Happy snow day, all. Daffodils were blooming as the snow fell. In several days, temps back to the 60s. We're straddling that space between winter and spring.

Tip us on over, Mama Nature. We're ready for the green growing season.

Not long ago, we re-named our Wednesday offering as "Leftovers." As in: good stuff leftover from the main Sunday meal.

Here are three leftovers from recent stories.

• In his State of the State address last week, Gov. Bill Lee said this, which sounds rather wise:

"How do we balance record growth with a plan to protect our natural resources?

"You start by rejecting conventional wisdom that says you cannot do both.

"To grow Tennessee, we have to conserve Tennessee."

Then, he shifted to farmers.

"Farm families in this state keep food on our tables and drive our economy," he said.

Then, Gov. Lee shifted - thankfully - to farmland loss.

"Our state is losing ten acres of farmland per hour, which is a staggering number when agriculture is our number one industry," he said.

One week ago, we reported on the Farmland Preservation Fund - Senate Bill 207 - making its way through the Tennessee legislature. It's one way we can address farmland loss via land preservation and conservation.

The Fund would create financial backing to increase the use of conservation easements among farmers and landowners. Lots of folks like it.

Including Gov. Lee.

"That’s why we are again proposing a grant program for farmers who voluntarily preserve and protect their land for future generations," the governor said in his address. "It’s time that we support Tennessee farmers by finally passing the Farmland Conservation Act."

Gov. Lee is "putting $25 million into a grand fund," reported Sam Stockard of the Tennessee Lookout, as if "predicting passage of Senate Bill 207."

Stockard quoted Sen. Shane Reeves, new chair of the Energy, Ag. and Natural Resources Committee, who believed the $25 million was appropriate.

“For it to help farmers preserve their land, losing (10) acres an hour, that seems like a fairly affordable price to pay,” Reeves said.

This is wonderful news. Thanks to all who got involved - and continue to be involved - in supporting farmers, farmland and Nashville's legislative work.

• Two weeks ago, we reported on the intersection of food policy and regional planning, including the work of our own Chattanooga Food Coalition.

In response to our story, our dear friend Eleanor Cooper - longtime, beloved Chattanoogan - sent a story.

Years ago, when I was in California working on food issues, we formed the California Food Policy Coalition. It was a citizens group, mostly consumers.

Churches were involved. The older women in churches took the lead in getting people involved. Food advocates were involved - community food stores that were made up primarily of consumers.

So it came from the consumers - from the desire for good food, for local food, for regional access to food. That's where the pressure came from. You can add those who work in food, the restaurants, distributors, etc., but if you don't have the consumers, you don't have the broad-base public.

The Coalition sponsored conferences and speakers and handed out brochures - they eventually gained enough support to hire a part-time advocate.

The advocate's role was to lobby for changes in food policy and planning. This was a statewide effort and eventually caught the attention of the director of the department of food and agriculture. and eventually with our advocate, we passed a direct marketing food policy for the state of California, which supported local farmers markets throughout the state.

Because this movement was initially a consumer movement, those markets were supported immediately by the consumers who wanted the food. It became an economic force in every community.

Because of this experience, I think that consumers are the key to a change in food policy and  planning.

• Finally, more farmland support:

Meet Madison Baldwin, who needs a favor from all current and prospective Tennessee farmers.

Madison grew up in rural western Kentucky and Tennessee.

"Coal mining and farming are deeply tied to these areas, specifically tobacco farming," she said.

She left home for different cultures and opportunities. Along the way, she discovered something else.

"I developed a greater appreciation for where I was raised," she said.

Madison's earning her master's in agriculture at University of Tennessee-Martin.

"I am curious about how we can develop creative policy solutions that preserve farms, benefit farmers and rural populations while making room for more folks and using our tax dollars wisely," she said.

She also loves horses.

"I've spent years driving around rural communities around Chattanooga," she said. "Family-owned farms and stables like the one I learned how to ride at are becoming more and more rare. If you spend any amount of time driving around Ooltewah, Soddy Daisy, Sale Creek, Ringgold, Wildwood, and so on, it is impossible to not see the changes in landscapes and communities."

Hence, her graduate research: Tennessee Farmland Ownership Dynamics & Development Impact.

"One of the main goals for this study," she began, "is to gauge the amount of people farming or aspiring to be farmers in Tennessee who are aware of conservation options, like PACE (purchase of agricultural conservation easement), and whether or not they would be open to exploring a conservation easement for their operation."

The study will also determine how many folks own their land outright, rent or have a loan.

Is development affecting your area of Tennessee? And their farming operation?

Her research could help understand why some farms become century farms and others are sold after "a generation passes," she said.

"I also believe accounting for a demographic of those who are actively trying to farm but are unable to find affordable land could potentially help us make informed policy decisions at the state and local level."

If you are a farmer or prospective farmer, please take the survey.

Here's the link:

 https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2tsWyydYlKzukyG 

The survey, which ends on April 30, is anonymous.

I met Madison - who can be reached at hlc821@ut.utm.edu - at our speaker series event with Brooks Lamb. She's intelligent, engaging, easy to talk with. You get the clear sense: this is someone who'll make a big and wholesome impact on the world.

"Professionally, I see myself in a career that is centered in community and conservation," she said. "Hopefully, I will be contributing to programs and policies that improve the lives of my neighbors and preserve agriculture and natural resources. Personally, I see myself returning to rural life with a herd of my own at home while I continue to explore and grow in my horsemanship."

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in partnering with us? Email: david@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.