Eco Friendly Real Estate Blog

Community Connections  may be considered going green connections. Whether you live in Asheville or  in Anytown  those connections can deepen an important sense of belonging. The going green part is about neighbors, neighborhoods, and whole regions flourishing.

Take for example going green organizations such as:

The Audubon Society.Here in Asheville the chapter of the Audubon Society is open to birders of all experience levels. (Photo taken just a short walk from a birding adventure at Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society. ) 

The Clean Air Community Trust.  Our family is a big fan of improving air quality. Possibly yours is, too. Here is a link to innovative programs that educate, energize and empower the communities of WNC.   

Blue Ridge Forever is on my great connections list because you can connect with thirteen (13) local, state and national conservation organizations working to protect the Blue Ridge Mountains. Go here:

The Canary Coalition. You probably already know about this one.  It is a grassroots group working to mobilize and demonstrate public support for clean air. Nothing like clean air, right? 

Tell me what is happening in your neighborhood!

___________________________________________________________________________________________
   

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal
____________________________________________________________________________ 

Are you a tree hugger? If you check out the first few links below, you may be surprised at your answer! 

The American Chestnut Foundation.  Do you miss seeing the great American Chestnut trees as much as I do?  Check out this link where you can connect with other folks who are working to restore the American chestnut tree to its native range within the woodlands of the eastern United States.

The Dogwood Alliance is your connection if you want to help protect and restore endangered forests across the South.

National Park Service- Historic Places. Asheville is celebrated for her architectural reservoir of Art Deco, Gothic Revival, Queen Anne and Arts and Crafts style buildings. And Asheville is home to some of the most magnificent trees on Earth. One of my favorite past times is photographing those trees, their neighborhoods and buildings.

The Cradle of Forestry  is located right in  the Pisgah National Forest. This connection centers around the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachians at the birthplace of scientific forestry.

__________________________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

_____________________________________________________________________________

It makes me smile each time I hear about a teacher who inspires greatness in her students- especially when this leads to a better understanding of Going Green. Most of you know that I am an old schoolteacher. Perhaps that is why I was attracted to a segment of a PBS Series (Edens Lost and Found) that pays tribute to Deb Perryman.

Ms Perryman is a teacher who created and  outdoor classroom,  a 35 AC parcel of land she somehow managed to salvage and then sculpt into a nature preserve right out the door of her school!  You may wonder how to motivate a group of teenage people these days. Take a peek at the video clip and you see how Ms. Perryman teaches about the meaning and practice of stewardship-  a subject you all know is close to my heart.  

WATCH as she teaches students about sustainability and the environment through hands-on activities.  She calls this "service learning."

___________________________________________________________________________    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

A couple of years ago a PBS Series entitled Edens Lost and Found caught my attention. The series is about "regreening"  taking place in  Chicago, Philadelphia, LA, and Seattle. By regreening I mean   investing in  sustainable urban ecosystems that can improve quality of life.

Regreening is an emerging trend. Communities and individuals, including a number of REALTORS® are working together to develop programs and initiatives to reconnect kids with nature in their own neighborhoods. Everybody wins.

Going Green in Your Neighborhood? Here are a few Resources:

An excellent book Last Child in the Woods.   A book that might impact how we build neighborhoods.

An example of residential development going green: Derek Thomas, founder and chief operating officer of Newland Communities, the nation's largest privately owned residential developer, has committed his company to changing its design approach. "We need to find more ways to integrate community into nature," he told CBS News.

The PBS Series- EDENS LOST AND FOUND http://edenslostandfound.org/

____________________________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

HOME SWEET GREEN HOME HOLIDAYS

There's no place like home, especially during the holidays. And best of all you can save time, energy, and money by "traveling" your own neighborhood. Think of it this way... everything you need is right at home. And you and your family can pretend you're a tourist visiting your own town. 

Here in Asheville the Biltmore Estate is one place we plan on visiting. Did you know that .if each family reduced holiday gasoline consumption by one gallon (about twenty miles), we'd reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one million tons?

Here's a list of neighborly going green savings tips: 

• Rather than piling up "stuff" under the tree, think about what friends and family really want or need. Try giving gift certificates if you don't know what someone wants, or simply make a donation in his or her name to a favorite charity. 
• Give gifts that encourage others to use less stuff, like a book about making crafts from reusable items, cookbook for leftovers, reusable tote bags.
•  We love homemade food or something our neighbors made from reused items. 

What would you add to this list? 

_________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

Santa's GOING GREEN Sack 2009

I wish you could be with us here in Asheville, NC. for our Fourth Annual Community Feast!  The menu never varies...and we really look forward to the gathering. (see original menu) But you can come along, no matter where you  find yourself this holiday season. You can help us celebrate everything positive in Santa's GREEN Sack...You are invited!   We all may marvel at the wee reindeer and the fine red velvet suit Santa's wearing, but even better is what you may discover in Santa's GREEN Sack. . .

for there you may find  the answers to some questions you and I have asked about eco-friendly remedies and connections......(see Link List below)...

Here's a Gift of Good-Green connections you can use all year through ...

Solar Energy Network
Web site: www.solarenergy.com

100 Top Recycling Sites
Web site: www.100toprecycling.com

Conservation Online (CoOL)
Web site: palimpsest.stanford.edu

Earth's 911
Web site: www.1800cleanup.org

Ecomall
Web site: www.ecomall.com

Global Recycling Network/Recycling & Related Industries
Web site: grn.com/org/org.htm

The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide
Web site: http://www.obviously.com/recycle/

 Blessings and Good Green Cheer!

  _______________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/  Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

Going Green: A Snowbound Neighborhood 

According to the commonly understood real estate definition, a neighborhood is an
area of a municipality which is identifiable by a common use, a common atmosphere or a common business area. 

When I think of  neighborhood, I imagine ice cream socials, welcoming living spaces, community organic  gardens,  evening strolls on tree-lined sidewalks. Family. Friends. Pets and Parties.  

It's a very attractive picture to me, especially at this time of year. I so enjoy sharing images and stories of life in our neighborhood in the mountains in  Asheville. And for the past number of years I even have been setting aside time each week to journey out  to other neighborhoods, to explore the lore of days gone by and then talk with the folks who live in a neighborhood now.

There seems to be a common thread in the  neighborhoods that attract me. It is not that they have a common business area or a common atmosphere. It has more to do with the "neighborliness" of the neighbors. 

We had a huge snow storm this week. We were snowed in. We hit the wood pile, chopped the logs, lit the fire, and helped out the neighbors. Then we settled down with a hot chocolate.  Does that make us "identifiable by a common use" ? Possibly. But there is so much more energy around the notion of neighborhood.

Maybe it has more to do with the esprit de corps grilling outside in the snow is all about.

______________________________________________________________________________

Going Green Series: A Neighborhood. Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal

LAND FOR SALE BY OWNER (or NOT)

As a Land Specialist, I get to walk incredible acreages.-some land for sale by owner-some listed on the MLS. I never cease to be thrilled when I get "that certain feeling" within seconds of stepping on LAND that resonates with me. I have found that my clients feel the same way. It is funny how that happens. Within literally seconds, they/we simply "know". And when we "know" it's the "RIGHT ONE"...it's like finding treasure .....

The  choices and variety of land/ acreage here in the Greater Asheville area (Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania and Yancey County) has always attracted people area. I've been reading a novel set in 18^th century North Carolina that makes it clear that even in 1776 people braved ocean waves and mountain passages just to be here! YES... It is like finding .

In the past, even 20 years ago, it was not too difficult for land lovers to secure significant tracts of land here in the Appalachians, whether for investment or for conservation purposes. 

However, today locating large acreages can be challenging.There only are  13  large (over 400 acre and commonly known to be available) tracts within 50 or so miles of Asheville, N.C. (December, 2009)

 Here the data:  

Acreage                              Listed at $$$$ 

404.5                              $ 2.52.                                    
430                                 $ 7,740 
457                                         $ 8,230,140
481                                 $ 3.6 
499                                         $6,986,000                

517                                         $ 6,204,000                 
585                                         $ 6,800,000
690                                          $ 5,500,000
730.49                                    $ 11,614,791
742                                         $ 12,243,000
748                                $ 10,472,000 (Henderson)
748                                $ 10,472,000 (Transylvania)
1048                              $10,867,500 (Jackson County)

Whether the land is old family land, as much of the above it, and is used for farming, or  forest land with awesome views, waterfalls, streams, the  unique quality makes it an excellent choice for conservation real estate investors; perhaps even a Preserve .

  It seems that unique mountain acreage always has and always will attract treasure seekers. IF you are one such person, I can help.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/
LAND FOR SALE by owner or not. Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reservedthe green real estate Asheville Journal

GOING GREEN Series: A Vintage Retrofit 

On a quiet street in an historic neighborhood in Asheville, NC, where  huge old trees stand in stately glory on either side of the rode,  I found an amazing vintage home in need of TLC.

I showed it not long ago to a young couple who are planning to " do a bunch of retrofitting"  after they invest in an older home. Great attitude as the "GREEN-UP":  It's going to be a fascinating learning experience and challenge, " they tell me. 

GREEN RETROFIT 

We sat sown with our "GREENERS" -professional resources who understand the ins and outs of  retrofitting to get a clue as to their opinion about what they'd like to see done first.   Here's what they told us:

• Solar Panels
• Upgrade the windows
• NO VOC painting throughout 
• Edible landscape
• On-Demand Water Heaters

Summarizing: Green products can improve your quality of life while also "greening-up" the neighborhood in a special way.  Here is a Vintage Retrofit and it could be  the biggest and most elegant recycled item for which you have ever cared!

What's yours???

Resources: . I love Asheville's locally-produced Earthpaint® which is NO VOC for sprucing up both interior and exterior surfaces. (Check the link. You can order it shipped if need be.)

________________________________________________________________________________  

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's

________________________________________________________________________

Going Green Series- Before you Move......GREEN-up 

Before you Move,take a look at your reason to sell and think through the process before you do anything else. Good planning pays off. It makes sense to do the standard list of  things:

a) Release your personal attachment to your home (not always so easy to do)
b) Take your personality out of the picture (also not always so easy to do)
c) Get a jump on packing and de-clutter (for sure not  so easy to do)
d) Make all closets and cabinets ship-shape (another challenge)

But what about providing that special "oomph" to buyers
who more and more today are demanding ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES
that offer attractive BENEFITS to buyers?

Before you Move, GREEN-up- Paint. Replace. Upgrade.

This eco-friendly plan will increase the value of the home and certainly makes it more attractive to today's buyers.

Step One: Spruce up your abode. Paint.Use NO VOC paints, remove and replace old carpets with nontoxic flooring, consider replacing all the light bulbs with LEDs. I love Asheville's locally-produced Earthpaint®which is NO VOC for sprucing up both interior and exterior surfaces. (Check the link. You can order it shipped if need be.)

Step Two: Replace old appliances with  energy efficient appliances.

Step Three: Updatewindows, insulate for energy efficiency, and go for daylighting. .

Step Four: Seek out a "green"  real estate professional with NAR's GREEN Designation or the EcoBroker or Eco Certified Real Estate Consultant Designation.

__~o
 -\_<,                                       
(*)/'(*)    ..........      ............ the green real estate Asheville: GOING GREEN: Mountain homes and land legacies, socially conscious investing, rolling into a sustainable  world. Create it today for tomorrow. Find eco-friendly LAND. Build a green home. GREEN Real Estate, Retrofits and Relocation: ECO HOMES AND LAND. Serving Asheville's Eco-Friendly-Home, Relocation LAND Clients. The Eco-Steward Firm, ALL Eco-Certified® Real Estate Consultants!  http://landlegacies.blogspot.com/

Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved the green real estate Asheville Journal