Santino particularly liked the last paragraph of our application:
The Barden was not planned, but instead evolved through a dialogue between people and the land. As thickets of invasives were cleared, the topography and fallen trees suggested where the next pathway might go. Each new volunteer brings ideas and passion to influence the mix. We try to adopt theater’s “Yes, and” approach that promotes positive interactions and allows ideas to grow. “Building community through stewardship” is the group’s informal motto. A garden is viewed not so much as something installed but as a relationship formed. For someone who loves nature and people of all ages, the Barden can feel like a paradise, where we can combine physical work with intellect, as the Veblens did, and collaborate with nature-- the most generous and creative force of all.
I found Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve to be inspirational when I first moved to Princeton back in 2003. In reading the history of Bowman's Hill on their excellent website, it occurred to me that the Veblens' land acquisitions in the 1930s and '40s--both at Herrontown Woods and through the IAS for what later became the Institute Woods--could conceivably have been inspired in part by Bowman's Hill as well. The Veblens bought the cottage property in 1936, two years after Bowman's Hill was formed.
The award announcement can be found on the Bowman's Hill website at the bottom of this webpage.
