Every day we are engaged in a miracle that we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves ... our own two eyes. All is a miracle.
--Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk, peace activist

NATURE

One of the things that makes Greater Washington so beautiful is the region’s abundance of open space—a network of forest and farmland that, seen from above, looks like a great “green necklace.” This habitat for local wildlife, including many rare or endangered species, keeps our air clean and provides space for recreation and parklands. One of the first areas farmed in the United States, the region today produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables—and making such produce readily available is instrumental in fighting obesity, which cost the nation $117 million in 2000 and will soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of death in the US. But times are tough for local farmers, who typically recoup less than ten cents of every food dollar, forcing many to sell their land to developers. Each year thousands of acres are developed, and streets, waterproof rooftops, and parking lots are built, threatening another local treasure--the Chesapeake Bay watershed--which relies on the “green filter” of forests and farmlands to stay clean. The organizations featured here all work to preserve our region’s natural beauty by saving something big—our priceless green necklace—or introducing people to something small—the simple pleasure of eating fresh food. Typically, environmental charities receive only 3% of our philanthropic dollars. You may want to change that.