LD 489 Language: The people of the State have the right to a clean and healthy environment and to the preservation of the natural, cultural and healthful qualities of the environment. The State may not infringe upon these rights. The State shall conserve, protect and maintain the State’s natural resources, including, but not limited to, its air, water, land and ecosystems for the benefit of all the people, including generations yet to come.

The following letter, including your digital signature, will be sent to each representative in the Maine Legislature:

Dear Representatives of the Maine State Legislature,

As farmers and gardeners, we are writing to urge you to vote in favor of the Pine Tree Amendment. We represent the farms and agricultural businesses which feed Mainers, our visitors, and the world to which we sell our products.  We also represent the many Mainers who grow their own food. Please join us in protecting the Maine that we love.

We believe that the Pine Tree Amendment is an important strategy for protecting the ecosystems that we rely on every day. Agriculture is a significant part of Maine’s economy and is deeply reliant on clean water, clean air, and healthy soil. A healthy environment is necessary to produce delicious and healthy food.

Nearly fifteen percent of Maine households are food insecure, according to the USDA. The Pine Tree Amendment recognizes that we cannot separate the need to feed people from the need to protect the natural resources of Maine. If we conserve, protect and maintain the state’s natural resources, we are helping provide the conditions necessary for growing good food for hungry Mainers.

We care about Maine and the work that we do, and we want our farms to continue operating for generations to come so that they can serve the generations to come.  In order to ensure the health of our farms and our businesses, we ask you to vote in favor of the Pine Tree Amendment.

Sincerely,