Julia Butterfly Hill

Learn about Julia “Butterfly” Hill — the American environmental activist who lived 738 days in a redwood tree to save it. Explore her life, mission, legacy, and some of her most powerful quotes.

Introduction

Julia Lorraine “Butterfly” Hill (born February 18, 1974) is an American environmental activist and author, best known for living in a California redwood tree for 738 days as a form of protest against logging. Her bold act of civil disobedience, deeply rooted values, and continued advocacy have made her an enduring symbol of grassroots environmentalism and personal commitment to change.

Early Life and Background

Julia Butterfly Hill was born in Mount Vernon, Missouri, and later lived in various parts of the United States with her family.

Her father was an itinerant preacher, leading the family to move frequently. During her early years, she and her family often lived in a camper while traveling.

When she was about 7, on a hike, a butterfly landed on her finger and remained there for the rest of the walk — an experience that inspired her nickname “Butterfly,” which she has embraced as part of her identity.

In her late teens or early 20s, she was involved in a severe car accident: a car she was in was struck from behind by a drunk driver, and the steering wheel penetrated her skull. She underwent nearly a year of intensive therapy to recover her ability to walk and speak.

During her recovery and introspection, she became increasingly drawn to environmental activism and the protection of ancient forests.

Tree Sit & Luna: The 738-Day Protest

The Context & Decision

The forests of Northern California, especially the ancient redwoods, faced aggressive logging by Pacific Lumber Company (Maxxam) in the late 1990s.

In December 1997, Julia decided to ascend a 180-foot-old redwood tree in Humboldt County to prevent its felling. The tree was later affectionately named Luna.

She began her tree sit on December 10, 1997, and stayed until December 18, 1999 — a total of 738 days.

During this time, she lived on two small platforms in the canopy, supported by a team who supplied her with food, solar energy, and communication gear.

Challenges & Strategy

• She endured storms, intense wind, cold, and dampness; she rarely was fully dry.

• She used a solar-powered cell phone to give interviews and keep attention on her cause.

• Commercial pressure, intimidation by the logging company (e.g. helicopters, cutting nearby ropes), and physical isolation tested her resolve.

In late 1999, an agreement was reached: Pacific Lumber committed to protecting Luna and surrounding trees in a buffer zone, and in return, Hill would descend.

Her personal narrative of that period was later published in her memoir The Legacy of Luna (2000).

Later Career, Activism & Projects

After the tree sit, Hill remained active in environmental advocacy, public speaking, and organizing:

• She became a motivational speaker, traveling widely to share her insights and story.

• She co-founded the Circle of Life Foundation, which organized environmental and educational events.

• She also helped establish The Engage Network, which trains small civic groups to lead in social change.

• A project called “What’s Your Tree” encourages individuals to find their own motivating cause (their “tree”) and act in community.

Over time, she also turned inward — stepping back from constant public activism at times to focus on health, balance, and sustaining her efforts.

Her memoir, The Legacy of Luna, is structured like a diary covering her two years in Luna, interwoven with reflections, spiritual insight, and the philosophy behind her act.

Legacy and Influence

Julia Butterfly Hill’s tree-sit is often seen as a pivotal moment in modern environmental activism because:

• Symbolic power: Her solitary vigil dramatized what deforestation and forest destruction risk.

• Awareness & media attention: Her story reached global audiences, bringing visibility to issues that are often invisible.

• Inspiration for activism: Many grassroots movements cite her example as a turning point for direct action, ecological commitment, and choosing one’s personal “tree.”

• Narrative of personal sacrifice: She showed how one individual’s sustained commitment can effect change, not just through confrontation but through creative, sustained presence.

• Legacy in culture: Her story has inspired documentaries, books, and public discourse on environmental ethics and interconnection.

Personality, Values & Approach

Julia Hill is deeply spiritual, introspective, and committed to the idea of interconnectedness — not just between people, but between humanity and nature.

She often frames environmental protection not only as a political or scientific matter but as a spiritual responsibility — an honoring of creation and life’s web.

Although she once described herself as independent and somewhat solitary, she is also passionate about community, education, and empowerment.

In public statements, she often emphasizes accountability, humility, and redirecting one’s internal struggles toward external good.

She is also skeptical of consumer culture, throw-away society, and the ways technology can alienate us from nature if misused.

Notable Quotes by Julia Butterfly Hill

Here are a few of her most resonant quotes, reflecting her philosophy and life:

• “We live in a disposable society. We throw so much away. But it doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from the planet and it comes from future generations’ lives.”

• “I have been stubborn and getting into trouble since I was 2, but I learned how to redirect that into good causes.”

• “All life is created in love, and thus in the depths of every human being lies a good heart. Some have lost their path from this love, so it [is] up to us to show them the way.”

• “When you see someone in a tree trying to protect it, you know that every level of our society have failed — the consumers have failed, the companies have failed, the government has failed.”

• “True transformation occurs only when we can look at ourselves squarely and face our attachments and inner demons … For only by abandoning its attachments and facing the darkness does the caterpillar’s body begin to spread out and its light, beautiful wings begin to form.”

• “Activism is Patriotism.” — a slogan she has used to frame environmental action as a civic duty.

These quotes highlight themes of responsibility, reflection, inner work, and the link between individual choices and broader systems.

Lessons from Julia Butterfly Hill

From her journey, several key lessons emerge:

1. Commitment matters. A sustained act, even by one person, can catalyze awareness and structural change.

2. Bridge the internal with the external. Her activism was rooted in personal transformation as much as external protest.

3. Symbolic acts can shift narratives. Sometimes protest is not just about confrontation, but about holding presence, narrative, and visibility.

4. Accountability & humility. Recognize that change involves more than one action; it involves consistent choices.

5. Empower others. Her post-tree projects emphasize enabling communities and leaders to act locally.

6. Resilience amid adversity. She endured physical, emotional, and logistical hardship — showing that purpose often asks for sacrifice.

Conclusion

Julia Butterfly Hill is a powerful example of how one individual, when aligned with conviction, can influence culture, policy, and ecological awareness. Her decision to live amid the branches of Luna for two years was not a stunt — it was an act of deep alignment between belief and action.

Her legacy continues in her writing, speaking, and the movements she has inspired — reminding us that environmental activism is not only about saving trees, but about saving our relationship with the Earth and each other.

If you’d like, I can also prepare a timeline of key events in her life, a deeper reflection paper on The Legacy of Luna, or compare her story with other environmental activists like Wangari Maathai. Would you like me to do that next?