A Space-Time Gram from 2076

What a coincidence. The same week that Earth Month starts, NASA’s Artemis mission is heading out to explore the moon, following a 50-year hiatus. Plus ACES receives a Space-Time Gram from 50-years in the future. It comes from the grandson of an early 21st century climate and environmental steward and ACES alumnus, a native New Englander, who now (2076) lives on Mars.

Here is this very relevant insight about how many contributed to early efforts to safeguard the wellbeing of current and future generations.

“Dear early ACES members and the many other Merrimack Valley environmental stewards back on Earth. First, congratulations on the 300 the anniversary of the USA. You made it, working collaboratively, and you saved the earth. Our Environmental Sustainability Club that was launched on Mars in 2050 wants to recognize you and your many municipalities and stewardship communities for your forethought in planting all those varieties of walnut and hazel nut trees and other native vegetation throughout the Merrimack River Watershed beginning in 2026 that have now reached maturity

In addition to stabilizing your fields and river banks, reforested areas have served you as a tourism draw as mushroom foraging classes seek out the cool shade and tasty proteins to bring home for dinner. Their wood has also matured enough to harvest some it and furniture making is being taught in local trade schools, where people are coming to the see the furniture exhibitions in Amesbury’s furniture museum. Numerous, local Pollinator Gardens have allowed many species to thrive. It took a lot of patience and long-term thinking to be planting trees for future generations, even as your own times were struggling with pollution from fossil fuels and microplastics in your air and water.

Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t express our appreciation for dedication of numerous ACES Allies, Advisors, Partners and Resources toward ensuring a sustainable future. The restoration of the Merrimack River Watershed and its waterfronts by establishing “living shorelines” that catch silt and slow water flows as they clean the downriver flowing waters. The strategically selected set aside lands, lush vegetation, natural buffers, and thriving bird life and fish nurseries do all that while providing protection from flooding and erosion. It is important to note the value of the stretches of the Merrimack where people of the 2020’s first began establishing living shorelines. These are now favored picnic spots of 2076 where the black ducks and mallards swim in and the youth of your era now skim rocks across the water. The cleaner river water and revitalized ecosystems would amaze the leaders who first passed the Clean Water Act about 100 years ago during the 20th century.

And we should not fail to mention the leaders who facilitated community gardens in every Essex County and town. We wonder if the organizers and volunteers who established widespread community gardens fully envisioned how these gardens evolved into local food hubs, and community gathering spots along with the micro-farms that now exist and regenerative farming enriched with rich composting. And we hear via our occasional teleportation visitors that your harvest feasts are legendary.

These were not grand gestures by a few, but consistent, collective actions by the many as they had time and inspiration to turn hope for the future into action.

So, from your future alumni diaspora on Mars, please accept our deep gratitude for the foresight and care shown in 2026. Your work reinforced the idea that the present is always someone else’s future and just as 2026 planted for tomorrow, your future continues to plant forward, even as we are terraforming the land here on Mars.”

We invite you to stay updated on environmental matters by subscribing to our monthly newsletter on ACES’ website. Please consider joining our community of stewards committed to Make Every Day Earth Day and subscribe to our Instagram and Facebook.

This educational column was originally published by The Daily News of Newburyport on April 3, 2026.