Dear Friends,
It has been quite some time since I last wrote and I hope this message finds all of you well and enjoying this time of year. Each day I have the privilege of spending time outside planting, watering, nurturing and witnessing growth, I am reminded how fulfilling nature’s simplicity truly is. I revel in the peace I find away from the news, emails, texting, phone calls, television and especially social media. I measure a good days work by the amount of dirt collected under my finger nails (and how many aspirin I need at the end of the day). Naturally, it makes me think of the beautiful land of Crebilly Farm.
There is still no scheduled court date for argument and thus, really no new news to report at this time. Westtown Township filed their brief in the final hours at the end of May. Good for them for waiting until the last minute. In the interim, I think it is important we continue to encourage the BOS to keep going, by reminding them no matter how much time passes, we are still here, in support of their brave decision to say ‘no’ to the proposed development and march on.
I would like to share with you an article from the Philadelphia Inquirer a thoughtful citizen emailed me the other day about land stewards and open space preservation: http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/PhiladelphiaInquirer/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=PHQP/2018/06/19&entity=Ar00104&sk=A47BED68&mode=text
If you haven’t heard of a woman named Bonnie Van Alen, president of Wilistown Conservation Trust in Willistown Township, please take the time to read the article. For starters: what a woman. She has been at this for an entire lifetime. I for one would love to see other townships (such as my own of West Bradford) adopt this brilliant plan of land preservation. Who knows where Westtown Township would be now, especially with regard to Crebilly Farm, if they had been more proactive with preservation years ago. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: change starts in our own backyards in our townships. Let us not forget that once upon a time, the landowners of Crebilly Farm were willing and open to conservation. So many lessons learned the hard way- this ought to be a wake up call for Chester County.
I will check in again when I have more news. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with one of the greatest pieces of wisdom a loved one ever shared with me: “Min, you need to grow your own garden and be your own best friend.” I take that to heart figuratively and literally. Happy planting everyone:)
Sincerely,
Mindy Rhodes
Crebilly Farm Friends 