Welcome to Carolina Ecology, a space where land, faith, and community converge. I’m Rev. Sam Harrelson, MAR, and currently a PhD candidate in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and a lifelong resident of the Carolinas. Over the past two decades, I’ve taught environmental science, explored ancient and medieval art’s spiritual dimensions, and discovered how theological insights can inform ecological action. This site springs from a conviction that the Carolinas’ natural and human communities are inseparable: our rivers, forests, and fields shape our spiritual lives, even as our beliefs and politics leave lasting imprints on the landscape.
Why Carolina Ecology Matters
The Carolinas stand at a crossroads, rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, yet facing mounting challenges: habitat loss, climate impacts, and a history of colonization that often sidelined Indigenous land practices. From the fire-managed longleaf pine forests of the Lowcountry to the ancient Appalachian hardwoods, our region holds unique ecosystems that carry stories of Cherokee, Catawba, and other Indigenous nations. At the same time, local politics, development pressures, and shifting attitudes within faith communities determine how these ecosystems endure (or not). Carolina Ecology exists to bridge those worlds: to draw on spiritual traditions, ecological science, and grassroots activism so that each informs and deepens the other.
What You’ll Find Here
Essays & Reflections: Essays highlighting the vastness of ecologies in the Carolinas as well as explorations of theological frameworks and their relevance to Carolina landscapes, from the Coastal Plain’s salt marshes to the Piedmont’s waterways.
Local Conservation News: Updates on land-preservation efforts, watershed restoration projects, and progress (or setbacks) in state and municipal environmental policy.
Indigenous Perspectives: Profiles of initiatives, interviews with tribal leaders, and deep dives into traditional ecological knowledge, especially fire and water stewardship practices in our region.
Faith & Ecology Resources: Sermons, liturgy ideas, and study guides for congregations seeking to integrate environmental ethics into worship, outreach, and education.
Events & Calls to Action: Listings of Carolina-centered conferences, citizen science opportunities (like stream monitoring or butterfly counts), and gatherings where activists, faith communities, and scientists come together.
The Invitation
This project isn’t about abstract theory alone. Carolina Ecology is a community. Whether you’re a member of a rural congregation wrestling with water-quality issues, a graduate student curious about phenomenology and environmental justice, or a local organizer working to protect a beloved forest tract, you belong here. I hope you’ll subscribe, share your questions, and let us know what’s happening in your corner of the Carolinas, because collective insight and collaboration are vital if we’re truly to honor both Spirit and Earth.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. May our work cultivate deeper awareness, creativity, and care for the land and the human and more-than-human communities that define the Carolinas.
