Lynn and Carl Leopold, Gently Greening Our Lives

Lynn and partner Carl Leopold, with their delightful quiet charm, and expansive vision have taught us how we can cherish and protect our relationship to our land and our water--our invaluable treasures. Living in the rustic home they built in Lansing, overlooking Lake Cayuga, Lynn and Carl have with no fanfare supported and created many key programs to protect our environment, and the living creatures who dwell around us. Type in husband Carl Leopold's name in Google, and prepare to be enchanted by his story of growing up in Wisconsin, one of five children of Aldo and Estella Leopold, early leaders in American environmentalism. Lynn and Carl both grew up fascinated by birds, plants and seasonal change. Growing up, Lynn, like Carl, loved to be outdoors and their youthful and adult scientific explorations enhanced that love. Lynn: 'Growing up in Colorado, field botany and biology opened my eyes. I had hiked, camped, skied and kayaked, but to understand the underpinnings of nature was essential.' As a teenager, with his parents and siblings, Carl planted trees to restore barren prairie land near Baraboo, Wisconsin. Carl's father, Aldo was the first professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Wisconsin and is still revered as a founding father of the fields of Game Management and Ecology. As an adult, Lynn discovered and read Aldo Leopold's writings, specifically his seminal work, A Sand County Almanac. And by chance, Carl and Lynn's families were connected by marriage prior to Lynn and Carl marrying. Carl came in 1978 to Cornell to join the research staff at the Boyce Thompson Institute, where he continued his work in plant physiology as a distinguished chair. And in 1981, the couple built their home in Lansing with 'Leopold logs,' white and red pines planted and tended by Aldo and his children decades earlier. In this home, constructed with the trees Carl had planted, their lifelong partnership became the foundation for their joyous lives, with family, music, fellowship, and shared commitment to protect our natural environment. Thinking how to address local environmental issues over the years Lynn has represented the Village of Lansing on the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council , the Tompkins County Water Resources Council, and the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization , to broaden the protection of our precious water resources. When someone mentions Lynn Leopold, people in the know describe how Lynn played a key role in the City of Ithaca's program, Ithaca Recycles, which predated Tompkins County's marvelous curbside recycling program we all depend on . It wasn't long after Lynn and Carl were settled into their home that Carl became a moving force behind the creation and later expansion of the Finger Lakes Land Trust . Carl was one of the founders and served on the board for many years. One of the best-known local FLLT projects is the Emerald Necklace , a greenbelt of protected lands around the south end of Cayuga Lake. Local hero, Andrew Zepp's master's degree project at Cornell University focused on land trusts. And the rest is history. 'The Finger Lakes Land Trust, incorporated in 1989, spurred on by Andy's research and advocacy is now one of New York's largest land trusts, protecting over 35,000 acres across a 12-county region. And the amazing array of trails are an enduring part of our landscape.' ( https://www.fllt.org/ ) Greensprings Natural Cemetery Preserve in Newfield, NY ( https://www.naturalburial.org ) rests between Cornell's Arnot Forest and the Newfield State Forest. Carl embraced the idea of 'a green burial in natural, serene grasslands habitat surrounded by protected forests', and was one of the founders of the cemetery. An energetic advocate, Lynn, notes that in addition to burials, Greensprings ' 300 acres offer an extensive trail system for quiet walks in that lush and serene setting. Many bereaved families find solace in this peaceful spot, appreciating that natural burials have a much smaller environmental impact than conventional burial methods. In the early 90's, Lynn, Carl, with friends and colleagues from Ithaca and Binghamton, created the Tropical Forestry Initiative , a reforestation project in Costa Rica. With generous support from local foundations, other donors and the U.S. Forest Service, they planted trees on steep barren hillsides in rough terrain. Lynn: 'Within 14 years, the planted trees closed the canopy, turning what was ruined cow pasture into a young forest. The forest now provides habitat for many species of plants and animals, as well as helping retain rainfall on the land during the wet season.' When someone mentions Lynn Leopold, people reminisce how she assisted Diane Cohen, founder and director of Finger Lakes ReUse . Diane's visionary program has protected us from living near a huge solid waste hazard, like nearby Seneca Meadows Landfill , provided affordable shopping, and taught us how to reuse and recycle. (See Diane Cohen, ReUse, Ithaca Times, May 27, 2026 ) . Lynn quietly stepped up to serve in many different capacities, serving five nine years as president of the ReUse board, among other contributions. Some folks who are not yet regular ReUse shoppers, nor yet aware of the Finger Lakes Land Trust protected green space, with diverse trails and waterfalls, paths and hollows, instead comment that they love singing with Lynn. A music major at Colorado College, music has wafted through Lynn's life as far back as she can remember. Since moving here and obtaining a Master's in Science at Cornell, Lynn has been a joyous part of the Ithaca Community Chorus, Luscinia, the Cornell Chorale , the Cayuga Vocal Ensemble, the Syracuse Schola Cantorum, and the St. Luke's Compline Choir . Over the years Lynn has continued her support of all the legacy projects she and Carl have fostered, created, and nurtured; and she has shared her lifelong love of music for all to enjoy for time immemorial.