People Helping People Protect the Places they Love

Reunion Links

HEARTWOOD is a regional network that protects forests and supports community activism in the eastern United States through education, advocacy, and citizen empowerment.

HEARTWOOD was founded in 1991, when concerned citizens from several midwestern states met and agreed to work together to protect the heartland hardwood forest.

This region was once blanketed with a majestic hardwood forest containing more than 70 species of hardwood trees. Unfortunately, much of this forest has been cleared and what remains is mostly isolated fragments of public land that nonetheless play a critical role in providing habitat for wildlife, purifying the air and water, moderating global climate change, and offering places of beauty and enjoyment. .

Today, our efforts remain rooted in the heart of the central hardwood region, with an emphasis on our “core states” of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri. Over time, Heartwood has branched out to serve areas of need throughout an 18-state region, giving special attention to the “at risk” national forests in Michigan, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Virginia.

The 2011 Heartwood Reunion Program

"Activism Today"

Lazy Black Bear, Oct. 6-9, 2011

Opening Friday Oct. 7th

Board meeting (9-3:00 PM)
6:00 - 7:30 Dinner

Keynote Michael Hicks — Healthy living - Healthy lives,
Director, Massage Therapist/ Counselor, Farmer at the Center for Community Empowerment;
Studied Integral Counseling Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies

Music by Tony Holiday from Ashville, NC

Saturday October 8th

Wake up to the sounds of Native American Flute by Bill Whitefeather

7-8:30 Breakfast
7:00 - 1:00 PM REGISTRATION
8:30 - 9:30 simultaneous Gatherings

Yoga - Janet Kennedy
Activism and Spirit – Andy Mahler
Discussion on old forests, old growth, and old trees – Jim Scheff
Composting - Jerry Redden
LED & EL Wire Application and Installation – Betsy Ogle

10:00-11:30 Opening Circle

check in and “highlight one accomplishment”
2nd go round, “identify one major concern” in your area.
Ernie Reed Lead

Afternoon Schedule Group sessions and Field Trips

1:30—4:00 Exploring Old forest — Pioneer Mothers — Jim Scheff

1:30 — 3:00 Simultaneous workshops

Composting Jerry Redden
Sharing concern and exploring solutions — Beehive Collective
Finding Spirit in the Forest — Andy Mahler
Herbs in our daily lives — Morning Lark

3:00-3:30 free time

3:45 — 4:45 large group session (Place: The Barn) "Activism in our current environment". - David Haberman

6:00—7:00 PM Dinner

7:30—10:00 PM - HEARTWOOD AWARDS — Ernie Reed, Chair

Auction / music fun time

Sunday October 8th

7:00 — 8:30: Breakfast

8:30 — 9:30 Earth Mama’s Salute to Mother Earth - no other Gatherings are scheduled

9:30 — 10:30: Simultaneous workshops

Group discussion on the future of activism: Writing a new narrative - Becky Woodaman / Michael Hicks
LED & LE Wire Project - Betsy Ogle

10:30 — 11:30: Closing circle - Ernie Reid, Board Chair

11:45: Lunch — Left over