Mount Tom- A Magic Love for Green Mountains

 We must conceive of stewardship not simply as one individual's practice, but rather as the mutual and intimate relationship extending across generations, between the human community and its place on earth- John Elder, Inheriting Mount Tom, 1997

Just recently I was attending a memorial of a dear old friend in Woodstock, Vermont driving from another Woodstock in Virginia close to home.  We all return to our beloved earth in many ways. Both were I live in the Shenandoah valley and were I grew up in home Washington D.C. share the story of saving the land.

For example, most American's did not know that George Washington was a revolutionary farmer as one of this country's first composter and who also did the land survey for my valley. 

Low and behold, Woostock, Vermont is the birthplace of some major conservation champions planting seeds for the benefit of many generations. First this is where our nation's foremost environmental pioneer, George Perkins Marsh, grew up.  His book Man and Nature (1864) was the first prophetic road-map illustrating the value of land stewardship.  

George witnessed firsthand man's impact on nature due to deforestation in Vermont.  He commented, "brought the earth to desolation almost as complete as that of the moon,"  George helped start the Smithsonian Institute and was an American diplomat.

Next, in 1869 Frederick Billings, a successful businessman purchased the Marsh family farm.  It then was surrounded by devastated land with barren hills and silted rivers degraded by over logging. He went to school with Marsh's son and applied Marsh's wisdom. Frederick enacted model stewardship measures with state of the art forestry and agriculture methods including raising purebred Jersey cows.  Also the Billing's dairy and farming innovations were shared by his neighbors near and far who also excel. 

In 1890, Frederick dies. Again the torch of this stewardship legacy is passed on. Frederick's wife, Julia, continues their work with the support of three generations of remarkable women. His three daughters Mary French, Elizabeth Billings, and Laura Lee become the vanguards of environmental best management. 

Much of the past, present, and future environmental advancements are due the tireless and less recognized efforts of women.

Once again, Billing's grand-daughter Mary French becomes the guiding force to continue this inter-generational model in stewardship at Mount Tom.  Also, she expands her efforts when she marries philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller.  As a couple they help expand our national parks securing the hundreds of thousand of priceless forest acres throughout the United States for the enjoyment of all.  

It is no accident that of their magic Mount Tom property.  It inspired great people to do great things.  The threads of   resource conservation, selfless service, inter-generational stewardship act like the recycling chasing arrows. 

There is nothing more beautiful in life when we apart of such divine act of interconnecting.  Whenever someone gives their best to this world they in turn receive the many "happy returns" by their public service.  And this conservation translates into further joy and happiness for generations to come.    

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