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In this episode I sit down with South Yellow Mountain Preserve manager Park Greer to share the full, behind-the-scenes story: the surprise Earth Day donation, the eight months of deed work and surveying across a 33-mile boundary, and the careful plan that turned a generous transfer into a resilient, living landscape.

Park brings a rare mix of park ranger experience and land surveying chops, and it shows. He walks us through the amphibolite bedrock that fuels calcium-rich soils and exceptional biodiversity, then threads that geology into the mining legacy of Spruce Pine—mica, feldspar, and world-class quartz. From rare plants like Gray’s lily and Roan Mountain bluet to a closely monitored peregrine falcon site, we talk about how data, training, and seasonal protections guide every decision, down to when and where people can visit.

We also dig into the human side of stewardship: school groups that put down their phones and pick up field guides, citizen scientists mapping species with iNaturalist, and volunteers hauling out legacy trash from old mine dumps. You’ll hear how invasive species removal, pollinator habitat plans, and watershed protection keep clean water flowing to Spruce Pine’s reservoir and downstream wells. And you’ll see why guided access, local partnerships, and humble storytelling create ambassadors who carry the work beyond any boundary line.

If you care about Appalachia, clean water, wildlife corridors, and conservation that honors history as much as habitat, this story delivers both heart and detail. 

Mike Andress
Host, Exploration Local
828-551-9065
[email protected]

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