Category Uncategorized

Native Plants – Flood Defense

by sustainablesandhills Uncategorized

In the final credits of hurricane Debby and the following storms, the North Carolina Sandhills region has been left, well, wet. Many residents are experiencing standing water on their properties as the water searches for somewhere to go.

With flood mitigation efforts of our local municipalities noted, what can Sandhills residents do in the genre of resiliency and mitigation efforts in their yards? Have you considered native plants?

An unsung hero in our landscapes and local ecosystems, native plants may be the standing water solution many residents are looking for. According to the Clean Water Education Partnership, 

“in regions with heavy clay soil, deep rooted native plants can break-up the soil better than typical varieties of lawn grass and improve clay soil’s permeability, ultimately acting as a green stormwater alternative. Trapping localized stormwater on site through the use of native plants can ensure percolation and increased filtration of nutrients entering the ground water.”

Click here to learn more about native plants and flooding.

Great news! But which plants are native and which aren’t? This topic is easy to ‘get in the weeds’ about. Luckily, there are a few very passionate organizations who have taken the guess work out of choosing which native plants would be best for your location, sunlight, and water frequency.

One such organization is the North Carolina Native Plant Society. If you’re in the mood to shop for more resilient flood mitigation, click here to see their recommended list.

Letter to the Editor: NC Needs to Move Beyond Single-Use Plastics

by annachott Uncategorized

Even though recycling is widely available, the equivalent of two garbage trucks worth of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute. The recent Fayetteville Observer article, “Plastic bag bans and fees pit NC communities against the General Assembly,” notes how popular a plastic bag ban was in the Outer Banks.

The region’s representative reported receiving 50 pro-ban messages for every one against it. Now a bag fee proposed in Durham also seems to be popular among the public. A survey of 60 businesses found that 65% were in favor (and 20% were neutral) toward the fee.

Residents and local businesses are tired of the plastic waste problem. I have seen it in so many neighborhoods at our monthly litter cleanups in Cumberland County. No one wants to see plastic bags hanging from trees where they live. Litter removal is expensive, too, costing the state $11,180,318 in 2020.

Read the rest of the article in the Fayetteville Observer here. Click here to take action and contact Governor Cooper to reduce single-use plastics in state facilities.

Compost Pickup with Compost Now

by annachott Uncategorized

In the U.S., landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions, and food scraps are the largest component of landfill waste. You can be part of the solution by composting! Click here for resources to start your own backyard bin or indoor “vermicompost” worm bin. 

Would you prefer the convenience of compost pickup? If the company Compost Now receives 500 service inquiries, they will consider coming to our area. Click here to find out more, and click “Check Availability in Your Area” to submit an inquiry.