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Cumberland County

Coordinator:  Brenda Johnson

 

Sustainable Saturdays Film Series at the CAMEO

Sustainable Sandhills and the CAMEO Art House Theatre are showing award-winning documentaries the first and third Saturday mornings of every month!  These are films that wouln't otherwise be shown in our community or region without this series.  Please join us at 11am one of these Saturday mornings.  Admission is typically $6 per person, and $5 for CAMEO and SS members.  Our schedule is listed below.  You can also check our events calendar for an up to date listing of all SS events!

 

February 2011 | Gardening Workshops

Please join us for the free series of Gardening Workshops presented by Jackie Hough of Raft Swamp Farms.  A series of three classes will be held in the month of February - just in time for you to prepare for planting season.  The workshops will be held on February 3, 10, and 17 at the Cumberland County North Regional Library.

Description of classes:

1. Backyard Vegetable Gardening: Growing ‘Local Food’ Sustainably:  Become a ‘locavore’ – right in your own yard. Get the information you need to start your sustainable garden now. Learn tips for starting seeds, growing transplants, and raising delicious, healthful vegetables with natural methods throughout our wonderfully long growing season. Whether you have an acre and a half – or half a patio lined with colorful containers – a successful garden is within your reach.

2. Plan and Plant to Attract Wildlife into Your Life: Make your property a destination for beautiful wildlife and beneficial insects. Learn how to create a plan that will make your landscape a welcoming haven for the creatures with whom we share the planet. Special attention will be focused on basic principles of permaculture, desirable plant communities, maximizing ‘edge’, creating shelter, preferred food plants, and native species in the landscape.

3. Rain Gardens: The Things You Can Do with Roof Run-off!:  It seems that almost every yard has a place where “it stays soggy after a rain” – or where a cascade of raindrops leaves a trail of bare soil on its way to the storm drain. Find out how to make rain water your new best friend! Learn to harvest rain water and use it wisely, and discover the basics of rain garden construction, maintenance, and plant selection. 

Event: FREE Gardening Workshops

Date: February 3, 10, and 17, 2011

Time: Beginning at 7:00pm

Location: Cumberland County North Regional Libary

Active Cumberland CAT Projects:

 

 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 | Sustainable Film Series

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Cumberland County Headquarters Library for our FREE screening of King Corn and Big River.  We hope to see you at future films!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010 | Sustainable Film Series

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our screening of Bag It. Special thanks to the Bag Monster for making an appearance and demonstrating just how many plastic bags American's use annually. 

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 | Team Meeting

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our October Cumberland County Community Action Team Meeting.  Attendees learned some important tips for recycling in the City of Fayetteville.  Sustainable Sandhills raffled off a 96 gallon Super Recycler Cart donated by the City of Fayetteville Department of Environmental Services.  Thanks to Jerry Dietzen for donating the cart and congratulations to our winner Dr. John Mattox.

For more information on recycling in the city, visit the City of Fayetteville Department of Environmental Services page or their Curbside Recycling page.

Before you recycle or trash unused items around your house, please think whether that item may be useful to someone else.  Donating these items make them available to people in need and keep them out of the landfill.  Click here for a list of donation centers in Fayetteville. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 | Sustainable Film Series

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our FREE screening of Thirst, a film that discusses whether water is a human right for all people or a commodity to be bought and sold in the global marketplace.  We hope to see you at the next event!

 

Thursday, August 12, 2010 | Team Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended our August Community Action Team Meeting.  Special thanks to Anthony Ramsey, Landscape Architect for the City of Fayetteville Parks and Recreation.  Anthony spoke about current and future work that is being done on trails and greenways in Fayetteville.  Brenda Johnson, Sustainable Sandhills Community Action Team Coordinator gave a brief presentation about FAMPO's current Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity Study.  Jon Parsons, Executive Director for Sustainable Sandhills spoke about the aspects of the City of Fayetteville's draft Unified Development Ordinance that could contribute to both the open space and parkland in Fayetteville. 

If you want to speak in support of more trails and greenways, you can address the City Council on the second Monday of every month at their meetings. 

For more information about these meetings, and to learn how to register to speak, please visit the City of Fayetteville website: www.ci.fayetteville.nc.us. 

Thursday, July 20, 2010 | Sustainable Film Series

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our FREE screening of Two Angry Moms, a film highlighting the fight for a better school food environment.  A special thanks to our panelists Jackie Hough, Raft Swamp Farms; Joseph Allen, Carolina Grown; Kelly Jones, Cumberland County Schools Child Nutrition Center; and Carissa Gemar, Cumberland County Schools Child Nutrition Center. 

All panelists provided valuable insight into how school food is managed locally.  If you are interested in learning more about what your child eats at school, here are a few simple things you can do:

  • Have lunch with your child in their school cafeteria
  • Get involved with the nutrition committee in your school or form a wellness committee in your district
  • Read the school food contracts to find out if they meet your wellness guidelines
  • Go to www.angrymoms.org for more information on making positive changes in your school system

Interested in increasing the amount of locally grown food in your family's diet?

Carolina Grown will deliver pastured meat and fresh produce right to your door, and all products are produced right here in North Carolina!!

Local Harvest will help you find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area - just type in your zip and find the freshest local food!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010 | Team Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended our June Community Action Team Meeting.  Kristoff Bauer, assistant City Manager, and Karen Hilton, Planning and Zoning Division Manager, joined us for an informative discussion of the City of Fayetteville's new Unified Development Ordinance.  This document has been two years in the making and will soon be up for adoption by the City Council. 

To see more of the topics highlighted at the meeting, click here to view Kristoff's presentation.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 | Sustainable Film Series

Our screening of Dirt! The Movie was a huge success!  The film provided a lot of information and inspiration about the importance of keeping dirt healthy! 

The first step to healthy dirt is to have your soil tested.  NC Cooperative Extension offers FREE soil testing.  They will also help you interpret your soil report and advise you on the next steps to take.  Contact the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension at 910-321-6860, visit them at 301 E. Mountain Drive in Fayetteville, or check out their website at http://cumberland.ces.ncsu.edu/.

If you are interested in learning more about the film (or about dirt in general), please visit the Dirt! The Movie website at www.dirtthemovie.org.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 | Team Meeting

Thank you to everyone who attended our April Community Action Team Meeting.  Special thanks to our two guest speakers - Brian Watson from Pratt Industries and Jim Wood from Alternative Energy Solutions.  Both speakers gave an overview of their operations and described how their industries are making our area more sustainable. 

Brian Watson is the manager of the Pratt Industries Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) located on Owen Drive just off of Highway 87.  The MRF not only processes the recyclables from the City of Fayetteville, but also receives mixed recyclables from surrounding counties and holds contracts to receive corrugated cardboard from local retailers.  Brian ended his presentation with some actions that citizens can take to make recycling more effective and efficient.  First, education leads to participation.  Getting young children involved in recycling is a great way to educate entire families and ensure that these practices are carried on into the future.  Also, Brian urges citizens to not bag their recyclables.  The MRF cannot process plastic bags, and efficiency is lost when employees have to open bags before sorting the recyclables inside.  Sustainable Sandhills supports Brian’s suggestion to take reusable bags when you shop and avoid plastic altogether!!

Please click here to visit the Pratt Industries website and learn more about their efforts.  Click here to view some pictures of the MRF on Owen Drive!  You may just recognize some of your own recyclables!!

Jim Wood from Alternative Energy Solutions shared information on the cost and insulation of solar hot water systems.  Jim pointed out that there are numerous tax incentives for making these energy efficient changes in your home or business, as well as several programs available through local utility companies.  Jim recommends the website www.DSIREUSA.org as a resource for both state and federal incentives.  Also, visit www.ncgreenpower.org to learn how you can contribute to North Carolina’s move toward green energy.  Jim’s suggestions for making your water heating system more energy efficient are to insulate your water heater with a blanket (available at your local home improvement store or local EMC), insulate your hot water pipes, and to check the efficiency of your system to see if it’s time to invest in a new unit.  Jim offers home energy audits to help homeowners save money and the environment.

Click here to visit the Alternative Energy Solutions website and learn more about the services they offer.  Click here to view Jim's presentation!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010 | Team Meeting

The first Cumberland County CAT meeting of 2010 was held at the Headquarters Library in Downtown Fayetteville.  Attendees were updated on ongoing Sustainable Sandhills projects including the Cultural Resources Inventory, multi-family and commercial recycling in the City of Fayetteville, and our Go-Green Initiative in Cumberland County schools.  We also outlined our efforts to identify and service homes in Cumberland County with our energy and water conservation assistance project. 

If you would like to learn more about our conservation assistance project, help us identify homes, or be a volunteer, please contact Brenda Johnson (brendaj@sustainablesandhills.org, 910-484-9098).

The majority of the meeting involved discussion of the upcoming Urban Farm Tour to be held on April 10th.  This year’s Tour promises to be very successful, with several new sites lined up, as well as returning hosts from last year.  Meeting attendees formed break-out groups to discuss potential fundraisers and sponsors, a pre-event potluck for participants and volunteers, and media and outreach for the event.  Attendees were also given the chance to sign up to volunteer the day of the event.  Special thanks to Team member Luci Fernandez for leading this part of the meeting.

If you are interested in volunteering, becoming an event sponsor, or being a site on the Tour, please contact Heather Brown (brownh@ctc.com, 910-484-9098).

August 11, 2009 | Team Meeting

The CC CAT meeting was held at the headquaters Library in downtown Fayetteville.  The meeting featured a presentation from Dr. John Mattox from FSU that included a look at how we use energy in the US, our petroleum sources and how our consumption of natural resources leads to side effects like greenhouse gases and global warming.  Charles Young, a Sutainable Fort Bragg planner, ended the meeting with a presentation on "Project Get Ready", an initiative to prepare cities for plug-in hybrid vehicles.  Thank to both for their presentations and expertise. 

Review the 08/11/09 Meeting Summary

Review the Presentation by Dr. John Mattox

Review the Presentation by Charles Young

Click here to learn more about the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association

June 9, 2009 | Team Meeting

The CC CAT meeting was held at the PWC Operations Center.  The Team was given updates on projects presented at our last meeting including a Urban Farm Tour summary, the Sustainable Film Series and a community garden update.  Other presentations included "Gardening with Native Plants" by Paul Linskens.  A discussion of the Native Plant Rescue Team project followed the presentation.  Our Green Living and Design Tour is coming up in the fall and we discussed tour site ideas.  Please review our meeting summary and meeting presentation for more infomation.. 

Review the 6/09/09 meeting summary

Review the 6/09/09 meeting presentation

April 7, 2009 | Team Meeting

The CC CAT meeting was held at the PWC Operations Center.  The Team was given updates on projects presented at our last meeting including the upcoming Urban Farm Tour, the Sustainable Film Series and a low income energy/water conservation project that is a partnership between Operation Inasmuch and SS on their recent April 4th Blitz Day.  In addition, three community projects were discussed that require input from the green community.  Please review our meeting summary and meeting presentation for more infomation.. 

Review the 4/07/09 meeting summary

Review the 4/07/09 meeting presentation

February 12, 2009 | Team Meeting

The February 12 CC CAT meeting was held at the PWC Operations Center and was attended by more than 30 Team members.  In addition to a review of four projects already underway, three new projects were discussed.  They included: the Greening of Alma Easom Primary School in Fayetteville, a low income housing rehabilitation and weatherization project idea introduced by Mary Cathryn Murray, and the CC CAT's participation (via Sustainable Sandhills) in the Greater Fayetteville Futures II effort. 

A set of great project ideas was generated by the group during the meeting.  These ideas include:  a native plant rescue team, a "ban the bottle" and "ban the bag" initiative, edible gardens in schools, a scholarship for training installers in the use of sustainable products, solar PV panel installations on local churches, a tree planting initiative and an education and awareness effort for the general public.  SS staff and CC CAT members will be working to identify champions, volunteers and other resources to make these projects a success. 

Review the 2/12/09 meeting presentation

November 18, 2008 | Team Kick-Off Meeting

The first meeting of the Cumberland County Community Action Team was held on November 18, 2008, at Cape Fear High School.  The meeting featured three local projects that are already underway in the community: the Cape Fear High School Green School Program, a Cumberland County Urban Farm Tour, and the greening of MAC Sign Company, a Sustainable Sandhills Certified Green Business.  

Review the 11/18/08 meeting presentation

Cumberland County Success Stories: