A threatened species, the burrowing owl, is losing its habitat by the day in Southwest Florida. I donated land that will forever be theirs, hoping to inspire others to do the same.
Wow this makes me want to run out and buy some land just for the critters! You are inspiring me to move forward with buying some land next to my favorite Regrarian farm and to start gingerly growing something like raspberries, juneberries, and rabbits.
In my 77 years of living in the US I've become very cynical of government and corporate America. Your writing has moved me to a paid subscription, in thanks for what you do, and in praise of the kind of person you are. I know your mother is rightfully proud of you. So are the rest of us non-family folks.
https://placerlandtrust.org is dedicated to preserving my county's open spaces, which are dwindling rapidly... thanks for what you have done to save the sweet burrowing owls 💕
That was a good story. I used to live in Northeast Florida, south of Jacksonville, so I can share the perspective of housing developers running over almost everything. It got exponentially worse after COVID-19 as thousands of people moved from over-taxed and over-regulated states like NY, NJ, and CA to find much lower-cost freedom. As a result, St Johns County exploded in housing prices, and the forests just vanished into clouds of flavorless housing. I know the wildlife in those places disappeared, too.
Brava, Alexandra, so good and thank you for sharing and may more people do this! We have looked into and intend on doing the same. We have agland that has been in my husband's family since 1902. You are right, things are changing and people are tired of constant development. I write about this, too, and we are losing 2,000 acres of farmland per day to development that decreases health and well-being. I also help care for wildllife, like owls and other raptors, mammals, fish and reptiles that are too injured to return to the wild. Florida and Arizona (and many other States) look like people threw up stucco boxes all over the place and have no compassionate care with landscapes they include, either. I work with State and local leaders and communities to change this issue.
If you want to be a guest writer in Wildlands, please DM me. Thank you again, it is great to meet you!
This is fabulous! I know firsthand how wonderful these owls are. And how great Cheryl is! And I know that human beings seem to have fallen for short-term gains over the long-term health and well-being of our amazing planet and all the creatures on it. Thank you for sharing this in such a powerful and accessible way.
I just joined CCFW and I am so excited to be doing something to save our wildlife. I’ve lived in Cape Coral for 15 years and like you, the first thing I fell in love with when I moved here were the burrowing owls. They always bring a smile to my face and they are my favorite neighbors. What you did is amazing and it will make such a huge positive impact. Thank you!!
Just one question - can we be friends?! Not kidding - I'd LOVE to be able to pick your brain and learn as much as possible about your farming and business practices. It's so admirable and I would love to transition my life to be doing the same! Feel free to respond/reach out. I'd be so happy to hear from you!
Side note - and super coincidental to seeing this article the first time yesterday - we saw a burrowing owl land in our yard last night for a brief moment!! Such majestic animals. We live in Southeast Florida!
Wow this makes me want to run out and buy some land just for the critters! You are inspiring me to move forward with buying some land next to my favorite Regrarian farm and to start gingerly growing something like raspberries, juneberries, and rabbits.
That makes me so happy!
Thank you for being a generous and caring human being. May God generously bless you in return for taking care of his creatures.
Thank you so much - I hope to start a chain-reaction! I know there are others who will feel called to do the same.
In my 77 years of living in the US I've become very cynical of government and corporate America. Your writing has moved me to a paid subscription, in thanks for what you do, and in praise of the kind of person you are. I know your mother is rightfully proud of you. So are the rest of us non-family folks.
Thank you so much, this made my day.
https://placerlandtrust.org is dedicated to preserving my county's open spaces, which are dwindling rapidly... thanks for what you have done to save the sweet burrowing owls 💕
Well done Alexandra.
You are a beautiful soul. Thank you so much for doing that
That was a good story. I used to live in Northeast Florida, south of Jacksonville, so I can share the perspective of housing developers running over almost everything. It got exponentially worse after COVID-19 as thousands of people moved from over-taxed and over-regulated states like NY, NJ, and CA to find much lower-cost freedom. As a result, St Johns County exploded in housing prices, and the forests just vanished into clouds of flavorless housing. I know the wildlife in those places disappeared, too.
It's really awful... I am hoping to bring some awareness to it.
Brava, Alexandra, so good and thank you for sharing and may more people do this! We have looked into and intend on doing the same. We have agland that has been in my husband's family since 1902. You are right, things are changing and people are tired of constant development. I write about this, too, and we are losing 2,000 acres of farmland per day to development that decreases health and well-being. I also help care for wildllife, like owls and other raptors, mammals, fish and reptiles that are too injured to return to the wild. Florida and Arizona (and many other States) look like people threw up stucco boxes all over the place and have no compassionate care with landscapes they include, either. I work with State and local leaders and communities to change this issue.
If you want to be a guest writer in Wildlands, please DM me. Thank you again, it is great to meet you!
That is so amazing you are trying to help with this as well!! I really believe it's just awareness - more people would do it if they knew
Thank you, yes, absolutely true. ; )
This is fabulous! I know firsthand how wonderful these owls are. And how great Cheryl is! And I know that human beings seem to have fallen for short-term gains over the long-term health and well-being of our amazing planet and all the creatures on it. Thank you for sharing this in such a powerful and accessible way.
Cheryl is the best - so is all of CCFW! Agreed!
You are one of a kind. Its wonderful what you did. Owls are wonderful creatures. God bless you.
I just joined CCFW and I am so excited to be doing something to save our wildlife. I’ve lived in Cape Coral for 15 years and like you, the first thing I fell in love with when I moved here were the burrowing owls. They always bring a smile to my face and they are my favorite neighbors. What you did is amazing and it will make such a huge positive impact. Thank you!!
Aw that makes me so happy - they are an amazing group!
Thank you so much.
Perhaps you can send this article to several different National Wildlife Magazines. Thank you for the donation. Pascha Past President of CCWT and CCFW
That's not a bad idea! Let me know if you all have any in mind.
Just one question - can we be friends?! Not kidding - I'd LOVE to be able to pick your brain and learn as much as possible about your farming and business practices. It's so admirable and I would love to transition my life to be doing the same! Feel free to respond/reach out. I'd be so happy to hear from you!
Side note - and super coincidental to seeing this article the first time yesterday - we saw a burrowing owl land in our yard last night for a brief moment!! Such majestic animals. We live in Southeast Florida!
Omg no way!!! That is a crazy coincidence wow
Just wondering, how did you do that? I am looking at a piece of land in Santa Fe county that we want never to be developed.
Sorry I just saw your whole article on this. So impressive!.
Amazing of you! I love owls 😍🦉