A local, organic, woman veteran-owned business serving WNC and beyond
Because trees need love, too.
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Raven is now certified by NC State University in Streambank Repair!
Invasives choking out your trees? We advocate non-chemical removal, because we love bees as much as we love trees. We offer onsite removal of invasive plants and refer arborists, as needed, to ensure your trees get the best care possible. We offer mulching after removal, as well as planting of native plants to help reclaim the land. The native plants we install are specially selected based on several factors, including their benefits to wildlife. We care about our pollinators and the wildlife who share the land.
Interested in doing the work yourself? We'll come out and share everything we've learned about removing invasives safely from your trees and other plants. Contact Raven today for details.
- Invasive plant removal
- Invasive plant management
- Soil Testing
- Soil Revitalization
- Planting of native, beneficial plants
- Hydroseeding
- Mulching
- Landscaping services
- Streambank Repair
- Invasive plant management consulting
A member of Haw Creek Heights HOA had this to say about Raven:
"Your crew was here today to help the common area of my homeowners' association which had long been neglected.
The work that you and your crew accomplished was beyond transformative!
Not only does the common area look more vibrant, peaceful and beautiful than it ever has, the many trees you had freed of choking and insidious vines will now have a chance to thrive and live the healthy lives they deserve.
Your crew members were thorough, efficient, quiet and conscientious.
As a homeowner in this community, I could not have asked for a better experience.
Many times, service providers will come to the HOA and create so much head-splitting noise and disruption to daily life that I find myself just praying for them to leave!
I found myself appreciating the presence of your crew for every minute they were working on the common area. I could see the invasive growth getting pulled out from the ground and removed from the trees.
You have beautified my community and given life and hope back to the majestic trees.
I am indebted and supremely grateful."
Rave(n) Reviews
Rave(n) Reviews
Rave(n) Reviews
Raven has 33 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ reviews on Google!
Click here to see what our clients are "Raven" about.
"I was thrilled to find a local company doing non-chemical removal of invasive plants. We have a wooded 2 acres that was being overrun with multiflora rose, bittersweet, porcelainberry and others. Raven's team made huge progress over the course of a couple days. The amount of debris they removed was a testament to the hard work, and we are thrilled that our trees, ferns and native plants will have space to flourish again. We will 100% continue working with Raven as we care for our little slice of North Asheville." -Jeff
"I just returned from a trip, and want to say that we're so pleased with the job you're doing. I can almost feel the trees breathing a sigh of relief!" -Scott
"Raven brought a crew down from Asheville to my home in Greenville, and over a day they transformed my wooded mess of an area into a beautiful space. I really appreciated her taking the time to educate me on some of the invasive species that are overrunning my property, and the care she takes not to cause any harm to the beneficial plants and insects. There was more work to be done than could be completed in a day, and I will definitely be contacting her again for future work and maintenance of the area. Thank you Raven and thanks to your crew for an amazing job!" -Ashley
"We had tons of poison ivy growing in our front flower bed and starting to spread into the grass. We called several companies and no one wanted to touch it. Raven came in and removed several ivy bushes, all the runners from the grass, as well as other non-natives from the flower bed over a couple of days. Pricing was fair and she was forthright about how long she thought it would take. She was professional and communicative. I can't wait to have her back to clean up some of our other flower beds and swale area. I highly recommend her service." -Adel
Diane S. from Kenilworth
"I just had help from Raven and her crew of hard workers from Asheville Invasive Plant Removal and Landscaping. They took down the poison ivy from my plant bed. They pulled the plants by the roots. I am so pleased with the outcome. I’d highly recommend this business."
Robert S. from Albemarle Park
"What a great new specialist service! They have been excellent at responding and communicating, showing up as scheduled, and doing what was agreed upon. With an interest in learning more ways to improve methods and expand the service for greater impact in the area, they are dedicated to the cause of English ivy and Invasives removal."
Reggie G. from Biltmore Forest
"I've removed the Ivy from my trees several years ago, but keep the English Ivy as ground cover. The Ivy has been growing right back up into my trees over the last several years. Since I am not around my house in Asheville, especially in winter and spring, I hired Raven to come over and remove the Ivy from my trees. She did a much better job than I ever did in removing the Ivy from my trees. The climate warming we are experiencing is causing these invasive plants to grow faster and will damage our beautiful tress around Asheville. I highly recommend this new business for our beautiful city, to fix a growing problem. If you've got trees with Ivy growing up into them or Ivy growing up the side of your house, and you can't deal with the problem yourself, this is the business to call."
Resources
News & Community Events
News & Community Events
Resources:
Asheville's 2019 Urban Tree Canopy Study and the city's official response.
Asheville GreenWorks Treasured Trees Program:
Treasured Trees of Asheville and Buncombe County is a program of Asheville GreenWorks whose purpose is to:
- Bring public awareness to our valuable and irreplaceable trees.
- Increase tree owners' awareness of the unique importance of trees.
- Encourage stewardship of our urban forest.
- Protect all trees from indiscriminate removal or irreparable damage during development.
- Raise awareness of the diversity, sensitivity, and importance of the tree canopy. https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/treasured-trees.html
From The Workshop on Linking Ecology and Horticulture To Prevent Plant Invasions, the Saint Louis Declaration includes voluntary codes of conduct for government, nursery professionals, the gardening public (that's ALL of US,) landscape architects, and botanic gardens and arboreta, relative to non-native invasives.
https://www.fleppc.org/FNGA/St.Louis.htm
International Union for Conservation of Nature's Issues Brief: Invasive Alien Species Climate Change
Fantastic resource for homeowners from the International Society of Arboriculture: http://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/treeownerinformation
What Tree is That? A interactive tree ID field guide from Arbor Day Foundation: https://www.arborday.org/trees/whatTree/
Learn how to safely remove ivy from your trees, thanks to Tree Stewards of Arlington & Alexandria, VA: https://treestewards.org/take-ivy-off-trees/
Asheville Tree Commission's 2018 Annual Report to City Council: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A9v72lCHXgKbzzlm27gIeFC1BvWYP4W1/view
Publication: "The Benefits of Urban Trees: A Summary of the Benefits of Urban Trees Accompanied by a Selection of Research Papers and Pamphlets" by the Warwick District Council
Demonstrate your commitment to nature with National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat program.
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certify
Discover and grow native plants in your yard.
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/
Learn more about toxic pesticides and why you shouldn't use them here: https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/
NC Forest Service Invasive Plants Information:
https://www.ncforestservice.gov/forest_health/invasives.htm *Please note that while the Forestry Service recommends broad application of glyphosphate and pesticides to fight invasive plants, we DO NOT. These means are largely ineffective and unnecessarily poison our land, water and pollinators.
Create a schoolyard (or backyard) habitat for Monarchs and other pollinators.
https://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Butterfly-Heroes/Schoolyard-Monarch-Guide.pdf
Nature Play at Home, a great resource for instilling the love of nature in children, while also getting them OUTSIDE! A joint publication of National Wildlife Federation and NC State Design.
https://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Butterfly-Heroes/BH-Nature-Guide.pdf
News & Community Events
News & Community Events
News & Community Events
We love trees. We're happy to share opportunities in our communities to stand up for trees and give them the support and appreciation they deserve. Have news or an event to share? Please contact us.
National Invasive Species Awareness Week Feb 26 - Mar 3, 2024
Follow Raven for announcements and events
Read Raven's Q&A Interview with Mountain Xpress April '23
Raven was interviewed as part of Mountain Xpress' annual Sustainability Series. It's the second year in a row Raven's work was featured in the series.
https://mountainx.com/news/nonnative-not-welcome/
Raven Featured in Asheville GreenWorks' Newsletter March '23
https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/blog/tangling-with-invasive-plants
Asheville Mayor Proclaims February 20-26 Invasive Species Awareness Week
Raven Sterling, Dawn Chavez of Asheville GreenWorks, Susan Sertain with Treasured Trees and Karen MacNeil of the Montford Neighborhood Association received the proclamation, signed by Mayor Esther Manheimer, from City Council Member Sage Turner, who is also an advocate for trees. Pictured above
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Help Stop Invasive Species: Raven Invasive Plant Management Donates to Reed Creek Greenway in honor of Invasive Species Awareness Week – February 20 – February 26, 2023
Asheville, NC – What if addressing the major concerns of U.S. citizens and policymakers improved biodiversity at the same time? The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) says that including policy and legislative decisions geared toward invasive species management funding could ensure that North America’s lands and waters remain resilient in the face of climate change and other biological challenges.
Raven Invasive Plant Management, an Asheville-based business that practices mechanical removal of invasive plants, meaning they use tools, not chemicals, has announced they will invest $2800 in labor on the Reed Creek Greenway invasives clean-up project led by Montford Neighborhood Association. The MNA chose Raven Invasive Plant Management to work along the Greenway with a $5000 matching grant from the City of Asheville.
I started this work over 4 years ago to save trees and native plants. It’s an honor to be chosen by Montford Neighborhood Association to remediate a section of Reed Creek Greenway, a treasure of public land and stream in Asheville’s city limits. It provides so many benefits to people, animals, our water quality, the air we breathe…the list goes on. There are beautiful old trees along the creek in dire need of support, and I’m thrilled we can help,” said Raven. She went on to describe the myriad of invasive plants that line the greenway and what can be done, without the use of chemicals, to begin the process of healing the land. Raven is donating her crew for additional days of work beyond those covered by the matching grant. “I hope this donation and greater awareness of the plight of our trees and natural spaces due to invasive plants will encourage others to adopt a portion of the greenway for non-chemical remediation. We can do it, together.”
An international event held February 20 through February 26, 2023, the annual National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) seeks to raise awareness about invasive species, the threats they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread. Representatives from local, state, federal, and regional organizations discuss legislation, policies, and improvements that can be made to prevent and manage invasive species. Raven is a member of NAISMA, as well as the North Carolina Invasive Plant Council, and the SC Exotic Pest Plant Council.
This year, Raven, along with representatives from AshevilleGreenworks, Asheville Buncombe County Treasured Trees, and the Montford Neighborhood were instrumental in the proclamation by Mayor Esther Manheimer and Asheville City Council on February 14 that declared February 20 - 26 as Invasive Species Awareness Week in Asheville.
Raven’s work along the Reed Creek Greenway is scheduled to take place during Invasive Species Awareness Week.
The term "invasive" is used for aggressive non-native species that grow and reproduce rapidly, displace native species, and cause major disturbance to the areas in which they are present. Invasive species can cause irreversible harm to the environment and the economy, and often pose a threat to plant, animal, and human health.
“Climate change, agricultural stability, and the loss of wild places are all made worse when invasive species alter the natural balance of our waters and lands,” said Belle Bergner, director of the North American Invasive Species Management Association. “ Fortunately, there’s hope. Everyone can do something to prevent the spread of invasive species. We encourage organizations and individuals to advocate for increased capacity and financial support for invasive species prevention and management locally.”
Contact Raven Sterling, Raven Invasive Plant Management
Raven Invasive Plant Management is a local, organic, woman veteran-owned business serving WNC and beyond. No chemicals, just hard work.
Invasives choking out your trees? We advocate non-chemical removal, because we love bees as much as we love trees. We offer onsite removal of invasive plants and refer arborists as needed, to ensure your trees get the best care possible. We offer mulching after removal, as well as planting of native species to help reclaim the land. The native plants we install are specially selected based on several factors, including their benefits to wildlife. We care about our pollinators and the wildlife who share the land.
The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s mission is to support, promote, and empower invasive species prevention and management in North America. Since 1993, NAISMA has been growing programs that bridge jurisdictional and geographic divides. In addition to organizing a variety of professional development opportunities, housing the Certified Weed Free Products program, and operating the PlayCleanGo® program, NAISMA is the lead partner on NISAW. Learn more at naisma.org and nisaw.org. Raven Invasive Plant Management is a proud member of NAISMA
Raven Invasive Plant Management Donates $1000 to Asheville GreenWorks for TREES!
When I started my business last year, I made a commitment to plant a tree for every invasive plant removal project I completed. For 2019, that amounts to about 75 trees. With a desire to do more, I decided to donate aka INVEST money instead with a local nonprofit who would help it go farther.
In honor and gratitude to the many clients and contractors who cared enough about our Mother to invest in non-native invasive plants management last year, I donated $1,000 to Asheville GreenWorks for the purchase of 1,000 bare root saplings. They'll be cared for at GreenWorks' nursery for 3-4 years until they're given away to local residents and planted in Buncombe County soil. My request was for native trees that provide food for pollinators, wildlife and/or people.
This is the first of an annual donation to support the health of our tree canopy.
I'm so grateful for this incredible planet and the opportunity to serve it.
Pictured here with Dawn Chavez, GreenWorks Executive Director, at the GreenWorks Nursery, where our tree babies will grow.
12/21/22 Raven Crew begins planting 1,000 trees
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Asheville GreenWorks
The Great Buzz Gathering
Tue January 24, 6-7pm via Zoom
Join us virtually for the 4th annual gathering of the Asheville area's pollinator conservationists, advocates, and enthusiasts! Participants will be invited to celebrate their 2022 successes, share pollinator projects they've engaged in this year, plans for 2023, and opportunities for collaboration. Together, we can make the greatest impact for pollinators!
Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you have exciting projects to share or would just like to listen and learn.
https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/events
URGENT LOCAL ACTION ALERT:
UPDATE: In September 2021, Asheville City Council voted unanimously to pass a Tree Canopy Protection Ordinance that will encourage property owners and developers to avoid cutting down trees. Click here to learn more.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAILY:
It's #GoingPlasticFree July!
We made the move to reusable contractor bags last year, because we couldn't stand to see all those black plastic bags full of ivy going into the landfill. What "small" change can you enact to make a BIG difference?
Support healthy communities!
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/about
https://www.organicconsumers.org/campaigns/millions-against-monsanto
Make a choice to keep toxic chemicals out of your landscape. Your "home" will be safer for you, your kids & pets, and every other form of life you share it with.
We're chemical-free because we understand the dangers and implications of herbicides & pesticides. We stand by Moms Across America and Millions Against Monsanto. We educate potential clients, clients and neighbors about chemicals like glyphosphate.
NEWS:
Reps introduce TREES Act to expand urban canopies
Reps. Doris Matsui, D-CA, John Sarbanes, D-MD, and Jeff Fortenberry, R-NE, introduced The Residential Energy and Economic Savings (TREES) Act this week, which would create a grant funding program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to offer homeowners or utilities free or reduced-cost tree-planting services.
ACTION ALERT! NC Senate has proposed a bill that leaves our trees in peril. If passed and enacted, the law would prohibit local governments in NC from enacting tree ordinances to protect trees on private property, We're all for property rights, however... the trees don't belong to individual property owners. They belong to all of us. They filter the air we breathe, soak up storm water, and provide for wellbeing in too many ways to list. Additionally, the state government is overstepping its bounds in this backdoor attempt to strip local citizens of their rights to enact local ordinances that make sense for OUR communities. Please review and contact your state representatives to oppose SB 367. UPDATE: SB 367 was withdrawn!
PAST EVENTS:
March 12: Marsha attended the Tree Protection Task Force meeting hosted by Asheville GreenWorks. The all volunteer group meets monthly, and you can find the schedule here: https://www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/city_clerk/boards_n_commissions/tree_commission.htm
Climate Change and Asheville's Urban Forest
AB Tech, Ferguson Auditorium
Live Streamed on Asheville GreenWorks' Facebook page.
THURS, NOVEMBER 14TH
5:30-7:30PM
Learn how Asheville's trees are helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and make our city more resilient. Event highlights include a review of the City of Asheville's tree canopy study and how it relates to climate resiliency.
Raven Invasive plant management is a proud member of:
