I arrived at this petition by driving past the same 11 miles I do every day. A spiritual journey every time. I seek and find comfort driving through this stretch of land. 

On my journey up 441 most recently, I spent a long time thinking about this petition. How can I speak in a way people will listen? How can I best share the information? What am I actually trying to accomplish here?

If you are somebody who knew me during my protest for the trees in downtown's 1st and 1st, then you might know i lost it. I sat under the Lillian's tree throughout a week. I posted art upon the tree-- despite a woman taking the art down down because, and I'm completely serious, I was "killing the tree". I made everybody I saw listen. I honestly felt extremely silly in some moments, and really truly was ridiculous. Unhinged, one might say. But I'd still say it was worth it for the wisdom gained.

They saved the trees on 1st Ave, but last May, took down the trees on 1st St.

This time, however, I have less of an angry fire, and more of a determined one. I want to be more thoughtful in how I am communicating the message.

I decided to go forth and actually record what I'm talking about for clarity.

In the picture shared above, you can see where some of the right-of-way wasn't mowed. This helps to show just how recently they mowed there. Im not 100% certain because I did not see the mowing take place, but I started the peition a few days after. 

First, I emailed our elected officials, listed here. 

So what I hope to accomplish is firstly, to show the city Commissioners that 

a)this topic, these themes, are actually important to people and

b) people are paying attention to how the government makes changes in a town.

In my walk, I should have gone further.

If I kept going, I could have showed you how the job got sloppy further up the road. Hopefully I will take another picture to show you that.

If science is to be understood, it's that energy exists in a cycle. What you put in, is what you get out.

What happens to this cycle when the energy in it is interrupted? Cut off? Stopped completely?

What happens when someone severs the life cycle before its time?

What perogative, rights, or obligations does our city have to so intentionally make such drastic changes to the land scape? A mindblowing amount of life is affected by this decision, even such a small stretch of land.

Another question to ask yourself is why is this happening? Who instituted this policy? What were their reasonings? What did they originally set out to accomplish?

There are impacts from making even this small of a decision. That's how life works. You act. There is a reaction. 

These decisions change each day.

To change course for a moment,

Its doubly insulting to mow the land without a realistic reason-- some guy argued that it was for drainage purposes, but that doesn't hold up with some research about how planted life helps to absorb excess water, as well as this not being a problem in similar locations. Also we live in a swamp.-- and then do it badly. A wasted action. Wasted resources. Nothing was gained.

I will say, there are healthy ways to mow wildflowers, but you do so when they are done. This was at the beginning and now the flowers have to start over after being brutalized. Maybe that feels like a strong word to use, but if you think of a wildflowers perspective, they are completely helpless against being mowed down.

So ultimately, I wish to accomplish a much larger goal. I hope to create a world where we don't mow everything down, for no reason. It's an action that has been happening-- an intentional and completely human act-- for far too long.

We need to do better. This is not our land. Each and every one of us will die. The land has existed before us, and it will continue on after us. What are you leaving behind?

Thank you for taking the time to sign this petition. Each signature is a joy, a light, each signature gives voice to someone who takes the time to stop and smell the low roses along the way, the highest honor bestowed. Thank you.