Asheville Area Eco-Friendly Communities:Here is a series of links to posts I have done on one of my favorite areas around Asheville, and the possibilities for those of you who love the idea of living in a neighborly community where folks can share organic gardens, produce...and yes, even heirloom apples! Second- Vacation Homes Go Year-Round- Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community Asheville NC Real Estate- Homes on the GREENsideFourth stop on the Asheville area Second and Vacation Homes Tour- Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community Hickory Nut Forest is so compelling that your second or vacationhome soon may become your year-round abode. If you are seeking waterfalls you... Green Real Estate Asheville: Interview with Eco Developer- Hickory Nut Forest Mountain Community Asheville NC Real Estate- Home... 03/02/2011

Fourth stop on the  Asheville area Second and Vacation Homes Tour-Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community. Hickory Nut Forest is so compelling that your second or vacationhome soon may become your year-round abode. If you are seeking waterfalls, you have come to the right place. Last count, there were fifteen(15) on the forever wild land that adjoins Hickory Nut Forest- Not to mention the vineyard, organic gardens, heirloom apple orchard. Oh My!  Points to keep in mind as we head out on this sunny day to look at this carefully developed community are: a) proximity to Asheville, ) the exterior and/or interior allure for a second or vacation home,  and c) zoning/deed restrictions.  Asheville has what it takes in terms of investing in a Second and/or Vacation home: An alluring, eco-friendly, and ... 03/31/2010

I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Myers and Jane Lawson the developers of the Hickory Nut Forest GREEN/conservation community near Asheville, NC not long ago. We talked about what it takes to create such a community- their philosophy and how they designed and developed the land. Here is a segment of our conversation.   HOW ONE COUPLE ENVISIONED AND REALIZED THEIR DREAM OF AN ECO-FRIENDLY  MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY Q. How long has it taken to create the Hickory Nut Forest eco-community? A. We have been involved in the process of creating community for nearly five years. It has been an amazing journey that has taken on a life of its own. We started out with a vision to conserve some beautiful land in the mountains of North Carolina. We wanted to be stewards of this sacred place with i... 10/14/2009

Autumn is on the way with gifts of Carolina Blue skies, and all the colors that border it. (see photo taken at Hickory Nut Forest eco community)This is an excellent time of year to tour the Asheville area and to familiarize yourself with what we have to offer in terms of sustainable innovation. WHEN you visit the numerous Asheville area eco-friendly developments,do consider hiking the trails, and taking a peek at community amenities. Remember too, that an eco-friendly development and/or an  ecovillage may be in an urban or rural area. It is not defined by its location. Eco-villages are defined by concept.  For me, this is about sustainable innovation--  a "green plan"  that encourages both social contact and individual space coupled with the understanding that, as a member of the commun... 10/06/2009

Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, October, 2009News and Views from "GREEN-O-Lina"    The Eco-Community & Conservation Land THIS WEEK I had the good fortune to hike the sunny trails leading from an amazing eco-friendly community just minutes from downtown Asheville. This model for sustainable innovation, Hickory Nut Forest is one of the first ECO developments 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". 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. ... 10/02/2009

Hickory Nut Forest An Outstanding Asheville Area Eco Community One of my favorite eco communities in the Asheville area (and please note, Asheville is the  "hub' of green and sustainable development) is Hickory Nut Forest.Numerous eco-communities are popping up in and around Asheville, but Hickory Nut Forest is demonstrating how to go about creating an eco--community. This video shows how folks got together to build a community center. (see video). THIS evolving "green" community and conservation neighborhood is surrounded on three sides by over 800 acres of conservation land , so from the community center, visitors and residents can hike out on one of the well-tended trails leading to those 800 + acres and to the adjoining 250 acres. Hickory Nut Forest's community/retreat/teaching/lear... 10/02/2009

Not long ago I was contacted via Active Rainabout a post I had done -part of an on-going series called " Asheville- Picnics and Day Trips" - about Hickory Nut Forest Eco-Community.  I responded with delight for it is apple blossom time at Hickory Nut Forest, and we had taken some amazing photos to share.(see photo) "We share an interest in self-sustaining communities," I enthused... ."and was happy to provide information. Possibly you. have seen posts (see a few of those links below) about Hickory Nut Forest. I am passionate about the concept of eco-friendly developmentand how this has played out in excellent attention to detail for this eco-community."  ... what stage Hickory Nut Forest is in development...  In terms of land planning and execution...the community is a good way along in... 05/11/2009