Asheville ECO-GREEN Real Estate

He was standing at the door when I arrived. His smile was disarming. His eyes twinkled when he spoke. He was in town to teach an RLI Class. I'd heard about him and had chatted before, but I really hadn't had a chance to "sit down" for a talk with this Old-timer. A REALTOR® from " way back"  when "Sustainable or Eco- Community (in which our Firm specializes) didn't have a name yet, he came to Asheville to teach REALTORS® about The Land.

We covered a few questions, then I asked him what he thought about the Native American traditions and how they dove-tail with today's notions of the "Sustainable Community" to which he replied with a chuckle. 

"On my mother's side, my great-grandparents were Cherokee.Lived right near here. Native Traditions are part of my heritage," he told me.

 "Do those Traditions have an impact on his real estate practice today?"

"janeAnne, remember that it wasn't all that long ago that the voices of the  tribal council were heard in gathering places, just a few miles from here... in Hickory Nut Gorge! Back then the Native Tradition was to protect the hills, streams, wildlife, the mountains and the people who share Earth...like those eco-developer clients are doing at the conservation neighborhood, Hickory Nut Forest. "

(see photo , to your right, that JT took at what could have been a tribal council meeting spot along the path of the waterfalls at Hickory Nut Creek.)

"People gathered and listened, learned, and stayed informed, " he continued, " and back then, they demanded accountability from those to whom they gave decision-making authority."

"Yes. Accountability has been on my mind a good-deal these days," I replied. "Good to take the time to do some research and educate yourself, I think.

How about YOU?" 

IF you are relocating to Asheville or already live here and would like to know more about how native traditions can come to bear in contemporary life, here are some Community Resources that may interest you: 

Save Treasured Rivers

From the French Broad River to the rushing rapids and meandering streams that touch Georgia's rivers and serve as sources for clean drinking water and pleasant sites for fishing, camping and hiking a call comes for help. You can help them thrive.

RiverLink

  RiverLink's Muddy Water Watch trains citizens to recognize erosion control violations and how to report those violations. First trainings begin in November. Contact: riverkeeper@riverlink.org 

  The Green Building Council

The WNC Green Building Council is proud to announce that the nation's first locally based carbon offset program, Appalachian Offsets,  Whether you are a business, individual or part of a group such as a church, homeowner's association or employees of a business, you can do your part to combat global climate change TODAY!

Green Walk-about

One of the best times imaginable can be arranged for "free." Learn about Warren Wilson College's sustainable campus practices. On my walk-about, I visited the EcoDorm, the LEED-designed Orr Cottage, and edible gardens. I got better acquainted with the farm and why it received the county's "River-Friendly Farm Award."  Master Gardener's, State's Park Scholars, REALTORS® working toward their ECO designation, and community leaders all recommend this adventure.

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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Green Value,
An Independent Research Study
Says "Thumbs Up" to Green-builts...

If you read my BLOG, you probably already guessed that. Nevertheless, this is exciting news of interest to REALTORS® and our clients. 

 The research corroborates ...independently... Green Value , taking a good solid look at what makes green buildings commendable, and does so in a large, international study in Canada, the USA and the UK.

The study concludes: 

1. There is clear link between the market value of a building and its green features
2. Not only are green buildings good for the environment but they do provide healthier places to live
3. Green buildings are more productive places in which to work
4. Green office buildings can command higher rents and prices
5. In general, Green built buildings do attract tenants more quickly, reduce tenant turnover and cost less to operate and maintain. 

"With buildings consuming such a large share of resources," the study reports, " the green building movement has set about changing the way we design, construct, operate and generally, think, about buildings and communities. " 

Here in Asheville, a hub of green building where "green value" is widely recognized, green builders and developers seem to be clued-in to the value of integrating sustainable concepts in building, but up until recently there has been no definitive study of the "green-value-added" factor.

So the big "thumbs up" is exciting to read about. Ppossibly, this independent research is an important step toward greater awareness of the pluses of green-builts in the real estate market.

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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I ‘m wondering if, like me, you are seeing a growing interest in cohousing ? Is this an idea whose day has come? Possibly even a trend-in-the-making? I'm heading out this morning to do some "hands-on" research.

I'm going to look at one eco-developer's concept for an ecovillage with cohousing potentials,not far from Asheville.  Here's what I know so far: An ecovillage may be in an urban or rural area and is not defined by its location, but rather by concept.

I've been told that  this one  (still in progress) will be defined by another standard: the very caring eco-developer's love of nature. This could make it unique, something especially interesting to the Brokers at our Firm and our real estate clients.

So... will I find this special attention to nature plus the defining characteristics of the eco-community?

•  
  •  
    •  
      •  
        •  
          •                                   
            • Sense of community by design
            • Common areas and facilities
            • Participation

If so, that could be cohousing with a heart! (see photo I picked to symbolize this) and I'll let you know in an upcoming post. . . .

One thing I have surmised already, and  just from engaging conversations with the "green" developer here in Asheville is that this place  is designed  to meet the needs of residents interested in and ready to practice sustainability.  

Example: I discovered that all homes to be constructed here must be sustainable "green" homes . (For interesting information about Healthy Built Homes including the Gold, Silver and Bronze Ratings Scale click here. )

Not surprisingly, given this is an eco-community in the making, the very first (green-built) structure on the property will be a central  gathering place, the social center of a community. Patterned after the old grist mill that once stood on the property,  it is planned to be a place where seminars can be held, and  where neighbors can get together to enjoy a large dining area- kitchen- lounge and  (this is in my mind's eye) can revel in the locally grown fare.

To me, as an  ECO certified  real estate consultant® one of the most exciting aspects of this place is the overall  design of this eco-community. The friendly developers tell me  that it is grounded in the concept of "net zero energy" where green-built homes and renewable resources give an appreciative nod to Mother Nature.

  I, myself,  love just the thought of exploring the trails  that lead to conservation lands, on three sides, and the old apple orchard and vineyard on that conservation land. I'm struck with the fact that this is an authentic "green plan" with room for plenty of  social contact and individual space. As a member of the community, folks can enjoy a shared sense of caring for all who live there .

As a REALTOR®, I realize that this will be so attractive to  a diverse group of interested people. This could turn out to be a novel approach to cohousing!  For our clients who long for this combination, just knowing that may actually be "out here" makes me smile.  If it is the real deal, as I suspect, I'd better include some smelling salts  in my first aid kit  as  our clients are going to swoon with delight.    (I'm smiling.)
 

Resources: Existing Ecovillages/ Sustainable Eco-Communities

Sunward Cohousing near Ann Arbor, MI. ... A place "where lives are simplified, the earth is respected, diversity is welcomed, children play together in safety, and living in community with neighbors comes naturally."

Winslow Cohousing  on Bainbridge Island near Seattle, WA. ...Where residents aim to "a minimal impact on the earth and create a place in which all residents are equally valued as part of the community."

 EcoVillage at Ithaca, NY.  ...Here the goal is "to explore and model innovative approaches to ecological and social sustainability."  

Earthaven Ecovillage   near Asheville, N.C.... Where residents are "dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning, living, and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture."

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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 Green-Dreaming? I was reading a newsletter from one of our city commissioners here in Asheville today.

She seems to be "dreaming green" and her fans say she is a "light in the community" ... From what I know, she challenges Asheville's citizens to apply some creative "human energy"  to look at the city's trajectory. She suggests that we work together to build positive futures. Depending on a variety of lifestyles and choices, solutions to how a city thrives may differ. 

(Photo of eco consultant and his dog taken at eco community, Hickory Nut Forest near Asheville. )

So, from the perspective of real estate professionals and our clients, tonight I am wondering (like the fellow in the photo here who's imagining how the future conservation neighborhood he's exploring will unfold) how this would take shape not just here in Asheville, but in your town. 

Here are a couple ideas:  

• Put into play a plan for sustainable neighborhoods with renewable energy resources powering them. 
• Imagine how to modify homes so that water, wind and solar power are not only energy efficient but save money...
• Spur a renaissance of urban neighborhoods with community gardens. (Organic, of course)
• Create eco-friendly neighborhoods where new green-built homes are designed with natural, non-toxic materials to be safe, healthy, energy efficient.

I am intrigued with the notion of being a part of designing a "net zero energy homes community" that creates more renewable energy than we use. Are you?

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribeto Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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Fenestration. 

Are you experiencing  fenestration in your daily life? You may not know it, but I bet you are, that is unless you live in a yurt above the meadows in Asheville. Or simply have your head in the clouds.

Have a clue? Go on, take a guess! WHAT is "fenestration"?   

I asked my friend the green builder that question.He just grinned. He likes words like riparian and fenestration. He likes the way they roll off his tongue. He's into the curious spark in people's eyes.

He wouldn't tell me. Sent me to Wikipedia... OK... I'm game...  According to Wikipedia,  fenestration refers to "products that fill openings in a building envelope, such as windows, doors, skylights, curtain walls, etc., designed to permit the passage of air, light, vehicles, or people.

(With reference to people, the word defenestration refers to being thrown from a window.)

NOW... If you are an eco-savvy REALTOR® or client, this is an important word having to do with efficiency and saving money. So before you defenestrate me for bringing this word to your attention...let me take you on over to the US Department of Energy  for a small "lecture" on a subject close to home.

Fenestration graphic is courtesy of The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)

Hop on over, if you will, to the NFRC.

Here you will find help  on how "you [can] identify fenestration characteristics and select products!

In fact,  the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) has developed a rating system based on whole product performance. You can compare products using the NFRC label, which appears on NFRC-certified products."

 So here's the deal: Fenestration has to do with features such as daylighting, solar heating, shading, ventilation, and aesthetic value. And this is important when it comes to making purchase decisions. I'm not kidding myself, though. When it comes to all of this, I'm no pro.  It could be a challenge for me to tell the difference between different types of windows. This I'll leave that to my son, the Energy Rater who knows all about how to evaluate window performance and make recommendations. He might suggest these links . . .

• U-Factor
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient
• Visible Transmittance
• Air Leakage

OK...it's your turn.. give me a word as intriguing as "fenestration"... 

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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Lot 1 Hickory Nut Forest Gerton, N.C. 28735 is a Special Find!

YOU could have been searching for a long time. Then, lucky person that you are, and with just a llittle help from your   ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultant  one fine day you discover the perfect place destined to become your UNIQUE BUILDING SITE in the mountains....Lot 1  in the Hickory Nut Forest Eco-community not far from Asheville, NC.

The Asheville, N.C.-based eco-developers dubbed Site # 1 , "Virginia Pine". Softly rising land runs into the hardwood forest,  this bodes well for building.  Decked out with flowers, this is one building site that is  calling to Y O U !.

 Not far from Asheville, and nestled in the small conservation neighborhood (just 17 lots surrounded on three sides by over 800+ acres of conservation land)... this building site has allure. And the adjoining acre, where the eco-community organic garden is  planned even expands the possibilities.

With your eco-savvy REALTOR® pointing out all the natural beauty along the way, you venture on to the adjoining conservation land.  

...you take in the waterfall. (see photo to your right) and enjoy this, among many gifts, that the conservation land adjacent to the  eco-develpment has to offer.

Your REALTOR® thinks there are "approximately 15 or more waterfalls on the land." She plans to visit each one of them..

."How about YOU?" she asks, smiling.  

That's when you think about how much the kids, future grandkids, family and friends would love it here...yes...easy building site, good solar-orientation...and you appreciate  the CONTEXT (see below)  in which you find the building site... For sure, it is a "winner" from the perspectives of

•  location
•  Ashevile's "green" real estate market 
•  community

That's when you decide. Here 's  where you will construct the green-built home of your dreams, right adjacent to over 800+Acres of Conservation Land, in what would soon be an Ecovillage where you can contribute stories and share good times.

....Looking to the Future....

THIS Asheville, NC eco-community is amazing, because, right from the start, the  eco-innovators  who designed and planned this conservation neighborhood  have "done it right"!   

Welcome to the Greater Asheville, NC Area, and
"Virginia Pine",  SITE # 1.   

CONTEXT- Location: Building Site 1 is within 30 minute pleasant drive from Asheville, N.C. and the city's healthy impetus for sustainable development,  diverse economic structure bases on tourism, services, and  eco-innovativeattitudes. Overall education levels, wages and per capita income levels are on the "plus" side.  Standards of living are, too. 

CONTEXT- Asheville Area Sustainable Real Estate Market: GREEN is "red-hot" here.  Greater Asheville, North Carolina's GREEN  real estate market enjoys clients who are hungry for sustainable neighborhoods, energy-efficient design and green-built homes. Now take a look at the natural amenities in the conservation neighborhood in which Site 16 rests, and you may conclude, as I have, that THIS IS THE PERFECT SPOT for your eco-friendly construction.     

CONTEXT The Eco-Community & Conservation Land :  Just A Few of the Conservation Neighborhood's Perks

 (below-- the Old Apple Orchard and future farm on adjacent conservation land. You can hike to it from Site 1)

  - FEATURES & BENEFITS  FOR YOU   

 - Site 1 is within the first development in the USA to combine wide-ranging land conservation  with an eco-friendly community of green-built  homes, to be powered by renewable energy  -(wind power, hydropower , geothermal) - to create  a  "net-zero-energy community".

1. You are on the leading edge + save $$.
2. Living in this conservation neighborhood means enjoying the forever-wild mountain forests, soaring cliffs and pristine, cascading streams, out your back door. You can walk for miles in the serenity of nature.
3. Great perks for body mind and spirit! This Eco-Community- is easy drive from Asheville's, cultural amenities, arts, music and delicious cuisine, as well as excellent healthcare all nearby. (17 miles, 30 min) 
4. You get the "best of both worlds." 
5. Hiking trails lead conveniently from Site 1 into 800+ acres of nature preserve lands  with waterfalls, streams, cliffs and mountaintop vistas.
   You are IN a sustainable  world.    

LOCATED  in the quaint village of Gerton, Site 1 is tucked away in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. . You have found the place to rest and relax, deeply. 

Tennis courts, (adjacent to Site 1) and close-by- hiking trails, horseback riding, bird watching,  fishing, picnicking, boating, over a dozen golf courses in the area, biking, gardening, and community social events. Within walking distance:  Nita's Grocery/General Store, the Post Office, Gerton Fire Department. 
You have found convenience where adventure abounds!

HERE is LOT 1..
.just waiting for YOU...
Tell me...is this YOUR Story? .

Building Site 1. 1.06 AC.
Listed at $149,000.  
MLS 412857  

If you are not committed to another real estate professional, then please call me at 828-255-1082 . For more information on THIS and other featured properties, please visit: http://www.ecostewardrealty.com/  . We invite you to  specify your property needs, design your dream , see our  my "prime property picks" and search the MLS that covers a 5-county area here in mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.

The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and land for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.

Lot 1 Hickory Nut Forest Gerton, N.C. 28735.  Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribeto Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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As I threaded my way over the rocky path to one of the many waterfalls at the eco development our Firm is representing, I wondered...

how did these amazing folks (see the developers in photo I took to your left)  come up with a sustainable design? 

How can one create a conservation development in such a way that genuinely honors the land and protects the environment?

Always curious, I set out on a Q&A session by the waterfall. I wanted to know about the whole process involved in creating a sustainable design.

Q. "How did you make this happen?"

A. "We simply used the thoughtful stewardship principles that reflect our vision, and we used them in the planning of this entire eco-community!"

Q. "What are the steps in that process?"

 A. "Before any plans were made, we got together with a team of eco-savvy land planners and explored the lay of the land and got to know the ecology of the plants and animals  that make it their home."

Q. "What was next?"

• We decided to save the areas we loved the most [so that all in the conservation neighborhood could enjoy them] and not build on them.
• We avoided ridgeline sites that would disrupt scenic vistas.
• We made sure to protect the streams and water quality by maintaining wide riparian plant buffers on both sides.
• We clustered the home sites on a portion of the property rather than spreading them all over.
• We decided to maintain large contiguous blocks of undeveloped forest as a healthy habitat for plants and animals; and connected these areas with adjoining natural lands.
• We put a minimally disturbing forest management plan in place for selective tree cutting and no clear cutting, with special attention near streams, mountain slopes and ridges.
• We  used many native plants in landscaping.

The next time you find yourself on a couple of hundred acres of Land by a waterfall in a conservation neighborhood like this, you may have questions,too...let me know...I know who will have the answers.

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

                                                                                                         You may have guessed by now that  besides being a REALTOR® here in Asheville, NC, . . .I'm also an old schoolteacher. So when I got this request to help out a neighborhood elementary school, (see graphic to the left) it set me off on a journey to find out more about living roofs or green roofs  and what I/we as REALTORS ®
and you might do to help out. . ..

First....a definition:

1. According to Living Roof Systems, a  living roof building is above ground, "with increased opportunity for omni-directional natural daylighting, ventilation, views, and access. " 

Now on to 5 important points about the green or living roof system: 

1. "It affords none of the, primarily psychological perceptions of earth shelter, as dark, stuffy, cold, damp, and entrapping... 
2. ..."a living roof never needs to be replaced, and once established needs little or no maintenance
3.  .... a living roof can be self-sustaining and maintaining indefinitely, i.e., regenerating. ...
4. The care involved requires no more than a typical lawn or garden, and even this is optional.
5. A living roof may even perform best if just left alone. ..."

But, seriously,,,,,what do green roofs look like, anyway?
Are they UGLY?

Here's one photo of European green or living roof
I found at Wikipedia.
Looks OK to me...how about YOU?

But do we have to  travel all the to Europe to see examples of living roof in full splendor?  Isn't there something a little closer to home?

Right here in Asheville:  According to Asheville's  Mountain Xpress ....."gardening has reached new heights at The North Carolina Arboretum  --- about 40 feet off the ground, on top of the arboretum's recently completed Operations Center. The new horticultural venture (and exhibit) is a "green roof" ...

"It's one of the center's many features that meet the state's new "High Performance Building Guidelines."

In addition to simply improving the view, a green roof helps the environment by:

* reducing storm-water runoff (a major pollution problem in urban areas) by absorbing rainfall and allowing it to evaporate into the air or be absorbed by the plants on the roof;

* cooling air temperatures through biological processes such as transpiration, when plants release moisture into the air;

* extending roof life by reducing maximum surface temperatures; and

* providing thermal and noise insulation."

 

To find out about the Features and Benefits of Living Roofs for my clients (and for all of us) ...all I had to do was look closer to home! Maybe there are examples near you, too.   Now I want to see for myself! Shall I head on down there, as we often do on Mother's Day, to take a few personal photos?  I can post  them right here on the BLOG... Let me know.

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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SO...having spent this weekend by a waterfall (see photo JT took ) on "forever wild" land adjacent to a conservation neighborhood our Asheville, N.C. real estate firm is getting to know...

 a number of questions about conservation easements popped up in my mind. . .22 to be exact...and there are probably some I haven't even thought of yet!  But here, as a REALTOR® (and as an interested party) is what I want review . . .

1. What is a conservation easement? 
2. What is a land trust or land conservancy? 
3. Why do landowners donate conservation easements?
4. What are the financial incentives for donating a conservation easement? 
5. What are the costs of a conservation easement?
6. How much is a conservation easement worth?
7. What types of land can be protected by a conservation easement?
8. Does a Land Conservancy accept all easement offers?
9. How long does a conservation easement last?
10. What are some disadvantages of donating a conservation easement?
11. Will a conservation easement grant public access to the property? 
12. Who actually owns land protected by conservation easement?
13. What types of uses are allowed by a conservation easement?
14. What types of uses are not allowed by a conservation easement? 
15. Who is responsible for maintenance and liability on a property protected by conservation easement?
16. Do other organizations accept conservation easements?
17. Can a conservation easement be donated by will?
18. Is land protected by conservation easement immune from condemnation?
19. How long will the easement design process take? 
20. Is the landowner ever obligated to proceed with a conservation easement?
21. What does a Land Conservancy gain from accepting a conservation easement?
22. Does a Land Conservancy charge a fee?
    
    

THOSE are the 22 questions....OH! and just one more...
Where to go for the answers?

Luckily for the Brokers at our Firm, the eco-developers of this conservation neighborhood are "‘salt-of-the-Earth"  folks.. Having spent many years in placing Land into conservation easements and understand all the in-and-outs of the process. More than that, they are generous in their time and energy. As we made our way to the waterfall (one of many adjacent to the conservation neighborhood) they talked about what it meant to them and how it happened that they placed this large acreage in a conservation easement.

For those ofo you who don't get to spend your weekends by waterfalls...or may be consdiering doing so....They also shared THIS LINK ... where those interested can find the answers .

By the way, landowners interested in learning more about managing their land in the Greater Asheville, NC area can participate in an educational event this summer (2008), when a team of land management experts from federal and state agencies, universities, and the private sector are coordinating efforts to offer the annual Woodland Owner Short Course through the Biltmore Forest School.

Will we see you there?. .or would you rather meet us by the waterfall (I'm smiling)

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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RIPARIAN AREAS in An  Eco-community--a real eye-opener!

This week I've been reading the Forestry Report RIFF on a Forestry Report-SOILS : Asheville Eco-Community (series) as part of the research we do before listing an Asheville area eco-development. It's been quite an eye-opener.  For me, it reiterated how important it is for real estate professionals to know more about environmentally-sensitive properties. Today, I'm giving serious thought to environmental factors in terms of riparian areas. I understand that we will  need to be able to point out

1. where the riparian areas are
2. if any building sites are in a flood plain
3. how close to these areas builders can construct homes

Here is a photo of a waterfall on the adjacent conservation land.

Having spent hours walking the land with the perceptive eco-developers, I feel certain they are "tuned-in" to the importance of the above, and the importance of protecting the waters that flow through their eco-community.   I can see by their land planning that they are fluent in the research that points out that riparian areas are instrumental in water quality improvement for both surface runoff and water flowing into streams through subsurface or groundwater flow.

Hickory Nut Creek borders the property on one side. It is a joyful, vocal and VERY lively entity.Standing above and beside it, you can feel your energy rise.

( my photo to the left was taken from the cliff above the Creek where I perched to take it)

Many ephemeral and intermittent stream channels also play through the property --some  flow intermittently.  These stream channels provide areas of key habitat. We will pay special attention to this fact in our real estate marketing efforts and literature.

I know that the developers of this conservation neighborhood will devote themselves to protecting the streams and stream channels from ground altering disturbances--but what is my/our Firm's part in making sure those who invest in property here know about this?

Possibly offer a connection through this post to the Watershed Best Management Practices link where can be found relevant information on controlling impacts from common land use activities that often affect watersheds, water quality. This link (click for list)  takes you to an eye-opening presentation/slide show and insight into common forestry management measures from planning through reforestation.  Let me know what you think!

What's next?I'm going to talk with the eco-innovators developing this eco-community about their plans for renewable energy as it pertains to the riparian areas... . Stay tuned!

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribeto Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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WHATEVER  YOU CHOOSE- 

• Building a HealthyBuilt home adjacent to over 1,000 Acres of Conservation Land
• Participating at some level in a sustainable community or Ecovillage,
• Selecting a building site for the future

you must know that THIS Asheville, NC eco-community is amazing!  Right from the start, the eco-innovators  who designed and planned this conservation neighborhood  have "done it right"! Right from the start, they thought about renewable energy sources and organic gardens.

NOTE:  ARTISTS  and ARTISANS ...for these reasons and more, you are going to love Building Site 16, so here's a heads-up for you...read on....

  (photo of artist enjoying stream on  Site 16 property)

Welcome to the Greater Asheville, NC Area, and
the UNIQUE  BUILDING SITE # 16.   

WHY "unique" ? There's a good reason...and I'll tell you  in just a minute...but first...please "sit by the stream" and consider Site 16 in CONTEXT... and from the perspectives of

•  location
•  Ashevile's "green" real estate market 
•  community  

CONTEXT- Location: Building Site 16 is within 30 minute pleasant drive from Asheville, N.C. and the city's healthy impetus for sustainable development,  diverse economic structure bases on tourism, services, and  eco-innovative attitudes. Overall education levels, wages and per capita income levels are on the "plus" side.  Standards of living are, too.  

CONTEXT- Asheville Area Sustainable Real Estate Market: GREEN is "red-hot" here.  Greater Asheville, North Carolina's GREEN  real estate market enjoys clients who are hungry for sustainable neighborhoods, energy-efficient design and green-built homes. Now take a look at the natural amenities in the conservation neighborhood in which Site 16 rests, and you may conclude, as I have, that THIS IS THE PERFECT SPOT for your eco-friendly construction.     

CONTEXT The Eco-Community & Conservation Land :  Just A Few of the Conservation Neighborhood's Perks

(adjacent conservation land
to hike to from Site 16)

  - FEATURES & BENEFITS  FOR YOU   

1. Hickory Nut Forest - Site 16 is within the first development in the USA to combine wide-ranging land conservation  with an eco-friendly community of green-built  homes, to be powered by renewable energy  -(wind power, hydropower , geothermal) - to create  a  "net-zero-energy community".
   You are on the leading edge + save $$.
   
2. Living in this conservation neighborhood means enjoying the forever-wild mountain forests, soaring cliffs and pristine, cascading streams, out your back door. You can walk for miles in the serenity of nature.
   Great perks for body mind and spirit!
   
3. This Eco-Community- is easy drive from Asheville's, cultural amenities, arts, music and delicious cuisine, as well as excellent healthcare all nearby. (17 miles, 30 min)
   You get the "best of both worlds." 
   
4. Hiking trails lead directly from home site  16 into 1,000+ acres of nature preserve lands  with waterfalls, streams, cliffs and mountaintop vistas.
   You are IN a sustainable  world.   
   
5. LOCATED  in the quaint village of Gerton, Site 16 is tucked away in the Upper Hickory Nut Gorge. . You have found the place to rest and relax, deeply. 
   
6. Tennis courts, and close-by- hiking trails, horseback riding, bird watching,  fishing, picnicking, boating, over a dozen golf courses in the area, biking, gardening, and community social events. Within walking distance:  Nita's Grocery/General Store, the Post Office, Gerton Fire Department. 
   You have found convenience where adventure abounds!

HERE is LOT 16...just waiting for YOU...Tell me...what do you think of the Context for this amazing building site? 

HERE is what makes Site 16 totally UNIQUE... 

This site offers a LIVE/ WORK opportunity . Building  Site 16 has frontage on a road favored by locals and tourists in a quaint village just half an hour form downtown Asheville! Artists and artisans, you could create your gallery/shoppe in the lower meadow just off the road and WALK  HOME across the meadow that  borders the vocal Hickory Nut Creek.

Site your home on the knoll that leads to trails into 1,000+ acres of conservation land. AMAZING! Artists and artisans are you as excited about this building site as I am????

Building Site 16. 1.5 AC. Listed at $169,000.   MLS 411918

Eco communities Resources: Findhorn   
Graph below describing sustainable development courtesy of Wikipedia

A Note to Buyers and Investors.

If you are not committed to another real estate professional, then please call me at 828-255-1082 . For more information on THIS and other featured properties, please visit: http://www.ecostewardrealty.com/  . We invite you to  specify your property needs, design your dream , see our  my "prime property picks" and search the MLS that covers a 5-county area here in mountains near Asheville, North Carolina.

• The ECO Certified ® Real Estate Consultants at The ECO Steward Real Estate Firm  specialize in working with eco-developers and land for sale in the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area. We are excited about value-added, ECO-friendly properties, and focus on positive futures. Our real estate practice inspires property investments for wealth of the generous kind.  

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved  Asheville ECO Real Estate: Trends, Legacies & The Home Place   Subscribe to Greenolina's  "Green Wheels" BLOG and keep  those creative wheels a turnin'

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