This essay pays tribute to pioneering environmental historian Carolyn Merchant. It traces the impact of Merchant's teaching, scholarship, and mentorship on the life and career of Nancy C. Unger. Unger knew little about environmental history when she started teaching in at Santa Clara University, using a textbook edited by Merchant. This article highlights the careers of both scholars, with special emphasis on how helpful Merchant and her work have been in guiding and inspiring subsequent generations of scholars.