"So much of what is great about the South," says Garden & Gun Editor in Chief David DiBenedetto, "springs from the land." It's a simple belief in the beauty and vitality of our part of the world, a reverence for the soil on which we stand — but it's also the philosophical force behind honoring the magazine's Champions of Conservation.

Announced just days ago, the 12 Champions of Conservation are a group of Southerners working in our waterways and forests, farmlands and cities to protect, sustain, and conserve. They were chosen by an interdisciplinary panel (including Asheville's own Dr. JJ Apodaca) for their grassroots efforts on conservation's front lines. "This is their calling," says DiBenedetto, "and they don't always get recognized."

Next Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Champions will be honored at Cocktails & Conservation at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. But before the drinks + discussion begin to flow, we're going to introduce you to the two North Carolinians who joined this year's Champions class.

The work is important for the ecosystem and the local economy, says Holdbrooks. | Photo by Karin Strickland

Safeguarding the forests of Southern Appalachia

Director Kelly Holdbrooks and her team at Southern Highlands Reserve in Brevard operate under three pillars: education, research, and propagation. The reserve began in 2002 as a private native plant garden (and technically still is), but it quickly turned into a nonprofit focused on the sustainability of plant species in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Universities and international partners perform research on the reserve, and it is the primary nursery conducting red spruce propagation for the US Forest Service. Just this past year, 300 of the reserve's trees were planted on Mount Mitchell.

"I hope this award brings more awareness to the conservation work," says Holdbrooks. "We want people to really understand the importance of these ecosystems and the role they play in our lives."

For six months of the year, you can make a reservation for tours — and you can donate to the capital campaign anytime.

"I love when recognition like this combine the efforts I am doing with science with who I am and how I identify as an individual — and the impact that it has on others," says Pharr. | Photo by Matt Ramey

Creating an inclusive natural science community

Lauren Pharr grew up in Waxhaw, NC, a rural town south of Charlotte, where her father and uncle cultivated her interest in birds and wildlife — an interest that would grow into an award-winning career and, eventually, an organization.

Pharr co-founded Field Inclusive with her colleague Murry Burgess when they were PhD students at NC State University. The organization's mission is to make the natural sciences more accessible and safe for marginalized and historically excluded biologists and field researchers — and it sprung from their own experiences. They are working to provide awareness and safety resources for the unique issues faced by underrepresented scientists, like webinars, workshops, free online resources, and financial support.

"Institutions and organizations need to become more aware of certain field safety concerns," says Pharr. "Individuals with privilege need to be recognized. Marginalized and historically excluded biologists and researchers need to be heard. Once we can begin to address all this, then change can gradually come."

Check out the resources, and explore opportunities to support.

Continuing the conservation conversation

The depth and breadth of their work can hardly be captured in such a short space — but this doesn't have to be the end of your study. The honorees will join a conversation, hosted by DiBenedetto, at Cocktails & Conservation on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Explore Asheville partnered with Garden & Gun for the event — because, says President + CEO Vic Isley, the initiative just fits with Asheville's spirit. "It deeply aligns with our community’s values and rising influence as a hub for climate science and sustainable business. Asheville’s collaborative entrepreneurial spirit runs deep, celebrating both big ideas and small sparks of creativity. This innovation transforms events like this one and those that attend."

You can grab tickets now for the event at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview.