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Disaster Strikes Turtle Island – Mountain Men’s Eustace Conway Faces Harsh Criticism Amid Cry for Help

Turtle Island Preserve, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, is a unique wilderness sanctuary founded by naturalist Eustace Conway. It is dedicated to sustainable living and preserving traditional skills and knowledge.

Eustace and his team aim to inspire others to live more harmoniously with nature, offering workshops, educational programs, and wilderness experiences that emphasize a simpler, self-reliant lifestyle. The preserve has been a source of wisdom and connection to the earth for many, showcasing how humans can coexist with the natural world.

Image of Eustace with his horse

DEVASTATION at Turtle Island Preserve: A Heartfelt Update

In the wake of a recent disaster, Turtle Island Preserve is facing immense challenges. Carolyn, a staff member at the preserve, shared an emotional update with their community:

“DEVASTATION…and that word doesn’t really describe what everyone is going through in our mountain area. Eustace is fine, as is all our Turtle Island staff, but we are deeply concerned about our basecamp. We haven’t been able to reach it yet to assess the damage ourselves.

Eustace set out yesterday to check on the situation, but he only made it about a tenth of the way down our gravel drive. The destruction is overwhelming—massive boulders, fallen trees, and collapsed roads now block the way. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever dealt with before.

We will soon be putting out a call for help, along with a GoFundMe page, for those who are able to contribute. We need support for gravel, diesel fuel, grease guns, and more. Eustace plans to start repairs on Monday, but we can’t do it alone. If anyone can come and help, please reach out. We need heavy equipment, chainsaws, and muscle power… and as always, your prayers. Stay tuned for more updates and pictures.”

As the team at Turtle Island braces for the monumental task of restoring their beloved preserve, the community is rallying together. Eustace Conway, who has weathered many challenges in his journey to preserve the land, remains committed to the rebuild, embodying the spirit of resilience that Turtle Island represents.

A Strong Response to Criticism: Carolyn’s Second Update on Turtle Island Preserve

Carolyn, the President of the Board of Directors at Turtle Island Preserve, has addressed harsh criticisms directed toward Eustace Conway and the preserve in a candid and heartfelt update. While Carolyn typically chooses to ignore negative remarks, this time she felt compelled to speak out, clearing up misconceptions and defending both Eustace and the preserve.

Carolyn began by explaining that although Eustace Conway founded Turtle Island and dedicated 30 years of his life to building it, the preserve is now a non-profit organization, governed by a Board of Directors. Eustace, who spent decades volunteering without a salary, stepped back from direct control years ago, allowing the preserve to evolve into something larger than one man’s vision. Carolyn, as the current president, emphasized that the recent plea for donations was made for the preserve, not for Eustace personally.

She made it clear that the devastation they face may be too much for their small non-profit to recover from without help. Donations and volunteer support are critical, especially in times of crisis like this. The funds being raised are strictly for the rebuild of Turtle Island Preserve, not for Eustace Conway himself, as some critics had suggested.

In her defense of Eustace, Carolyn shared a powerful example of his selflessness. The morning after the disaster struck, Eustace didn’t rush to check on his own camp. Instead, he jumped onto a backhoe to assist a nearby neighborhood with 50 homes stranded due to the destruction. He spent the day helping local residents before even attempting to assess the damage to Turtle Island. This, Carolyn pointed out, is the kind of man Eustace Conway truly is—a person who prioritizes helping others, even in the face of his own loss.

Addressing those who questioned Eustace’s character, Carolyn firmly stated that they had no understanding of either the man or the preserve. For those who harbor hate or wish to spread negative judgments without knowing the full story, she asked them to remove themselves from the Turtle Island page and take their remarks elsewhere.

Carolyn’s response highlights the resilience of the Turtle Island team and their unwavering commitment to the preserve’s values and mission. As they continue to rebuild, they are calling on the strength and kindness of their supporters to help them through this difficult time.

The criticism Carolyn addressed seems to have been directed at Eustace Conway, questioning his character and potentially implying that the funds being raised after the devastation were for his personal benefit rather than for Turtle Island Preserve.

Some people apparently misunderstood the difference between Eustace, the founder of Turtle Island Preserve, and the non-profit organization itself, leading them to make derogatory remarks about him.

These critics may have accused Eustace of being selfish or questioned his motives, possibly suggesting that he was not prioritizing the preservation or that he was personally benefiting from the donations being asked for.

Carolyn strongly defended Eustace, clarifying that the donations were for the preservation of Turtle Island, not for him personally. She emphasized his selflessness, citing how he spent time helping others affected by the disaster before even checking on his own property.

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