NC 120 Leaders Community Project Proposal Bring It Home:
Backyard Solutions for a Sustainable Future
July 19th – 20th
We the Courageous NC 120 Lions
Stand for Universal Love and Freedom!!
We stand for love and freedom in the world and believe that the cycle of environmental degradation on our planet will be reversed when people feel loved and know that they are truly free. This begins in our local communities where circles of connection between humans, their resources, and the whole web of life are understood and strong. We are committed to building a groundbreaking model for backyard sustainability that will demonstrate the interconnection of all life and teach people creative ways to sustain their families and communities using methods that support a healthy, vibrant, and constantly renewing planet. Not only will the community surrounding the project have access to a beautiful outdoor sanctuary where abundant food and water is produced but people from all over will be able to utilize this “living laboratory” as a way to learn how to bring it home to their neighborhoods.
Project Site Description
The Ashevillage Institute is an eco-urban education center that promotes sustainable solutions in action. Ashevillage Institute is host to educational programs and a demonstration site that models ecological design for backyard resilience, namely integrated water and food systems. The site provides a space for members of the community to learn about aquaculture, permaculture, and environmentally friendly techniques they can use on their property no matter how big or small.
Project Specifications:
Observation deck: A deck will be built that is approximately 25 ft long x 6ft wide. The deck will be constructed from locally harvested black locust lumber. The initial infrastructure has been laid for a deck adjacent to the lower pond in the rainwater catchment system.
Retaining Wall Bench: A ~20 ft long x 2 ½ ft wide x 4” deep cement bench will be constructed at the bottom of an unfinished retaining wall, which supports the hydro-channel of the rainwater catchment system. There is already an existing wood framework for the cement to be laid.
Edible Entry Arbor and Trellis: An extensive arbor and trellis will be constructed at the entrance to the backyard. One archway will be built over the first step leading up into the yard and will be ~ 10ft W x 8 ft H. A second archway will be built to the left of the side door (see image below) and will be ~ 10ft W x 8ft H. A ~40 ft trellis will lead up the yard alongside a brick walkway to another 5 ft W x 8 ft H archway at the top of the steps. The arbor will be constructed from locally harvested black locust wood.
Landscaping: As a part of AVI’s master plan, 0.12 acres of the property will be covered with densely abundant, productive, edible, and biodiverse plant life. The landscape will integrate a variety of medicinal and edible plants with multiple functions (i.e., nitrogen fixers, dynamic accumulators, beneficial insect habitat, aromatic pest confusers). AVI has provided our team with a master plant list and we will be acquiring and planting at least 200 of these plants. Clearing, soil amending, plant delivery and placement will begin on or before Day 1 of the project, and planting will begin on Day 2 of the project.
Birdhouses: Utilizing scrap wood and other materials, our team of volunteers will construct at least 5 birdhouses to be installed throughout the property. These birdhouses will provide habitat, as well as add to the beauty and character of the property. These birdhouses will be small, no larger than 12”H x 12”W x 12” deep, and will be creatively designed and constructed by individuals and small groups on Day 2 of the project.
Documentary: The project will be documented from start to finish.
THE LEGACY CENTER
2200 Gateway Centre Blvd., Suite 216
Morrisville, NC 27560
Wow. Another great project and experience! The project I was involved in was for SafeChild in Raleigh. We not only built a library for the parents and kids, we built a playground for the kids and parents! It was a blast. The Legacy Center is changing lives and in doing so changing the world. It is the most effective organization I know of that is doing this much in personal effectiveness training.
Retaining Wall Bench – WOW – it happen! I took a stand and was committed that this will be done in excellence. I had a pledge for $200.00 to get the concrete poured on site by Friday, this was Tuesday. Made a trip to Asheville and met with Brandi of Ashevillage Institute, Concrete Company and a single volunteer. We made the selection on a color chart of Red brick place the call for the concrete and then we waited.
The next day at 7:00 am the calls started – you want it when asked the salesman? In addition they do not have the ability to hose it to the bench area. The salesman Dean Orr got on the phone and found a person to pump it and had the concrete mixed and was ready to deliver it today!
The full price was now $680.00 instead of $200.00 he said. I do it I’ll find the additional funding. I called McGinnis Builders and explained the additional cost. He was willing to meet me halfway in the total cost.
Mean while the concrete is being delivered and pumped to the bench. During this process a neighbor near by walk up and offered to help – he was a concrete finisher – just what we needed! The volunteer Bruce NC122 was so surprised. We you are committed to an action anything is possible!
Later that day I get a phone call from McGinnis Builders and said we got the rest of the job covered by the person that recently purchased my dad’s house. The buyer was so impressed with how I was being in Florida for my dad’s funeral and how I handle my family in the sale of my dad’s house he just had to help.
The bench was done in less than two days from the start to the finish.
My primary responsibility thus far has been on the landscaping part of the project. We have donations of over 200 plants from nurseries around Asheville AND in the Triangle area. I am humbled by the generosity of folks who want to help out on this exciting project; not only the donors of plants, but those who are helping get materials from the donors to Ashevillage Institute. And if one person can’t help, they can almost always suggest someone who can. A great lesson!
Bring It Home:
Backyard Solutions for a Sustainable Future
The Legacy Center and Ashevillage Institute invite you to an extraordinary project in service to our planet!
On July 1st, an intrepid group of visionaries a part of the Legacy Center’s Leadership Program decided that they wanted to make a profound difference in our community by creating a project that would tangibly shift the cycle of harm of our planet. As a part of the Legacy Leadership Program, each leadership team creates a project of unreasonable measure and extraordinary result that leaves a legacy in the community where the project takes place. The project is designed in a couple of weeks and must be completed in only two days! So please join us at the Ashevillage Institute for . . .
Bring It Home:
Backyard Solutions for a Sustainable Future
Monday July 19 and Tuesday July 20
8am – 7pm
with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday at 7pm
Among the projects that will be completed at the Ashevillage Institute are the building of an observation deck over one of the rainwater catchment ponds, constructing an edible entry arbor to the property, and landscaping the entire front and back of the houses, just under half an acre, with edible and medicinal plants.
We need your help to make this project possible! ! !
We are currently seeking volunteers for the two days of the project with all levels of experience.
We specifically need experienced carpenters to help with the deck and arbor builds and landscapers with local plant/permaculture knowledge.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT OF BACKYARD SUSTAINABILITY! ! !
Click on this link to give a 100% tax-deductible donation!
We are also seeking supplies including locust posts and decking, as well as oak and rhododendron; various medicinal/edible/aquatic plants, and soil amendments including fish emulsion and finished compost.
Please contact Liana Johannaber @ 828.777.0331 OR lianawithwings@gmail.com with questions and to confirm your participation!
We installed around 300 plants, including soil amendments. The bench, arbor, and deck are all beautiful. We had over 50 volunteers in and out over the course of the project, not to mention all of the donors. I am in awe about what a team of 7 committed people can bring about in 2 days. “Wow” hardly begins to capture it.
The seeds of transformation had been planted at Ashevillage before we arrived, we were the ones that helped them grow and what an amazing transformation it has been!! The Ashevillage Institute is such an inspiring place for what is possible in your own backyard. I am blown away by all that we were able to accomplish in such a short period of time. All of the projects turned out even better than I could have imagined. This is a huge gift to the community and I am so honored to have been a part of it.
I traveled from Chapel Hill to Asheville with my children to assist with this Legacy Center project, just we have done with other projects in the past. My children are the ones who benefit most from my involvement in these service projects because they learn how to give of themselves without expecting anything in return; they always say how much they love being around the leaders who create these projects because they can feel the love and joy that is generated. Now that’s the kind of world I want my children to live in!
Great pictures of the project have been posted on the blog for the Ashevillage Institute!