In the second of two stories celebrating the beginning of sea turtle nesting season in May, we take a look at how the NEST volunteer group is helping endangered sea turtles’ chances of survival and inspiring kids to care for the ocean.
Our Coast
In Celebration of Turtle Time
In the first of two stories about the beginning of turtle-nesting season next month, we look at the successful efforts at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area to control predators of sea turtle eggs.
Our Coast’s Food: Collards
Snooty food encyclopedias may consider this Southern staple to be similar to kale. But Tar Heels know better. Stewed slowly with hamhocks and a dash or two of Tobasco…. well, “mmm, mmm, mmm,” as Bob Garner might say.
Could Hatteras Be America’s First Colony?
Jamestown Virginia is the site of the first permanent English colony in the New World. Or is it? Recent archaeological findings could give that honor to Hatteras Island, and change history.
A Humdinger Winter for Hummers
The number of hummingbirds wintering in North Carolina is dramatically increasing. These hummers seem to prefer coastal North Carolina where the Gulf Stream keeps temperatures warmer.
Salt: The Coast’s Great Equalizer
It’s in our our blood, part of our very being. It connects us to our watery past. Here, on the edge of the sea, life adapts to it or perishes.
The Greening of Wilmington
Since 1925, the Cape Fear Garden Club has worked to make the city a prettier place. Its Azalea Festival provides the money for the club’s generous grant program to support education, beautification and stewardship.
The Scotch Bonnet’s 50th Anniversary
North Carolina was the first state to declare an official state shell 50 years ago this year. The elusive Scotch bonnet is, however, a rare find for beachcombers.
Our Coast’s Food: Fishermen’s Favorites
Tired of flounder and grilled mahi? Try the fish that fishermen and chefs prefer: bluefish, mackerel, sheepshead, mullet and croaker. We offer some recipes and cooking tips so you, too, can be an old salt.
The Mail Boat Aleta: Ocracoke’s Lifeline
Before email, before Instagram, mail to and from the islands of our coast went by boat. This is the story of one of those boats, the Aleta, which for almost 20 years was Ocracoke’s connection to the rest of the world.
The Bear Lady: Her Life and Mysterious Death
They called Kay Grayson the “Bear Lady” because of her passion for feeding and protecting bears near her home in Tyrrell County. While it appears a bear may have dragged the remains of her body into the woods, the cause of her death remains unknown.
Our Coast’s Food: Banana Pudding
Here’s a recipe for old-fashioned banana pudding. The soft, sweet custard full of banana flavor melts its typical Nilla Wafer crust as quickly as it does Southerners’ hearts.
Coastal Sketch: Colonel Kevin Landers
He takes over the command of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Wilmington District at a time when federal money for dredging the state’s shallow inlets is becoming increasingly harder to come by.
The Neusiok Trail — At a Jogger’s Pace
Naturalist Sam Bland spent a cold winter’s day jogging the entire 21-mile length of the trail. He sloshed through mud and cold water and was spooked by something big moving through the woods.
Coastal Sketch: Don Ensley
Meet the first board president of the N.C. Coastal Federation. His passion for community activism led the successful battle against peat mining in Eastern North Carolina.
Our Coast’s Food: Classic Pimento Cheese
Or “pamena” cheese, as true Southerners might say. The recipe has gotten downright uppity at some restaurants, but this one is a true N.C. classic.
