OUTER BANKS GREEN DRINKS - NC COASTAL FEDERATION PELICAN AWARD 

Here we are in September, we usually begin our social mingles this month.

A lot has happened since we last met, so here is a rundown of what we have been up to.

When the stay at home orders came into effect in mid-March, we cancelled our March and April mingles. By mid-May, it was evident that getting together was not going to be possible even as the state released social distancing guidelines under Phase Two.  Most of you know it has been a challenge and we applaud the perseverance of our community.

On June 10, 2020 we were contacted by Leslie Vegas of the North Carolina Coastal Federation congratulating us on being selected to receive the Pelican Award for our collaboration in educating the community about coastal environment protection efforts. Wave Riders Coffee, Deli & Pub was also included in the OBX Green Drinks recognition. Our virtual ceremony on August 6, 2020 was very nice and we were thrilled to be in the accomplished company of those who received this year’s award. This recognition also goes out to you all. We appreciate the attendance and participation of so many amazing scientists, educators and concerned citizens that make up OBXGD. We are stronger together and can be a voice for our environment in the community and beyond.

We hope that the future will bring positive advancements and that all of you remain happy, healthy, and well-grounded in your continuing efforts to recognize that we all have a voice and can make a difference.

As this pandemic continues to affect our lives, we welcome any suggestions on the interest to meet virtually or at an outdoor venue where we can socially distance safely.  

Warmest Regards,

Outer Banks Green Drinks

April and May 2020 OBX Green Drinks cancelled.

April and May Mingles are cancelled in compliance with COVID-19 protocol. Although we are a remote community, we too are affected by this unprecedented global pandemic known as Coronavirus or Covid-19. 

On March 17th, community leaders in response to state and federal guidelines and executive orders, closed restaurants, bars and access to the Outer Banks was restricted.

March 30th, the Governor of North Carolina issued a state wide executive order "Stay at Home - Stay Healthy " order through April 29 that was later extended to May 8th.  The Dare County Control Group extended that order to May 22nd on April 22nd.

We are hoping that we can return to gather once again in September.  Until then please stay well, stay positive, mindful, and kind.

 

March 2020 - Stormwater/Wastewater Management - Solutions for the Future phot

Photo courtesy of Town of Nags Head 

Life on this sandbar that we call home is truly special, but how do we ensure we’re protecting its future? Join us on March 11 as we hear from the Town of Nags Head about how they are developing and implementing solutions that address the dynamic nature of our coastal environment.

Engineer David Ryan and Engineering Technician Kate Jones will focus on Low Impact Development (LID) techniques and innovative drainage solutions the Town has implemented over the last several years in addition to discussing Nags Head’s Todd D. Krafft Septic Health Initiative, a program offered to property owners that works to protect water quality through sound septic system maintenance.

Join us to learn how, as a community, we can work now to protect our precious sandbar for future generations.  

February 2020 - Understanding CBD OIL

Guest Speaker: Austin Brockway – Owner of A & O Organics and Natural Selections Apothecary

While CBD oil has yielded positive results for many, this product has elicited a lot of questions too. Hopefully through discussion and testimony we can clarify a few things so you feel more comfortable understanding what the hype is all about and what to watch out for.

What is CBD Oil?
CBD (cannabidiol) is the healing compound found in the hemp plant. Hemp plants, unlike their cousin marijuana, contain very little to no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the psychoactive compound responsible for the high experienced with marijuana use. In CBD oil, there are low numbers of THC (less than 0.3%) and higher numbers of CBD. This is what makes this oil so special.

You may remember Austin from our Secotan Farmers Market – pop-up market and presentation in November. She will have a supply of balms, oils, and tinctures for you to try and purchase.

January 2020 - Water Quality - Citizen Science - A Case History

Photo Credit: Dave Clark 

Guest Speaker: Don Williams, PhD 

We are very excited to have Don Williams as our Guest Speaker for January.  Don is a retired chemist who is currently president, water quality committee co-chair, and delegate to the Watershed Action Alliance (WAA) of the Herring Ponds Watershed Association (HPWA) in Massachusetts. This watershed comprises 11 ponds and the majority of the Herring River Watershed.  Don and his wife Geri live in Nags Head during the winter and can be seen volunteering with Donny King ( Better Beaches OBX) sprigging the dunes, as well as birding at Pea Island and attending Green Drinks to mention a few of their favorite local activities. 

December 2019 - APES and Oysters

Photo courtesy of NC Sea Grant /NCSU - Anna Widdle & Sara Poulin

The Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System (APES) drains 28,000 square miles of land via six river basins that extend over 43 counties in North Carolina and 38 counties in Virginia. This estuarine system is an abundantly productive habitat, but is increasingly affected by the impacts of human population growth along our coastal plain.

Michael Flynn, Coastal Advocate, will profile the ecology of the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System and highlight local projects that were constructed by the NC Coastal Federation and partners to improve water quality and estuarine habitats.

Leslie Vegas, Coastal Specialist, will provide an overview of the recently published 2018 State of the Oyster Report, which aims to track the work carried out by all stakeholders involved in implementing the Oyster Restoration and Protection Plan: A Blueprint for Action 2015-2020.

For more information, please visit nccoast.org and ncoysters.org.

November 2019 - Secotan Farmers Market Comes to Green Drinks

Secotan Market is a producer-only farmers market in Wanchese that opened in May 2018. This growing group of makers have come together with a common vision—to share the joys of food and goods grown and made with their own hands. The market's mission is to connect people with the source of their sustenance and to build a community where folks can support and learn from one another. Come to hear how this unique market came to be, meet some of its producers, sample products and learn how to get involved.

Offerings include seasonal, sustainably-grown vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, cuts flower and nuts; pasture-raised eggs, chicken, pork, lamb and beef; raw honey; fresh baked breads, pies and pastries; fermented and pickled foods; jams, jellies and preserves; herbal and body care products; fresh cut flowers; and a rotation of artisans .

Additional market vendors to attend are:

A and O Organics 

Heavenly Portion Family Farms 

Hay Point Live Culture Foods
Somerset Farms

October 2019 - Citizen Science for our Coastal Community

CoastSNAP - Citizen Science Effort to Document Coastal Change Using Smart Phones

Drs. Ian Conery and Kate Brodie from the US Army Corp of Engineers Duck Field Research Facility have teamed up with Dr. Mitch Harley from the University of New South Wales in Australia and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) to deploy the first CoastSnap stations in the U.S. on North Carolina's Outer Banks. They'll let us know how we can contribute to this  innovative citizen science community beach monitoring system designed to use smart phone cameras to capture and measure our dynamic coastline.

www.facebook.com/coastsnap

iFlood - Citizen Science Project to Improve our Understanding of Coastal Flooding during Extreme Storms

Britt Raubenheimer (Senior Scientist), Rachel Housego (WHOI/MIT PhD student), Steve Elgar (Senior Scientist), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have partnered with the towns of Duck and Nags Head to improve predictions of flooding associated with interactions between coastal groundwater, waves, storm surge, and precipitation using a model-developed with multi-year measurements at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck, NC. To expand and validate the flooding model for the Outer Banks region, we developed a phone application, iFlood, that enables residents to send photos and reports about flooding in their area.