Tim Palmer: Environmentalist, Photographer, Speaker, and Penn State Alum!

Eco-Action had the pleasure to host Tim Palmer with the local business Webster’s Bookstore and Cafe for our first Eco Night! Tim Palmer did a series of talks at Penn State in the Palmer Museum of Art and we got to sit and talk with him very intimately about his career, Eco-Action at its infancy, his time at Penn State, and some advice! I’m going to recap a little bit of the night.

Tim Palmer is a Landscape Architect by trade who graduated from Penn State in the 1970’s. He, along with a friend, are responsible for making Earth Day very prominent on the Penn State Campus and created a visual of photos of environmental damage, the beauty of nature, quotes, and inspiration for students to observe when passing by. It was received incredibly well by students during a time where political action, outrage, and most importantly passion was driving students across the country. The first Earth Days were occurring in conjunction with the draft, Vietnam War, and the Kent State Massacre. Palmer had said that this moment in history was incredibly powerful because tension and passion were incredibly real and at the forefront of many institutions and young students’ minds. From this passion, Eco-Action was created as a student org at Penn State and has persisted through the past 4+ decades. I hopefully see the resurgence of political unrest, passion, and “action” today with the current political climate and hope we can recreate the magic that happened in the 70’s. Palmer had mentioned that grassroots activism at its root is incredibly powerful, involved local people, and can have resounding impacts on the political system. He champions Eco-Action as continuing to carry this grassroots legacy in a time where local activism has waned. However, he is hopeful that student organizations like Eco-Action will continue to foster this sense of grassroots activism and the power it holds. It is far easier to complain about the administration, but we must engage and use “action” to channel anger instead of loose complaints.

Tim Palmer’s career began as a designer and architect of landscapes. Some of Palmer’s ideals include large landscapes juxtaposed with natural beauty. His early projects included bicycle and pedestrian trails at Pine Creek! Since that moment Palmer worked periodically in other development projects and with other companies that recruited Palmer due to his tenacity and development ideas. He was also writing and canoeing on Pennsylvania Rivers during this time as an independent writer and appreciator of nature. His writing style appealed to the more common person who count understand the colloquial writing instead of the heavy and intensive writing he had done as a landscape architect where his work was not as far-reaching. His independent passion has since changed to a full-time career! Since Palmer became an independent writer, photographer, public speaker, and environmentalist he has canoed on countless scenic rivers a cross the country, completed many a mile on the water, taken stunning photographs of nature, and shared his wisdom through writing. Today, Palmer has written 26 books that document scenic rivers, the plight of trees due to parasites, and the natural landscape all around us. Some of his works include Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy, Twilight of the Hemlock and Beeches, etc. Please check it out!

The career Tim Palmer has had is something to admire, because he has been able to make a passion and a hobby a credible career with beautiful photography, fantastic writing, and an engaging public speaking. However, it is not without its struggles. Palmer had said that his path is not traditional and he still respects students who get their education and find their way to the field. The un-traditional path is not easy. Money is not always coming in, the life of a writer is dependent on getting a book deal, and the dedication to get the content includes lengthy independent canoeing trips on some remote waters. Regardless, Palmer enjoys the Independence with himself or maybe with his wife on the trips. He gets to leave technology and the problems of the world behind, live in the moment and engage with nature as it requires his full attention, and feel rewarded when he accomplishes these trips. His path is not traditional but Eco-Action appreciates the work he has done, his efforts as a student to bring environmental activism to the forefront, and taking the time to speak with a group of students very intimately on a Friday night! Thank you again Tim Palmer!

Please check out Tim Palmer’s amazing photography and books!

Palmer’s personal website: http://www.timpalmer.org/

Penn State news-piece on Palmer’s recent PSU visits:  https://news.psu.edu/story/531309/2018/08/14/arts-and-entertainment/conservationist-photographer-discuss-work-importance

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