It’s the count down to the Nov. 8th elections - not a pretty sight.  Vicious attacks, not only on the positions and policies of one’s opponent, but on his or her core values and moral character as well.  The more extreme the allocations become the more deeply the candidates’ supporters dig in reinforcing opinions they’ve already held about both their champion and the nefarious enemy.  It seems we’re all willing to bend our principles somewhat to rationalize the shortcomings of those we favor.  It made me wonder if there are any common, fundamental principles we folks of Southwest Wisconsin embrace – ones we’re not willing to bend.
             Recently, I briefly escaped the din of campaign noise, and in the quiet one such common principle became clear.  The opportunity came during a visit to an oasis of core values right here in Iowa County.
            Andy and Caitlyn Hatch of Uplands Cheese offered a small group of us a delightful tour of their operation.  Their award-winning, internationally recognized cheese is the physical embodiment of core values carefully nurtured.  These values stem from a reverential care for the land itself.  Rotationally grazed, chemical free, diverse with grasses, legumes and wildflowers, their carefully nurtured pasturelands are the foundation of a chain of production including raw milk, fresh curds, green cheese and in time an aged product noted for its excellence.  A simple, yet profound progression that respectfully works in harmony with nature’s rhythms.
            While on the tour I had the additional good fortune to strike up a conversation with Gary Zimmer, one of the founders of Midwestern BioAg.  It’s not too surprising that he would be visiting folks like the Hatches.  Three decades ago Gary developed an agricultural approach know as “biological farming.” Like the operation at Uplands Cheese this method begins with the soil.  Balancing chemistry, biology and soil structure with the rhythms of the land creates rich earth brimming with life and improves both crop yields and food quality.
            Here in this profoundly beautiful corner of Wisconsin regardless of political persuasion we folks of the driftless area do indeed share core values.  They include a respect for the very earth we stand on, the soil that provides us sustenance.  It’s our joy and our responsibility to nurture it as it has nurtured us.  After all, where else are we to go?  We’re here forever… Earthbound.

           You’ve undoubtedly been there many times.  It’s the intersection with the burger, taco and pizza restaurants.  Down the block sit the chain motel, big box store, and national-brand pharmacy.  Throw in a car dealership around the corner, and you’ve arrived.  Welcome to Anywhere, U.S.A.!   Traveling though the Driftless Area one can find isolated pockets that fit this profile.  And when in need of certain amenities the afore-mentioned facilities are quite convenient.  But we here in Southwest Wisconsin have been given a special gift.  We’re blessed to live in the Driftless Area, a unique place that’s definitely not just Anywhere, U.S.A.
 
            So what is the Driftless Area?  It’s 16,000 sq. miles of unique geology that was left untouched when the last glacial advance covered much of the upper Midwest.  While surrounding land was scraped, flattened and littered with glacial debris by mile high ice sheets, this area was unscathed allowing erosion to slowly carve out valleys and coulees leaving stone capped river bluffs, rolling hills and (Blue) mounds.  It’s a stunning landscape that harbors unique ecological niches. 
 
            The Driftless Area is internationally recognized as the largest contiguous fish and wildlife habitat in the Upper Mississippi River basin.  World-class spring-fed trout streams, a landscape ideal for organic agriculture, a rich history including some of the first non-natives in Wisconsin, flourishing artistic and religious communities, and a picturesque landscape from every vantage point - it’s no wonder we love this place.  We’re fortunate to call it home.  But a rapidly changing world presents us with both challenges and opportunities that threaten these distinctive characteristics that draw and hold us here.
 
            Energy production and distribution is one such challenge / opportunity.   Examples of new energy saving and production technology are springing up all around us like Richland Electric Co-op’s new photo-voltaic (PV) installation.  Although it sits perched on a sunny hilltop its low, snug profile is reminiscent of the architecture of Frank Llyod Wright, an icon of the Driftless Area.  The 1,700 PV panels barely graze the horizon and meld with the landscape.  Organic, locally sourced, unobtrusive, clean electrical generation – it’s a path to a future that incorporates the special qualities of the Driftless Region yet powers us into the future.  We can preserve this unique landscape, and indeed, we have a responsibility to do so because this is our only home.  We’re here forever… Earthbound. 

      “Bubbles” Popalottofem swaggered across the darkened room to the far corner where a single glaring bulb swung ominously over a slumping figure.  Bubbles’ boys had picked up Bea N. Counter, head economist for Carbonxcess Oil Co., as she left the office that night.  Now she sat captive, waiting for the worst.

     Years ago Bubbles made a fortune in royalties off Lawrence Welk’s bubble machine.  Then he moved into the bubble gum and soap bubble market.  Recently Bubbles slipped into the lucrative bubble bath business.  Never satisfied, he was itching to muscle into a whole new field.  He knew Ms. Counter could scratch that itch.  She had the scoop on all the right numbers.

     “All right Counter, cough ‘em up,” growled Bubbles.

     “But I’m not suppose to tell about RE…doh!” Counter whimpered.

     “RE, eh?” Bubbles blurted, “Spill it Counter. What’s this RE business?”

     “Alright, alright I’ll talk.  Look, we at Carbonxcess have known for a long time that 97% of climate scientists agree that burning fossil fuels is dangerously warming the planet. We’ve done our best to obscure and cast doubt about that number.  But let’s face it; it’s out there.  Now here’s the kicker.  What most people don’t know is that the New York University School of Law found that 84% of us economists agree that this warming presents a significant threat to both the US and global economies.  Here in the Midwest agriculture, fishing, insurance and health services are most likely to be severely affected.

     “But get this; 98% of economists agree that a market-based solution putting a price on carbon could significantly reduce emissions while spurring development in RE – Renewable Energy.  You know, the RE industry usually generates more jobs than fossil fuels production does.  So if we increased RE by 25% by the year 2025 we’d add over 200,000 new jobs,” revealed Counter.

     “You’re not going to tell that I squealed are you?” begged Counter.  “Carbonxcess wants these numbers kept secret so people think the only path to prosperity is through fossil fuels when actually they pose a clear risk to the financial health of our country.”

     “Don’t worry pal,” gloated Bubbles.  “I’ll be hush-hush while I begin quietly investing in RE.  And you know what?  I’ll be helping the planet too.  Like my dear old mother says, ‘We got no other place to go.  We’re stuck right here. Forever… Earthbound.’”