Randian Concept Of Value

On Page 16 of her ethics book, The Virtues of Selfishness, Ayn Rand offers that the only fundamental alternative in the universe is existence or nonexistence. Rand the atheist and materialistic monist offers that matter alone exists permanently, while flora and fauna live and then die, a more active form of temporary existence and nonexistence. Rand, the grand secular humanist, is going to tie her definition of value to human existence, and I like her take on things: "It is only the concept of 'Life' that makes the concept of 'Value' possible. It is only to a living entity that things can be good or evil." My response: plants, animals, rocks, dirt and water likely possess little or no free agency, so their actions are not praiseworthy or blameworthy. Only conscious, free-willing humans can make choices, only their actions can be valued as good or evil, as praiseworthy or blameworthy.