Jay Erskine Leutze, author of ‘Stand Up That Mountain’ will speak to the Tryon Garden Club on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at FENCE. Leutze lives in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. 

Trained as an attorney, he has become a leading voice for state and federal conservation funding for investment in public lands. He is a trustee for Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. He is the author of “Stand Up that Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail.” In the tradition of “A Civil Action” the book is the true story of a North Carolina outdoorsman who teams up with his Appalachian “mountain people” neighbors to save treasured land on Belview Mountain in WNC from being destroyed.

An award-winning work of nonfiction, “Stand Up That Mountain” demonstrates what is possible when local people set their minds to protecting and defending their homeland. The inspiring story appeals to conservationists, hikers, attorneys and everyone interested in rural life in Appalachia.

The Tryon Garden Club programs start promptly at 2 p.m. The public is invited. For those interested in joining the Tryon Garden Club, write to P.O. Box 245, Tryon, NC 28782.

FENCE is the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center located at 3381 Hunting Country Rd. in Tryon. For more information call 828-859-9021. Directions to FENCE can be found at FENCE.org.

– article submitted by Lucy Brannon