conservation-minded people.

The group shared lunch on the porch of the “tree house,” a three-story, rustic building that hosts events from children’s programs to weddings. As they chatted over iced tea, Toben listened to each of the interns’ personal stories and asked questions about how they viewed the environment. She then explained some of the philosophy surrounding the farm, which was deeply influenced by cultural historian and eco-theologian Thomas Berry, who had visited the land on many occasions.

“The goal is to help people make a personal connection with the earth,” Toben said. She emphasized the importance of being mindful and taking time to experience nature immersively. Her hope is that being on the property can give people an opportunity to do this. “The trails are to help people take a different look at life.”

The interns (Esteban Arenas, Ben Agsten, Reilly Henson, and Auston Smith – all Duke University graduate students) then walked the property and learned about monitoring procedure, which involves comparing the current state of the land to detailed notes from past visits, to determine if anything has changed. The group toured the garden, wooded trails, and various wedding venues on the farm. CTNC monitors all its properties in this way, to ensure that they remain in their natural states, protecting them from unnecessary development and preserving them according to the landowners’ wishes.

Visit www.timberlakeearthsanctuary.com to find out more about the farm and its programs.

Thanks to a generous land donation by Kit Trubey of Little Switzerland, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina (CTNC) protected another property near the Orchard at Altapass.  This 16-acre parcel is located just down Orchard Road from the Altapass Orchard near milepost 329 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The property, in McDowell County, lies within more than 3,600 acres that CTNC has already protected in the immediate area.

Donation of the property to CTNC is the result of years of collaboration between CTNC and the Orchard’s co-owners, Kit Trubey and her brother Bill Carson.  Ms. Trubey bought the 276-acre orchard to prevent development of the unique property.  CTNC began working with them to protect the Orchard’s land, apple trees, trails, vistas, and cultural heritage.  In 2001 CTNC purchased 132 acres of the orchard property upslope of the Parkway and donated it to the National Park Service for inclusion in the Parkway’s official boundary.  In March 2015, CTNC and the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund preserved the remaining 125 acres of streams and the working orchard.

CTNC plans to donate the 16-acre property to the National Park Service for inclusion in the boundaries of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  CTNC has now conserved 32,590 acres in 60 places along the Parkway.

We recently protected 34 acres in Wilkes County in the upper reaches of the Yadkin Pee-Dee River basin. One of the streams on the property is the primary origin of the North Prong Lewis Fork. The stream cascades down the 240-foot Betsey’s Rock Falls.

CTNC acquired a conservation easement from the landowners.  The lasting agreement will prevent development along the stream and preserve both water quality and scenic views of Betsey’s Rock Falls.

“We are very happy to assist the Conservation Trust for North Carolina in its mission to protect views and water quality for the citizens of North Carolina and the visitors to America’s most visited national park, the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Ann Lisk, who owns the property with her husband John and operates the Southern Sun Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit horse rescue, there.

The property is visible from the Betsey’s Rock Falls Overlook at Blue Ridge Parkway milepost 267.8.  The dramatic waterfall is named after Betsey Pierce, a mother of two who lived on the property growing and selling ginseng and other herbs during the Civil War.  Betsey is buried at the Blue Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery near the overlook.  Betsey’s Rock Falls is a combination of free-falls and cascades and is most visible after heavy rain or in the winter when the trees are bare.  The easement is on private property and is not available for public access.

CTNC acquired the conservation easement on January 14^th with support from the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund. “This grant from Duke Energy Foundation’s Water Resources Fund will help ensure that pristine water quality, healthy wildlife habitat, and scenic views will be preserved on a beautiful stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Wilkes County, said Reid Wilson, CTNC Executive Director. “We greatly appreciate Duke Energy’s generous support of this project.”

We recently purchased two forested properties totaling 75 acres on the slopes of Saddle Mountain in Alleghany and Surry counties.  To expand public recreation opportunities, CTNC intends to convey the properties to the state for inclusion in the Saddle Mountain portion of the Mitchell River Game Lands managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

The two properties contain portions of Mill Creek, rated as a trout stream and “High Quality Waters” by the NC Department of Environmental Quality.  The protection of these properties will help preserve unpolluted tributaries and portions of the main stem of Mill Creek in the headwaters of the Fisher River, the drinking water supply for the town of Dobson.  Further downstream, the Yadkin River provides drinking water for millions of residents in the North Carolina Piedmont, including Winston-Salem.

The Saddle Mountain properties are located approximately ¼-mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 222 in Ennice.  The properties are visible from sections of the Parkway near Fox Hunters Paradise Overlook, north of Saddle Mountain.

CTNC purchased the properties on December 23 with generous support from Fred and Alice Stanback, the NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund, The Cannon Foundation, and the Tom and Elaine Wright Family Foundation.

In 2005, CTNC purchased 251 acres on Saddle Mountain and conveyed it to the state, enabling expansion of the Mitchell River Game Lands to include the vast majority of the iconic Saddle Mountain.  The project contributes to an ongoing, collaborative conservation initiative with Piedmont Land Conservancy (based in Greensboro, www.piedmontland.org) and the state that has resulted in the protection of 510 acres on Saddle Mountain since 2005.  Hunting is permitted on the state-owned portion of Saddle Mountain.  In addition, a Stanback Hiking Trail was completed there in 2014, offering hikers the opportunity to enjoy expansive views of the Piedmont to the east and the Blue Ridge mountains to the west from the top of Saddle Mountain.  The trail is accessible from Saddle Mountain Church Road.

We just purchased a 31-acre property along the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 228.9 in Alleghany County.

Conservation of the property ensures that views from the Parkway will remain forested and undeveloped. The two creeks on the property that drain into Little Glade Creek will continue to provide excellent water quality between the creek’s source on Bullhead Mountain and historic Little Glade Mill Pond a mile downstream.

CTNC identified this property as a high priority in its Blue Ridge Parkway conservation plan due to its proximity to the Parkway, importance to water quality in Little Glade Creek, and healthy wildlife habitat.

CTNC plans to donate the Little Glade Creek property to the National Park Service for inclusion in the Parkway’s official boundary.  The donation will likely occur in 2016 to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the National Park Service.

“Blue Ridge Parkway travelers will be able to enjoy views of this forested property forever,” said CTNC land protection director Rusty Painter.  “Pristine waters flowing in Little Glade Creek will be preserved as well,” he added.

The Conservation Trust for North Carolina has now conserved 57 properties on the Blue Ridge Parkway, totaling 32,465 acres.  Other land trusts that conserve land in Alleghany County include the Blue Ridge Conservancy, based in Boone (http://blueridgeconservancy.org/), and the New River Conservancy, based in West Jefferson (http://newriverconservancy.org/).  The Blue Ridge Conservancy protected 102 acres around Little Glade Mill Pond in 2004, and Parkway visitors can hike a 0.3-mile loop trail around the peaceful pond or picnic on its banks.