Vision

 Preserve land and promote healthy interactions between people and the natural world to improve the health of all beings.

Mission

Operate a thriving & sustainable nature preserve in a manner that guarantees long term sustainability.

• 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 use this transition to support case studies and speaking in the broader community to promote humans living in a sustainable manner on the planet, promoting the health of all beings in a global community.  

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

• Become a learning lab that models sustainable operations balancing interactions between people and nature to ensure long term health of both. 

• 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

• Expand alliances with the local community and beyond including colleges and like- minded organizations

• Develop thriving and sustainable economic model

• Expand board to include a balance of business and environmental perspectives

• Purchase additional land with a target of 1000 acres

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.