(mouse-over to magnify / click to expand)
May 28, 2022
Media: oil on birch panel, shellac undercoating, unframed
Size: 6x6 in
When I started visiting the Old Mission Peninsula, thirty-five years ago, it was a quiet and stunningly beautiful place. Over time the farmland started to disappear into development, however, and the character of the peninsula began to change. I didn't blame the farmers who at last found value enough in their land through sales to support their families. But once gone, farmland doesn't come back, and that worried me. It was with gratitude that I also watched the beginning of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. They began to buy up the developement rights to the farmland from willing owners, providing them with funds and securing the land for future generations of farming. The peninsula is still stunning in its beauty. And vacationers continue to enjoy the beauty of the drive up and down the spine of the land. They stop along the way for wine tastings, boating, beach days, visits to the lighthouse, dinner at the local restaurants; it has everything one could want for summer fun. And those visitors support the local people who live there year round. It's a win for all. And me? I don't own any of it. I just enjoy visiting and taking in the beauty of a very special place, filled with gratitude that it is still there and still filled with farms. When I started visiting the Old Mission Peninsula, thirty-five years ago, it was a quiet and stunningly beautiful place. Over time the farmland started to disappear into development, however, and the character of the peninsula began to change. I didn't blame the farmers who at last found value enough in their land through sales to support their families. But once gone, farmland doesn't come back, and that worried me. It was with gratitude that I also watched the beginning of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. They began to buy up the developement rights to the farmland from willing owners, providing them with funds and securing the land for future generations of farming. The peninsula is still stunning in its beauty. And vacationers continue to enjoy the beauty of the drive up and down the spine of the land. They stop along the way for wine tastings, boating, beach days, visits to the lighthouse, dinner at the local restaurants; it has everything one could want for summer fun. And those visitors support the local people who live there year round. It's a win for all. And me? I don't own any of it. I just enjoy visiting and taking in the beauty of a very special place, filled with gratitude that it is still there and still filled with farms. |
![](http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/shari-goddard-shambaugh/summer-green/999969&media=https://s3.amazonaws.com/fineartimages.dailypaintworks.com/e0b96835-3263-4311-8cc7-e28670c04cf8.jpg&description=Daily Paintworks - "Summer Green" - Original Fine Art for Sale - © Shari Goddard Shambaugh)
Email to a Friend
