Coalition: a group of people who have joined together for a common purpose.
OUR MISSION
TO PRESERVE AND CARE FOR RUFFNER MOUNTAIN AS A SANCTUARY
FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND ANIMALS.
OUR HISTORY
Ruffner's story begins in 1977, when a grassroots community movement formed to create the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition. Their mission was clear: protect the mountain ecosystem and stop a land developer's plan to build an apartment complex on-site. As you can see today, their mission is an ongoing success, as countless species of flora and fauna thrive on the mountain and Ruffner continues to grow. Thanks to the efforts of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition, concerned residents of South East Lake, members of the Birmingham Humane Society, and the Vulcan Trail Association, a sprawling urban ecosystem was saved. Today, Ruffner Mountain comprises 1,038 acres of biodiverse urban forest and connects the communities of East Lake, Irondale, Roebuck Springs, and Greater Birmingham through 14 miles of trails, nature education and EcoArts programs, and of course, a love of wilderness and wildlife. We owe the original members of the Ruffner Mountain Nature Coalition a debt of gratitude and thank them for preserving not only Ruffner Mountain but an understanding of our deep connection to the natural world we all inherit.
Mining History of Ruffner Mountain
STAFF
James Buntyn, Apprentice: Wildlife Care
jamesbuntyn@ruffnermountain.org
I am the wildlife care apprentice being taught by Ruffner Mountain Wildlife Care Naturalist, Emily. I help maintain the husbandry of the animals here at Ruffner.
What is your favorite native plant? The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). This tree reminds me of my first true experiences with nature in my early childhood when I would go to northwestern Florida to see family. The lakes there are where I began to truly appreciate the beauty and importance of the natural world.
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? The Overlook Trail has one of the best views that, in my opinion, this state has to offer.
What is your favorite snack? Currently, my favorite snack is any type of croissant (but especially the chocolate-filled ones).
What is your favorite hobby? One of my favorite hobbies is hiking on trails I have not yet experienced. The combination of being in nature and the feeling of seeing something new is one of the things I look forward to on some of my days off.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Probably somewhere in northwest America. Likely Washington state, because of its beautiful Western Red Cedar forests.
Van Coffey, Land Steward
van@ruffnermountain.org
My love of nature began very early with parents who routinely took us to Oak Mountain State Park and who also adamantly made us stay outside. My path into the world of conservation began with a friend who relentlessly encouraged me to volunteer until I finally did, becoming a volunteer ranger at Turkey Creek and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserves. Followed by a stint as a Wilderness Ranger of Alabama's three designated wildernesses - Dugger Mountain, Cheaha, and Sipsey Wildernesses. Volunteering became the lynchpin, the director of where my life has gone and has given me a deep appreciation for and desire to protect Alabama's staggering biodiversity with a keen interest in the ecology of our various geologic regions, especially the ridge and valley and Cumberland Plateau areas.
What is your favorite native plant? Tough question with an answer that changes seasonally depending on what's in front of me. Hemlocks are always my favorite tree. I get overly excited by tiarella - the foam flower, rue anemones, ghost pipes, indian pinks, green dragons, false indigos, etc..... I could go on and on.
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? The Ridge and Valley Trail - I like a trail that challenges you. I love the way it bobs and weaves across the mountain showing off many varied floral areas.
What is your favorite snack? Popcorn, hands down - no size is share size when I'm near.
What is your favorite hobby? I'm living my hobbies now, it's great! Hiking, photography, and the most exhilarating one - CAVING! I love being on rope!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Either the Pacific northwest where the hiking is indescribable or the southern appalachians. Jackson County, Alabama has some fine caving.
Kristi Houk, Communications & Community Relations Coordinator
kristi@ruffnermountain.org
I try and make it all cohesive, inclusive, educational, relevant, and a little quirky.
What is your favorite native plant? Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Trillium Trail. It is also my daughter’s favorite trail. I have been hiking Trillium with her since she was a baby. Very sweet memories.
What is your favorite snack? Chips and dip
What is your favorite hobby? Writing & singing (ask me about my old band), listening to records, connecting with people over music and philosophy, and taking long walks with my daughter.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Somewhere with a temperate climate - maybe Spain.
Emily Hutto, Wildlife Care Naturalist
wildlife@ruffnermountain.org
As the Wildlife Care Naturalist, my job is to take care of and train all of Ruffner's animal ambassadors and provide educational programs. Our animal ambassadors include turtles, snakes, insects, and raptors! I love educating and inspiring my passion for Ruffner and science, so feel free to ask me any questions about the flora, fauna, and history of Ruffner!
What is your favorite native plant? I can't choose just one! I love Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) because of their unique leaf structure and because traditional root beer is made from the root of the Sassafras tree! I also love Alabama's state tree, the Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris). It's an endangered species that require wildfire for survival, and longleaf pine forests are known for their rich biodiversity.
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? My favorite trail is definitely the Quarry Trail! I love overlooks, and the overlook at the Quarry Trail (in my opinion) is the most beautiful in Birmingham!
What is your favorite snack? Is sushi a snack? Because I can snack on some sushi. I also love coconut soup. Now I'm hungry.
What is your favorite hobby? I'm an avid kayaker, archer, and hiker. I'm trying to visit every State Park in Alabama!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would love to live in Alaska for a while; it's so breathtakingly beautiful there. But I love Alabama, too, because of all of the environmental education opportunities that are available only here. Alabama is the fourth-most biodiverse state in the United States. We are one of the few states that have more than 5 physiographic regions. We have the largest canyon east of the Mississippi River. We have more species of mussels, snails, crawfish, turtles, and freshwater fish than any other state. Alabama has so much biodiversity that we are called "America's Amazon". If you love nature, Alabama is an amazing place to live!
Sloan Miles, Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@jeffcogreenways.org
What is your favorite native plant? I love seeing Bald Cyprus (Taxodium distichum), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), and when I’m closer to the coast I love trying to find Coastal Live Oaks (Quercus agrifolia). For smaller plants I root for Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), and Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata).
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Possum Loop!
What is your favorite snack? Couldn’t land on one snack being my favorite without being disloyal to the rest, but I will say I’ve never been unhappy whenever someone offers me a cold, pre-cut honey-crisp apple with almond butter. Never fails.
What is your favorite hobby? Cooking. Everybody wins because I love doing it and I love feeding people.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I’m content here in Birmingham, but should a door open somewhere else I hope for it to be Melbourne, AUS or the Northern region of Sri Lanka where my mom is from.
Carmen Molay, Membership Director
membership@jeffcogreenways.org
I live with my husband, Andrew, and our 3 dogs and 3 cats in Birmingham. I’m the Membership Director at Ruffner Mountain and I absolutely love my job! Some of my responsibilities include responding to member and donor inquiries, managing member and donor records and communications, cultivating member and donor relationships, encouraging member and donor support, and assisting in the development of fundraising efforts. Outside of my usual responsibilities, I also assist with organizing our annual Native Plant Sale, keeping Ruffner’s website up-to-date, merchandise production and ordering, and the occasional IT support, among others. I love trying new things and learning new skills so I try to offer my help wherever I can!
What is your favorite native plant? Too many to choose from! Some of my favorites are Eastern Red Columbine, (Aquilegia canadensis) (beautiful blooms and foliage, plus pollinators love it!), native Trillium (Trillium cuneatum) (love the symmetry and mottled leaves), Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) (it has the most adorable bell-shaped blooms and I love the arching foliage and the way it spreads in clusters in shady woodlands). I’m a sucker for shade plants, ESPECIALLY ferns and mosses (perfect for terrariums, another hobby of mine).
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Nature Trail - short and scenic, my go-to when I need a break from my desk!
What is your favorite snack? Sushi, fried pickles (not necessarily together)
What is your favorite hobby? Traveling (cue “I’ve Been Everywhere” by Johnny Cash), music festivals, flower and garden shows, creek-walking, plant propagation and indoor gardening, video games, movies (Netflix is a hobby, right?)
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Hawaii or Amsterdam
Jamie Nobles, Conservation Director
jamie@ruffnermountain.org
I oversee the land management and conservation actions on the mountain as well as manage the greenhouse propagating native plants.
What is your favorite native plant? Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Buckeye trail
What is your favorite snack? Chocolate chip cookies
What is your favorite hobby? Birding
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? New Zealand
Stella Pfau, Director of Programs and Community Partnerships
programs@jeffcogreenways.org
Raised not far from the mountain in Roebuck Springs, I remember visiting Ruffner Mountain as a child and instantly falling in love with the tranquility of the trails and the abundance of plant and animal life. I received my B.S. in Ecology and Biodiversity from Sewanee: the University of the South, and my master's degree in Public Administration with a certificate in Nonprofit Management from UAB. I joined Ruffner Mountain part-time as a Naturalist Teacher in 2019 while. still in graduate school before assuming the full-time role of Director of Programs and Community Partnerships. I love my job - it is creative, challenging, and rewarding!
What is your favorite native plant? Poverty oat grass (Danthonia spicata) - so curly!
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? If I had to choose Silent Journey in the summer when the lightning bugs are out. My second favorite is Crusher loop - an absolutely gorgeous illustration of nature coming back and reclaiming an area.
What is your favorite snack? Tea time (a.k.a “once”) - a Chilean tradition that my mom passed down to us that involves tea milk and an assortment of fruit, veggies, cheese, meat, and manjar/dulce de leche.
What is your favorite hobby? Pickleball, tennis, organic gardening, yoga, hiking with my dog Neo, attending concerts at Saturn, good conversations with strangers, cooking a good meal, and sharing it with my friends and family!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? El Bolsón, Argentina.
Carlee Sanford, Executive Director
carlee@ruffnermountain.org
What is your favorite native plant? Blood Root (Sanguinaria canadensis)
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Opossum Loop, specifically the section winding along the neighborhoods of Brown Springs and Gate City, to Red Gap.
What is your favorite snack? Warm sourdough drizzled with olive oil
What is your favorite hobby? Walk in the woods; watching my garden grow AND trying to remember the names of all the trees, grasses, and plants in my yard; short, intense interactions with new people; meandering discussions, with no agenda or to-do list— sharing an idea and listening to another point of view.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Nomad.
Something currently on your mind: “An axiom among disaster planners is that events like the pandemic do not cause inequality, they merely reveal it. While that’s certainly true of COVID-19, it is also showing just how vital our public spaces and infrastructure are to everyday life.”
Janet Simpson, Chief Operating Officer
janet@ruffnermountain.org
My love for the outdoors started early, thanks to my grandfather, a self-taught naturalist, and spelunker. My favorite days are spent in nature. I feel lucky to live in a place where access to nature is so available and abundant.
What is your favorite native plant? Trout lilies, fire pinks, wild indigo/baptista, and scarlet buckeyes to name a few!
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Ridge & Valley
What is your favorite snack? popcorn
What is your favorite hobby? birding
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I prefer being close to water and woods, with easy access to community.
Paul Thibodeaux, Trails and Facility Maintenance Manager
paul@ruffnermountain.org
As Trails and Facility Maintenance Manager, my hope is to keep the Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve accessible, safe, presentable, and educational for every visitor. I grew up exploring hard-industrial structures long forgotten in wild habitats along coastal Louisiana, so my appreciation for the preservation of places like Ruffner Mountain go back to early childhood. I have a background in Historic Preservation Carpentry, Environmental Science & Remediation, and Restoration Ecology. My respect for nature stems from seeing how resilient it can be if we let it do what it wants. I also appreciate how honest it is when human influence demands too much of it.
What is your favorite native plant? Southern Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Ridge and Valley Trail. Geomorphology, particularly how drastic elevations between a ridge and valley form by many years of tectonic activity and erosion, has always been fascinating to me.
What is your favorite snack? In the woods: cheese, apples, and jerky.
In the city: sushi or a shrimp po'boy.What is your favorite hobby? Exploring wild places, discovering music from around the world, trying new recipes, and learning new skills.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Pre-colonial Appalachian Mountain region.
Charles Yeager, Turkey Creek Preserve Manager
charles@turkeycreeknp.com
What is your favorite native plant? Pawpaw. Hands down the best native fruit and a rare treasure when found ripe.
What is your favorite trail at Ruffner? Wetlands Trail. It is a wonderful place to take my kids to observe wildlife.
What is your favorite snack? Wasabi peanuts.
What is your favorite hobby? Fly fishing.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Northern Idaho