Supporting Western North Carolina in the Creation and Stewardship of Community Forests
Neighborhood Tree Plantings
Community Orchards & Food Forests
Community Greenspaces
Streambank
Restoration
About us
What Do We Do?
WNC Grows supports community groups in the co-creation and stewardship of neighborhood-level projects. Programs center around supporting community orchards, community greenspaces, neighborhood-led tree plantings, & riparian restoration.
Our Mission
To support Western North Carolina in the creation and stewardship of community forests & orchards bringing people closer to nature and closer together.
Our Vision
Community-based forests for all neighborhoods.
Talk to us
- Is your neighborhood interested in support for a community forest project?
- Would you like to support WNC Grows with a donation, equipment, services, time?
- Do you want to connect and learn more?
Resilience is strengthened through deepening connections to nature and to each other.
Chris founded WNC Grows to bring together his passion for forests, native plants, teaching, and Western North Carolina.
Before planting roots in community forestry, Chris taught high school and middle school in Asheville for 7 years and was a founding member of a public charter school. He graduated from Warren Wilson College with an Environmental Education degree, holds a Masters of Forestry from the Yale School of the Environment, is an ISA Certified Arborist, and gained experience in community forestry during his time working with The Nature Conservancy and Urban Resources Initiative.
In his free time he can be found hiking in the mountains, propagating native trees, or playing ultimate frisbee. He is honored to join in and support the amazing communities in WNC working towards a beautiful future in the face of adversity.