Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship New - Executive Director's Blog

"Man on Wire" and stewardship

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:34:39 GMT

From Leigh Scott, BRCES Executive Director: One of my very favorite films is ”Man on Wire.” It is the suspenseful tale of a daring event that’s been called “the artistic crime of the century.” On August 7, 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit stepped out onto a steel cable that he (with help from accomplices) had managed to suspend during the darkness of night between the two World Trade Center towers, which were the world’s tallest buildings at the time. At a height of 1350 ft above the ground, with no safety net or harness, Petit walked and danced on the wire for an hour. The sheer courage of that stunt completely boggles my mind, as does the extraordinary balance required to walk on a steel cable that would bend and flex in response to the swaying of the buildings. Of course, Petit carried a very long pole -- but still…

So you may wonder what the connection is between this entertaining documentary film and my work at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. In a word, it’s “balance.”

Almost on a daily basis, I’m reminded that stewardship of the land involves a careful balancing act. Since all things are connected, we can’t make a change in our management practices at the Blue Ridge Center without affecting something else. For example, if we don’t adequately control the size of the deer population, then those hungry herbivores will clear out the forest’s understory plants that are needed as shelter by small mammals and ground-nesting birds. And we could potentially provide better habitat for these small animals in the meadows if we were to change the fields to warm season grasses, although the resulting hay may not be quite as marketable as fescue. Where’s the long pole that will help us keep our balance on the wire?

Often we are particularly challenged when trying to balance the needs of our resident wildlife with the wishes of our human visitors. That’s why the Blue Ridge Center advocates Leave No Trace principles, which promote careful enjoyment of natural areas: 1) Plan Ahead and Prepare; 2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces; 3) Dispose of Waste Properly; 4) Leave What You Find; 5) Minimize Campfire Impacts; 6) Respect Wildlife; and 7) Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

Yet even as we strive to base our actions on these Leave No Trace principles, questions are bound to arise regarding how to best steward the land. At those times, an open dialog and careful examination of all sides is the undoubtedly the best way to find the balance. Then, during that discussion, let us be guided by the words of the great conservationist Aldo Leopold: “Examine each question in terms of what is ethically and aesthetically right, as well as what is economically expedient. “

Stewardship and lampshades

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:04:31 GMT

From Leigh Scott, BRCES Executive Director:
As mentioned elsewhere on this website, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship uses education programs and land practices to demonstrate innovative stewardship approaches that are sustainable—ecologically, as well as economically. It seems to me that the stewardship component of our name and mission is what makes this organization so unique. Our region contains many other land preserves, all of which serve important purposes that are similar in some ways to what is accomplished here. Still, I am not yet aware of one that so explicitly promotes stewardship (though I would be happy to learn about others, if they do indeed exist).

What, exactly, is the meaning of stewardship, and how can each of us apply it in our daily lives? Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as: “the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.” With reference to the environment, I think that stewardship often involves making the wisest possible use of our natural resources. Here at BRCES, our committees carefully consider how to manage all aspects of the property, balancing the needs of nature and wildlife with the needs of man. Crops are rotated on the farm to enrich the soil. Fields are mowed at a frequency and in a manner that will save fuel and conserve wildlife habitat while still enabling people to camp, hike, and enjoy the land.

In our homes, I believe that stewardship frequently means using things up and fixing what’s broken. I got my own lesson in stewardship just a few days ago, when a treasured lampshade became a casualty of my recent move from North Carolina to Harpers Ferry. This particular shade belongs on a charmingly-ornate, candlestick-style table lamp that I inherited from my grandmother. And while the lamp arrived intact, the shade had become detached from the metal ring used to attach it to the lamp, with the result being that the shade had an overly-jaunty angle of repose. Within a few days, as gravity worked its magic, the shade eventually became completely detached. My first impulse was to drive to the store and buy a replacement shade. But after further consideration, I decided that I would be a much better steward if I could figure out a way to repair it. The right kind of glue, added to gentle pressure in the right spots, soon resulted in success. So now my lamp and its shade look nearly as good as new, and it’s one less item in the landfill. What’s not to like about that kind of outcome?

What can you repair or recycle today?

The journey of 1000 miles

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:01:46 GMT

From Leigh Scott, BRCES Executive Director:
It's been said that the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step. Today, comfortably shod in my still-stylish yet trail-worn Tevas, I ventured with excitement into my new role as the Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. It was a bright, fresh, clean day for new beginnings -- and the cool morning air held the promise of many wonderful adventures in the weeks and years ahead.

I've been preparing for this day for many months now, after deciding last January that it was time to create a brand new chapter in my life. Extensive soul-searching led to my decision to seek an Executive Director position at a nature-based nonprofit – preferably located in the vicinity of my family members. BRCES’s extensive acreage and bountiful resources provided part of the equation, and the proximity of my daughter in Herndon and my brother in Frederick provided the remainder.

So for weeks I have prepared for this fantastic transition and for my relocation from the gritty, bustling city of Durham, NC, to the quiet, historic little community of Bolivar/Harpers Ferry, WV. When I finally left North Carolina on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in my jam-packed Honda Fit, Natasha Bedingfield’s song, “The Rest is Still Unwritten,” was playing on the radio. The lyrics were incredibly fitting for a car trip that would mark the beginning of an exciting adventure at BRCES: “Live your life with arms wide open/Today is where your book begins/The rest is still unwritten.”

I’m grateful for the help I’ve received on this journey so far. Thanks to the BRCES board members who served on the search committee and invested considerable time in interviewing me: David Lillard, Greg Miller, Bob Leggett, and Zack Bumpus. Thanks also to real estate agent Carrie Gauthier, who helped me locate the perfect rental home in Bolivar; and to landlord Phil Masemer, who agreed to let me bring my furry companions (one brown dog and two and a half cats) into his beautifully renovated bungalow. And thanks to Edna, the manager of the 7-11 in Bolivar, who kindly let me temporarily park the POD with all of my worldly belongings on the edge of her parking lot when it would not fit in my adjacent driveway. New beginnings can be intimidating as well as exciting, and all of you have helped make it easier for me.

I am excited about my future as the BRCES Director and as a new WV resident. After all, my fortune cookie from a Chinese dinner over the weekend says it all: “Bide your time, for success is near.”