Wild Connections: Documentary film fest Wednesday at Pisgah Brewing honors outdoors

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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wild_connections_ashvegas_2015By Benjamin Colvin, Development Director, Wild South

Pisgah Brewing continues to celebrate this milestone year by teaming up to support our wild places and wild things! Wild Connections is a collaboration between Wild South, Ashvegas, Warren Wilson College Department of Environmental Studies and Pisgah Brewing Company. We want to connect people to our places here in Western North Carolina – specifically our rich diverse ecosystems and the native wildlife that inhabit them.

Warren Wilson students have taken on projects to explore and research five ecosystems (high elevation spruce-fir forests, mountain bogs, rich cove forests, grassy balds and the Hickory Nut Gorge) and to teach people to enjoy, value and protect these wild places through a series of essays published here and 5- to 7 -minute documentary films that highlight Bog Turtles, Carolina Flying Squirrels and more to be screened on Wednesday, May 13. Also Wednesday, Pisgah will announce a series of beers this year to honor each of these ecosystems, starting with the “Bog Turtle Dark Red Ale.” Here’s more about the event:

Wild Connections Documentary Film Festival

Wednesday May 13 from 630-8 p.m. at Pisgah Brewing Company

Join us on May 13th and get inspired!

This kind of collaboration inspires me – and I am continually impressed with one of the key players, Pisgah Brewing Company. Back in 2005, Wild South had yet to merge with our sister group in Alabama and were still called The Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project (SABP). French Broad Brewing Company offered to donate beer for a SABP event and Jason Caughman, one of Pisgah’s founders, stood up and said “I’ll donate some too!”…and the rest is history.

“I love what Pisgah has brought to the region – great beer, an exemplary environmental ethic and a charitable heart.” –Tracy Davids, former Wild South executive director.

Pisgah began a partnership to support public lands and native wildlife protection. They began donating beer for all SABP/Wild South events and crafting the Hellbender Barleywine with the group logo on the bottles that were sold as an annual fundraiser -and Jason served on the Wild South board for three years. After the tasting room expanded, SABP/Wild South events were hosted in the space and when the outdoor stage took shape, Wild South began to take part in concerts with Pisgah as a partner to raise funding and awareness for the cause. Since 2011, Wild South has hosted Lucinda Williams, Maceo Parker, Keller and the Travelin McCourys. On June 6, Pisgah and Wild South will host Jason Isbell on the outdoor stage!

Looking at where Pisgah stands in 2015, it’s stronger than ever, and continues to be a major leader in our region. Owner Dave Quinn stands strong in his love for the outdoors and his passion to protect our waters, woods and wildlife. Benton Wharton, Gaines Meyer, and the Pisgah staff are visible and vocal supporters for community groups all over the region, showing us all how they are true partners and players in our region.

From all of us: Thank you Pisgah for TEN years of friendship, support, trust and leadership… and here’s to ten more!

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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2 Comments

  1. Pisgah Brewing Company May 12, 2015

    We want to send a tremendous thanks to Ben Colvin and all of our friends at Wild South for continuing to partner with us and for all of the amazing work that they do both here at home and across the South. We are thrilled to be able to share their vision and plan to continue on together for many many years to come!

    Love,
    The Pisgah Brewing Co. staff

    Reply
    1. Jason Sandford May 14, 2015

      Thank you, Pisgah Brewing!

      Reply

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