Let’s be thankful for what we have

This is advice that is frequently associated with articles on mental health, how to be happy, reducing stress, or even just what we often tell our kids.  I’m sure it’s good advice for those things, but today I’m using it to hopefully motivate our community to be thankful for the beauty and peacefulness that surrounds us in Adams County.  The Land Conservancy of Adams County (LCAC) is hopeful that you may want to join us in our mission to preserve the lands and rural character that help create the peace and beauty of our area.

Some days when we notice woods or fields being cleared for new construction, I find myself thinking of the song that Joni Mitchell wrote in 1973.  The lyrics say “don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?  They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”  Joni wrote this song after looking out her hotel window in Hawaii expecting to see lush, green vegetation and gorgeous blue oceans and being disappointed to only see a large parking lot.  The Land Conservancy does appreciate the paradise we have in Adams County and is trying to preserve properties one at a time to retain what we have.

 We are not opposed to progress.  We recognize that people need housing and jobs and that our area is a beautiful place to live and work.  But we do believe that it is best that the county plan for this development in a fashion that concentrates new building in and around existing housing and industrial complexes, and at locations that provide easy access to existing infrastructure.   Thus, leaving wide swaths of our beautiful land for humans and all animals and plants to enjoy.

Land use planning is not in the purview of LCAC.  The municipal supervisors, council members, and planning commissions where you live are tasked with making these decisions.  They must weigh a lot of factors besides land preservation in their decisions to allow development. Talking with your elected officials about supporting land preservation is one good way to help conserve our bit of paradise.

LCAC does talk with municipalities at times, but our primary mission is to preserve as much land as we are able to in areas that we deem important.  The ranking of importance is determined based on many factors including – proximity to other preserved properties, vulnerability to development, historic and scenic values, and water resource protection.

If you are interested in helping preserve our Adams County paradise, there are many opportunities to help.  Financial contributions are always appreciated. Another way to help is to become a member or join one of the LCAC committees that work on communications, event planning, and member relations.  If you are interested in any of these or would like to contribute in another way, please give us a call at 717-334-2828.  We will be thankful for any help you would like to offer.

Betsy Meyer is Vice President of the Land Conservancy board, chair of the events committee, and an outdoor exercise enthusiast.

Photo by Zac Pensinger