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Earth Heroes Celebrate our planet with a nod to the past.
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hen I moved to Marin in the 1990s, I had no idea that I was about to become part of a community deeply focused on caring for our planet. But what I soon learned was that our county has always been a bastion of passionate planet-forward thinkers. Over the years, my job here at Marin Magazine has introduced me to the eco-warriors who unpaved our way forward. By "unpaved," I mean the conservationists, including Marty Griffin, Carol Livermore, Elizabeth Terwilliger and many more who collectively laid the porous building blocks that have made Marin, Marin. Imagine 200 miles of freeways, housing developments on Bolinas Lagoon and Tomales Bay that would more than double the population and require a dam on the Russian and Eel rivers, a nuclear power plant in Bodega Bay — fortunately, that all seems ludicrous now, thanks to these dedicated environmentalists who stopped these plans in their tracks. If you don’t know their story, or if you’re new to Marin and want to know how you lucked into this magical county, track down a copy of the documentary Rebels With a Cause, which showcases how Marin’s ranchers, farmers, conservationists, politicians from both parties and volunteers, including Marty and Elizabeth, worked together through compromise and negotiation to create 14 National Seashores. Our bucolic two-lane highway from Stinson to the tip of Point Reyes didn’t just happen because of neglect; it was the result of a fight undertaken on a national level. Marty and his team fought off developers eyeing Marin as the next Los Angeles in the ’60s, but environmental preservation in the county was already going strong even 20 years earlier. As the opening of the Golden Gate
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Festival, take a moment to imagine these formidable ladies gathered on the patio that hasn't changed much since those days. Fast forward to 1982, when the first retail location of Smith & Hawken opened just around the corner from the Marin Garden Center. In the early days, this garden retailer glamorized (at least I thought) getting back to the soil. Gloves, a trowel and flower seeds from this shop were my go-to housewarming gift. I wasn’t alone in my devotion to the concept. The nation, it seemed, was also hungry for simplicity of soil and seed, and the company was purchased by Mimi Towle and her daughters Scotts in 2004. But as the story of suctake a moment mid-hike to be cess often goes, the new owners didn’t grateful for the open space and mountain trails of Marin. understand Smith & Hawken’s core values, and within 30 years it shut down, according to their Wikipedia page. The San Jose Bridge loomed, which would bring a steady Mercury News reported that Dave Smith and flow of cars into Marin, a few amazing ladies, Paul Hawken were relieved by the announceincluding Carol Livermore, who had a particument, stating that "Scotts couldn't have been lar distaste for “ugly roadside billboards,” got a worse corporate owner." Smith said he asked together at a Marin Garden Club meeting and formed a committee. The group included Sepha friends not to shop there after Scotts had purchased the company. Luckily, Hawken didn’t Evers, whose son Bill remembers the women hang his hat on early success: He has now constantly on the telephone, working relentauthored eight books, including The Ecology of lessly to create county and state parks. They Commerce, which was prominently displayed in raised seed money and pressured the county to our book shelf for years, and Hawken continues match their efforts to establish what we know to be a beacon of light for environmentalists. today as Samuel P. Taylor State Park, Tomales This month, as we celebrate Earth Day Bay, Stinson Beach and Angel Island, whose around the county, check in with your favorite single peak, Mount Caroline Livermore, has the local environmental organization to see how conservation maven’s name. Again, the fact they're working to keep Marin marvelous, and that picturesque Angel Island is open to anyone find out what you can do to help. And, if you’re is not just happenstance. taking part in an Earth Day event this year, Next time you find yourself passing by the please tag us @marinmagazine.com so we, in Bernard Maybeck-designed Marin Garden turn, can celebrate your efforts. Center in downtown Mill Valley, a venue often used for weddings and one of my favorite Mimi Towle, Editor at Large events, the opening for the Mill Valley Film
WANT MORE? Help support those protecting our natural environment. Visit foundation.makeitbetter.com to find out how to give back with maximum impact by utilizing our Give Time Things Support recommendations, underwriting a Better Giving Circle, hosting a Matching Grant and sharing your success through "Your Voices" and "Better Makers."
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