Who We Are

Hello,  my name is Megan Herbst and I am a sophomore Environmental Resources Engineering major at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, NY.  Walking around campus there is a wide variety of people all with the same interest: the environment.  People here come from all around the country and world with a main goal to speak up for and help the planet we inhibit.  At my school there is a strong "hippie-culture" so to speak.  I choose to participate in this blog to find out why does this school have a stronger hippie-culture than others; is it because of our environmental focus or is there a relation between hippies and environmentalism?

My name is Natalee Wrege and I am currently a sophomore transfer at SUNY-ESF studying Environmental Biology. SUNY-ESF has introduced me to many unique individuals who all share a common interest in protecting the natural environment. I grew up on a small fruit and tree farm in Clinton, NY and was lucky enough to to be raised in the country, away from the noise and lights of bustling cities. As a child, I was effortlessly immersed into nature and was constantly outside playing barefoot with my sister, fishing with my father, and planting the garden with my mother. Many of my childhood experiences influenced my decision to pursue a career in the environmental sciences and to learn to live more sustainably. My goal in co-publishing this blog was to explore the positive side of adopting the lifestyle of a “modern hippie” and to deter many negative misconceptions about the hippie lifestyle. We emphasize the pride that hippies take in being environmentally conscious while exuding their own unique style and beliefs. This blog is an effort to describe what it means to be a hippie; through fashion, music, art, the environment, and living simply.



My name is Emily Heifferon and I am an Environmental Biology Major in my sophomore year at SUNY-ESF. A true hippie since birth, I have always had a passion for the environment. I was raised riding on my Father's back as my parents would hike in the woods and traveling and exploring the land around my home in Binghamton, NY. Some of my first memories are of being outdoors, the smell of fall and the bright reflection of the sun off of snow. Being a hippie in a suburb/city environment, I have often noted the difference between those who practice a hippie lifestyle and those who only adopt the fashion. As a movement, I think it is very important to not only adopt the fashion but also to live an environmentalist lifestyle. Protecting our Earth is very important and taking the steps to do so is not a difficult process. As an activist, my goal for this blog is to demonstrate the difference between a hippie fad and a hippie lifestyle, and also to show how easy it can be to live in peace with the Earth.