Not a Rose Garden: The Work Illinois Needs

I grew up in a family where tending a garden was part of the daily routine. I suppose it was only natural because both of my parents grew up on farms. Anyone related to a farmer knows that once a farmer, always a farmer…even if you live in the suburbs. Tilling, planting, weeding, watering, and at last, harvesting, is a sacred annual ritual that satisfies the body and soul. Despite the, at times, back breaking work, a garden draws you in because one can’t help but be amazed at the wonder of how plants grow and appreciate how they provide. The relationship between a garden and its caretaker is meaningful: If you take care of it, it will take care of you. 

The wonder and love for plants, nature, and our human relationship with it were planted (yes, pun intended) in me, and I was eager to learn more—which is why I studied Botany and Environmental Science in college. One highlight of my college career was working as an intern at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There, I was assigned to the Oak Woodland and the Prairie. At first I was jealous of the interns who were working in the glamorous bulb, English, rose, or Japanese gardens. Those gardens were always packed with visitors and photographers. Fewer people came to visit the Oak Woodland or Prairie. Also, the work was more difficult in my assignment. The goal was to restore these spaces to their natural state. Day after day I pulled invasive species, dragged piles of buckthorn to burn, and chopped down trees stealing light from the understory. Definitely not glamorous work. However the education I received about our natural Illinois ecosystems during that time was far more valuable than learning which colors of roses compliment each other. During that summer, my appreciation and love for our rare and precious land took root.

Thanks to our natural prairies, which were rejuvenated by frequent fires, Illinois acquired the richest soil on the planet. Illinois land also served as natural sponges and filtration systems, keeping our water fresh and clean. While we are thankful this soil has given us bountiful crops over the years, unfortunately, only 1% of Illinois' original natural space still exists (ranking 49th in the country). 

I am not a candidate that cares to linger on the negative. Nor am I the candidate that shames us for choices we made in the past.  But I am the candidate that is willing to address an issue head on and set the bar higher for the future of Illinois. As the saying goes, when you know better, you do better. Knowing that Illinois’ depleted natural spaces are critical for the proper functioning of our water, air, and wildlife systems, we must prioritize their resurgence. However, I am also a realist and know that we need food, jobs, and economic growth. We need leadership that values the importance of both. I am the candidate who has faith that Illinois can succeed at improving our state’s economy while giving the care our land deserves.

The real work that needs to be done in Springfield is not that of a rose garden. It is that of a prairie which at first glance is not as beautiful, but is rich in purpose. My commitment is to a future where we cultivate economic prosperity while restoring the natural foundation that makes Illinois great, because the health of our land and the prosperity of our people are inextricably linked.