Joan Michie

“Stewardship of the earth” is how we both were raised. My husband and l were brought up in homes where life was recognized as interconnected with values. His last professional contribution was to inspire the folks at Huguenot Memorial Church in Pelham, NY to convert all of their 1920s buildings to geothermal energy, so that any funds they raised could go to peace with justice, musical  and hunger causes.  

When we moved to Rochester in 2019 it seemed only right to convert our 1922 city house to geothermal, so we could feel we were contributing to living out our values of “leave the earth in even better shape than how you find it.” We were fortunate to be able to do that with the help of state incentives. I think our new neighbors didn’t know what to think of us when heavy equipment came in February to drill four deep holes in our front yard! As Spring emerged we converted that part of the yard into a perennial garden to help beautify our neighborhood. We, also, made sure our small backyard qualifies as a National Wildlife Refuge with the National Wildlife Foundation.

My husband’s parting gifts to the planet were true to his values and commitment to “stewardship of the earth.” I, sharing those values with him, now get to care for and enjoy this part of the planet until it’s someone else’s turn to steward this part of the earth. Sadly, his life here has ended , but I hope more people will join us, and do everything they can to live as “stewards of the earth,” while they are here to do so. (And ACES, a local company, were wonderful to work with because they share our/now my values)!