Jane grew up in Ohio and has lived in many different places, but she has called North Carolina home for decades. Moving to Western North Carolina in 1976, she was immediately captivated by the lush, cocoon-like beauty of the mountains and felt a deep calling to help preserve this natural treasure.
Jane holds an AB in Education from the University of Kentucky and spent five years teaching English and Math in Alexandria, VA and Asheville, NC. She then pursued further education, earning an MEd in Counseling and Dance/Movement Therapy from Antioch/New England Graduate School. She worked as a dance therapist for 10 years in psychiatric hospitals before taking a detour to earn an MBA/MHA from Pfeiffer University. She spent 10 years in hospital administration and the final 16 years of her career in private practice as a psychotherapist.
In 2004, Jane married her high school best friend, John Myers. When John moved to North Carolina from New York, they embarked on a significant project on 240 acres in Hickory Nut Gorge, creating the Hickory Nut Forest Eco Community and the Laughing Waters Retreat Center. They collaborated with Conserving Carolina on many projects before John’s passing in 2018. Together, they protected nearly 70 acres of land through two conservation easements. Among other joint projects was the inception of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail. Jane and John sold two parcels of their land to Conserving Carolina, one of which includes Wildcat Rock. The Wildcat Rock Trail, which runs through their orchard, is now one leg of the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail.
Jane currently resides in Asheville. When she is not working on projects associated with Laughing Waters and Hickory Nut Forest, she enjoys painting, playing pickleball, and spending time with her son and his family who live nearby.
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