About STS
South Toe Stewards is a network of people working to protect the wild nature of the South Toe Valley.
You can join our grassroots efforts by letting us know about conservation opportunities, joining us for a workday, or donating to our cause
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks
- John Muir
The South Toe River Valley
Some say the South Toe River is the most pristine river of its kind in the state. Most of its water originates in the Black Mountains - the tallest range on the eastern side of the great Mississippi watershed. Large tracts of public lands -- Mount Mitchell State Park, Blue Ridge Parkway NP, and Pisgah NF -- circle (and protect) the headwaters. The river itself is renowned for its populations of Brook trout, hellbenders, and the endangered Appalachian elktoe mussel. It is the only river in North Carolina that is home to the endangered blotchside logperch, a species of fish featured on our logo.
Many landowners have made conscious decisions to treat their land with great care, with an eye to the future. We are here to help build this conservation ethic in the valley and to provide resources to land owners who want to do their part in the great multi-generational effort to preserve the wild nature of this special river valley.
Click map to enlarge
Our Board
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Jessica Schaner, President
​Jesse works as a field botanist/ecologist and is a lover of all things wild. A graduate of Warren Wilson College with a degree in Conservation Biology she has lived in Yancey County since 2016. She is honored to call the South Toe Valley home and learn from all the folks who have been stewarding this land for generations.
(NC Natural Heritage Program, Western Region Field Biologist)
Tal Galton, Treasurer
(Snakeroot Ecotours, Owner/Naturalist)
A committed naturalist since early childhood, Tal owns and operates Snakeroot Ecotours. He has lived most of his life in the South Toe Valley where he and his wife raised their sons in a timber frame home that they designed and built out of local white pines. Tal keeps a blog, writes a column on Appalachian ecology for Asheville's Mountain Xpress, and coaches cross country at Mountain Heritage HS. With Ben Peverall, Tal co-founded the South Toe Conservation Fund in 2022, predecessor to South Toe Stewards.
Benjamin Peverall
(Spruce Pine Montessori, Teacher)
Ben grew up in the South Toe Valley and has spent a lot of time hiking, camping, and climbing in the surrounding area. In 2023, Ben graduated from the College of the Atlantic, where he focused his studies on Environmental Law, Ecology, and Natural History. For his Senior Project, Ben helped Tal Galton start the South Toe Conservation Fund, the predecessor to South Toe Stewards. Ben is now a teacher at Spruce Pine Montessori School, where he shares his love and knowledge for the natural world with his students.
Jonathan Hartsell
(Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Council, Executive Director)
Jonathan Hartsell has been the Executive Director of Blue Ridge RC&D since 2014 and has lived and worked in western NC since 2004. Jonathan previously served as a watershed coordinator for the North Toe River watershed, as an environmental consultant, and as a non-game aquatic biologist for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Jonathan graduated from UNC Wilmington with a BS and MS in Marine Biology. Jonathan and his wife (Tressa) and two kids (Cade and Laurel) live in Burnsville and love spending time outdoors exploring nature.
Felix Stith
(Black Mountain Field & Forest, Operator & Owner)
Felix has a background in forestry and a degree in ecology and environmental science. Raised in the South Toe Valley, he grew up exploring the outdoors through hiking, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, and more. He earned a BS in Environmental Studies from UNC Asheville, where he researched invasive species and Southern Appalachian geology. At Appalachian State, he studied silvicultural methods to support American chestnut restoration. Felix has worked as the Toe-Cane Watershed Coordinator with Blue Ridge RC&D, managing stream restoration, prescribed burns, tree health assessments, and BMP implementation. He’s also served as a wildland firefighter and forestry contractor with the US Forest Service. He now runs Black Mountain Field & Forest and lives near his childhood home with his wife and daughter.
David Zietlow
Blue Ridge Resource Conservation & Development Council, Toe-Cane Watershed Program Director
​David Zietlow is the watershed coordinator for the upper Nolichucky watershed, which includes the North Toe, South Toe, Toe, and Cane rivers. He has lived in the region since childhood, arriving shortly after the 1977 flood. David previously worked as a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service, a research technician at the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab, and a naturalist at Mt. Mitchell State Park. He holds a B.A. in Physics from Bard College and an M.S. from NC State University in Forestry, Environmental Resources, and Earth Sciences. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family, Kim and Kobe.
Camila Prada
Educator, Beekeeper, Webmaster
​Fascinated by the interconnectedness of plants, animals, and humans, Cami spends most of her days beekeeping, farming & out on the trails. With a decade of experience working with children, she's excited to be bringing her love for kids and nature to Red Eft camp!
Our partners
We work closely with local and regional partners who share our mission of preserving
the wild nature of the South Toe Valley.
We’re proud to partner with Blue Ridge RC&D as our fiscal sponsor to strengthen conservation and community efforts across our region.