Green Saves Green Member Meeting Minutes

Monday, March 11, 2024

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library

Present: Karl Brandspigel, Nurhak Tuncer Bayramli, Nita Coleman, Phil Donahue, Jane Elfring, Marlene Greer, Blair Jackson, George Jackson, Charles Jordan, Dawn Kidd, Steve King, Bill Kruse, Sue Kruse, Chip Lewin, Cody Marks, Sue Powers, Anne Radke, Misti Rewis, Jane Snyder, Jared Tardiff, Jeanne Tardiff, Steve VanGiesen, Abigail Villalba, Gail Ward, Ruth Wells, Adam White, Holly White, Terry


Sandra Kruger – Sound of Plants 

Guest speaker College of the Albemarle Professor Sandra Kruger provided an overview of her plant art/sound project. COA students will track electric energy going through the plants, set the energy wave to music, and create art and poetry inspired by the plants and sounds. The exhibit will be on display at COA Dare campus. Sandra also plans to record underwater sounds at the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail and create soundscapes listeners can experience while walking the trail. 

Kayak Launch and Paddle Trail Pasquotank River/Knobbs Creek

Rodney Johnson is leading our efforts to determine suitable locations for in/out paddle access to the upper Pasquotank River and Knobbs Creek. Rodney helped create the paddle trail system developed and mapped by the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council in 10 counties across northeastern NC going back to the 1990s. The trails were used but not promoted well or maintained as they should. GSG wants to bring back the trails, starting with the upper Pasquotank. 

We’ve spoken with county and city officials who have asked us to put together a proposal. We have been invited by the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to send a small group of paddlers from the start of the Pasquotank River in the refuge to determine the feasibility of including this section in a paddle trail. The paddle trails team also plans to check out other sections of the river and upper Knobbs Creek. We are hoping to identify 2-3 appropriate sites for small boat launches and get some CAMA grants to fund the projects.

Camden County is considering including a small boat launch at its newly acquired South Mills Water District property on the Dismal Swamp Canal. 

COA has assured us a kayak launch at the campus will be part of its long-term plan.


Action Grants and Student Outreach

We want to help kids make positive change. Jeanne looked into pre-K and Head Start. She thinks Port Discover might be a good place to start.

Marlene and Julie Robertson were invited by ECPPS Assistant Superintendent Sammy Fudge to present our outdoor environmental education opportunities and our Action Grant program at a meeting with school principals. We hope this helps get the word out.

Pre-Marathon Downtown Litter Cleanup and Campus Cleanups

Our third annual Pre-Marathon Litter Cleanup is set for 9-11a.m. Saturday, March 23. We also have Campus Cleanups at Weeksville Elementary on Monday, March 18, and at River Road Middle School on March 20. Please contact Marlene to volunteer for any of these cleanups.


Upcoming Events

Hike to Lake Drummond 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, March 27.  GSG group outing. Meet at 9:30a.m. in the Washington Ditch Trail parking lot. GSG members, family, and friends are invited.

COA Agriculture Day, Friday, April 12. We are looking for volunteers to put together an interactive exhibit for middle and high school students. We have supplies and materials.

Earth Day at the Trail, 9a.m.-2p.m., April 22, Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail. We invited 22 7th and 8th grade students from Elizabeth City Middle School for a day of outdoor environmental learning and a tour of the COA campus. Volunteers are needed. See Marlene if you want to volunteer.


2024 Projects Survey Results

At last month’s meeting, index cards were handed out to members to rate which projects we should do in 2024. Some of these projects are ongoing, and GSG is committed to doing. We welcome members to choose a project they are interested in and join the team. Here are the results followed by the GSG members heading up the project.

  1. Community art project and youth environmental education (Marlene Greer and Julie Robinson).

  2. Kayak launches and paddle trails (Rodney Johnson).

  3. Rain barrel demonstration station in Fowler Alley (Bill and Sue Kruse). Waiting to hear from the building owner if the irrigation system has been fixed.

  4. Fenwick-Hollowell Trail events and festival exhibits (Nita Coleman)

  5. Recycle Right education campaign.

  6. Building local green infrastructure (Holly White and Phil Donahue). They will explore College Park for a possible living shoreline flood mitigation project and combine it with recreation opportunities.

  7. Member outings, meetups, and social gatherings.

  8. Planting for the Planet: Trees, gardens, and roadside wildflowers (Jared Tardiff and Nita Coleman).

  9. Litter cleanups and prevention education (Marlene Greer and Cody Marks).

  10. Water quality monitoring and education (Rodney Johnson). This is one of the most important things we do for this area. We will continue our monthly monitoring.


Other Business

George shared his experience with his grandchildren crushing aluminum cans to take to American Metal on Gregory St. in Elizabeth City for recycling. They loved crushing the cans, and it teaches them about the importance of recycling.

Next GSG meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at the Pasquotank County Library.