Terry Tempest Williams (top) in conversation with Nan Evans at our 2026 virtual Conservation Breakfast.
That question was at the heart of this year’s Conservation Breakfast, where author and conservationist Terry Tempest Williams joined Jefferson Land Trust on March 9th for a morning of reflection, conversation, and connection to the landscapes we call home.
Introduced by KPTZ’s Nature Now host Nan Evans as “one of the most beloved and influential voices in contemporary environmental literature — a writer whose work invites us to see the natural world not as something separate from ourselves, but as part of ourselves,” Terry brought both depth and clarity to the conversation.
In her remarks, she reflected on the essential role of land trusts in protecting and caring for place. “My feeling about land trusts is that land trusts are like water,” she explained. “They flow inside the cracks and crannies that no one else can.”
Throughout the conversation, she returned to the idea that love of place carries both meaning and responsibility. “If we are present in the places we love,” she shared, “we will know what to do.”
The morning also explored how we move forward in uncertain times. Terry spoke about the importance of listening deeply and remembering what we share — a love of the places we call home. She reflected that this universal connection to the land can help bridge differences and bring us back into relationship. “What I am trusting is community,” she said. “Having us come together beyond left, right, or center — but as neighbors. That’s where I place my hope.”
“I really believe if we are present in the places we love, we will know what to do.” – Terry Tempest Williams
“I really believe if we are present in the places we love, we will know what to do.”
– Terry Tempest Williams
Nan Evans closed the conversation by reflecting on what it means to live in relationship with a place: “Living in a place is not passive. It asks something of us. It asks us to pay attention, to show up, to take responsibility for the lands and waters that sustain us.”
That spirit of responsibility was reflected throughout the program — from the presentation of the 2026 Fairbank Award for Youth Environmental Action to Port Townsend students Hilina Taylor-Lenz and Sawyer Duval, to a preview of the Land Trust’s new five-year strategic plan (view the plan here), shaped by input from more than 250 community members.
We also want to acknowledge that a technical issue with our Zoom account prevented some participants from joining the live program. We sincerely apologize to those who were unable to attend as planned.
The full program, including Terry Tempest Williams’ presentation and the conversation that followed, is now available to watch below.
We’re deeply grateful to Terry, to our speakers and partners, and to everyone who took part in this year’s Conservation Breakfast.
If the program inspired you to support the Land Trust’s work, we invite you to make a contribution. Gifts of all sizes help protect the farms, forests, and waterways that sustain this community, now and for generations to come.
