After reading Pettus L. Read’s article from Jan. 31, 2015 I was saddened to see how many farms and precious farmland are being transformed into strip malls, parking lots, golf courses and condos throughout the state of Tennessee. The rate of losing a farm every two and a half days should alarm all of us. It’s the case nation wide. In the not so distant past Davidson Co. got a high percentage of all the food for its citizens from local farms. At this time we are beginning to see new farmers come forward to reclaim some of the old farms throughout our state. We must hope our city and rural planners allow or disallow wisely. We must take special care with this subject. We must hope water quality measures are strong and pollution control is stiffened. We must hope farms stay and become healthy farms again and that our local representatives keep our farmland and our best interest at heart.
And the subject of healthy farms is a must. The soil of some farms may have been compromised back when DDT and other harsh chemicals were allowed to be used on the soil where our food grew and livestock grazed. Traces of these poisons remain, and to this day can still be detected in emblical cords of women giving birth in recent times. It is estimated that a percentage of cancers and autism are caused by these trace chemicals that have made it into our water and soil. Even now with GMO seed stock that is manipulated to withstand RoundUp our farm lands are receiving a gross amount of this harmful herbicide. Herbicides that will find the way into our systems.
It would be a wonderful thing to see Tennessee and its farms become healthy and vibrant again. It’s something we all need, and the landowners, law makers and planners to help make a sustainable future happen for Tennesseans.
Ita Hardesry Mason
Kingston Springs