April 6, 2009

Dear TLC Members and Friends,

Spring is a busy time of year, with many opportunities to connect with nature. I hope to see you at an outing or event!

In the meantime, if you have friends you think would enjoy reading the E-News use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the very bottom of this message. Thanks for reading TLC E-News!

1. Outings Extravaganza!
Spring is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy the Triangle. TLC's nature preserves are in the height of beauty, filled with spring flowers and migratory birds. Join us for an outing or two, as we showcase the splendor of some of the Triangle's best natural areas.

2. Let Aveda pamper you with some TLC for TLC
Need some tender loving care? Maybe a little pampering or new haircut for spring? In an encore of last year's wildly successful fundraising efforts, Aveda has adopted TLC for it's Earth Month fundraising again this year.

Aveda locations throughout the Triangle raised more than $50,000 for TLC last year. Once again, they are offering a wide variety of promotions, from cut-a-thons to fashion shows, all benefiting TLC! Find out more online. Thank you, Aveda!!!

3. Chestnut Hill Farm highlights importance of Ag Trust Fund
With a grant from the Ag Trust Fund, TLC is helping Lin Andrew place a conservation easement on his 170-acre Chatham farm. This is just one of the ways TLC is focusing efforts on protecting land to provide local food.

On March 27, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, House Speaker Joe Hackney, and NC Senator Bob Atwater toured Chestnut Hill Farm and thanked Andrew and his family for their commitment to keeping good farmland in production. Check out the N&O story from March 28.

On April 29, TLC and groups from around the state will be in Raleigh talking to our legislators about conservation funding. Without funding through the state's conservation trust funds, TLC wouldn't be able to create conservation successes like Chestnut Hill Farm. Please plan to join us on April 29 in asking for your elected officials' support of the conservation trust funds. Contact Doug Nicholas to learn more.

4. U-Pick Raleigh, TLC's April Backyard Adventure
Spring flowers have emerged and gardeners throughout the Triangle are tilling and planting, in eager anticipation of the sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, and cool cucumbers of summer.  What better way to celebrate spring and Earth Month than with TLC’s April Backyard Adventure, U-Pick Raleigh. This month’s do-it-yourself tour of the Triangle will help you celebrate with festivals, garden tours, or a walk in the park, in addition to a couple of North Carolina’s finest museums and, best of all, TLC staff picks for the finest lunch spots in Raleigh. Find out more online.

5. Meet April's Member of the Month: Grethel Boyette
A faithful member since 1989, Grethel Boyette is excited about TLC's expanded efforts at conservation and farmland protection. This Kenly citizen and proud native of Johnston County is a lifetime board member of the Tobacco Farm Life Museum of North Carolina. Find out more about Grethel in our Member Spotlight.

6. Beans, Beanbags and Bluegrass - Green Jamboree is June 20th!
Save the Date! TLC's Green Jamboree 2009 is set for Saturday, June 20. Join your fellow TLC members and friends at the Irvin Farm (Jones Ferry Road, Chapel Hill), a 269-acre haven of farmland and forest complete with two miles of woodland trails and a fishing pond. Enjoy food, music by The Bluegrass Experience, guided hikes and catch-and-release fishing. We'll also have a wide variety of eco-friendly and fun family activities!

7. Help Wanted - Volunteer Opportunities
Join TLC's team of dedicated volunteers! Check out these new opportunities to make a difference in the Triangle.

8. Visit The Well, raise a donation for TLC
The Well, a church with a passion for social justice and environmental stewardship, is honoring its visitors by making donations to nonprofit organizations through Easter. For every coupon a visitor brings to a meeting, they will donate $10 to the nonprofit organization of the visitor's choice from a select list, including TLC. You can find the coupon in the Money Mailer for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area and in April's edition of the Southern Neighbor. We're excited about the exposure - thanks!

9. Enjoy dinner out at Chili's and support TLC
Hungry for some Sizzling Fajitas or Baby Back Ribs and want to support TLC at the same time? Bring this flyer to Chili's Brier Creek location on Thursday, April 23, 4-11 p.m. and Chili's will donate 10 percent of your purchase to TLC.

10. Where in the Triangle?
The TLC “Where in the Triangle?” quiz is back to challenge your knowledge of the villages, backroads and crossroads communities throughout our region, from Bennett to Bentonville to Bahama. So, eager contestants, here is the next puzzle. Take a look at this picture, then send an e-mail telling us where you think the photo was taken. (Here’s a hint: the photo was taken in the region of this month’s Backyard Adventure, U-Pick Raleigh). One lucky reader will receive a stylish TLC baseball cap. We will draw a winner from all the correct answers we receive at enews@triangleland.org by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10.

Thanks to all of you who responded to last month’s “Where in the Triangle?” quiz! The correct answer was Silver Lake.