Vision

 Preserve land for future generations and promote healthy interactions between people and the natural world

Mission

• Operate a thriving and sustainable nature preserve of 1.000 acres by 2014 by securing land.

•  We offer visitors the opportunity to explore the property in a respectful manner that promotes deep personal connection to the earth - on trail and off trail.

• We offer the community land that will be preserved with minimal human impact and be integrated into a larger study of the Appalachian Preserve system to preserve the native temperate broadleaf forest, a cradle of biodiversity. We will work with partners to identify native species on the property and create and implement a land management plan that supports long term health of the property.

• We will transition Earthtouch governance toward a model of organizational sustainability. 

• We will partner with like minded organizations to offer programs to accomplish our vision including children's education programs and adult guided hikes among other activities.

Guiding Principles/Values

• Model sustainable & creative interaction between people and land

• Promote personal growth and well-being of all who interact with Earthtouch

• Demonstrate basic respect for Ecosystem (community of plants, insects, rocks, people, fish, bears, birds, beavers, frogs, etc.) in all of our actions

• Use sustainable organizational and ecologically coherent practices in all of our actions to guarantee the Earthtouch legacy

• Build mutually beneficial alliances with like-minded organizations that support our mission and theirs

• Model transparency and open communications among ourselves and all of our constituent communities

• Act in a manner that is financially responsible and respects the time and energy of all involved.

Impact/Outcome

• Preserve additional land to meet goal of 1,000 acres

• Partner with complementary organizations to provide programming on our property that uses natural experiences to promote a deep personal connection with the earth.  This programming will be designed to support personal heath, create ecological awareness, promote global health to create a more sustainable world.

• Promote health and sustainability of partner organizations

• Identify and partner with ecologically oriented organizations that will identify native species and develop a land management plan to promote long term health of the property and its inhabitants.

• Transition current business practices to more long term sustainable practices.

• Expand our connections with positive impact on Vinton County community

• Expand our connections and impact beyond the immediate stakeholders to a broader community

• Support education about ecological consciousness and emerging models on sustainability and green energy

• Provide a range of opportunities for people to experience the natural world

• Include as part of teaching model providing experiences that offer transparency to the processes associated with sustainable living where possible

The following poem summarizes what we hope those who are involved with Earthtouch find:

To Look at Any Thing by John Moffit

 To look at anything,

If you would know that thing,

You must look at it long:

To look at this green and say,

I have seen spring in these

Woods,” will not do – you must

Be the thing you see:

You must be the dark snakes of

Stems and ferny plumes of leaves,

You must enter in

To the small silences between

The Leaves,

You must take your time

And touch the very peace

They issue from.