The Ground Beneath Us: Earth Health Is Human Health
By Amy Kohanski, Project Director
Happy Earth Day! When you think about your health, you probably think about what you eat, how much you move, maybe your blood pressure. This Earth Day, we want to zoom out. The health of the environment around us has a direct impact on the health of our bodies, and here in the North Country, we see that connection every day.
It starts with the ground. Regenerative farming practices focus on building soil health rather than depleting it, and they are gaining ground across our region. These practices reduce or eliminate the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which require fossil fuels to manufacture and ship and leave residues in the food we eat. Glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S., has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization and is banned or restricted in dozens of countries. Supporting farmers who use healthier growing methods is one of the most direct things we can do for our own health.
Fresh and local matters, too. Fruits and vegetables lose nutrients the moment they are harvested, so the shorter the distance from farm to plate, the more you actually get. Shopping at local farms, joining a CSA, or visiting a farmers’ market supports our economy and gives you access to food at its most nutritious. The Heart Network partners with the Adirondack Food System Network to strengthen food access across the region, because where our food comes from matters as much as what it is.
We’re fortunate to live inside the Adirondack Park, six million acres of protected land whose forests filter our air and produce the oxygen we breathe. Saranac Lake became known in the late 1800s as a place where tuberculosis patients came to heal. The prescription was simple: fresh, clean mountain air. More than a century later, that prescription still holds. Our forests, wetlands, and open spaces are not just recreational resources. They are public health assets.
Clean water may be the most important resource of all. Thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams run through the North Country, providing drinking water, fish habitat, and recreation that supports local economies. Our bodies are roughly 60 percent water, so protecting our waterways from pollution and runoff isn’t abstract. It’s personal.
There’s a lesson in biodiversity, too. Monoculture is vulnerable to pests, disease, and extreme weather. Diverse ecosystems are more resilient. The same is true for our diets. A colorful, seasonal plate mirrors the kind of diversity that keeps ecosystems healthy and adaptable.
The Get Healthy North Country Healthy Living program encourages you to get outside and move your body, in whatever way works best for you. This is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and take time for yourself. These simple acts help you remember that you are not separate from nature. You ARE nature.
This Earth Day, take that to heart. Buy from a local farm or join a CSA. Visit a farmers’ market this week and try something new. Go for a walk, a paddle, or just sit outside and breathe. Talk to your kids about why taking care of the land takes care of us, too. Our health and the health of this place have always been connected.
