Meet Barb Flowers, one member of our thoroughly wonderful and talented board of directors … and our treasurer! Barb has lived in the Athens area since 1981. She’s retired from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mineral Resources Management, where she worked in the Abandoned Mine Land program for 28 years. During that time, Barb explored the hills of six southeast Ohio counties impacted by past mining.
Why is spending time outdoors important to you?
It’s a chance to let everything go and be part of nature.
What’s your perfect outdoors-kind-of-day?
Find a quiet spot in the forest to sit, relax, and take in the sounds, smells, and sights of nature. I often sit in my glider near the edge of the woods. One time, a turkey hen and her brood walked within 20 feet of me. What a surprise for both of us! Another perfect day would be a long stroll along a beach looking for seashells, a joy I wish I could do more often.
Advice for someone new to exploring nature?
Pick a time and place and enjoy! Take along a map and water. And … don’t try out a new pair of boots unless you have some Band-Aids with you.
Cat or dog person?
I am definitely a cat person. My two 10-year-old cats (who are siblings), enjoy spending time outdoors with me.
Hidden gem in southeast Ohio?
Anywhere off the beaten path.
Why is protecting land around us so important?
Recently I read comments from explorers who have seen Earth from space. They describe “a tiny, fragile ball of life hanging in the void, shielded and nourished by a paper-thin atmosphere.” That is why it is so important to protect land and the vital role it plays in sustaining life. We have only one Earth to call home.