Have you ever driven on the country roads that are woven between the suburbs of Dayton? If so, you’ve seen the green fields that span as far as the eye can see. Maybe you’ve thought: wow, that’s a lot of corn. Perhaps you’ve seen fields, not of corn, but of livestock…horses and cows, for example. Have you ever wondered about those who keep our grocery stores stocked with the items we require to sustain ourselves and the environment?
In a world of immediacy and the ability to hide behind a screen, it’s less appealing to practice what you preach unless the benefits are on-the-spot. Farmers risk a lot to make a difference, and can be left uncertain if their productivity will lead to sustainable profit. Take a look at how local farmers are making a critical impact on society from their own acres, which, more often than not, double as their backyard.
First, The Clarion spoke with Jeff Pansing from Majestic Nursery, located in West Alexandria, Ohio. In addition to his impressive background in horticulture landscaping, Pansing grows a variety of crops on his farm including several acres of corn, soybeans, and pumpkins.
In the fall, Majestic Nursery is transformed into a farmer’s market, which includes a seven-acre pumpkin patch and a 15-acre corn maze.
“We’ve been doing this for 27 years, and those we saw as children now bring their children. It’s like a tradition for families to come to the farm, and it develops a community,” Pansing said.
An expansive pumpkin display. Photo Credit: Majestic Nursery & Gardens
Unfortunately, however, there is a steady decline in the amount of individuals going into the business of agriculture, which means that there will be less and less places for people to find local, organic products. Pansing is hoping that in the future, there will be a better understanding of and appreciation for agriculture.
“So many people are very far removed from agriculture. When people think of food they think of grocery stores, but they don’t realize the role that agriculture plays in putting food in grocery stores. Also, crop inputs are a concern because the expenses and farmers’ costs discourage young people from going into the business. Climate change is also a huge concern for the future of agriculture,” he said.
Perhaps what is even more concerning, Jeff Pansing pointed out, is the extreme hunger and poverty that occurs right here in Dayton without most of us being aware of it. By partnering with various food banks such as Miami Valley Meals and Society of St. Andrew, Pansing was able to donate several thousand pounds of crops.
“In the last year, we have been able to donate 2581 lbs of squash, which accounts for 15,000 servings of food,” he said.
This goes to show that even with the piling of expenses that it takes to run and maintain a farm, these philanthropists are constantly finding ways to give back to the community, which ultimately underscores the fact that without farmers…there is no food.
Majestic Nursery grows an enormous variety of mums and daylilies. Photo Credit: Majestic Nursery & Gardens
In addition to farmers markets, there are horse farms, dairy farms, grain farms, and so much more. In a small corner of West Dayton, there is an educational farm called the Learning Tree Farm. This community of educators, volunteers, and people who care about the land and animals are teaching our youth about nature; Earth; our home, while helping save it one acre at a time.
The Learning Tree Farm was started fifty years ago by two elementary school teachers: Sally Keyes and Jean Ryan. What started as a small program that hosted a few hundred students a year, has since grown into a community that sees several thousand students from over one-hundred schools, in addition to having their own Nature Preschool. The Clarion spoke with Jean Ryan to understand more about the diverse roles of farms.
“We discovered that kids were out of touch with the outdoors, where their food came from, and they had never seen animals up close. It was the kids who inspired us because we would take them on field trips to parks and on bike hikes. All the teachers realized that we needed to get kids outdoors more, we actually had no intention of starting a farm,” Ryan said.
In realizing that children were having difficulty learning in the confined space of the classroom, and after searching for land to potentially use as a space for learning, plans for the Learning Tree Farm took root. With the help of friends, family, and the community, it all started coming together.
A sweet piglet looks forward to greeting all the kids. Photo Credit: Macey Heys
“We got children outdoors and they could discover bird nests or a tree struck by lightning. They were really smart kids but they couldn’t learn in that traditional setting. We wanted to get them to make connections with what they were trying to learn in the classroom with what was outside, so they could see the real thing,” she said.
However, the farm is much more than about learning, it’s also about escape. Ryan explained that, each year, more and more families came out to the farm. Often, to remove themselves from the fast-paced-ness of life.
She said, “For a lot of people it’s a nice getaway because they’re so bombarded with electronics, and just distracted from life.”
With greater distraction in our lives, it can be difficult to prioritize what truly matters.
“Agriculture is our life. If agriculture goes, then we go. Especially with bees; if the bees go, we go. That was another reason for starting the farm; if we put kids in touch with the land, they’d respect it. This goes for adults too,” Ryan said.
Concerns for the business of agriculture and maintaining a farm are the same today as they were fifty years ago. Plus, with worsening climate change and insufficient leadership, concerns nowadays are even greater.
The Bank Barn pasture hosts cows, sheep, goats, pigs, and ducks. Photo Credit: Macey Heys
“We saw land being gobbled up by the acre back in the sixties. Even though the farm is just one little corner, we wanted to save some land. It’s depriving wildlife of their habitats,” she said.
On the other hand, with more resources and advanced technology, there is hope yet that agriculture, in the future, has the ability to go in the opposite direction than what we’re seeing today, and that more people will feel the need to protect nature from being destroyed by human greed.
Ryan said, “People are becoming more aware of the fact that land is being destroyed, and they are trying to preserve it. The same with alternative energy; wind and solar energy is getting more developed. Also, the farm is a part of the conservation easement, which ensures that this land will always be kept in green space.”
Next time you’re driving through the country, when you look out at the fields, remember the small, yet vital role these hard working individuals play in keeping Earth and its inhabitants alive. A single person with an idea has the chance to have a positive impact in this world and on others’ lives, will you be that person?
Macey Heys, Managing Editor