Heartwood Board
The Heartwood Council are volunteers who direct, advise, inspire, inform and do the work of Heartwood. We are representatives of our individual bioregions and communities. We are representatives of small, grassroots groups. We are community leaders and network organizers. We are activists. We bring literally hundreds of years of experience and passion to our work. We are people helping people protect the places that they love.
David Nickell
Chair, Kentucky
David Nickell is a sixth generation denizen of far western Kentucky. He farms, teaches philosophy and sociology, and tries to do as little damage as possible. He is dedicated to protecting the LBL region of Kentucky and has been active with forest watch activities.
Matt Peters
Coordinator, Pennsylvania
Matt Peters lives in Pittsburgh, PA and has been a member of Heartwood since 1993. He is a co-founding member of the Allegheny Defense Project. and worked with the Buckeye Forest Council for several years. Matt is an urban homesteader, growing garlic and other woodchuck-proof crops for a newly opened locally owned grocery store in one of America’s great Food Deserts. He is also serving as Chair of the Hazelwood Urban Ag Team, working on local food security and economic sovereignty as well as habitat conservation and restoration in the neighborhood.
Rae Schnapp
Treasurer, Indiana
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Lizzy Nickell
Secretary, Ohio
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In Memoriam
All of these accomplishments are significant, but Andy’s greatest legacy was his heart. He was known for a rare gift: making everyone he met feel seen, valued, and adored. He drew friends from all walks of life, weaving together relationships that spanned generations, communities, and creation itself. His poems and songs celebrated unity, love, and the sacredness of the natural world. His words and music will continue to echo in the lives of those who were blessed to hear them.
Together with his wife Linda Lee, Andy created a sanctuary of love, healing, and community at the Lazy Black Bear property in Paoli. It was more than a home — it was a place where countless people, young and old, found solace in the woods, in the animals, and in the circle of community life. Many who came there to heal or simply to belong were forever shaped by the experience, carrying Andy’s influence into their own lives and communities.
Andy’s life was rooted in kindness, creativity, and service. He leaves behind his beloved wife Linda, his siblings Barbara and Anthony, his loyal companion Wagner, and a wide and loving circle of family, friends, and community members who will carry forward his spirit of love, justice, and stewardship of the Earth.
Many will treasure the memories Andy has left behind, the kind deeds he has done, and the encouraging words he has spoken — all of which helped shape our lives. Though his physical presence will be deeply missed, his heart and vision live on in the woods he fought to protect, the community he nurtured, and the countless lives he touched.
Andy Mahler, 1951-2025
Andrew “Andy” Michael Mahler, beloved husband, brother, artist, and forest protector, passed away peacefully on August 30, 2025 at his home in Paoli, Indiana. He was 74 years old.
Though his formal training was in art, Andy’s true canvas was the living world around him. He was a visionary artist, musician, poet, and builder who saw the beauty and potential in everything and everyone. From scraps of material to broken tools, from strangers to lifelong friends, Andy found purpose, creativity, and possibility, leaving behind a legacy of art, music, and community that continues to inspire.
Andy was highly regarded as a forest protector and tireless advocate for the land he loved. He started the Indiana Forest Alliance, and was a founding member of Protect Our Woods and later helped to organize and lead Heartwood, a regional grassroots forest protection network. Through heartfelt speeches and courageous leadership, Andy rallied public concern over destructive practices such as clear-cutting and burning in the Hoosier National Forest. His efforts earned him many awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hoosier Environmental Council, and he was honored as a Kentucky Colonel.
