By Greg Swarz

When you drive by a hayfield, your eyes register the pastoral view. Maybe you vaguely think about your neighbor who works so hard to make hay, or the cow who eats it. You might even think about the relation of this hay to the beef you eat or the milk you drink. But most likely, you think of this field simply as a hayfield.

If you get out of your car to look more closely, you might be surprised by what you find. Of course there is grass, but what kind? Orchard grass? Timothy? And what about the clover, dandelion, yellow dock, and plantain? Lying in the field for a few minutes you start to see and hear the many insects buzzing about, birds flitting from hedgerow to sky. Soon woodchucks wobble from the perimeters and eventide brings the deer from their daybeds. And below all that, below the green and discernible sod, that’s where the interesting part of the hayfield begins. Take a shovel and turn the sod over—you might see a few worms or grubs. Take a handful of the soil, smell it. One handful of soil contains an average of one billion living organisms. Beyond the easily seen (like the worms) there are the invisibles: countless kinds of nematodes, fungi and bacteria. These fauna are the reason for the soil’s fecundity and they all live together in an amazingly complex community. Their existence and their relationships create the environment for plants, trees and animals to grow.

This handful of soil, incomprehensible and elegant, teeming with life, does not exist on all farms. Petrochemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides and herbicides kill much of this soil life. These chemicals, coupled with a mania for growing large fields of one plant species year after year (monoculture) has destroyed unfathomable amounts of soil. This model has become widespread in the last century in the pursuit of increased short-term profits.

Thoughtful organic farmers go to great lengths to protect and nurture soil and the larger ecosystem. Organic farming is a creative engagement with all of the life processes on the farm. It takes the long view: an organic farm preserves our natural resources for future generations while providing for the current one. Beyond the ecological benefits, responsibly managed farms produce healthy and safe food. From healthy soil comes healthy crops. Why then would we not take better care of the soil, not only to benefit the health of the ecosystem but also the health of humans?

I wonder if we can transfer the same ethic of care and holistic thinking of organic farming to the creative development of our community. Acknowledge our diversity and complexity. Seek to understand people’s needs, and how those needs relate to each other. Bolster symbiotic relationships. Limit the harms of antagonistic relationships without trying to eliminate them. Take advantage of our resources while preserving them for future generations.

For a strong Upper Delaware River community we should focus on the development of a strong local economy. For example, buy from your local baker, chairmaker or main street business owner, or start a new business which adds value to the community. We could easily grow all of our own food in this region if people wanted to do that work, and if the community supported those farmers. There would be more jobs on the farm, in agricultural support businesses, and more healthy food. A brisk local economy does not have to rely on outside investment. Rejoining local demand with local supply would create many meaningful jobs.

This isn’t touchy-feely economics. It is an intelligent way to help guarantee that people have what they need to thrive, that we don’t ship profits to faraway entities, that we incorporate quality of life measures beyond salaries into our decisions. It is also planning for a future when the earth will again become small, when global transport of goods will be curtailed by the finite resources of the planet. That day doesn’t have to be doomsday. That day can be a coming home. And we can start coming home today.

(After many years of working on different farms in Sullivan County, Greg Swartz is starting his own diversified farm in Abrahamsville, PA. He is currently the Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, www.nofany.org )

This bi-weekly column is a part of a valley-wide initiative to encourage an engaged citizenry. For a complete archive of visioning statements and for more about the visioning initiative visit upperdelaware.com.

October 29, 2009 WES GILLINGHAM: The Catskills' future is up to us September 3, 2009 JEFFREY MOORE: Destroying it won't 'save'it August 6, 2009 BARBARA LEWIS: Trees: a legacy and a future July 9, 2009 SARAH CUTLER: Share the road June 11, 2009 SUSAN SCOTT: The democratization of information May 14, 2009 MICHAEL CHOJNICKI: A turning point April 16, 2009 JOHN CONWAY: Dual-mode transportation March 19,2009 KEITH LEPAN: NY H2O February 19, 2009 JEFFREY SEEDS: One-sidedness January 17, 2009 TOM HOLMES: Taking back the power December 25, 2008 TINA PALACEK: When a community is really a family November 27, 2008 STEPHANIE TURNER: Gas drilling from a realtor's perspective October 30, 2008 SUSAN SULLIVAN: From visiong to reality: the role of local government October 2, 2008 MARY BETH WOOD: Investing in career and technical education September 4, 2008 JOE LEVINE: When compromise is a recipe for disaster August 7, 2008 VIDAL MARTINEZ: The Upper Delaware experience July 10, 2008 WES GILLINGHAM: Sticking together June 12, 2008 LINDA COBB: The Harmony Project May 15, 2008 Barbara Arrindell: Looking back April 17, 2008 JO CLEARWATER: Welcome to the new world March 20, 2008 JONATHAN F. ROUIS: Out of many, one February 21, 2008 MIKE URETSKY: Mired in gas January 24, 2008 Some visionaries look at 2008 October 4, 2007 Greg Swarz: Coming Home September 6, 2007 Jim Serio: Educating the Delaware River Basin August 9, 2007 Stephanie Streeter: Still endangered? July 26, 2007 Molly Rodgers: Be informed, be connected July 12, 2007 Brad Krumholz: The landscape mind June 28, 2007 John Bunting: Milk price and power June 14, 2007 Brian Smith: It's time to work and worry May 31, 2007 Carol Roig: Celebrating history close to home May 17, 2007 Debbie Smorto: Be a part of the solution April 19, 2007 Robert Dadras: Creating a new direction for Sullivan County April 5, 2007 Dave Williams: Save your local dairy farm March 22, 2007 R.A. Dubensky: Losing our future March 8, 2007 Dave Williams: Save your local dairy farm February 22, 2007 Troy Bystrom: Conserve to preserve February 8, 2007 Alegra Jennings: Do you see what I see? January 18, 2007 Amy Gruzesk: A new alliance for business in Pike January 11, 2007 Grace Wildermuth: Our rural environment must be preserved December 28, 2006 John Jose: Meeting the challenges of stormwater management December 14, 2006 Daniel Kennedy: Making memories in Pike County November 30, 2006 Stephen Stuart: Sustainable Solutions November 16, 2006 Linda Cobb: The Harmony Project November 2, 2006 Judy Harlan: What municipalities can do about flooding October 19, 2006 Samuel Jackson: Walking the talk October 5, 2006 Jay Epstein: The foundations of a viable plan September 14, 2006 Tom Kane: The clean water act September 7, 2006 Skip Mendler: A community of communities August 24, 2006 FREDERICA LEIGHTON: Flood reality: vision or the lack of it August 10, 2006 DICK RISELING: A vision of actions July 27, 2006 PAT CARULLO AND MARCIA NEHEMIAH: Red plus blue equals green July 13, 2006 Neal Halloran: Greenway: a program whose time has come June 29, 2006 Steven Sharoff: Strong visions can change the world June 15, 2006 Heinrich Strauch: Cooking up a vision June 1, 2006 Jennifer C.S. Brylinski: The IDA keeps to its vision May 18, 2006 Norma and Bob Santee: Maintaining our environment May 4, 2006 Don Parry: The “vision thing” April 20, 2006 Joe Walsh: Keeping farms a mainstay of Sullivan County April 6, 2006 Heather Brown: Why I came here, and what keeps me here March 23, 2006 Pat Carullo: We are with the program March 09, 2006 Helen Budrock: The power of proactive thinking February 23, 2006 Carol Collier: A basin-wide collaboration February 9, 2006 Barbara Leo: A birding trail for the Upper Delaware January 26, 2006 Virginia Kennedy: Our vision—economic and environmental sustainability January 12, 2006 Tom Zeterburg: At the crossroads of two rivers December 29, 2005 Sally Corrigan: Hallmarks of a successful community December 15, 2005 “Better Models for Development” scores a hit - a compilation by Tom Kane and the Visioning Committee December 1, 2005 Brian Stuart: Protecting an amazing backyard resource November 17, 2005 John LiGreci: The need for a master plan November 3, 2005 Tom Kane: The need for intelligent land use practices October 20, 2005 Michael Chojnicki: The need for intelligent land use practices October 6, 2005 Alan Schadt: The Town of Highland through a crystal ball September 22, 2005 Ernie Mattern: Comprehensive Planning in Damascus September 8, 2005 Jerry DaBrescia: Visioning in Hancock August 25, 2005 Neal Halloran: Ways to secure open space August 11, 2005 Clem Fullerton: Flow woes August 11, 2005 Tom Kane: Options for preserving open space July 28, 2005 Charlie Buterbaugh: Fishing Days Gone July 28, 2005 George Fluhr: What's special about this place June 30, 2005 Tom Kane: There are many visions in the river valley June 30, 2005 Mary Curtis: My vision for the Upper Delaware River June 16, 2005 Sarah Sutto-Plunz: It depends on us June 16, 2005 Green buildings: a healthy revolution in the construction industry June 2, 2005 Pat Carullo: If horses can fly, rivers can speak! May 19, 2005 Laurie Stuart: A view from the ridge April 21, 2005 Rosie Starr: Preserving the Beauty of the Delaware River Valley April 7, 2005 Robert Burrow: Developing a plan takes study March 24, 2005 Tom Kane: Comprehensive Plan: The Key to the Future March 10, 2005 Katharine Dodge: We have a choice: aggressiveness or fairness February 24, 2005 Editorial: A tide in the affairs of men February 24, 2005 Jim Greier: Let’s not put our eggs in one basket February 10, 2005 Elliot Zucker: A voice for private property rights January 27, 2005 Steve Daley : Visions of business growth and home ownership January 13, 2005 Laura Quigley : Living and working in the land of plenty December 30, 2004 Dr. Martin Handler : My list of visions December 16, 2004 Dr. Bruce Getzan : Bringing harmony to contrasting visions December 2, 2004 Sally Talaga : Visioning’s first step November 18, 2004 Michele Ulmer : Be involved before it’s too late November 4, 2004 Marcia Nehemiah: It's all about the river October 21, 2004 John Drobysh: Balancing preservation with property rights October 7, 2004 Jeffrey Moore: Raising the standards in the river valley September 23, 2004 Dimitri Zaimes: The right and wrong of the Upper Delaware September 9, 2004 Frederica Leighton: Combining hindsight, foresight, present awareness and action August 26, 2004 Krista Gromalski: Turning the Conversation Up August 12, 2004 Jo Clearwater: Visioning July 29, 2004 Noel Van Swol: What about Property Rights? July 15, 2004 Cindy Wildermuth: A call for stewardship July 1, 2004 Tom Kane: Taking stock of the visioning process June 17, 2004 Dick Riseling: Sustainability and justice is at the heart of vision June 3, 2004 Peter Pinchot: Exurban sprawl or livable communities?