Spring at The Divide is one of the most beautiful times of the year. The forests are green again, the mountain air isn’t as dry and cold, and everything comes back to life. In lieu of simply spring cleaning, spring offers the opportunity to get ahead of the times and focus on sustainability; a fresh start! Here are some of our best tips on how to maximize your home’s efficiency, conserve our natural resources, and make a difference in your local community.    

• Home Repairs - On average, 10 gallons of water a day go to waste due to leaky toilets or faucets. Whether it’s you yourself or you hire someone to keep an eye on the place, check all sinks, showers, and toilets periodically for leaks. The tried and true food coloring test helps detect hidden leaky toilets. Simply place a few drops in the tank, and if you see the color leak into the bowl, you know you have an issue.
• Turn off the Taps – It sounds really simple, but when doing simple tasks like brushing your teeth or washing dishes, turn off the water when you’re not using it. This can save up to 900 gallons of water per month. Similarly, turn off the tap when you lather while washing your hands or showering.
• Take a Look at Your Landscaping – While few residents at The Divide have traditional lawns, each home is a little different. If you have traditional sod in patches, keep it a little longer – 1 ½ - 2 inches tall – to help with water retention. For flower beds and other landscaping, lay some organic mulch. This helps keep these areas nice and wet, which means saving water, time, and money. Pruning bushes and shrubs can also help them use water more efficiently.
• Plant Native – The natural landscape that surrounds the Blue Ridge Mountains is simply breathtaking.  Keep it that way and avoid planting non-native plants that can be invasive or harmful to the existing ecosystem. Opt instead for plants and flowers that are indigenous to the region. The existing wildlife will thank you for it.
• Compost – Speaking of planting, what better fertilizer is there than your own organic compost? Roughly one third of the food produced for consumption goes to waste each year. You can help knock this number down by putting your food scraps to work. A compost bin can help drive down your household’s waste while also serving your landscaping and houseplants! Just be sure to purchase one that locks. The bears of the region sure get curious.
• Trip Planning – Your mountaintop getaway is exactly that: on top of a mountain. This means that residents are farther from things like the grocery store and points of entertainment. Therefore, consolidate your trips and plan accordingly. If you know you need groceries but are planning on going to a show later in the day, take a cooler and shop before or after the show so you’re only making one trip. Carpooling with your neighbors is also a great way to get to know your community while keeping sustainability in mind.
• Volunteer – Whether you’re picking up a stray water bottle on a trail or establishing a state-wide recycling program, your efforts as a volunteer have far-reaching effects. Try to volunteer in your free time with an organization dedicated to preserving the environment (the Friends of Panthertown has many opportunities!) and help actively make a difference in your community.

Doing small things like these can help make the area of The Divide at Bald Rock a better place. Interested in experiencing all this community has to offer? Visit www.dividenc.com for more information.

While many hunker down to hibernate during the winter – and many folks in the Blue Ridge Mountains choose to do the same – many of the residents at The Divide opt for the opposite; they head for the hills! Winter is actually one of the more active times of the year for our community as it offers a variety off season-specific activities and unparalleled experiences. Here are just a few:

Hitting the Slopes

The Sapphire Valley Resort is a snow bunny’s dream. Whether your binding boots are strapped to one board or two, the local landscape and authentic snowfall lends itself to endless hours of fun on the slopes. The resort even offers a Frozen Falls Tube Park. This combination of tubing and sledding is fun for the whole family. If these activities are up your alley, the resort also holds a series of Concerts on the Slopes each year that might be more your style.

Exploring the Terrain

Cold temperatures and wild winds can’t deter many outdoor enthusiasts. The well-maintained hiking paths that surround The Divide community are made even more beautiful when touched by a fresh snowfall. Explore our intricate labyrinth of hiking paths and trails. We caution many of our residents that snowshoes and proper gear are highly recommended.

Chasing Waterfalls

Many hikers and snowshoers do go chasing waterfalls in their adventures and find a fun, treasure-hunt-like feel to venturing out. The area’s most scenic and naturally beautiful features frozen in time are a nature photographer’s dream. Many of the residents of the Divide venture out on four-wheelers or snowmobiles with these specific destinations in mind. Just check local trail guides to ensure these vehicles are allowed.

Taking the Long Way

You can also enjoy the scenic views and stunning snow-capped scenes from the warmth and comfort of your vehicle. Taking the long way through the network of local national parks and the Blue Ridge Mountains is a favorite pastime for those who aren’t as outdoorsy as they would like to be.

Many of the residents at The Divide at Bald Rock come for the stunning views and the escape that mountaintop living offers. They stay, however, for the lifestyle of adventure that pervades year-round. Start yours by visiting www.dividenc.com.

When you make The Divide at Bald Rock your home, you’re choosing to make the sweeping landscapes of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains your everyday reality. Few will argue with the unfathomable natural appeal of the region. Therefore, it is a top priority for all that this region remain as it is.

According to the North Carolina Forestry Association, “North Carolina has 18.8 million acres of forests across the state, which spans some 31 million acres.” To put these numbers into perspective, the state of North Carolina as a whole is made up of 32.3 million acres of land. This means that 61% of the state is covered in forests.

Fourteen billion trees make up these forested regions. Most of this forestry, though, is controlled by private entities, including the residents at The Divide. Also included in the forested land are four national forests that call North Carolina home: Croatan, Nantahala, Pisgah, and Uwharrie. 

While there is certainly development across the state, much of the land remains a natural habitat to indigenous plants and species. Unique to the region is a network of Southern Appalachian Mountain Bogs. While there were once over 5,000 acres of these diverse ecosystems, fewer than 500 remain. There are over 53 species in North Carolina that are at-risk of extinction. It is within these bogs that many at-risk or endangered plants and animals reside. Their declining homelands are among, and could be, the biggest reason for the decline in population.

“There are lots of things out there that have an intrinsic value because of their existence. You don't have to always have been to them or have seen them. A bog is that kind of place," says Southern Blue Ridge Program Director Megan Sutton. "Just to know that this very cool and rare place exists in the world, that's enough."

Incredible organizations like The Nature Conservatory are working hard throughout the country (and globally). According to their mission, they raise awareness of important environmental issues and conserve the land and waters on which all life depends.

Our local residents are among many in the region who identify as land advocates, appreciating all this wonderful land has to offer. Experience the natural wonders for yourself and tour the development at The Divide at Bald Rock. Visit www.dividenc.com to learn more.

During the month of August, nature-lovers across the country celebrated Smokey the Bear, and our local residents did the same.

On August 9 in honor of Smokey Bear’s 75^th birthday, the Friends of Panthertown hosted a LNT (leave no trace) presentation and celebration for trail explorers of all ages. The program was designed to teach all the importance of showing special, natural places some love by leaving no trace that hikers were ever there. This coincides with many overall wildlife programs and practices of organizations dedicated to preserving and appreciating our natural wildlife.

Smokey the Bear, as many know, is the face of forest fire prevention. Though the story of Smokey originated in New Mexico, the effects against forest fires remain relevant everywhere as 89% of wildfires were caused by humans in 2018, according to the NIFC.

As the story goes, an operator at a fire tower in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico spotted not only a budding forest fire but a bear cub caught in its path. The fire blazed on despite efforts from local crews and the bear cub was forced up a tree to weather the fire. Suffering bad burns on his paws and hind legs, the cub was removed from the tree and taken to have his burns treated and bandaged. The little cub’s story spread quickly and earned bouts of sympathy from many. He earned the name Smokey due to coverage from major news outlets who shared his story. Smokey Bear, now a living advocate for wildfire prevention, made his home at the National Zoo in Washington D.C., until he returned home to be buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park upon the end of his life.

His legacy lives on, however. His image remains a friendly face for kids and adults alike looking to learn more about camping and enjoying time in the forest. Smokey the Bear serves as a reminder to all that if we truly value wildlife, as we all should, there are steps we can take toward proper conservation.  

With the cooler fall weather around the corner, campfires become a must for campers and residents alike. Be sure to review these tips to keep your campfire from becoming a wildfire.

We’re so grateful to be able to call the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina our home. Our residents at The Divide are able to explore the natural rugged terrain and dive head first into all this landscape has to offer. We’re especially thankful for our Friends of Panthertown, a nearby conservation group, for their dedication to keeping this land the breathtaking oasis that it is. They can’t do it alone, though.

In order to keep the land clean, conserved, and safe for everyone, the Friends of Panthertown, in conjunction with the National Parks Service, organize Trail Work Days throughout the summer. These workdays are designed to open up the trail system to local volunteers for general clearing and maintenance. All ages are welcome (and appreciated!) and no previous trail work experience is necessary. Local residents love this opportunity to both give back to the local community while having a little fun doing it. All Trail Work Days include a complimentary 5-mile trail hike for any and all volunteers and it is encouraged to bring water, snacks, and a light lunch to enjoy between projects. It also offers the unique experience of switching up the way in which you explore the local landscape. An added bonus? You’ll meet other locals passionate about conservation.  

As we wind down from the majority of work on the trails, the final Trail Work Day is scheduled for August 31. Interested volunteers can contact the executive director of the Friends of Pantertown, Jason Kimenker, at friends@panthertown.org or call 828-269-4453.

A home at The Divide at Bald Rock offers so many unique experience opportunities to its residents. Don’t miss out on all the remarkable amenities we have to offer. Contact our main office today: 800-228-0431.