http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog the unofficial real estate guide for the north carolina high country Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:51:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Dirtfeedhttp://feedburner.google.com All of you know Stillwater Dwellings. This new company is indeed very busy these days with an array of orders. They have recently completed their first prefab home in Bend, Oregon. This home was built using the sd231 floor plan and includes 2,950 square feet of space. This house contains ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/12VUTjoCa5E" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/12VUTjoCa5E/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/a-beautiful-bend-oregon-green-prefab/ The Renewable Energy Initiative of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC is holding its official ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. for the 100KW wind turbine successfully installed at the university-owned Broyhill Inn & Conference Center. The project, installed by Alteris Renewables, was completed this past summer. The ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/yjiR3wAFYI8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/yjiR3wAFYI8/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/asu-to-cut-ribbon-on-wind-turbine/ Citizens Take Part in Visioning Workshop for County Ag Plan Story by Anna Oakes About 50 people participated in lively discussions about farming in Watauga County at a community visioning workshop held October 29 at the Watauga County Administration Building. The Watauga County Soil and Water Conservation District hosted the workshop to ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/gLlm0v-dRXc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/gLlm0v-dRXc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/11/05/watauga%e2%80%99s-future-in-farming/ From Käsch: The Overflow bathtub series is designed in such a way that overflowing water is directed back into the tub which gives the bath the appearance of a natural waterhole. The concept resulted from the wish to combine the aesthetics of nature with the cultic character of bathing, and to ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/kiUFs_VZK_8" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/kiUFs_VZK_8/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/10/05/overflow-bathtubs-from-kasch/ Watauga Co. Tourism Development: Outdoor Recreation Video from Matt Powell on Vimeo.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/B-UYdawJFI0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/B-UYdawJFI0/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/10/03/come-out-and-play-in-the-high-country/ Story & Photo by Sam Calhoun Since 2005, a flare of methane gas has been burning at the Watauga County Landfill as a glowing reminder of the potential energy that could be harvested if the current collection system was hooked into a custom energy converter. But the flare does not burn in ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/ROlmA2Pa1qY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/ROlmA2Pa1qY/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/25/watauga-county-edges-closer-to-implementing-landfill-gas-to-energy-project/ Posted by Davezilla 1. Baroque = Broken 2. Casual Living = Your neighbors have a refrigerator on their front lawn 3. Charming = Corners don’t line up. Sagging porch. 4. Country Living = Your street will never see a snow plow. 5. Cozy = Cramped 6. Diverse Wildlife = Raccoons will raid your garbage. Bats ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/J-58KkZ41Jw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/J-58KkZ41Jw/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/23/how-to-read-a-real-estate-ad/ Check out Charleston Forge online Browse their online catalog<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/VXW86Rt5aMc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/VXW86Rt5aMc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/featured-business-charleston-forge/ By: Scott Nicholson Three appraisers involved in county purchases of property assembled for the new high school tract had their licenses suspended by a state board. The North Carolina Appraisal Board's August bulletin announced the disciplinary actions against Hope W. Teaster, Pattie J. Tennille and David R. Roberts. According to the bulletin and ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/IGnZi46bWE4" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/IGnZi46bWE4/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/appraisers-suspended-over-county-land-deal/ By: Scott Nicholson The Watauga County Board of Commissioners gave the go-ahead for a gas-to-electricity project at the former county landfill Tuesday night. More from the Watauga Democrat<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/sTfAvHfxU2Q" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/sTfAvHfxU2Q/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/county-landfill-to-create-electricity/ Story by Celeste von Mangan Water heating in your home uses a large portion of electricity and is preceded in energy consumption only by air heating and cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a solar water heating system in conjunction with a backup electric heater can cut ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/y4p_7bu2TPk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/y4p_7bu2TPk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/18/blue-ridge-electric-offers-solar-water-heating-rebate-program/ Early Registration for NAHB’s Certified Green Professional Courses Ends September 18 Story by Sam Calhoun Face it—if you are builder and don’t have a plan to go green soon, you are way behind the pack. Green is definitely the buzzword these days, especially in regards to building, as homebuyers are now more ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/GkcHmKQ3K9M" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/GkcHmKQ3K9M/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/09/11/attention-builders%e2%80%94last-opportunity-to-earn-cgp-designation-coming-this-fall/ Last year, High Country Press introduced readers to High Country Green Boxes’ DwellBox, the first permanent inter-modal steel building unit (ISBU) residential home in North Carolina. The brainchild of local entrepreneurs and partners Casey Pond, Ethan Anderson and Jeffrey Scott—collectively known as High Country Green Boxes LLC—the DwellBox certainly struck ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/wq9C7H7GgPk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/wq9C7H7GgPk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/27/first-isbu-in-north-carolina-matures/ Find a spot in the high country and be the first to have this Ger stilt camper/house for an awesome Appstate Football get away. I guess a kid never really grows up. Editor More from Trendir<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/r04mJxQwVDA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/r04mJxQwVDA/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/cool-stilt-house/ It is a waterfall faucet that will fit on top of a concrete or solid stone basin to underline its solidity.  Hand-made of solid stainless steel, this latest version of Steel-55 is enhanced with a better water flow control and is refined with a more ergonomic lever design. Balance the new ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/vu-CTO9KOVU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/vu-CTO9KOVU/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/industrial-style-bathroom-by-balance/ The High Country Association of Realtors released statistics on Tuesday, August 11, for residential homes sold through the end of July. When compared with earlier months this year, the numbers indicate a gradual improvement in residential sales in the area, as well as in the median sold price of residential ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/9sHtQ_PdYBM" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/9sHtQ_PdYBM/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/area-real-estate-numbers-improving/ Solar Insect Zappers Small Inexpensive Wind Turbine – Air Breeze by Southwest Windpower Solar Motion Sensing Security Light Solar Powered Lights from Ikea - Indoor and Outdoor Off Light Switch / Coat hook $12 More info: amronexperimental.com<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/Qvy7IEfm-DU" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/Qvy7IEfm-DU/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/24/cheap-sustainable-products-for-your-home/ Update: Green Park Inn sold in courthouse sale Thursday evening’s auction of the historic Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock didn’t go the way its owner, Ronnie Wrenn, and the auctioneers hoped it would. Auctioneer Mark Rogers started the bidding at $5 million for the century-old resort hotel and the 3.8 acres ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/1M0flcSNL_U" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/1M0flcSNL_U/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/21/green-park-inn-auction-up-to-12-million/ Heavenly Mountain to become sustainability center by: Scott Nicholson— Development of a 2,000-acre property in that once was planned as a spiritual retreat is shifting toward sustainability and affordable renewable technology. David Kaplan, along with his brother Earl Kaplan, are planning an advanced development that uses latest research to combine solar ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/R5gNrqQpflI" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/R5gNrqQpflI/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/20/kaplan-plans-advanced-green-development/ The Boone Town Council may decide on two rezoning requests at its regular monthly meeting Thursday. Click here for more from the Watauga Democrat View Larger Map<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/bObah-PQkxk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/bObah-PQkxk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/19/zoning-debate-for-delmar-whitner-residences/ by Bob Hunt - Tue, Aug 18, 2009—Like politics, all real estate is local. This is drummed into us time and time again. You hardly ever see a report ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/8aARFSuemgA" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/8aARFSuemgA/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/18/new-appraisal-rules-are-causing-problems/ The 54th annual Farm City Celebration, held on Saturday, recognized some of the key contributors to local agriculture, part of an afternoon focusing on local crops, produce, livestock, and the people who share them with the community. Dick Hearn, who served on the organizing committee, read from a proclamation adopted ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/ndJDzyMSo1o" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/ndJDzyMSo1o/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/18/local-farmers-recognized/ The Lofted Forest Home is one that defies categorization. It cannot be called strictly modern, traditional, or naturalistic. Rover Harvey Oshatz did not have a particular style in mind when he designed the home, but instead focused on a source of inspiration from the owner. Click here to read ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/OMtFQ1wzzWw" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/OMtFQ1wzzWw/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/14/cool-lofted-forest-home/ Watauga County Habitat for Humanity announces the completion of a new reclamation center building, ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/jsamJKVUFe0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/jsamJKVUFe0/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/14/reclamation-center-complete/ The Board of Trustees for the Mariam and Robert Hayes Performing Arts Center announced Tuesday that it would be suspending all operations at the center immediately after the closing of the Blowing Rock Stage Company Production of the musical biography Hank Williams: Lost Highway. That production is scheduled to end ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/pFkQVMecG0U" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/pFkQVMecG0U/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/14/hayes-center-suspending-operations/ Eric Woolridge, AICP, was hired in the middle of March this year as the senior outdoor recreation planner for Watauga County Tourism Development Authority (WCTDA), and he has already begun the groundwork for increasing outdoor recreation opportunities in the Boone area. “Our goal is to be one of the top recreation ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/uAmd_4BjDcc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/uAmd_4BjDcc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/07/mission-make-watauga-county-top-recreation-destination-in-east/ Diamond Creek is peacefully nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Banner Elk, North Carolina where a population of fewer than 1,000 residents enjoy an elevation of over 4,000 feet providing a perfect summer climate. John L. McNeely and H. Wayne Huizenga’s idea to create a unique and unrivaled golf ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/phieaEhv1sc" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/phieaEhv1sc/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/07/diamond-creek-has-a-new-website/ Outside magazine has named Boone one of the best U.S. small towns of 2009. In an online article, the magazine describes Boone: "While the winding country roads are still a road cyclist's dream, that's just part of the recreational picture: Within minutes you can be rock climbing, peak bagging, whitewater ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/yCF54Fmx5k0" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/yCF54Fmx5k0/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/08/07/boone-included-in-mags-top-small-town-list/ After three successful years, Artisanal has relocated to Diamond Creek Golf Club and are opening tonight.   This was the restaurant Bill Greene always dreamed of. Specializing in day boat fish from Hawaii to Maine, the menu focuses on seasonality and creativity. Chef Bill's main focus is for the guest to ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/oAs2Q-iqByY" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/oAs2Q-iqByY/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/05/22/artisanal-reopens-at-diamond-creek-in-banner-elk/ AIRE Executive Director Steve Owen stands on the roof of The Greenhouse, next to the newly installed solar panels. Photo by Owen Gray Installation of Boone’s First Community Owned Solar Project Complete Story by Owen Gray AIRE Executive Director Steve Owen stands on the roof of The Greenhouse, next to the newly installed ...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~4/jIocf-ng2nk" height="1" width="1"/> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Dirtfeed/~3/jIocf-ng2nk/ http://highcountrydirt.com/dirt.blog/2009/05/04/boone%e2%80%99s-solar-system/