When studying conservation
Introduce Julia Butterfly-Hill
©2011 Smekens Education Solutions • Literacy Retreat • www.SmekensEducation.com
14
The Legacy of Luna
Author, environmental activist, and poet Julia Butterfly Hill’s bestseller The Legacy of Luna is the inspiring true
story of Hill’s efforts to save a redwood forest. This book
shows true strength and has inspired people around the
world to step up and fight for nature. The powerful themes
and experiences the author brings to life are a key to the
book’s success.
The story describes Hill’s experience living in a redwood tree (which she calls Luna) for more than two years
to save it from a logging company. Themes of love, compassion, strength, and courage characterize her journey to
find what she truly wants in life. Her struggles include being harassed by loggers who try to block her food deliveries.
One of the most obvious struggles she faces is dealing
with the weather. She sits high above the ground with only
a tent to protect her from wind, rain, and snow. She deals
with the cold, eating only what she needs and trying to
stay warm in any way possible. She struggles with her isolation from society, trying to keep herself busy.
But to Hill these are hurdles she is willing to jump
to achieve her goal of saving Luna and the redwood forest. She becomes an icon and is admired and respected
by many. People gather in support of Hill’s cause, and she
ends up making a huge difference in many people’s lives
and in the preservation of forests.
Online article written by By Elena de A., Wilmington, DE
©2011 Smekens Education Solutions • Literacy Retreat • www.SmekensEducation.com
15
Q&A Interview
with Julia (“Butterfly”) Hill
Julia (“Butterfly”) Hill— Claim to fame Environmentalist
and author of a new book, Legacy of Luna, which tells the
story of her fight to save the redwoods.
________________________________________
Q: You spent 738 days living in a giant redwood
tree to prevent it from being cut down by loggers.
How did you feel when your feet finally touched
the ground last December?
A: It was a tidal wave of emotions. I felt a great sense of
sadness, because I was leaving the best friend I ever had. I
was also elated that the 1,000-year-old redwood tree was
saved from being turned into someone’s deck.
Q: How did you survive in the tree, which you
named Luna, for so long?
A: I lived on a 6-foot-by-8-foot platform that was laid
across a few branches. It was my bedroom, kitchen and
office. I had a solar-powered phone and a radio to stay in
touch with the world. Friends brought me food every few
days. I’d climb the tree for exercise.
Q: What advice do you have for kids who want to
make a difference?
A: All of us are activists, whether we realize it or not. It’s
up to us to decide if we will take positive actions. You can
make a difference by just offering whatever it is that you
do best.
Times for Kids interview
©2011 Smekens Education Solutions • Literacy Retreat • www.SmekensEducation.com
16
Who are the People Behind
the Nonfiction Concepts
acy of LuetnJualia ButterThe Legac
tivist, and po
ental
g true
Author, environm
na is the inspirin
Lu
of
cy
ga
Le
e
Th
r
rest. This book
fly Hill’s bestselle
save a redwood fo
to
s
rt
fo
ef
’s
ill
H
le around the
story of
has inspired peop
d
an
th
es
ng
re
st
ue
e powerful them
shows tr
ht for nature. Th
fig
d
an
e
th
up
to
ep
y
st
world to
to life are a ke
the author brings
and experiences
Q&A Interview
g in a redbook’s success.
’s experience livin
ill
H
s
be
w
ri
s
sc
it
ar
de
h
ye
y
Julia (“Butterfl
The stor
r more than two
y”) Hill
she calls Luna) fo
ch
m
hi
co
,
(w
ve
ee
lo
tr
of
d
oo
es
w
em
Th
Ju
.
lia
ny
(“B
pa
utterfl
logging com
y y”) Hill— Claim to fam
journe
to save it from a
e Environmenta
d rau
aracterizeanhe
ch
thor of a
e
ag
ur
list
co
d
an
,
clude new book, Legacy of Luna, w
s in
leof
gg
ru
st
st
or
passion, strength
y
er
H
hich tells the
he
e.
r
lif
fig
in
ht
ts
to
an
sa
w
ve
y
ul
th
tr
e redwoods.
deliv
r fo
he__
k__
__od
to find what she
____________
ers who try to bloc
____________
gg
lo
by
ed
ss
ra
ha
__________
being
alt -73
Q
de
:faYo
is
s
u
ce
sp
e
en
eries.
sh
s
le
8
gg
days living in a
obvious stru
giant redwood
tr e gr
with
toou
prnd
even
One of the most
t it from being
ove thee
ab
gh
hi
ts
si
cut down by lo
e
Sh
.
H
er
ow
e
th
ea
di
Sh
.
w
d
e
yo
ow
ggers.
u feel when yo
, and sn
ing with th
ur feet finally to
from wind, rainth
r
he
e
t
gr
ec
ou
ng
ot
uc
yi
nd
pr
tr
hed
to
d
la
st December?
s an
only a tent
ly what sheA:neIted
on
g
tin
wa
ea
s
,
a
ld
r
tid
co
he
al
e
wa
ve of emotions. I
with
deals with th
e struggesles,s be
felt a great sense
cause I was leavin
y way possible. Sh sadn
of
.
sy
bu
f
g the best friend
el
rs
to stay warm in an
he
ep
wa
ke
s
al
to
so
I
ng
ev
el
yi
at
er
tr
ed
ha
y,
th
d. I
et
at
ci
th
so
p
e 1,000-year-old
g to jum
illdinfro
isolation from
redwood tree wa
les she issawve
m beingr-turned in
rd
hu
e
s
ar
e
es
th
to someone’s deck
d fo
But to Hill
.
na and the redwoo
Lu
ng
vi
sa
of
al
ted
spdec
Q
d redi
anow
to achieve her go
ed: H
you suervive in
icon and is admirnam caus
an
the tree, which
es
d sh
m
an
co
e,
be
e
est. Sh
you
Hill’sed Luna, fo
r so long?
er in support of A:
th
ga
es
le
liv
op
’s
Pe
I
le
liv
y.
op
ed
pe
on
y
by man
a
an
6m
fo
in
ot
e
-by-8-foot platfo
rm that was laid
a huge differenc
across a few bran
ends up making
ches. It was my be
s.
st
re
fo
of
dr
n
oom, kitchen and
tio
of
fic
va
er
e.
es
I
ha
pr
d
e
a solar-powered
and in th
ph
one and a radio to
touch with the wo
stay in
rld. Friends brou
ght me food ever
days. I’d climb th
y few
e tree for exercis
e.
Q: What advice
do you have fo
r kids who wan
make a differen
t to
ce?
A: All of us are ac
tivists, whether we
realize it or not.
up to us to decid
It’s
e if we will take po
sitive actions. Yo
make a differenc
u can
e by just offering
whatever it is that
you
©2011 Smekens Education Solutions • Literacy Retreat • www.SmekensEducation.com
17