OP-ED PIECE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nancy Grohol, Executive Director
Thoreau Farm Trust
978.369.3091
978.369.1515 (fax)
nancy@thoreaufarm.org

IT’S A THOREAU-LY WONDERFUL LIFE

Henry David Thoreau was born in a simple farmhouse on Virginia Road in Concord, the site of current preservation efforts by the Thoreau Farm Trust. He spent his entire life in this small rural town leading a quiet, reflective existence. Who could have imagined at his birth in 1817, or even at his death in 1862, that his legacy would reach around the world and touch every future generation? As we reflect on a year lived and move ahead toward new beginnings, it is interesting to consider the impact Thoreau’s simple life has had on us all, and to ponder the question—what if Thoreau had never been born?

The top 10 ways Thoreau’s influence has made the world a better place

10. Today’s #2 pencil is a direct result of Thoreau’s ingenuity. Before he set about improving them for his father’s successful business, American pencils were of very poor quality, expensive, and seldom used.

9. Many pioneering environmentalists credit Thoreau with influencing their thinking. In fact, John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, kept a copy of Walden on his bookshelf.

8. Thoreau helped lead slaves to freedom through his involvement in Concord’s abolitionist movement.

7. Thoreau was a pioneering educator, promoting critical, reflective, imaginative, and participatory learning methods rather than rote recitation.

6. Thoreau’s works are considered classics of American literature and helped shape Concord’s reputation as a mecca for literature lovers.

5. Thoreau was an important figure in the emerging field of natural science in the 19th century, urging humans to see ourselves as part of an intricate balance in the natural world.

4. Thoreau’s example has inspired millions of people to live “an examined life,” simply and consciously.

3. Walden Pond and its surrounding landscape, made famous by Thoreau’s writings, have been preserved for all to enjoy.

2. Thoreau called for the preservation of open space as “a common possession forever, for instruction and recreation,” which led to our national park system and open space initiatives around the world.

1. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., influenced by Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience,” chose peace, not conflict, as a political tool to advance human rights.

As one year comes to an end and another begins, it is a perfect time to ask ourselves—what will we leave behind?

The Thoreau Farm Trust, (www.thoreaufarm.org) is a local nonprofit organization seeking to restore Thoreau’s birthplace in Concord using environmentally friendly architectural principles and re-use the site as a small education and community center. If you are interested in touring the house and learning more about the organization and how you can help, please contact us by mail at: The Thoreau Farm Trust, Box 454, Concord, MA; by email at office@thoreaufarm.org or by calling Lucille Stott, president, at 978-369-0706.