Mountain Xpress is excited to bring you the second annual Get It! Guide — our guide to sustainable living and resilient communities. The publication will be on stands all year and is also available online with enhanced listings and links to other Xpress stories that explore similar issues or provide background on the topics the guide discusses.
You’ve heard the word “sustainable” plenty of times. But what does it really mean? Part of sustainability is protecting the beauty that surrounds us in Western North Carolina — from our mountains to our rivers to our pollinators. Another piece is creating a strong, diversified local economy where employees receive fair treatment and living wages and businesses explore more conscientious definitions of success.
But sustainability also means branching out into green jobs and renewable energy sources. It means increasing our access to green space and local foods. And ultimately, sustainability means looking out for all members of our society, from high- to low-income communities, from children to elders — making sure access to quality jobs, education, nutrition, the environment and equal representation is shared by all.
In this guide you’ll find a directory of businesses and organizations that are invested in promoting socially and environmentally responsible practices. You’ll also find articles, profiles and how-tos exploring local groups and initiatives that are working to put sustainable concepts into action.
All Get It! directory listings have been screened by our partner groups and contributing nonprofits:
• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
• Asheville Grown Business Alliance
• B Lab
• Blue Ridge Food Ventures
• Green Opportunities
• Green Restaurant Association
• Just Economics
• Mountain BizWorks
• Western North Carolina Green Building Council
We hope the Get It! Guide will inspire you to consider your own definition of sustainability and connect with local efforts. After all, the more people who join the conversation — the more people who “get it” — the stronger the movement becomes.
— The team at Mountain Xpress
