EDITOR ' S LETTER
I have spent much of my career observing how people interact with the natural world— how our surroundings shape our daily lives, celebrations, and our sense of home. Living in the Lowcountry has deepened that awareness, revealing the intricate ways our communities, waterways, forests, and marshes are all interconnected. Every tide, bird call, and live oak reminds us that we are in constant conversation with a living landscape and that our choices— big and small— matter to the health and resilience of this place.
In this issue of ROOTS, we explore stories that celebrate and sustain these connections. You’ ll meet the McKinleys, who returned to the Lowcountry they love after decades away, building a“ tree house” around existing oaks and embracing a life of conservation and community. African American heritage intertwines with conservation in the incredible story of the Freeman family’ s perseverance and ancestral land at 3419 Jenkins Freeman Road, now permanently protected. We also share the Conservancy’ s work restoring habitat, expanding wildlife corridors, and safeguarding watersheds. From Junior Explorers painting oysters to the sweetgrass harvest sustaining Gullah Geechee artistry, this issue highlights both the ecological and cultural threads that make this place extraordinary.
Each story in this issue reminds us that stewardship is not just about preserving land— it is also about participating in the ongoing dialogue between people and place. The Lowcountry is vibrant, fragile, and full of wonder. By honoring both nature and heritage, and by engaging fully in our landscapes, we help ensure this home remains a place of connection, discovery, and belonging for generations to come.
JOEL CALDWELL | EDITOR
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