Dateline Asheville, North Carolina, June, 2009
News and Views from Asheville's Greenolina, Real Estate Eco-Steward 
THREE CREEKS, CASCADES AND WATERFALLS-
Take a deep breath and imagine yourself inspired by this waterfall.
That's what happened for us on our recent picnic and photo shoot at Three Creeks Preserve. Here we discovered a conservation neighborhood beyond compare.
Less than an hour from Asheville, NC., and just 4 miles from Lake Lure, NC, we also discovered the secret to eco-friendly living at Three Creeks Preserve.
We had checked our map (see graphic) and headed out in high anticipation.
We had heard amazing reports on the Three Creeks conservation neighborhood, one of John and Marilyn Nelson's nature-oriented developments. We had earlier visited (and loved) Creston Eco-community, so were expecting amazing things.
"Our philosophy at Creston and at Three Creeks is quite simple," John Nelson, had told me. "We believe in setting aside equal shares of land for people and for nature in a community that offers the benefits of carefully planned land use. We believe this development philosophy is a sound business model that fairly balances competing interests while insuring that present and future generations can continue to enjoy the natural beauty that attracts people to our mountain region.
In terms of Creston, it's wonderful to be able to permanently protect these lands in conjunction with the Foothills Conservancy and to help protect these mountains' waters, forests and beauty forever."
As real estate professionals, always with an eye out for a special find in the Asheville area, we especially like to visit eco communities so that we can tell our clients about building sites along a creek, beside a meadow, in the forest ,or on a hilltop. Three Creeks turned out to be unique among such communities. Established in 1994, it exudes an aura of subtle elegance inspired by nature.
Before we headed out, we also checked out the Three Creeks Community web site. We learned that this eco development "offers a retreat-like setting for families. Abundant water sources, prominent waterfalls, meadows, forest, swimming pond, trout fishing, trails and a community cabin."
"It's conceptual uniqueness derives from deeding 70% of the land to the owners as common land which cannot be developed. The protected land encompasses waterfalls, trails and other outstanding or environmentally sensitive areas."
Arriving for our picnic and photo we meandered up the paved drive (see photo ) and into the woods drawn by the alluring sound of a distant waterfall. I said to my companion, " To live here must certainly be what aiming high is all about!" 
We took a foot bridge and connected to a trail system that winds from the eco community to about 278 acres of diverse terrain and up to the scenic mountain overlook. AWESOME! No wonder there are only a very few building sites remaining here.
This is a place where people can choose to live among caring neighbors, sharing their inspiration and enthusiasm,.Here is a sustainable community that could power the homes by unleashing the renewable energy inherent in the land, the water, the wind and the sun, and a thoughtfully-planned neighborhood.
Here I can see green-built homes designed with natural, non-toxic materials to be safe, healthy, and energy efficient, built to the highest green building standards.
I can see myself building my very own green-built dream home at Three Creeks Eco-community whose very foundation rests on maintaining a healthy, diverse ecosystem. How about you?
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(*)/'(*) .......... ............to keep on rolling into the sustainable world you can create today and tomorrow!. ......................... .............with OBJECTIVE FIDUCIARY COUNSEL.
ECO STEWARDS' LEARNING TOURS.Serving Asheville's First Time and Relocation LAND and Home Buyers.
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An ideal community might have only 19 or 20 homesites on good-sized (3+acre) lots and be carved thoughtfully into a larger parcel-say of 250 acres or so that could not be developed and would stay forever wild. The protected land would encompass the waterfalls, trails and other outstanding or environmentally sensitive areas. That common land would invite homeowners to be part of a pristine mountain environment simply by taking a walk. 
