1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,959 1 of the best time to year in 2 00:00:01,959 --> 00:00:04,599 1 of the best places, summertime in the 3 00:00:04,759 --> 00:00:08,367 Carolina, it means hiking, travel, blue skies and 4 00:00:08,367 --> 00:00:11,231 fly fishing with Jesse Browns, but it also 5 00:00:11,231 --> 00:00:13,697 means warm weather and sun, 6 00:00:14,427 --> 00:00:17,363 Jesse Brown's has clothing to sun protect, and 7 00:00:17,363 --> 00:00:20,062 make you feel and look cooler. That's right. 8 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:22,522 The modern fabrics within the Jesse Brown's clothing, 9 00:00:23,013 --> 00:00:25,869 keeps the Uv and Uv b rays away, 10 00:00:26,266 --> 00:00:27,956 but it also has a cooling 11 00:00:28,408 --> 00:00:30,867 sensation during these warm Carolina months. 12 00:00:31,597 --> 00:00:33,585 Stop by jesse brown's dot com to check 13 00:00:33,585 --> 00:00:35,413 it out. And also visit the brick and 14 00:00:35,413 --> 00:00:37,957 mortar in the shopping district of Charlotte South 15 00:00:38,116 --> 00:00:38,911 Park area, 16 00:00:39,325 --> 00:00:42,445 to get your new summer apparel from Jesse 17 00:00:42,604 --> 00:00:42,924 Brown's. 18 00:00:48,537 --> 00:00:50,775 Here on the Carolina outdoors, we've talked many 19 00:00:50,775 --> 00:00:53,352 times about getting youth and people 20 00:00:54,210 --> 00:00:56,954 outside. And the health and wellness that the 21 00:00:57,010 --> 00:00:58,600 outdoors can provide to them, 22 00:00:59,475 --> 00:01:01,462 especially now during the information age with the 23 00:01:01,462 --> 00:01:03,790 growth of technology and all the communities 24 00:01:04,338 --> 00:01:07,350 that have erupted through social media. 25 00:01:07,826 --> 00:01:10,124 Welcome everyone. I'm your host, Bill From our 26 00:01:10,124 --> 00:01:11,337 sponsored Jesse Brown's 27 00:01:11,883 --> 00:01:14,189 our goal here on the program is to 28 00:01:14,189 --> 00:01:15,699 introduce you to people places, 29 00:01:16,414 --> 00:01:19,276 and sports and adventure that can aid you 30 00:01:19,276 --> 00:01:22,464 and your own personal adventure with the outdoors. 31 00:01:23,019 --> 00:01:25,319 In doing so, we hope that you'll be 32 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,143 encouraged to get out, challenge yourself, 33 00:01:27,954 --> 00:01:30,834 and maybe learn something new. Right now, we're 34 00:01:30,834 --> 00:01:31,334 gonna 35 00:01:31,715 --> 00:01:34,515 do just that. We're gonna find out what 36 00:01:34,515 --> 00:01:37,665 a servant. The organization has done to bring 37 00:01:37,803 --> 00:01:39,102 nature a bit closer 38 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,656 to a community. The Foot hills 39 00:01:42,114 --> 00:01:43,710 of North Carolina opened. 40 00:01:44,283 --> 00:01:47,063 Oak hill Community Park and forest to the 41 00:01:47,063 --> 00:01:50,559 public in October of last year, and we're 42 00:01:50,559 --> 00:01:52,487 gonna find out from a voice that many 43 00:01:52,487 --> 00:01:53,785 of you will recognize 44 00:01:54,563 --> 00:01:57,437 Tom Bart. He's gonna jump on. You may 45 00:01:57,437 --> 00:02:00,550 recognize Tom's name and voice. He was a 46 00:02:00,550 --> 00:02:03,284 president and Ceo of the Better Business Bureau 47 00:02:03,284 --> 00:02:06,584 in the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina 48 00:02:07,444 --> 00:02:09,364 until earlier of this year, 49 00:02:10,177 --> 00:02:12,667 He led that organization for 22 years 50 00:02:13,122 --> 00:02:15,453 before jumping into this new 51 00:02:15,909 --> 00:02:17,205 venture and passion, 52 00:02:18,153 --> 00:02:21,341 which is the Fit Hills consultancy and something 53 00:02:21,341 --> 00:02:23,174 called Oak Hill Community, 54 00:02:23,891 --> 00:02:25,246 Park and Forest, 55 00:02:25,898 --> 00:02:28,289 Tom. Welcome to the Carolina Outdoors. 56 00:02:29,006 --> 00:02:30,440 Hey, Bill. It's awesome. Do 57 00:02:30,918 --> 00:02:32,592 to be on with you today. Oh, it's 58 00:02:32,592 --> 00:02:34,599 always great to talk to you and always 59 00:02:34,599 --> 00:02:36,670 great to learn about a new place for 60 00:02:36,670 --> 00:02:37,228 us to, 61 00:02:38,264 --> 00:02:38,764 enjoy 62 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:40,039 the Carolina 63 00:02:40,495 --> 00:02:42,328 outdoors. We know that you're speaking to us 64 00:02:42,328 --> 00:02:43,537 right now to from, 65 00:02:44,331 --> 00:02:46,477 you know, the side of the trail in 66 00:02:46,477 --> 00:02:48,703 the shade in the woods within the park. 67 00:02:48,862 --> 00:02:51,262 But, Tom, when, you just kinda break it 68 00:02:51,262 --> 00:02:52,853 down for us and tell us about this 69 00:02:52,853 --> 00:02:53,353 new 70 00:02:53,888 --> 00:02:55,400 652 71 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:56,435 acre property, 72 00:02:56,992 --> 00:02:58,208 how it was acquired 73 00:02:58,583 --> 00:02:59,936 by whom it was acquired, 74 00:03:00,509 --> 00:03:02,261 and why it was begun? 75 00:03:03,297 --> 00:03:05,470 Yeah. It's a it's it's a pretty amazing 76 00:03:05,766 --> 00:03:07,758 park and a pretty amazing vision that the 77 00:03:07,837 --> 00:03:09,431 Foot hills consultancy has for it. 78 00:03:10,399 --> 00:03:12,463 Yeah. You're right over 600 acres, and it 79 00:03:12,463 --> 00:03:13,440 used to be just 80 00:03:14,131 --> 00:03:14,631 some 81 00:03:15,083 --> 00:03:15,583 farm, 82 00:03:16,433 --> 00:03:18,577 but the the hike I just was finishing 83 00:03:18,577 --> 00:03:21,451 up. At the peak, I've I look 1 84 00:03:21,451 --> 00:03:22,563 direction, and I've got a great view of 85 00:03:22,563 --> 00:03:24,391 the South mountains. I look the other direction 86 00:03:24,391 --> 00:03:26,377 and I'm looking straight at table rock and 87 00:03:26,456 --> 00:03:26,933 Hawk. 88 00:03:27,583 --> 00:03:30,129 So if that familiarize anybody with the area 89 00:03:30,129 --> 00:03:31,720 that we're in is pretty close to Morgan. 90 00:03:33,231 --> 00:03:35,791 And it's it's like you said, it, it's 91 00:03:35,791 --> 00:03:37,859 brand new. Been here less than a year, 92 00:03:38,336 --> 00:03:41,278 But what they developed already is just just 93 00:03:41,278 --> 00:03:43,995 awesome. And it's a it's truly a hidden 94 00:03:43,995 --> 00:03:46,457 gem here in in Western North Carolina. Well, 95 00:03:46,695 --> 00:03:48,283 I not hope our listeners. I'm sure, 96 00:03:48,998 --> 00:03:49,633 this part of, 97 00:03:50,507 --> 00:03:53,544 Appalachia, if you will, there's... So many major 98 00:03:53,544 --> 00:03:56,094 roadway that go through the Morgan area starting 99 00:03:56,094 --> 00:03:58,644 with I 40. There's Highway 70. 100 00:03:59,441 --> 00:04:00,967 Yep. Highway 64. 101 00:04:01,206 --> 00:04:03,274 That all goes through this part of Central 102 00:04:03,433 --> 00:04:04,172 Burke County 103 00:04:04,865 --> 00:04:06,377 in the River Valley, 104 00:04:07,349 --> 00:04:10,310 with the Blue Ridge Mountains right there, but 105 00:04:10,310 --> 00:04:11,289 the cons consultancy 106 00:04:11,830 --> 00:04:14,310 took it upon itself to not not the 107 00:04:14,310 --> 00:04:15,210 city of Morgan 108 00:04:16,003 --> 00:04:18,072 although there's a lot of community. The county 109 00:04:18,072 --> 00:04:20,617 of Burke, not the state of Iowa. This 110 00:04:20,617 --> 00:04:23,338 was the cons consultancy that did the what 111 00:04:23,338 --> 00:04:25,813 was it about this piece of pro acquire 112 00:04:25,813 --> 00:04:28,049 it and decide to put a park there? 113 00:04:28,927 --> 00:04:30,923 Yeah. It's a it's an interesting story and 114 00:04:30,923 --> 00:04:32,520 it's an interesting piece of land. 115 00:04:33,408 --> 00:04:35,551 1 point, it was it was used for 116 00:04:35,551 --> 00:04:38,171 timber. They had logging. They're still logging roads 117 00:04:38,171 --> 00:04:39,917 that that cut right through. 118 00:04:40,886 --> 00:04:44,465 Duke at 1 point owned it, and they 119 00:04:44,465 --> 00:04:46,215 used it for a number of purposes, you 120 00:04:46,215 --> 00:04:47,011 know, timber, 121 00:04:48,620 --> 00:04:50,774 among them. But then none it's just kind 122 00:04:50,774 --> 00:04:53,565 of morph vision is okay. So right now, 123 00:04:53,645 --> 00:04:56,277 we've got over 3 miles of just straight 124 00:04:56,277 --> 00:04:57,209 hiking trails 125 00:04:58,047 --> 00:05:00,521 they're not straight. I mean just regular hiking 126 00:05:00,521 --> 00:05:03,394 trails. And then about 7 miles of 127 00:05:03,873 --> 00:05:05,125 of mountain bike trails 128 00:05:05,799 --> 00:05:07,783 we've got the beginner trails that are open 129 00:05:07,783 --> 00:05:09,291 now. They've just started to work on the 130 00:05:09,291 --> 00:05:11,117 intermediate trails, and then there's gonna be more 131 00:05:11,117 --> 00:05:12,387 more expert beyond that. 132 00:05:13,037 --> 00:05:15,602 But there's also so much other 133 00:05:16,134 --> 00:05:18,064 breathing on here There's a whole 134 00:05:18,596 --> 00:05:19,652 layer of 135 00:05:20,026 --> 00:05:22,273 agricultural work that's going to be opened for 136 00:05:22,424 --> 00:05:25,308 I mean, it's got 50 acres of 137 00:05:25,682 --> 00:05:26,659 agricultural that's 138 00:05:27,033 --> 00:05:29,338 being farmed right now and it's going to 139 00:05:29,338 --> 00:05:31,245 be open to the community to come and 140 00:05:31,738 --> 00:05:34,292 Your own plot or just come out and 141 00:05:34,292 --> 00:05:36,367 have the high school students come out and 142 00:05:36,367 --> 00:05:38,920 learn more about hands on agriculture, 143 00:05:40,375 --> 00:05:41,595 And so it's 144 00:05:42,055 --> 00:05:44,055 a number of things and then just educational 145 00:05:44,055 --> 00:05:46,074 parts of the trail too so that people 146 00:05:46,454 --> 00:05:48,454 especially students can come out and learn more 147 00:05:48,454 --> 00:05:51,349 about the environment that that we live in 148 00:05:51,349 --> 00:05:52,870 that we need to protect, and that's really 149 00:05:52,870 --> 00:05:55,610 what the conservatives is all about is protecting 150 00:05:55,829 --> 00:05:57,995 the them, so that people can get out 151 00:05:57,995 --> 00:06:00,638 and experience them, but then most of all 152 00:06:00,694 --> 00:06:03,075 protect them from any other type of commercial 153 00:06:03,075 --> 00:06:03,472 development. 154 00:06:04,758 --> 00:06:07,071 Well, it kinda fits with what is in 155 00:06:07,071 --> 00:06:10,342 that area already. There's a Meadows park, which 156 00:06:10,342 --> 00:06:13,372 is they're close to downtown. There's baseball diamonds, 157 00:06:13,612 --> 00:06:14,112 Volleyball, 158 00:06:15,062 --> 00:06:17,216 court, soccer Fields that sort of thing. 159 00:06:18,093 --> 00:06:20,566 There's a splash pad. The Martha Park they're 160 00:06:20,566 --> 00:06:22,879 in downtown as well. Freedom Park, they are 161 00:06:22,879 --> 00:06:24,336 next to the high school 162 00:06:25,209 --> 00:06:26,269 has sports 163 00:06:26,649 --> 00:06:28,269 facilities whether it be volleyball 164 00:06:28,569 --> 00:06:29,850 football soccer, all of that. 165 00:06:30,649 --> 00:06:33,149 Correct me if I'm wrong with this park 166 00:06:33,782 --> 00:06:36,964 kinda helps connect via trail, you know, into 167 00:06:36,964 --> 00:06:40,328 the Charlotte area, which is where we're ema 168 00:06:40,559 --> 00:06:42,797 from here on the Carolina outdoors and Studio 169 00:06:42,797 --> 00:06:44,235 d at 1 Julian Price place. 170 00:06:45,194 --> 00:06:48,410 Connectivity is a big topic for us here 171 00:06:48,643 --> 00:06:50,865 And if I'm not... If if if I'm 172 00:06:50,865 --> 00:06:51,103 correct, 173 00:06:51,975 --> 00:06:53,904 Freedom high school there in Morgan 174 00:06:54,356 --> 00:06:55,387 and the middle school, 175 00:06:56,038 --> 00:06:58,828 there's some connection there that you can get 176 00:06:58,828 --> 00:07:01,321 their via bicycle or hiking 177 00:07:01,936 --> 00:07:02,436 running 178 00:07:03,291 --> 00:07:03,791 from 179 00:07:04,341 --> 00:07:06,887 a to b is... Am I right on 180 00:07:06,887 --> 00:07:09,432 the Yeah. Geographic end of of that? Yeah. 181 00:07:09,591 --> 00:07:12,708 It it's it's... Yeah. That... That's, was part 182 00:07:12,708 --> 00:07:15,018 of how that was built and now the 183 00:07:15,018 --> 00:07:16,452 green way on the 184 00:07:17,568 --> 00:07:20,037 Is, goes right by the right by the 185 00:07:20,037 --> 00:07:20,276 school. 186 00:07:20,913 --> 00:07:23,504 And so they... Has really opened up a 187 00:07:24,125 --> 00:07:25,824 whole new avenue for students 188 00:07:26,524 --> 00:07:27,665 to get out. And 189 00:07:28,605 --> 00:07:30,605 the slogan for this area is it's Nature's 190 00:07:30,605 --> 00:07:31,004 playground. 191 00:07:31,576 --> 00:07:34,275 And, you know, living living 20 some years 192 00:07:34,275 --> 00:07:36,101 in the Charlotte area and then moving here, 193 00:07:37,134 --> 00:07:40,095 just the attention and the care and 194 00:07:40,642 --> 00:07:42,868 and focus that they put on the outdoors 195 00:07:42,868 --> 00:07:44,775 here is just it's awesome. 196 00:07:45,808 --> 00:07:47,739 And it's really it's really 197 00:07:48,128 --> 00:07:50,190 sucked me and, you know, not just giving 198 00:07:50,190 --> 00:07:52,014 out and exploring but getting out and actually 199 00:07:52,014 --> 00:07:54,870 being part of making it happen with, you, 200 00:07:54,949 --> 00:07:57,346 with trail work I just got done with 201 00:07:57,346 --> 00:07:59,888 2 hours using my mini Cloud, you know, 202 00:08:00,126 --> 00:08:01,397 2 months ago, I didn't know what a 203 00:08:01,476 --> 00:08:02,509 The cloud was. But, 204 00:08:03,383 --> 00:08:05,130 now it's this 1 of the best tools 205 00:08:05,210 --> 00:08:05,845 I've ever used. 206 00:08:06,496 --> 00:08:08,426 Oh, you have to share. This is an 207 00:08:08,483 --> 00:08:11,343 educational moment for for, a shall Say t. 208 00:08:11,741 --> 00:08:13,384 Okay. It's for T j and I. It's 209 00:08:13,583 --> 00:08:14,300 definitely for me. 210 00:08:16,448 --> 00:08:17,960 What is a mini Cloud? 211 00:08:18,756 --> 00:08:19,256 So 212 00:08:19,711 --> 00:08:20,029 on, 213 00:08:20,586 --> 00:08:22,909 it's a long handle like a like a 214 00:08:22,909 --> 00:08:25,932 h and 1 side of it. It it 215 00:08:25,932 --> 00:08:28,240 looks like a looks like a h, but 216 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,329 it's like 8 inches across instead of like 217 00:08:30,329 --> 00:08:32,243 a h being like 4 inches across. But 218 00:08:32,243 --> 00:08:34,317 then on the opposite side of it, it 219 00:08:34,317 --> 00:08:35,912 looks like it looks like a rake, but 220 00:08:35,912 --> 00:08:37,667 the times are like an inch and a 221 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:38,145 half wide. 222 00:08:39,514 --> 00:08:40,572 So it's 223 00:08:41,107 --> 00:08:42,780 where I've seen them used in the past, 224 00:08:42,940 --> 00:08:44,851 I never knew the name was when you 225 00:08:44,851 --> 00:08:46,148 see force 226 00:08:46,763 --> 00:08:47,263 force. 227 00:08:47,733 --> 00:08:48,552 Forced fire 228 00:08:49,245 --> 00:08:51,313 using tools of digging around in the ground 229 00:08:51,313 --> 00:08:53,461 and making a fire break. That's the main 230 00:08:53,461 --> 00:08:54,336 tool that they use. 231 00:08:55,065 --> 00:08:57,364 And it's also good for what we were 232 00:08:57,364 --> 00:08:59,822 using it today. I was I was lead 233 00:08:59,822 --> 00:09:01,883 on what we call, drainage features. 234 00:09:02,532 --> 00:09:03,032 So 235 00:09:03,723 --> 00:09:04,676 the the runoff, 236 00:09:05,549 --> 00:09:06,049 basically 237 00:09:06,502 --> 00:09:08,010 what you need to do to keep water 238 00:09:08,010 --> 00:09:10,551 off the trail, because nobody likes to be 239 00:09:10,551 --> 00:09:12,554 walking through puddle, nobody likes to be right 240 00:09:12,554 --> 00:09:15,101 in their bike through a puddle. But to 241 00:09:15,101 --> 00:09:15,601 have 242 00:09:16,455 --> 00:09:17,194 the water 243 00:09:18,445 --> 00:09:19,343 using gravity 244 00:09:19,814 --> 00:09:22,045 and just clearing that path off the trail 245 00:09:22,045 --> 00:09:23,479 so that the water has some place to 246 00:09:23,479 --> 00:09:25,869 go besides just pulling up. And that mini 247 00:09:25,869 --> 00:09:26,960 the cloud is a beast 248 00:09:27,638 --> 00:09:27,878 Well, 249 00:09:28,516 --> 00:09:29,634 we have plenty of, 250 00:09:30,352 --> 00:09:32,348 people in in fire departments all across the 251 00:09:32,507 --> 00:09:35,003 Charlotte Metro area who listen to the Carolina 252 00:09:35,221 --> 00:09:37,701 outdoors early on the morning via the air 253 00:09:37,701 --> 00:09:38,359 of W 254 00:09:39,366 --> 00:09:41,429 as well as others listen to us via 255 00:09:41,429 --> 00:09:44,126 podcast. So they are probably ashamed of us 256 00:09:44,126 --> 00:09:45,735 saturday for not knowing 1 what a mini 257 00:09:45,815 --> 00:09:48,527 Mc mcleod is. Here, it gave me the 258 00:09:48,527 --> 00:09:49,245 opportunity to 259 00:09:49,803 --> 00:09:51,637 to incorrectly say that some call it a 260 00:09:51,797 --> 00:09:53,950 Kaiser blade, I call it a sling blade. 261 00:09:54,602 --> 00:09:57,862 But that's from the famed Billy Bob Thornton 262 00:09:57,862 --> 00:10:00,486 movie. And and our our lead from Foot 263 00:10:00,486 --> 00:10:01,281 hills conservative, 264 00:10:01,758 --> 00:10:02,076 she... 265 00:10:03,128 --> 00:10:03,628 She's 266 00:10:04,325 --> 00:10:06,080 pretty confident, that that's what you call it. 267 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:07,517 But that's what they call it. So that's... 268 00:10:08,475 --> 00:10:10,390 This so that's what you call it. That 269 00:10:10,390 --> 00:10:13,196 that that's good. That's good stuff. Our guest 270 00:10:13,196 --> 00:10:16,226 here, Tom Bart on the Carolina outdoors. We're 271 00:10:16,226 --> 00:10:19,676 learning a little bit about the Oak Hill 272 00:10:20,470 --> 00:10:23,209 community park and forest. It's in the Morgan 273 00:10:23,509 --> 00:10:23,909 area. 274 00:10:24,629 --> 00:10:26,730 They're right there in the Blue Ridge Mountains 275 00:10:27,350 --> 00:10:29,920 with views of South Mountains as Tom just 276 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,554 said, Tom, I mentioned it in the open 277 00:10:32,554 --> 00:10:34,550 or or near there that this is not 278 00:10:34,550 --> 00:10:37,000 a part of a municipality, the state at 279 00:10:37,198 --> 00:10:38,946 not a part of the federal park system. 280 00:10:39,661 --> 00:10:41,648 Talk to us about the maintenance of the 281 00:10:41,648 --> 00:10:44,587 park. You're out there trail building. Learning about 282 00:10:44,587 --> 00:10:47,709 these tools. It's who is in charge and 283 00:10:47,709 --> 00:10:51,878 and of organizing and paying for and the 284 00:10:51,936 --> 00:10:52,436 upkeep 285 00:10:52,813 --> 00:10:55,366 of Oak hill community of Park forest. 286 00:10:56,097 --> 00:10:57,924 Yeah. It's all Foot hills conservative. 287 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:00,411 They... They're a non nonprofit 288 00:11:00,944 --> 00:11:01,444 that 289 00:11:01,977 --> 00:11:04,360 is funded primarily by by donors. 290 00:11:05,095 --> 00:11:05,595 And 291 00:11:06,214 --> 00:11:07,975 I run... I mean, they have a a 292 00:11:07,975 --> 00:11:09,014 paid staff, but 293 00:11:09,575 --> 00:11:12,294 an army of volunteers. They had a a 294 00:11:12,294 --> 00:11:13,095 group out today, 295 00:11:14,705 --> 00:11:17,575 from from piedmont natural gas that was working 296 00:11:17,575 --> 00:11:18,075 on 297 00:11:19,648 --> 00:11:21,742 ref project that 298 00:11:23,008 --> 00:11:23,508 has 299 00:11:23,881 --> 00:11:27,535 basically trying to bring chestnuts back into the 300 00:11:27,535 --> 00:11:30,871 habitat here, taking out some non native in 301 00:11:30,871 --> 00:11:31,371 invasive 302 00:11:32,159 --> 00:11:35,600 species and and building up the the core. 303 00:11:35,759 --> 00:11:38,319 And I have... Have Britney Watkins here. She's 304 00:11:38,319 --> 00:11:39,854 the expert on this. She led that crew 305 00:11:39,854 --> 00:11:41,053 today if you'd like to talk to her 306 00:11:41,053 --> 00:11:42,731 for a minute to, bill. Oh, I see 307 00:11:42,731 --> 00:11:44,909 how you did this time. Yes. If you 308 00:11:45,048 --> 00:11:46,646 throw Brittany Watkins on. 309 00:11:48,496 --> 00:11:49,235 From the, 310 00:11:49,610 --> 00:11:51,918 the Foot health consultancy of North Carolina. 311 00:11:52,634 --> 00:11:55,420 Hello there, Britney Watkins... Tom got tired of 312 00:11:55,420 --> 00:11:57,384 talking to us and said that you know 313 00:11:57,504 --> 00:12:01,091 everything chestnut, and you're talking to, Bill Bart 314 00:12:01,091 --> 00:12:02,069 here on the Carolina 315 00:12:02,526 --> 00:12:04,598 outdoors aided by my friend Tj dj, the 316 00:12:04,837 --> 00:12:07,165 Dj Bog on the other side, the listeners 317 00:12:07,165 --> 00:12:08,941 here are educated somewhat 318 00:12:09,478 --> 00:12:11,254 of the American Chestnut 319 00:12:12,110 --> 00:12:14,184 foundation. And of course, we know about the 320 00:12:14,184 --> 00:12:15,674 b that happened across 321 00:12:16,033 --> 00:12:16,831 North America, 322 00:12:17,869 --> 00:12:20,262 over a hundred years ago with the chestnut? 323 00:12:20,501 --> 00:12:22,757 But is that 1 of the charges 324 00:12:23,308 --> 00:12:25,876 of the Foot Hills consultancy of North Carolina 325 00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:28,875 to not only have the Oak Hill Community 326 00:12:29,034 --> 00:12:31,817 Park in Forest, but also be an advocate 327 00:12:31,817 --> 00:12:32,874 for the renewal 328 00:12:33,661 --> 00:12:35,889 of the new chestnut tree. 329 00:12:37,957 --> 00:12:40,742 Yeah. Well, I am impressed with your knowledge 330 00:12:40,742 --> 00:12:41,936 on the background of... 331 00:12:42,586 --> 00:12:44,888 Chestnut tree, and that's awesome you already know 332 00:12:44,888 --> 00:12:46,237 about the American Chestnut 333 00:12:46,793 --> 00:12:47,587 Foundation. And 334 00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:51,024 yes, that is something the hills is 335 00:12:51,494 --> 00:12:52,793 pursuing and backing. 336 00:12:53,332 --> 00:12:53,891 We are, 337 00:12:54,611 --> 00:12:57,647 as an profit land trust. We look for 338 00:12:57,647 --> 00:12:59,326 ways to conserve and protect 339 00:12:59,805 --> 00:13:02,768 all types different habitats in this area. 1 340 00:13:02,768 --> 00:13:04,758 of the things that makes this area so 341 00:13:04,758 --> 00:13:06,452 awesome is the diversity, 342 00:13:07,226 --> 00:13:08,715 and that's plus different 343 00:13:09,553 --> 00:13:12,985 wildlife and also plants. So losing the American 344 00:13:12,985 --> 00:13:14,980 test would definitely decrease 345 00:13:15,858 --> 00:13:17,236 diversity. So we're 346 00:13:17,548 --> 00:13:20,246 We're working with our partner, the American Chestnut 347 00:13:20,802 --> 00:13:23,920 Foundation. They've got the trees. They're doing the 348 00:13:23,976 --> 00:13:26,933 gene mapping of all of that. And we're 349 00:13:26,933 --> 00:13:28,931 just putting them in the ground. So we've 350 00:13:28,931 --> 00:13:31,169 got the land, and we like to kinda 351 00:13:31,169 --> 00:13:34,705 highlight other partners doing conservation work, and 352 00:13:35,580 --> 00:13:37,179 we really wanna be seen as, like, a 353 00:13:37,179 --> 00:13:40,059 community resource where they can come and do 354 00:13:40,059 --> 00:13:42,539 those experiments here in the park and the 355 00:13:42,539 --> 00:13:45,032 public can learn about it and be part 356 00:13:45,032 --> 00:13:46,470 of it you. So that's a bit of 357 00:13:46,470 --> 00:13:46,630 the, 358 00:13:47,509 --> 00:13:50,625 the the educational component. The park is not 359 00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:51,080 just, 360 00:13:52,314 --> 00:13:54,784 recreational release 4 people. I'm gonna ask you 361 00:13:54,784 --> 00:13:56,457 about a little bit about that in a 362 00:13:56,457 --> 00:13:59,246 second Britney, but it's also a large part 363 00:13:59,246 --> 00:14:00,202 of agriculture, 364 00:14:01,174 --> 00:14:01,914 not just 365 00:14:02,294 --> 00:14:03,575 forestry, but also, 366 00:14:04,375 --> 00:14:06,855 Tom told us there's a community garden for 367 00:14:06,855 --> 00:14:07,894 people to, 368 00:14:08,788 --> 00:14:11,332 to to grow their own crops, if you 369 00:14:11,332 --> 00:14:14,352 will, and in garden and harvest and and 370 00:14:14,352 --> 00:14:16,260 that sort of thing. But also for young 371 00:14:16,260 --> 00:14:17,713 people who may never 372 00:14:18,023 --> 00:14:19,930 young people of all ages who may not 373 00:14:19,930 --> 00:14:22,632 have been exposed to where food comes from. 374 00:14:22,950 --> 00:14:25,414 You can use the community park for that 375 00:14:25,414 --> 00:14:26,447 for the education, 376 00:14:27,734 --> 00:14:28,132 component. 377 00:14:29,246 --> 00:14:31,950 Before I leave the chestnut trees, are you 378 00:14:31,950 --> 00:14:33,835 able to see these these 379 00:14:34,434 --> 00:14:38,035 new trees growing or they restricted from us 380 00:14:38,035 --> 00:14:40,035 to see just because of... I don't know 381 00:14:40,035 --> 00:14:42,595 they're b resistance and those sorts of things. 382 00:14:43,809 --> 00:14:44,049 Yeah. 383 00:14:44,850 --> 00:14:46,690 Well, it depends on the time of day. 384 00:14:46,850 --> 00:14:49,190 They're not really morning trees. So 385 00:14:49,730 --> 00:14:50,985 you have to catch them in the app. 386 00:14:52,376 --> 00:14:53,172 No. They are... 387 00:14:53,808 --> 00:14:55,342 That was the slow joke, but 388 00:14:55,797 --> 00:14:57,229 you fit right in here, Britney. 389 00:14:57,865 --> 00:14:58,000 Afternoon 390 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,059 They are 391 00:15:00,519 --> 00:15:02,519 available for the public to come to. So 392 00:15:02,519 --> 00:15:04,600 when you come into the park right now, 393 00:15:04,759 --> 00:15:06,919 where... We just opened in October. So we're... 394 00:15:07,492 --> 00:15:09,640 Still getting into infrastructure set up, and a 395 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:11,867 lot of that is getting community input on 396 00:15:11,867 --> 00:15:13,697 what people wanna see and where they wanna. 397 00:15:14,506 --> 00:15:15,857 But if you come into the park, 398 00:15:16,651 --> 00:15:18,477 there's a gravel road that's about, 399 00:15:19,351 --> 00:15:21,734 3 quarters of a mile long, and you 400 00:15:21,734 --> 00:15:21,893 just... 401 00:15:22,625 --> 00:15:24,944 Bike or walk down that gravel road until 402 00:15:24,944 --> 00:15:27,105 you see the test on your left. And 403 00:15:27,105 --> 00:15:31,117 there's, some educational sign there provided by the 404 00:15:31,196 --> 00:15:32,230 Ac acs, and, 405 00:15:33,025 --> 00:15:34,934 you can read all about it, and you 406 00:15:34,934 --> 00:15:36,683 can walk up and down the field if 407 00:15:36,683 --> 00:15:38,433 you want to, so it is, 408 00:15:39,243 --> 00:15:41,627 It's not really advertisers open to the public 409 00:15:41,627 --> 00:15:43,773 but you're hearing it here first. 410 00:15:44,647 --> 00:15:47,367 Yeah, Well, it's breaking. Like gravel road. 411 00:15:48,006 --> 00:15:50,640 Breaking news here on the Carolina outdoors. And 412 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,896 if our listeners are interested in learning more 413 00:15:53,035 --> 00:15:55,270 about the American Chestnut and the American chestnut. 414 00:15:55,683 --> 00:15:57,517 Foundation They can go to the podcast, type 415 00:15:57,517 --> 00:16:00,488 in Doug Gill or chestnut and up those 416 00:16:00,546 --> 00:16:02,618 interviews will pop, and you'll be able to 417 00:16:02,618 --> 00:16:05,187 learn more about Brit What Britney is undertaking 418 00:16:05,187 --> 00:16:07,744 in that partnership with the American Chestnut Foundation, 419 00:16:08,303 --> 00:16:09,262 but also, 420 00:16:10,141 --> 00:16:12,707 where you can see the tree, which is 421 00:16:12,707 --> 00:16:13,684 in a relatively 422 00:16:14,139 --> 00:16:15,970 new park. It opened up less than a 423 00:16:15,970 --> 00:16:18,756 year ago. Oak Hill Community Park and forest, 424 00:16:19,329 --> 00:16:21,482 It was done not by the city of 425 00:16:21,562 --> 00:16:23,795 Morgan not by the state of North Carolina 426 00:16:23,795 --> 00:16:25,869 and not by the federal government. It was 427 00:16:25,869 --> 00:16:28,342 purchased and is operated by the Foot hills 428 00:16:28,342 --> 00:16:28,842 consultancy 429 00:16:29,475 --> 00:16:32,995 of North Carolina and Britney Watkins is on 430 00:16:32,995 --> 00:16:33,735 the program 431 00:16:34,514 --> 00:16:34,834 as 432 00:16:35,475 --> 00:16:37,644 Tom Bart handed her the phone and Britney, 433 00:16:37,803 --> 00:16:39,945 I wanna ask you this because where you're 434 00:16:39,945 --> 00:16:42,881 located is really you have a view of, 435 00:16:43,516 --> 00:16:46,866 table rock, Wilson Creek is in that gorge 436 00:16:46,866 --> 00:16:48,376 area is very accessible. 437 00:16:48,852 --> 00:16:51,338 A Lend Gorge is not far 438 00:16:51,792 --> 00:16:52,348 from you. 439 00:16:52,998 --> 00:16:56,113 However, there in Morgan, there are many people 440 00:16:56,326 --> 00:16:58,546 who have not gone off to those places. 441 00:16:58,704 --> 00:16:59,893 In fact, on the website, 442 00:17:01,098 --> 00:17:03,003 1 of the teachers mentions that, 443 00:17:04,115 --> 00:17:04,512 although, 444 00:17:05,226 --> 00:17:06,258 it's not far, 445 00:17:07,290 --> 00:17:07,925 young people, 446 00:17:08,497 --> 00:17:10,885 especially don't make it to those places and 447 00:17:10,885 --> 00:17:12,499 don't learn about these processes, 448 00:17:13,113 --> 00:17:15,421 and that's where Oak Hills comes into play 449 00:17:15,421 --> 00:17:17,983 because they are able to be innate sure 450 00:17:17,983 --> 00:17:20,056 learn about nature and 451 00:17:20,932 --> 00:17:23,244 enjoy nature, whether it be a mountain bike 452 00:17:23,244 --> 00:17:25,875 trip, a hiking trip, maybe a creek walk 453 00:17:25,875 --> 00:17:27,981 to all of that is available 454 00:17:28,435 --> 00:17:29,651 moments from Morgan 455 00:17:30,026 --> 00:17:32,333 at Oak Hills. It is that a part 456 00:17:32,333 --> 00:17:32,833 of 457 00:17:33,144 --> 00:17:34,443 the reason the 458 00:17:35,142 --> 00:17:35,941 made that purchase? 459 00:17:37,140 --> 00:17:37,459 Yes. 460 00:17:38,098 --> 00:17:40,575 Absolutely. Absolutely. Everything you touched on, 461 00:17:41,789 --> 00:17:45,140 just providing people a space, but, where they 462 00:17:45,140 --> 00:17:47,772 can come out and connect his nature in 463 00:17:47,772 --> 00:17:48,751 their own way 464 00:17:49,063 --> 00:17:51,051 And also to to add to some of 465 00:17:51,051 --> 00:17:54,152 the benefits you mentioned, a big part of 466 00:17:55,026 --> 00:17:57,434 what I do with the conservative us community 467 00:17:57,571 --> 00:17:58,579 engagement is 468 00:17:59,497 --> 00:18:02,548 foster a sense of ownership over these lands 469 00:18:02,607 --> 00:18:04,202 with our community because 470 00:18:04,999 --> 00:18:07,392 I love that you mentioned that people from 471 00:18:07,392 --> 00:18:07,892 here 472 00:18:09,238 --> 00:18:12,125 don't even visit some of these places sometimes 473 00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:12,818 because 474 00:18:13,614 --> 00:18:15,364 I was 1 of those people growing up 475 00:18:15,364 --> 00:18:16,103 in Len. 476 00:18:17,368 --> 00:18:19,354 There were so many place. I've got out 477 00:18:19,354 --> 00:18:21,180 to Wilson Creek a lot, but, 478 00:18:22,134 --> 00:18:24,040 never made it to Limbo Gorge until I 479 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:26,993 was older, and, or like games, and 480 00:18:28,025 --> 00:18:30,804 there are just so many beautiful places around 481 00:18:30,804 --> 00:18:34,257 here to explore, and that's what we wanna 482 00:18:34,313 --> 00:18:37,172 help people feel more comfortable getting out there 483 00:18:37,172 --> 00:18:39,872 and doing this things and here in the 484 00:18:39,872 --> 00:18:40,983 park. You can also... 485 00:18:41,713 --> 00:18:44,491 Have an impact. So if you love being 486 00:18:44,491 --> 00:18:46,396 outside, and you wanna learn more about how 487 00:18:46,396 --> 00:18:49,253 to protect it. And what's good for certain 488 00:18:49,253 --> 00:18:50,859 habitats. It's not to to them, 489 00:18:51,900 --> 00:18:53,340 it's just a a great way to do 490 00:18:53,340 --> 00:18:55,980 that. Well, it also sounds. We didn't even 491 00:18:55,980 --> 00:18:57,580 get to, talk about the 492 00:18:58,315 --> 00:19:01,595 Mild hikes that are available out there. There's 493 00:19:01,595 --> 00:19:04,394 also beginner mountain bike trails that are out 494 00:19:04,394 --> 00:19:05,934 there up to 7 miles 495 00:19:06,806 --> 00:19:09,828 but the beginner friendly part has a no 496 00:19:09,828 --> 00:19:12,851 drop ride part of it so that you 497 00:19:12,851 --> 00:19:15,412 can... Gain confidence and learn more about the 498 00:19:15,412 --> 00:19:16,526 sport of Mountain biking, 499 00:19:17,481 --> 00:19:19,948 enjoy hikes and, of course, the the Creek 500 00:19:19,948 --> 00:19:22,096 walks. And just Morgan area, 501 00:19:22,828 --> 00:19:23,625 in general, 502 00:19:24,342 --> 00:19:25,240 Britney Watkins 503 00:19:25,855 --> 00:19:28,006 from the Foot hills consultancy of North Carolina. 504 00:19:28,245 --> 00:19:30,555 Thank you for jumping on the program, the 505 00:19:30,714 --> 00:19:34,092 Carolina Outdoors. Thank you for working Tom Bart 506 00:19:35,022 --> 00:19:37,722 very hard in his retirement and sharing him 507 00:19:37,722 --> 00:19:39,867 for a moment here on the program. 508 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,617 We hope that he's back out there sweating 509 00:19:42,677 --> 00:19:45,714 using that mini mac mcleod tool that we 510 00:19:45,714 --> 00:19:48,031 learned about. Of course, T j and I 511 00:19:48,031 --> 00:19:49,470 called it a Kaiser blade. 512 00:19:51,483 --> 00:19:53,641 Oh, I haven't heard that 1. No. I 513 00:19:53,641 --> 00:19:55,798 saying incorrect tool. There's a bad movie quotes, 514 00:19:55,958 --> 00:19:58,056 but Britney, thanks for jumping on the program 515 00:19:58,276 --> 00:19:58,755 with us. 516 00:19:59,727 --> 00:20:02,831 Yeah. Absolutely. Thanks for having me and. Tom 517 00:20:02,831 --> 00:20:05,458 is just an awesome volunteer, and 518 00:20:06,334 --> 00:20:08,323 it's great to have people like him are 519 00:20:08,323 --> 00:20:10,411 excited to be out here and be part 520 00:20:10,411 --> 00:20:11,128 of this, and, 521 00:20:12,245 --> 00:20:12,404 yeah. 522 00:20:13,441 --> 00:20:14,957 Britney? You let me book on that. Britney, 523 00:20:15,116 --> 00:20:16,711 before you leave, will you send us to 524 00:20:16,711 --> 00:20:17,451 the proper 525 00:20:17,828 --> 00:20:20,075 website so that we can either come to 526 00:20:20,235 --> 00:20:20,952 Oak hill Park, 527 00:20:21,908 --> 00:20:22,408 or 528 00:20:23,023 --> 00:20:25,435 participate as a volunteer in the Foot hills. 529 00:20:27,100 --> 00:20:30,281 Yes. Definitely. And our... A lot of our 530 00:20:30,281 --> 00:20:30,781 volunteer 531 00:20:31,394 --> 00:20:33,779 events are open to people of all ages 532 00:20:33,779 --> 00:20:35,949 and abilities. You don't have to be 533 00:20:36,578 --> 00:20:37,078 super 534 00:20:38,572 --> 00:20:40,725 outdoors to come out, We want everyone to 535 00:20:40,725 --> 00:20:43,198 feel welcome and you go to 536 00:20:43,676 --> 00:20:47,221 foot hills conservative dot org. Slash volunteer 537 00:20:47,837 --> 00:20:49,431 or slash community event. 538 00:20:50,786 --> 00:20:51,185 Fantastic. 539 00:20:51,663 --> 00:20:54,947 Start there foot consultancy dot... 0RG, 540 00:20:55,106 --> 00:20:57,899 the rest will fall into place. Brittany Watkins. 541 00:20:58,378 --> 00:20:59,415 Great to having you on. 542 00:21:00,054 --> 00:21:02,542 My best of Time as well. Off they 543 00:21:02,542 --> 00:21:04,219 go and off I go, we're gonna come 544 00:21:04,219 --> 00:21:05,735 back on the other side and wrap up 545 00:21:05,735 --> 00:21:08,688 this edition, you're listening to the Carolina Outdoors.