Nonprofit organizations throughout Asheville and the surrounding area nourish the people within our communities, caring for those in need, protecting our historic heritage, educating young and old, and nurturing our cultural soul. Each month, The Laurel is bringing to our readers some of the stories behind these agencies. This month, the “spotlight” is on GreenWorks.

Streets without litter, buildings bearing no graffiti, flowers in the traffic islands, and the trees—trees everywhere in urban settings. The work done by the volunteers of Asheville GreenWorks sometimes goes unnoticed, but never unappreciated, even if only subconsciously.

The organization began in the mid- 1970s when three local couples traveled to Switzerland and marveled at the beauty and cleanliness they encountered there. They decided to strive for the same thing upon their return to Asheville. Thus was born Quality ’76, a grassroots effort to clean up and beautify the City of Asheville in time for the nation’s bicentennial.

The results empowered the volunteers who didn’t want to stop once the celebration was over, and so the program continued as Quality Forward until it changed three years ago into Asheville GreenWorks. The new name coincided with the organization’s move into new headquarters in the River Arts District.

“I was here almost from the beginning,” says Susan Roderick, GreenWorks’ executive director. “I started planting trees and never stopped.”

GreenWorks now has more than 900 members and 1,000+ volunteers involved in community projects that help make Asheville and Buncombe County a more beautiful place to live and to visit. To do this, there are several different programs.

There is “Adopt-A-Street” in which families, churches, and businesses assume responsibility for picking up litter along a designated stretch of roadway. “We ask that they do this approximately six times a year,” says Susan.

Graffiti is another problem vexing business owners and others. GreenWorks has a program in which it will loan people a bucket filled with the tools necessary to remove the unsightly graffiti. “Or,” adds Susan, “we will help them do it if they can’t do it by themselves.”

Litter is another problem that Susan attributes to a “stadium mentality” in which people simply mess things up fully expecting someone else to clean up after them.

GreenWorks also sponsors several “green” programs in which trees, shrubs, and flowers are planted (and maintained) by the organization. “A lot of street corners have become a ‘no-man’s-land’ and we go in with a crew of volunteers and remove invasive plants and plant native materials.” In a sense, GreenWorks adopts an area and assumes responsibility for it if the city, county, or local businesses don’t (or can’t) step up.

“If anybody ... suggests a neighborhood beautification project and they don’t have the money to get it started, we’ll give a ‘seed’ grant and advice to get them started,” explains Susan.

“We’ve painted rusted chain- link fencing, planted climbing roses to cover concertina wire, and we’ve planted trees, lots and lots of trees,” she says. Susan estimates the organization is responsible for the planting of more than 3,000 trees since its inception in 1975. “Trees are our main thing,” she says, adding it makes her feel good when she sees trees thriving and growing that she helped plant decades ago.

GreenWorks has a Memorial Tree program in which a tree will be planted in honor of an individual living or deceased. They also produce a Walking Guide pamphlet (there’s an interactive version on their website) that highlights a variety of simple walking trips to help people explore such places as the Urban Trail, Lake Louise, The Botanical Gardens, Lake Tomahawk, Swannanoa River, Warren Wilson College Trails, and many others.

“The map is designed so it can easily be placed in a pocket or the glove compartment of your car,” says Susan. “So when you are driving your out-of-town guests around and showing them our region, you’ll have plenty of great ideas of places to see.”

GreenWorks gets its financial support through memberships, individual and corporate donations, and grants. Both the City of Asheville and Buncombe County are supportive of the program both through grants and staff support. There’s also the organization’s Green Goods Store where you can buy rain barrels and composters.

Anne Higgins, owner of Higgins Horticultural Services in Asheville, is one of GreenWorks’ newest board members. So why did she agree to serve on the board? “Making things greener and more beautiful,” answers Anne, adding since it’s what she does in her daily business, an organization devoted to it was a “perfect fit.”

Want to help with tree planting, cleanups, and neighborhood beautification? GreenWorks is always looking for volunteers. Give it a try. I think the experience will grow on you.

For more information about Asheville GreenWorks (including volunteering, contributing money and materials, and becoming a member), visit them at 357 Depot Street, online at ashevillegreenworks.org, or by phone at 828.254.1776.