LAND: What we’re losing

People talk about progress like it’s a promise, not a trade. But we are giving up something irreplaceable. The rich, loamy fields that shaped this region aren’t just background scenery. They are the root of a way of life — one grounded in self-sufficiency, hard work, and connection to the land. And once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

I recently had to give up my beloved fainting goats. I loved them, but I couldn’t afford the hay anymore. The prices are sky-high and the supply is scarce. That’s not just the economy — it’s a direct result of bulldozers pushing out pastures in favor of developments.

The fields that once grew an abundance of hay, and other animal-rearing essentials, are now covered in vinyl siding, sprinkler systems, and cul-de-sacs. What once fed animals now feeds growth.

We’re not just losing space. We’re losing heritage. And once you scrape away that soil and pour the concrete, there’s no going back.

I’m not against growth. But I am against thoughtless sprawl that treats farmland as empty space — when in reality, it’s the foundation of our community.

Rathdrum and nearby towns are changing fast. Too fast. And we need to stop and ask: What kind of North Idaho do we want in 10 years?

Because if we don’t, we may soon realize we didn’t just build on the land — we buried a way of life beneath it.

JENNIFER EASTMAN

Idaho-lifer, raised in Rathdrum