About 35 KFTC members joined Daymon Morgan on May 9 to protest plans by the International Coal Group to mine within a few hundred feet of his home on Lower Bad Creek in Leslie County.  They spoke out at an informal permit conference conducted by the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources.

    The testimony clearly showed that Daymon and his supporters value things that are not in ICG's consciousness.  Daymon talked about the mining that could take place directly across the creek from his garden — from which he gets much of his food — and how the silt would fill the creek and cause his garden to flood.  He talked about the dust and noise that would make life at home miserable and aggravate Betty's respiratory problems.

    Many of the people who spoke in support of Daymon and Betty (see their quotes below)  talked about the unique value of the Morgan's land, describing it as an "oasis"  that has benefitted people from all over the world who have visited to learn about native plants and their uses.

    When ICG representative Don Gibson spoke he said he did not even know what land Daymon was talking about, seemingly unaware that there might be human activity and people who cared about the land somewhere in their way.

What some others said at the permit conference

"Daymon's property is a haven for the environment. How much higher and better use can you do to what this man has done with his property?"              Larry Easterling

"Let's take into consideration the people who live down in

these hollows and not just worry about money."      John Roark

"I personally think this land should be made into some kind of land preserve for future generations."             Russell Oliver

"I want the property protected because of the educational
benefit it has to our community."        Carl Shoupe

"This man clearly has property that he loves and doesn't want mined, so I ask you to stop it."         Truman Hurt

"Last May I was a part of the author's tour that visited Daymon's property.  It's an oasis.  It's a nationally known oasis of forest, probably internationally known. I think we need some of these forests left in Kentucky."       Margaret Ricketts

"I'm one of Daymon's many friends across this country.  His property is a cultural resource for many people.  I know many people who would've like to here today and couldn't.  I'm here to represent them."            Susana Lein

"Daymon Morgan and his family are a Kentucky treasure worth far more than any of the coal beneath the mountains ... For once, can I pick up a newspaper and see a coal company filing suit against a state agency for vigorously protecting Kentucky?"          Doug Doerrfeld

"Daymon reminds me of my father and grandfather whose greatest joy was to rise early and go down to their garden.  It would be a shame to take away that joy at this stage in his life."          Fred Brown

"I personally think it would be morally wrong to destroy this man's life the way he's always lived it.  Daymon is a treasure to all of us and his property is a treasure."         Deanna Ulbert

"We have people who truly care about their land and  their friends land.  Maybe it's time we finally listen to them."        Dorsey Wagner

"This land is important to me and everyone who cares about the Appalachian culture."     statement read on behalf of Teri Blanton