Saving Seven Acres In Saluda

Seven acres in the heart of Saluda could have turned into another development, but one community chose a different future and then did the hard work to pay for it. We sit down with Cheryl Spencer, chair of the Keep Saluda Green campaign, to unpack how the Saluda Community Land Trust went from “we don’t have any money” to securing the land and launching a new public park vision that keeps green space in the middle of town.Along the way, we talk candidly about what real fundraising looks like: building a case for support, hearing “no,” and pushing through the momentum lull that hits in the middle of a campaign. Cheryl shares the turning point when a simple video reached Saluda’s summer residents and contributions started pouring in, ultimately raising more than $200,000 and unlocking possibilities like benches, improved trailheads, and plans for a more accessible trail for people with mobility issues.We also connect conservation to everyday life in Western North Carolina, including the steady Henderson County real estate market and the reason so many people want to live here in the first place. Cheryl highlights farm preservation efforts that protect rural character in Polk County, plus the opening of Henry’s Nature Center in partnership with Conserving Carolina, where trails, gardens, and school visits turn land stewardship into something kids can feel in their bodies and remember for life.If you care about land conservation, community parks, accessible trails, and protecting the places that make our hometowns worth calling home, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find these local stories.