I am writing to respond to your February 6 article entitled, “‘Rural’ will guide comp plan.” I join fellow Powhatan folk in wanting a “rural atmosphere” in our county and look forward to seeing movement in that direction. Mr. Chandler is quoted as saying, “Sometimes defining what you want is a matter of figuring out what you don’t want.”

Mr. Chandler is accurately reflecting the county thought on the question of “rural atmosphere.” We think of that atmosphere as a lack of auto traffic, lack of commercial development, and less isolation of households. The problem with such thinking is that it concerns things that we, as a county, can’t really change.

There is another way to talk about “rural atmosphere.” That is, “a rural atmosphere” prevails when the citizens do rural things. We cannot remain suburbanites and rural folk at the same time. The former path will lead to further and further isolation between our neighbors and more and more runs to Midlothian or Richmond to do our shopping and our work.

What are some rural behaviors that will lead to a strong rural atmosphere? Here is what some are doing:

1. Equestrian folk do much to add to the rural atmosphere in our county because they are practicing animal husbandry.

2. The French family of Sunnyside Farms has set up very good summer vegetable stands, giving us an opportunity to buy good produce for a good price from a local person we know. (We can excuse the Cumberland Co. address the French family carries.)

3. Hertzler’s Farm and Feed maintains a farm and garden supply store catering to the makers of a rural atmosphere.

4. The few remaining farms in our county are holding on fast and we can appreciate their efforts which contribute to our “rural atmosphere.”

5. A few local farmers are growing cattle for meat sale. Their meat is not feed lot grown but rather grown on pasture and corn fed right here in our county.

What can a person do who is not a farmer and does not own a feed store? This is where most of us come in.

1. Buy fruits, vegetables, and meats from local growers. In doing so we have opportunity to meet local agriculturists, give prosperity to their agricultural endeavors and buy good foods. Spread the word when you find a grower or any agriculturist that has helped you.

2. Plant a garden or grow flowers on the roadside; improve your neighborhood by improving your place.

3. Take time to drink a cup of coffee with neighbors in our local eating establishments.

Finally, what can Powhatan County do to maintain a rural atmosphere?

1. Encourage the behaviors that are listed above.

2. Follow the example of Woodbury County, Iowa. When facing the same dilemmas we are facing, they encouraged local agriculturists by granting strong tax incentives to those who grow crops to sell locally and provide agricultural services in our county. Woodbury County undertook that approach and drew large numbers of people from the city close by to shop and spend their money in the county.

(See http://www.caff.org/programs/5Reasons.pdf and http://www.caff.org/programs/buylocal.shtml#whatbfbl)

3. Work in cooperation with Virginia Cooperative Extension Service to plan community building in agricultural endeavors (farm market, festivals, community-wide gardening events, etc.).

Action will trump “atmospherics” in community viability every time. I hope we will quit dreaming and start working: buy locally, be neighborly, grow something to sell, get out in the county, and get to know our neighbors. Perhaps, also, our county leaders will begin to look at what they can do to build a rural, prosperous county with plenty of “rural atmosphere.”

Pres Nowlin
Powhatan, VA