I can’t believe that the Port of Coupeville or Greenbank Farm management would seriously consider having thick rows of trees filling in between all the walking paths and blocking the open view and blocking the fresh air blowing up from the Sound on both sides of this narrowest neck of Whidbey Island.

It also seems to me that the periodic killing of the insects and subsequently the small creatures that the birds and entire chain-of-life they depend on would be a travesty. And what about the potential runoff of pesticide into the salt marsh and Sound down the hill or eventual entry into the sole source aquifer below the farm.

The trees the Boy Scouts planted across the highway on the Navy property years ago are now obscuring much of the view from the highway overlook. But the splendid views both east and west from the open fields on the farm remain. There are plenty of places around here to walk on paths through the woods, but almost nowhere else to walk in lovely open fields filled with birds, wild flowers and life.

I’m certain that the Port of Coupeville has to look after their budget and the future of the farm. However, I think that the open fields are an absolute part of the appeal of the Greenbank Farm for most of the people of Whidbey Island, not just the interests of the merchants and agricultural endeavors there.

I thought the farm was for the use of the people. Hey, we’re the people!

Martin Schmidt

Coupeville