GMREC: Community Council
Preservation
The primary goal of the Preservation Committee is to educate the public about the importance of preserving the incredible diversity of native plant species living in our Southern Appalachian Mountain region. This goal is being pursued by four major projects:
Developing an Appalachian Ethnobotanic Demonstration Garden on the grounds of the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center. - Establishing a Native Plant Rescue Project to identify threatened species and potentially replant them in public garden sites.
- Certifying Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuaries for landowners in the region.
- Partnering with the Community Council’s Outreach Committee to offer Native Plant seminars to the public and interested area agencies.
The Preservation Committee projects are staffed by volunteers. For more information on one of these programs, or to volunteer, please contact Katharine Vogel at: (706) 745-3981 or email preservation@windstream.net.
Appalachian Ethnobotanical Garden Project
In 2005, the Preservation Committee began developing a set of gardens on the grounds of the Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center to showcase native plants. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, these gardens have been expanded annually and now include a Woodland Native Plant Medicine Trail, an Ethnobotanical Demonstration Garden, and an Heirloom/Herb Garden featuring more than 150 native plants and trees. Periodic tours of the gardens are available through the Community Council.
Work is currently underway to create a visitor interpretive center to provide additional information and special exhibits. The Ethnobotanical Gardens Interpretive Center will be housed in “The Cannery”, one of the historic Civilian Conservation Corp buildings adjacent to the gardens.
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| Spring time view of arbor in the Ethnobotanical Garden |
Cannery Building, circa 1930, site of future Interpretive Center |
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Volunteers work on Ethnobotanical Garden
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The Native Plant Rescue Project
The Native Plant Rescue Project provides site assessment and plant relocation services for landowners, realtors, and developers. Our trained volunteer team will identify significant native plants on location, so that they may be protected or relocated if endangered by development activity. Significant plants can be relocated on premises or optionally to one of the plant sanctuaries at the GMRE center.
The program is completely voluntary, and represents an earth-friendly approach to land usage without restricting property rights. Benefits of preservation on site include enhanced property values, support for wildlife, and healthier mountain ecology.
To learn more about the Plant Rescue Project or to volunteer, contact Glen Henderson; abletinker@aol.com or Jennifer Cordier; ivylog@alltel.net or call (706) 745-9317.
Preservation Activity Highlights |
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Plant Rescue tags a Flame Azalea |
Planting an herb garden |
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Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary Program
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Sanctuary signage available to certified landowners. |
The Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary program promotes the preservation or restoration of residential native landscapes. This certification program recognizes landowners who wish to maintain a portion of their property in a natural state, with a representative mix of trees and plants native to Appalachia. Landowners who wish to participate complete a simple application identifying native plants on their property and the conservation practices they are using. Applications are reviewed and approved by our trained volunteer team, and qualifying properties receive a certificate. For further information, see Certification Program (PDF file).
The Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary application can be downloaded as a word document to be completed and mailed, or completed online.
- Download the application in PDF format
- Complete an application online in Word format