Hello there!

You are receiving this email because you signed a petition to help protect Grayson County residents from the issues caused by the Christmas tree industry.  In one year, your signature and over 2,000 others lead to the formation of Preserve Grayson Inc. Proudly presenting to you all, PreserveGrayson.com

Here are our FAQ, and we hope this helps to answer some of your basic questions.

Who are we?

We are your neighbors. You see us in the grocery store, at the farmers’ market, on the street. Some of us are newcomers who recently discovered this beautiful countryside, and some of us have deep family roots here, going back generations.

Some of us wish to remain anonymous, either out of fear of retaliation from a corporate behemoth, or because we do not wish to make enemies of those we have known all our lives.

Why are we bent on stirring things up against the Christmas tree industry?

The short answer is that we love this land and the healthy, rural way of life that this land provides. Or ought to provide.

We are distraught to see thousands of acres of natural woodland destroyed -- burned and sprayed with toxic chemicals that leach into our waterways and our wells. These toxic areas are adjacent to and surround homes where people live and children are being raised.  

We are distraught to see our aquatic life, our pollinators, and our wildlife disappearing before our very eyes. 

We are distraught to see migrant laborers working long hours without masks, protective equipment, or bathroom facilities, immersed in the pesticides and toxic chemicals that they are spraying. 

We are distraught to see our property values tumbling down.

We are distraught to see our friends and family succumb to cancer as a result of toxic chemicals in our land and water. It is very difficult to prove a cancer cluster, but we all know enough people who have been stricken to have a sense that this is happening.  

Is our organization against Christmas trees?

Absolutely not! Christmas trees can be raised sustainably, and have been raised by small farmers in this area for generations, before most of the small farmers were forced out of business by large corporate interests.

Are we tree huggers?

We have some environmentalists among our members, and we also have some very conservative individuals. All of us are united by a common love of our community, which transcends the culture wars. 

Are we a non-profit?

No, we are incorporated in Virginia as a non-stock corporation. This protects our founders’ personal assets if any legal disputes arise with a corporation that has millions of dollars at its disposal. Donations to Preserving Grayson, Inc. are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution, but we intend to use every dime received in donations to further our mission.

What do we hope to accomplish?

Education. The public needs to be made aware of how destructive the Christmas tree industry is to our community. People do not need to feel alone or powerless. We anticipate a groundswell of support. Help us spread the word!

Legislative change. Our goal is to sponsor legislation that will address the imbalance between corporate monoculture and ordinary people trying to live their lives in safety. It may not happen this year, but we are hard at work creating the network here and in Richmond and the popular support to make this happen.

What can you do?

Visit our website preservegrayson.com to learn more. Document and report any infractions you see using the instructions you will find on our site.  

Follow us on Instagram and FaceBook and share your story (anonymously if you prefer). 
Spread the word among your friends, neighbors, and relatives. 

If you would like to contribute work or creative ideas or any specialized knowledge that might help us, we would love to hear from you!

Your signature has built the foundation for awareness, but we need donations to continue.  Please do so through our website, or mail a check to: Preserving Grayson, Inc., P.O. Box 105, Elk Creek, VA 24326.
 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

--Margaret Meade
 

Preserving Grayson, Inc.,

P.O. Box 105, Elk Creek, VA 24326