Walden and Walden Pond

 

 Walden

via theguardian.org/ Walden Pond near Concord, Mass.

Thoreau

The American Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau first published this work in 1854 after about two years living very privately on the banks of the Walden Pond, owned by friend and mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Over the last 200 or so years, the book has been a springboard and foundational text among 'green' movements, renewable energy causes, spiritual living, and much more.

Not only are their fanatics of Walden and the writings of the book, but also fanatics of Thoreau's other works including, "Civil Disobedience", American Transcendentalism, and many green energy initiatives that revolve around environmental conservation.

The Walden Woods Project

In early 1990 the "Walden Woods Project" was founded by Don Henley of the American country-rock band, the Eagles. The Eagles are one of the best selling musical acts in history as well as a staple in the memories of many Americans from the 1970's up until present day. Don Henley himself also enjoyed a rather successful solo career in the 1980's and 1990's.

The "Walden Woods Project" focuses on 'preserving the land on which they hold which was the site of Thoreau's 'Walden pond writings', as well as, "preserving the literature and legacy of Henry David Thoreau to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship and social responsibility."

Walden Woods Project

Don Henley

   

 Henley and The Walden Woods Project annually collaborate with donors, philanthropists, volunteers and the like in order to foster care for the everchanging environment and the project's main objective: preserving the land, literature, and legacy of Thoreau and the spirit of the American Transcendentalist.

Taking It Further

Here is a 2019 film titled, Walden: Life In The Woods, starring Academy Award nominee Demian Bichir, T.J. Miller, and others. Finding more information on this film such as a producing studio, etc., was impossible to find, so my only references for it are the YouTube publisher and the actors listed as performers. The film does does cast the rather well known T.J. Miller, known from other films such as Deadpool, How To Train Your Dragon, The Emoji Movie, Rock of Ages, or Ready Player One.

Walden: Life In The Woods

Or Check out this National Geographic 2017 article by Kennedy Warne, with pictures by Tim Laman, praising Thoreau, Walden, and the inspiration and impact the book still has generations later:

National Geographic

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/walden-pond-henry-david-thoreau

Encountering A Transcendentalist

    So when you see a person basking-in or enjoying themselves on a picturesque morning keep in mind that they are the distant relatives of American Transcendentalists, keeping the spirit alive of 'living deeper to suck out all of the marrow of life', as Thoreau once said.

Nicholas LeVan

Bloomsburg University Creative Writing

25, February, 2021

nrl90826@huskies.bloomu.edu

nickrlevan@gmail.com

Sources:

2019 Walden Woods Project World Environmental Leadership Awards Video:

“2019 Walden Woods Project Environmental Leadership Awards Video.” Walden.org, The Walden Woods Project, 11 Sept. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yj1K0cPwmk&t=231s.

National Geographic: 

Warne, Kennedy. “See Why Thoreau's Walden Still Inspires.” Photography, National Geographic, 10 Feb. 2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/walden-pond-henry-david-thoreau.

YouTube:

    Film: “Walden: Life In The Woods.” Performance by Demian Bichir, et al., YouTube/ Walden: Life In The Woods (2019), "Alex", 11 Oct. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7h6agWm6Sg.

 “Welcome to Walden.” Performance by Don Henley, Walden.org, The Walden Woods Project, 4 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4irzu6ZEDc4&feature=emb_imp_woyt.