What Do You Think About Your Patch of Severn?

I have spent most of my life in Severn.  My parents bought a house here in the early 70's and we've claimed our little patch of Severn ever since.  I’ve watched a lot of things change and although change is good, some things need to remain the same.  Well, at least we can make a conscientious effort to make sure good things don’t unnecessarily disappear.  My grandmothers taught me to take care of the land and not to take more than we need.  That seems to be all we do now is to tear down nature to support men’s wants.   When this is done with disregard to all other things that may be affected it becomes a problem.  More than that, it becomes disrespect to our Earth and all that brought her to us.  This is obviously driven by our needs but it must also be driven by either ignorance or greed.

 Our streams are polluted, our forest have vanished, our wildlife is near non-existent, our earth is ever vanishing under concrete and asphalt, our air is often unhealthy to breathe, our ground water is dangerous, our food is bathed in pesticides and grown with chemicals, etc…. and, for what?  So we can put up another mall?  Another shopping center?  Maybe, just another neighborhood.  And of course, to make a quick buck.  Can it be done better?  Do we have to destroy and pollute everything to make progress?  Do we need more or is it that we just don't know how to do without?

 There are so many things we are doing wrong!  So many, many things we can do better.  Maybe, together we can ask a few questions, spread a little knowledge and make a better world.  But for now, let’s start with Severn.  Let me know what you see, what you feel and what you think needs to be changed in your neighborhoods and the places you travel between in Severn.  Let me know what works.  What are you proud of in your neighborhood.  Have you noticed any changes in the wildlife and plants near you?  Are any of your favorite wild areas in jeopardy?  Do your neighbors recycle?  Was your neighborhood built well?  Can you walk to a recreation area or do you have to drive?  What about public transportation?  The less it’s used the more roads we have to build.  How do we make it better?  Would you bike to the grocery store if you could get your groceries home?  Why don’t you recycle more?  What would make it easier?  Why do we keep planting grass in the medians?  Aren’t most of us allergic to it and doesn’t someone have to be paid to mow it?  Can we expect wildlife to survive if it can’t cross the road?  What would you do if you had to cross the equivalent of a busy Acela track just to get across the street?   And, what about the natural phenomena of the 17 year cicada?  Will there be enough trees left for them when/if they come back?  What do you hope for Severn?  Do we need more greenery or do you want more concrete and glass?  What do you think?  It’s our Severn, let’s talk about it!  How are things in your patch of Severn?