This is as close to home as it has ever gotten. I’ve known this for a while but have not had such a visceral reaction until now. Maybe because with tragic events, our emotional reaction often correlates with how much we identify with the reality, how close it is to us.
Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale gold rush is not new news. I keep close tabs on our water supply and take all precautions possible. I monitor the news on how it is affecting our food and environment.
If you have not read about fracking and our food system, here are three articles to start with:
Fracking Our Food Supply
First In-Depth Report on Potential Impact of Fracking on Food
The Surprising Connection Between Food and Fracking
This week, the tragedy that is fracking is not something that happens to “other people” anymore. Someone I know made a plea and it hit home.
The first time I moved to Pittsburgh, I subscribed from my first CSA share. Way before it was de rigeur for the food aware to do so. It was 1999 and one of the few available CSAs then was Krestschmann Farms. I loved the new experience of getting a “present” every week. Having a CSA was truly the beginning of my new relationship with food. I owe a lot to the Kretschmann’s.
This week, the Kretschmann’s sent out a plea–an S.O.S, the subject read. Their organic farm is in danger. With very little notice, they learned that “New Sewickley Twp supervisors will consider permit for a gas compressor station to be located on the parcel of land adjoining our farm, the farm from which your family eats.”
That hearing is WEDNESDAY, JULY 23 and they need your help.
Why is your voice needed?
Rebecca Maclean of FoodMeOnce, expresses it better than I ever can in her post.
I learned a lot from her post about local government systems and how the Kretschmann’s can get such short notice on something that impacts their land and livelihood profoundly.
It is a MUST READ.
“The people making decisions about the use of rural land are doing this in their spare time, after their day job, or after they’re retired. If they’re getting compensated at all, it’s probably not a lot. Their budget is not huge. And they’re up against large gas drilling providers with a lot of money and a legal team who probably have read the local ordinances line by line and may know them better than the people charged with enforcing them. That is who is on the front lines of food security in Pennsylvania.
We can’t afford to not pay attention. We can’t afford to think that someone else will figure this out for us if we also want truly organic local food without potential contamination. Everyone’s life is busy, but everyone’s voice needs to be heard to ensure our food supply isn’t negatively impacted.”
The Kretschmann’s message is below. I hope that as you read this, you can take a few precious minutes to take action. A few minutes to speak out and protect our food.
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Greetings from the Kretschmanns,
This is the hardest newsletter I’ve ever written because I really would rather be talking about our farm and the food we grow. This Wednesday the New Sewickley Twp supervisors will consider permit for a gas compressor station to be located on the parcel of land adjoining our farm, the farm from which your family eats. If you are concerned, please make an effort to be there. Though the hearing is at the worst possible time for many of you–just early enough that you’d not have had dinner after work, it’s even worse for us–the busiest time of the year with lots of folks on vacation who could help out.
We need your help now, as the 7/23 conditional use hearing might be the one where the supervisors grant permission for the plant. If getting food from a local farm with the highest integrity is important to you, plan to attend. If you’re a parent, also appeal on behalf of your children who grow nourished by this wholesome food. If you’re a doctor or health professional appeal on the basis of prudent concern for one’s health.
We are not asking for this kind of response based on the basis of NIMBY–not in my backyard. It’s simply that an extra-ordinary number of Pittsburgh area consumers are consuming food from our farm in a raw and unprocessed form. That’s a special case and you have a right to it’s quality. The gas industry will deny there’s any proven effects of this development, while at the same time frustrating attempts by independent scientists to study the issue. The gas companies will have their expert environmental witnesses. If you have any expertise, please let us know.
We would like to respect the fact that this is a local board hearing and the supervisors and residents might resent a large group of non-residents dominating the meeting. Though you have a perfect right to make comments to the board, we think it appropriate that only a few subscribers to our foods speak for all the rest who might be in attendance. So we’ll print ID tags, so everyone can see that you’re one of those whose food comes from Kretschmann Farm. That said, we do need speakers who would be willing to offer a brief message on behalf of us and all the other subscribers. If you are willing to speak, please contact us so we can incorporate you into the meeting in this way.
1. Put your testimony in writing and bring a copy to give to the court reporter.
2. Summarize your testimony – speak no more than 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Explain who you are and why you are concerned about organic farming and the integrity of your food.
4. To the depth that you feel comfortable, speak about these key points:
§ Pennsylvania cannot afford to lose any organic farmland because of gas industry intrusion. There’s not enough to supply the growing market.
§ Organic farms are vulnerable to loss of certification, soil destruction, and ecosystem damage. Where possible, infrastructure should avoid the vicinity of organic farms..
§ Organic food is vital for many people’s health as well as to serve the market for customers in the region.
§ As citizens of Pennsylvania, we all have “a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment.” (Art.27Sec1PA Constitution) The state, and thus the township is the trustee of these common resources to preserve them for all of us. The production of healthy food with the benefit of clean water and air is one of the values of the environment and the most treasured of resources.
Thanks to all who wrote to the supervisors on our behalf. The good of all will prevail if we are all sincerely engaged.
Encouraged by the continual beauty of our land and it’s resilience, we are sincerely,
Don, Becky, & the Farm Crew!