houses in the fields

yesterday we drove to the farm, where there is almost 200 acres of wild, green hollows and hills. jacob's grandparents bought it many years ago for less than a quarter of what it is worth today. the developers are paying big bucks now for the lush country hills between franklin and leipers fork. after the land owners are payed a handsome sum, the property is torn up and cookie cutter houses are erected. corner pharmacies pop up alongside strip malls. they build and build until they have all the targets, walmarts and eckerds the land can hold. i am reminded of a john gorka song where he sadly sings "developers pay better than the corn, but this is not the place where they were born."
it seems no field or forest is safe. where will we go when our conveniences fail us? what will we do? where will our children play? i can have comfort knowing the farm will never be sold, and our kids will grow up with the magic of nature surrounding them. at least we have the power to do that much.