Our last film of the summer season will be “Ready for Harvest: Clearcutting in the Southern Appalachians” (1993). Museum staff will chronicle the history of timbering in the Swannanoa Valley and introduce a new partnership with Asheville Greenworks – the Swannanoa Valley Treasured Tree Alliance. 

From Appalshop: “Beginning in the late 1800′s, and continuing into the early decades of the 20th century, forests in the Southern Appalachian Mountains were extensively logged. Since that time, the forests have grown back and matured. These hardwood stands of hickory, oak, black cherry, and walnut have attracted timber companies to private land and national forests. The U.S. Forest Service sells the trees on these public tracts for prices well below market value. In most cases, companies choose to harvest these tracts by clear cutting the entire area.

Set in Western North Carolina, Ready for Harvest explores the complex questions of how we use and protect our native forests. Ready for Harvest is meant to encourage debate about a forest management policy that affects the environment, the economy, and a culture.”

This event is free and open to the public, but we have limited seating so we ask that you RSVP below.