This letter is in regard to Katherine Johnson’s Aug. 24 letter to the editor regarding the loss of farm ground (“Island Crossing: lot will be hazard to farms, land”). We are losing more farm ground to thistles, weeds and blackberries than to concrete and asphalt. I could show her more than 200 acres within a mile of Island Crossing that is No. 1 farm ground and for more than two years has been like wasteland.
Our young people are too intelligent to want that kind of life. It takes a lot of capital, long hours, no benefits, no overtime pay, no sick leave, no guarantee of a crop if the weather doesn’t cooperate and high machinery and maintenance costs. Lots of government restrictions and in some cases, law that doesn’t make sense are also a problem. Even young men who have been raised on a farm are leaving them for a better life and more security.
Yes, it is good land but some of it should be used for a better purpose. You could use a $200 English bone china bowl for a dog dish but that’s not the best use for it.
Mr. Lane’s property, because of its location, is better suited for a car agency than to grow up in weeds.
We waste more food in Snohomish County every day than the 100 acres of land rezoned at Island Crossing could produce in one year. We should get our facts straight before we condemn Dwayne Lane. General Motors did threaten to take away Mr. Lane’s dealership unless he relocated next to the freeway. They postponed that action when he bought the Winters’ farm next to I-5 and was making every effort to move to that location.
Regarding flood danger, I have lived for 58 years a half mile from where he plans to locate his buildings and have never seen water on that spot.
Ex-dairy farmer
Arlington
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