The Cradle of Forestry

Four miles south of the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 276 is the Cradle of Forestry in America Historic Site, the birthplace of forest conservation in America. Located in the Pisgah National Forest, the Cradle of Forestry has long been on our list of places to explore in the region. Our first visit (which must have been 15 years ago!) was on a cold day sometime in the winter months, and it was closed – turns out it’s staffed by volunteers and closes seasonally, reopening in April weather permitting. Many years later we returned, this time on a long summer’s day – and missed their operating hours by a few minutes! On our recent day trip to Pisgah I thought we could try again, especially after I read the day of our visit was garden day; a chance to work in the gardens and hear from interpreters , the schedule included planting in the heritage garden, cleaning up the pollinator garden,  a visit to the Cradle’s Monarch Waystation and discourse on the conversion from turf to meadow.

Knowing that even with an early start, the 1.5 hour travel time from Greenville combined with the 2.2 mile Sam Knob hike wouldn’t leave a lot of time at the Cradle, I still felt it worth the stop. We arrived with two hours until closing, which definitely is not enough to fully explore the historic site. For that at least a day is needed, and that’s not including any special interpretive walks. Two hours was enough for a hike on one of the Cradle’s paved trails and a stop in the Forest Discovery Center.

pink lady's slipper

squawroot

Forestry education really began in 1889, when George W. Vanderbilt purchased the first land holding in Asheville for his Biltmore Estate and hired Frederick Law Olmsted to oversee the design and construction of the gardens. Then he hired a young man by the name of Gifford Pinchot to serve as a “Forest Manager”, a previously unheard of position. Pinchot developed and implemented a forest management plan for Vanderbilt’s forested holdings and went on to serve as the first Chief of the USDA Forest Service and Governor of Pennsylvania. Pinchot’s successor at Biltmore was the German forester, Dr. Carl A. Schenck, who over the next 14 years restored the over-farmed and abused lands that today make up Pisgah National Forest into a productive forest.

the fish hatchery

  

We started our visit on the Forest Festival Trail, the 1.3 mile paved woodland walk that incorporates forestry and biology topics with historical features such as an antique portable sawmill and a 1915 Climax locomotive. The kids enhanced their hike by participating in the Adventure Zone stations, a collection of hands-on activities exploring various topics correlating to the trail exhibits. What’s unique about the Adventure Zone is that it’s designed to help children and adults with autism become active in and help better understand the natural world, although it can be enjoyed by anyone and all visitors are welcome to participate. And as that wasn’t enough, they also completed the nature-based scavenger hunt specifically structured around the Forest Festival Trail.

the historic 1915 logging locomotive

Back at the Center we explored the interactive exhibit hall. The Forest Discovery Center was amazing, with a fire fighting helicopter simulator and an ‘underground’ tunnel to become aquainted with the animals living under the forest floor. A building station and more than a dozen exhibits on forestry, the region’s history and Forest Service technicians kept us busy until it was time to leave – the Cradle was closing for the day.

checking out the firefighting video in the helicopter

The Cradle of Forestry is a must-see attraction for the area, a perfect stop for families with children and those interested in forestry and forest-related topics. In addition to special programs, on Thursdays through Sundays you may find a toy maker, a weaver, a quilter, or a wood carver demonstrating traditional Appalachian crafts on the open porches of the historic cabins.  In addition to the special events calendar, be sure to check out the kid’s summer program, and consider the Cradle for your school/group’s field trips. We still have several more trails to explore, and I would like a chance to watch the “There’s Magic at the Cradle” movie, so I know for a fact that we’ll be back. 

In commemoration of the centennial celebration of the Southern Region of the US Forest Service

Sam Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway

We had been putting off the Sam Knob hike since we noticed the signs on one of our Blue Ridge Parkway explorations but ran out of time to hike it, and the driving time (1.5 hours from Greenville) and trail difficulty are both a little too steep for me to join friends for the hike just me with the kids. Our solution was to take dad with on a sunny Saturday, making a day-trip by adding a few more stops along the way.

The parking lot at the end of Black Balsam Road was already full, but luckily we snagged one of the last spots in the overflow parking. By the time we emerged in the early afternoon both sides of the road were lined with parked cars; the Black Balsam Road trailhead is a popular destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway, with trails leading to Black Balsam Knob and Graveyard Fields.

The Sam Knob trailhead is near the info kiosk to the right of the toilets. The old roadbed leads past a campground before descending into the meadow via a long wooden staircase. This time of year there wasn’t much blooming, but I can imagine later in the summer there is quite a bit of color. Other than some asters and dandelion, the meadow was almost purely green save for the clumps of brown dried grasses; comparatively the woods were vibrant, with the bluets, trillium and various trees blooming.

I began to believe we had embarked on this hike completely unprepared, as only Lauris had a winter hat to ward off the chill of the windy spring morning. We didn’t linger long in the meadow, as the wind funneling over the saddle was cold. Reaching the cover of the forest we began the climb up Sam Knob, visible since our descent into the meadow but looking far steeper now that we were at its base.

Painted Trillium, Bluets and mountain paper birch bark

Winding up a series of switchbacks we quickly warmed up, several steep and eroded sections warranting giving the boys a hand. The blackberry thickets gave way to birch trees, and then soon we were in a rhododendron and mountain laurel tunnel. The trees and shrubs became more and more stunted until we finally emerged on the bald, rocks and shrubs covering portions but not obstructing the views.

With an elevation of 6,045 feet, Sam Knob offers great views of the Shining Rock Wilderness, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Devil’s Courthouse. Mikus got out his binoculars while Lauris explored some of the paths running through the shrubs, both parents busy supervising Vilis on the rocks. The lure of a snack got all three boys to sit down for a spell, but soon the cold wind pressed us into starting the return trip.

There’s one point where the trail seemingly splits near the top of the knob, and we took the second trail on our way out to see where it led. From the meadow Sam Knob appears to have two humps, and the diverging trail takes hikers to the top of the other summit.

As soon as we started our descent the sun came out, warming our chilled hands and tempting me to return to the bald for more photographs. One look back up the steep section of trail convinced me to save a repeat climb for a second trip – we’ll be back to hike this trail again some other season.

The Sam Knob hike is 2.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 570 feet. To reach the trailhead take the Blue Ridge Parkway to FR 816 (Black Balsam Road) near milepost 420, and follow it one mile to the parking area at the end.

On the Sullivan Street Farm

On a beautiful, sunny spring morning we gathered in the “rock quarry” – a small, outdoor amphitheater on the Sullivan Street Farm. Adjacent to Long Branch Baptist Church's Unity Park, the farm (which includes a greenhouse and gardens) was built in October 2012 with the help of over 50 volunteers from the neighborhood association, Long Branch Baptist Church and Grace Church. Sullivan Street is a part of Mill Village Farms.

The Upstate has its share of old mill communities which in modern times have become food deserts; residents have limited access to fresh, locally-grown produce. Mill Village Farms is one of the pioneer organizations in Greenville in combatting the dearth of healthy food in these neighborhoods, by establishing fruit and vegetable farms in these areas. Neighborhood interns and volunteers serve as community advocates, not only sharing the fresh grown produce with neighbors, but promoting physical activity and healthy eating, all the while helping manage storm water and increasing biodiversity.

We started our tour in the fenced in vegetable garden where onions, broccoli, chard and beets formed rows of green in the freshly turned brown soil. Compost had recently been added, produced on-site and easy to distinguish due to the black color of rich earth. The garden faces Sullivan Street, and has a beautiful gate and entrance to the community, while the greenhouse is closer to the playground; we crossed down to it next.

The greenhouse is powered by solar panels mounted at the entrance, the sunlight harnessed not only by the growing plants but also for the water pumps circulating the water in the hydroponic towers and for the fish. The aquaponic system has two levels of plants and a fish pond underneath; the fish fertilize the water circulated to the plants, which in turn clean the water for the fish, allowing for a double harvest!

A peek at the fish - the pond is below the plants

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants in water without soil. Plants may be grown with their roots in a mineral solution only, or in something like gravel, which is the preferred method on Sullivan Street. There are two different setups in the greenhouse, towers and tables. The towers rise vertically with spaces in the sides that hold plants, while the tables stretch horizontally, trays of lettuce and seedlings carpeting the surface. While there are several towers in the greenhouse, it is another Mill Village Farms location that is famous within Greenville for their hydroponic towers – the Rooftop Farm in downtown – and I hope to visit it someday as well.

Seedlings growing hydroponically, basil growing in one of the towers, showing off the lettuce roots

Our field trip concluded with a couple of short activities for the kids. Mikus planted a sprig of winter savory which is now sitting on our windowsill until the roots take, and the kids enjoyed drawing vegetables as they appear on the plant (Mikus drew mac ‘n cheese, a sign we are living in the South where it is considered a vegetable!). It was simple arranging the field trip, it was just a matter of contacting Mill Village through their website, and our teachers/guides were a wealth of information (and patience!). The trip was educational not only for the children, but also for the adults – I love visiting local farms and gardens because I always come away with ideas to apply to the gardens I work with.

Mill Village Farms is making an impression on the Upstate; they just opened their first “brick & mortar” Market over on Greenville’s west side, and the Mobile Market is making the rounds, bringing fresh produce to an every-growing customer base. The Mobile Market operates from May to October (the schedule can be found here), with their current product list posted here. You can swing by the west side location for a cup of coffee and a slice of pie in addition to fresh produce Monday through Saturday (hours here), and various educational opportunities are being offered including hydroponics classes on their Rooftop Farm – for more on those visit the Mill Village website. Thanks to Dan and Julia for a beautiful morning on the Sullivan Street Farm! 

Mill Village Farms on facebook

Mill Village Farms on twitter

Mill Village Farms on instagram!

St. Francis Community Garden

It’s that time of year again, when in other parts of the US our friends are getting snowed on, but here in Greenville we are harvesting peas, radish, lettuce and strawberries, not to mention drowning in kale. Our work with the student garden at Lauris’s school and in our backyard is taking us on some urban farm adventures, most recently the Bon Secours St. Francis Community Garden.

We were invited to dig up some plants in a bed surrounding the garden that were slated to be replaced with a cut flower garden. Since beginning work on a butterfly garden at the school early this spring we’ve been on the lookout for native flowers that can tolerate the hot and dry summers, and several of the hardy perennials they were looking to remove fit the bill perfectly. We transplanted some lyre-leaf sage, a bit of bee balm, pink yarrow and even some lemon balm, and in the coming month we’ve got some big plans for our space – stay tuned for more on that later this month.

Not only were the folks at the St. Francis Community Garden kind enough to share their surplus with us, but we also got a great look at the garden, taking away not just plants for the butterfly garden, but also knowledge and ideas – all things that only get bigger when shared…

Developed in the spring of 2009, the garden is a partnership between St. Francis and Leadership Greenville’s Class 35. This community garden on the corner of Andrews St. and Highway 123 is almost 1,000 square feet, with 16 plots averaging about 50 square feet. In addition to the raised beds, members have access to a tool shed, compost bins, a work table, potting shed, running water and irrigation. The garden is fenced in, and parking is available adjacent to the garden. On our visit the garden was a hum of activity as members worked on their plots, and volunteers helped clear the beds and ready the garden for spring planting.

For more information on the St. Francis Community Garden here are a few websites:

The Gardening for Good website listing

The Bon Secours St. Francis website

A blog and facebook page

Bib's World at TCMU

Bib’s World has opened at The Children’s Museum of the Upstate! The new permanent exhibit is named after Michelin's mascot Bibendum, as it is a gift from the Michelin Corporate Foundation. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning, and we were able to explore the two-story cityscape on Sunday.

Utilizing tires and other sustainable materials, Bib’s World incorporates the former “Trike Track” into the futuristic city located behind the museum. Accessible from the first floor, the giant mural on the wall near the entrance features the artwork of 600 local children including Mikus and Vilis – but we have yet to find their drawings. Emerging into the outdoor exhibit there are informational placards and a giant tire-climber to the right. The play structure as well as the sandbox are covered to provide shade, a necessary feature for the hot sunny days ahead.

A wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round is in the center of the exhibit, and the “interactive cityscape” beyond. With slides, climbers, rollers, wheels and gadgets of every type, there is plenty to keep the kids occupied. The climbing structure even features a mini replica of the Liberty Bridge.

The ladybug-mosaic wall has found a new home at the entrance to the museum, but the cob wall entrance built by an artist-in-residence just last year sadly had to be demolished. The trikes from the previous exhibit will be put to use on the new ‘roads,’ the signage another nod to Michelin and its heritage; the Michelin brothers helped develop the very first road signs in France.

The day was full of other surprises, including a baguette et le fromage snack for the boys along with storytime - en français, and there were all sorts of activities to commemorate the opening of the exhibit: face painting, tire-track art, coloring maps of France and Lego racecars. Of course the boys wanted to explore some of the regular exhibits as well, and with all the art activities and play it was a really full day.

We’ll be returning to more fully explore the new exhibit on a day when it’s not so busy, although it has yet to be seen how well the shade sails work in the summer heat – I can imagine Bib’s World will be a welcome change of pace on our visits to the museum, but that we’ll only spend an hour outside before returning to the air conditioning on extremely hot days. However, it is refreshing to see such an captivating exhibit join the list of attractions at TCMU, and it’s really no wonder The Children’s Museum of the Upstate is the first children’s museum to become a Smithsonian Affiliate. I hope you get the chance to explore Bib’s World for yourself!