By Madi Kennedy – October 2025 Newsletter

In my life, as time marches on everything speeds up so fast that there’s times that I wonder where the meaning in life is. Working, earning, eating, taking care of my family day-by-day, all while living in a world that feels like it’s on fire can lead to it all taking on a surreal quality. As I ponder the meaning of my existence, I ask myself – am I doing enough in my little corner of the world? When I reach the end of my days will I look back and think, well I certainly gave it my best shot to be a good human?

For those of us who pay attention to the actual earth on which we stand, which ultimately gives us all life, we know that we are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction of animals on the planet. Our wild lands are being stripped down, developed for businesses, residential areas, mined or logged. Their trees chopped down and wild life/inhabitants displaced or killed at rates that continue to accelerate. Scientists tell us that we are today using up our grandchildren’s resources. Pay any mind to the news and we all can see environmental regulations and funding for our national parks pulled back weekly it seems.

I know I’m not alone when I say that in the face of the enormity of it all I can feel powerless. I hear others express this same idea and feeling over and over again. Like nothing we can do as a single person matters. This sense of powerlessness can dramatically impact the quality of our health; mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially. Our communities and even families have been incrementally fractured by industrialization, capitalism, technology/screens, the drugs/substances and behaviors we use to try and cope with a rapidly changing world that places ever more demands on our time. As a result, coming together with others in community to address the challenges of our day can feel that much more impossible.

Yet again, when I pay close attention, I notice these small and large groups of intentional, kind, caring humans who come together to make the world a little brighter. Brightening both our own inner worlds, elevated by the dopamine, oxytocin and other feel-good chemicals and hormones our body rewards us with when we commit acts of service/kindness, and the world at large. Groups, organizations, collaboratives and associations working tirelessly to stymie the waves of indifference and destruction those of us who are awake see all around us. Save the Pine Bush was just such a group, with a name that resonated since I had spent many calm, soul-nurturing days walking or snow shoeing in the Pine Bush over the years. The Pine Bush was close by one of my first places of employment and I was always curious about its lovely, peaceful and natural existence in an otherwise heavily developed area.

My own journey with Save the Pine Bush, fondly referred to as SPB, started about a year ago when I came across a social media post from a fellow advocate about a proposed solar farm that would essentially destroy acres of Pine Bush habitat. I’d been looking for ways to give back locally to the land, so I asked my friend who posted if he knew more about the issue or who was doing something about it. He pointed me to Lynne Jackson, one of the volunteers of a group of dedicated “volunteers” who have been speaking out, educating on and advocating for the Pine Bush at town meetings for over 40 years. They won (and lost) many lawsuits over developments in the Pine Bush. There would be no Pine Bush left today if it were not for SPB. SPB volunteers are lawyers, geologists, concerned community members from the areas surrounding the Pine Bush, and/or environmentalists like me. The issue of Pine Bush depletion also struck a chord in me since I grew up in nearby Latham and watched over time as many of the fields, meadows and forests around us slowly were destroyed by strip malls, residential housing and box stores.

I have to wonder if anyone reading this article is like me and would benefit from connecting with a group of people aligned around a goal of…to put it simply, helping out? In my time with SPB I have served lasagna at one of our famous (and delicious) lasagna dinners featuring a presentation by an incredible ecologist and activist, Al Hicks of Citizens Climate Lobby (another group I volunteer with!). I have attended Guilderland Town Hall meetings to show support for SPBs efforts and am working up my nerve to speak at one of the meetings when comments are allowed from the public…next time may be it! I also help promote SPB activities on social media and am now working to recruit some volunteers.

The time required of me is super manageable even with my busy schedule, maybe 2-4 hours a month give or take. SPB is filled with volunteers who are thoughtful, supportive and highly educated about the local ecosystems and ways to advocate to preserve it. I see volunteering as a great educational opportunity for younger folks looking to gain experience in grassroots, environmental advocacy, mapping, ecology. Or a gentle opportunity to give back for adults of any age. Not to mention it being a way to meet new and likeminded people. If you’d like to check us out, please contact Lynne Jackson at lynnejackson@mac.com. I’m also happy to answer any questions you might have about my experience as a volunteer: madelineskennedy@gmail.com