To the Editor

Once farmland is gone, it’s gone forever

March 29, 2007

I wish to direct this short letter to the ladies in the reading audience. I am a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and feel that the PDR program is extremely important for the future of our children, grandchildren and future generations.

I was born in Milwaukee and remember quite vividly going to the fruit boat docked in the Milwaukee River. We bought fruits and vegetables, took them home and canned them for the year. I do the same thing with our garden now, and if there is something which I have not grown, will purchase it from the farmer’s market.

Can you imagine our generations to follow not being able to do that because the land has been destroyed by developments and large subdivisions?

If we do not stop this, our children will see only concrete and no natural preserves or farms, and will not be able to have fresh water as we do.

We cannot depend on other countries to provide them with produce for which they have no control as to how it has been grown. We have to look to the future now instead of waiting when it will be too late. When you get into the voting booth, think of your kids and vote yes to the PDR question.

Marilyn Filber, Town of Wayne

 

Vote for locally produced food

There will be no Farmer’s Market next year. Well, maybe there will be one next year, but you see my point.

Like many of us who are looking forward to the start of the Farmer’s Market season, I’d gladly pay a little more taxes to support PDR in exchange for continuing to have fresh produce, local meat and eggs, and to enjoy the open spaces of the farmlands where they’re raised.

However, what I learned from the PDR programs where I grew up in Pennsylvania is that PDR doesn’t mean higher taxes and it doesn’t mean another government subsidy. Farmers need to get the value of their land, whether the money comes from a developer or a PDR program.

And without a PDR program, you can bet our taxes won’t decrease. The tax dollars are just spent on other things, like the roads and services needed to support the development that replaces the farms. There’s no way around it.

Voting yes on Tuesday does not mean lower taxes, voting yes means you have a voice in how your taxes are spent. Voting yes supports locally produced food and farmland vistas for all of us in Washington County.

Joanne Kline, West Bend

 

Vote for PDR to preserve hunting land

I have lived in Washington County for many years because I value the fact I can hunt turkeys, deer, waterfowl and upland game a short drive from my home. When I get home from work and load the gear in the truck, I have three options for hunting locations. I can go to public lands, hunt clubs or large tract private lands, many owned by farmers.

It can be challenging to gain access to prime farmland for hunting, but no one can hunt on it at all once it becomes a subdivision. Farmland is extremely important to wildlife in terms of providing food, cover and suitable habitat.

Once a farm is subdivided and developed, the value to wildlife is greatly reduced. For the benefit of sportsmen and future generations of hunters, I will be voting yes to preserve farmland and natural areas on Tuesday.

Mike Lane, Town of Trenton

 

County among great innovators with PDR

What do Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Frank Lloyd Wright and Washington County have in common?

They are all great innovators.

Vote yes for land preservation.

Sheldon Shaver, Trenton