Supporter Spotlight

About six years ago, Maya moved from Chicago to Blachly, a small town in the Coastal Mountains of Oregon. She was looking for an opportunity to live closer to the land: “I wanted to observe nature,” she says. “To learn from nature, and to appreciate the intelligence behind nature.”

Since then, Maya has channeled her passion for the natural world into a successful organic farm, where she grows apples, pears, cherries, plums, blueberries, and root vegetables.

But Maya was saddened when she learned that, near her home, toxic pesticides were being used by the timber industry. When she began to notice a correlation between the pesticide spraying and her health, Maya started taking action.

“There’s a lot of false science out there,” she says, “but I know when pesticides are affecting my health”

She started asking questions about local pesticide spraying, going to public meetings, and working with other activists to stop the spraying. That’s when Maya discovered NCAP. She’s been a supporter ever since.

In spite of the challenges she’s faced, Maya remains optimistic. She’s confident that local activists and organizations like NCAP can overcome the pesticide industry and create a safer, healthier world for future generations. But she also knows that change doesn’t happen overnight: “Activists need to have faith in their vision, and they need to keep focused on their goals. We can prevail, but it will take patience and perseverance.”