“The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.” ~ Carl Sagan

I heard something today that broke my heart. My dearest cows, and our favorite patch of land is in jeopardy of being destroyed.

You see, the county holds the rights to this land—all 857 of the most breathtaking acres you’ll ever come to witness. It was intended to remain a refuge, of sorts—and a means to protect the waterways and forested lands nearest it.

For 13 years, I have biked past to say hello to my cows. And always so graciously they have shared their time and beautiful pastures with me.

The lands have been historically leased out to local farmers and tenants, with a promise that they must always be kind to our planet. And, for as long as I can remember, everyone has made good on their obligations.

As such, these beautiful lands have, to date and without issue, maintained their USDA Organic Certification. That’s not an easy task, as evidenced by the many eco-minded farms that have faced devastating financial impacts.

We are proud of our farmlands. And, proud of those who have worked so tirelessly to maintain them. Why, even the little market that sits adjacent to the farm bears proud witness, “David’s Market, 100% Organic, No GMO”.

But, through some shady slight of hand—one of the tenants, Maryland Sunrise Farm, has indicated that in a manner of days they will begin using harsh pesticides to keep up with demand. You see, it’s not always as profitable to honor one’s community and moral obligations.

However, this action will sadly have a direct impact on the air, soil, wildlife and waterways surrounding these 857 brilliantly pristine acres.

My dears, it is our obligation to take stand on these matters, to raise our collective voices in a manner that must be heard. As such, I beg you to please take one moment of your day to help our small community ensure that these lands are protected.

My dears, such harsh pesticides and chemicals would not only destroy these lands, it would have long term impacts on the families and children in our area. And sadly, too, it would strip the land in entirety of its Organic certification— potentially causing damage to other farmers and businesses in this area.

Please help me help my community.

Please take one minute to sign this petition. Then, please share this blog if so inspired.

Whether you are near or far, it doesn’t matter…let your voice be heard.

This is our planet—and something must be done to help it.

Many blessings and much love my dears. And, please take this moment to help save our lands.

Please Sign Our Petition to Protect Our Beautiful Farmlands. Click Here for Petition.

 

Carl Sagan (click for video):

“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar,” every “supreme leader,” every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”