Our New Bumper Sticker: Why “No Water No Farms No Food”?

“No Water No Farms No Food” is the more complete message because it restores water to its primary place of importance—to our farmers, to our springs, to ourselves, to our economy. (Scroll down to read more.)

Our New Bumper Sticker
Our New Bumper Sticker Designed by Palmstone Studios (Stewart Thomas & Nuriya Bechtel), Gainesville

Maybe you’ve seen them while you’re driving, those bumper stickers that say “No Farms No Food.” I doubt anyone would disagree with that logic, but that’s not the whole picture—especially when you consider that long-term trends show our groundwater levels throughout North Florida are declining. That decline is one of the things that worries those of us who are involved with trying to restore, protect and preserve the Ichetucknee, because those declining groundwater levels are hurting our springs and threatening the security of our drinking water supply.

For every foot that the level of fresh groundwater drops, the level of saltwater underneath rises by 40 feet. Yes, you read that right—40 feet. And saltwater intrusion into irrigation wells and drinking water wells is not a good thing—not good for farmers, and not good for any of the rest of us.

A better, more complete picture of our situation is conveyed by the message “No Water No Farms No Food,” because water is THE essential element that farmers need to grow healthy crops. Water is also THE essential element that’s needed by our springs and THE essential element that humans need to survive.

“No Water No Farms No Food” is the more complete message because it restores water to its primary place of importance—to our farmers, to our springs, to ourselves, to our economy.

Because they are the top layer of the Floridan aquifer that supplies our drinking water, our springs are the “canaries in a coal mine” that warn us of potential problems with our water supply—and our springs are screaming. The flip side of this situation, of course, is that if we can save the springs, we automatically save our aquifer and our water supply—for us and for our farmers. There are no solutions to our water problems without everyone’s help.

The “No Water No Farms No Food” bumper stickers are now available free of charge at the North Florida Springs Environmental Center in High Springs (23695 W. U.S. Highway 27) and Rum 138 (2070 SW County Road 138, Fort White—corner of CR 138 and Rum Island Terrace).