Hardwick, Vermont: An Example of A Sustainable Community
Hardwick, Vermont was a booming granite town until the early 1940s, and when the resources were depleted, this small town found it difficult to sustain itself. Today, Hardwick is reaching new heights, because it has attracted young, like-minded business owners who are working together to create a self-sustaining community. Hardwick has had an unemployment rate 30% higher than the rest of the state, so the people of this town decided to get together to work in non-competitive, supportive cooperation to create their very own “food web.”
A food web begins with the compost (dirt) created to grow the food. The farmers send their food directly to the local restaurants, which creates great social and economic benefits. The people of the community support the local restaurants, and any food waste is sent back to Highfields Institute, Hardwick’s local composting facility. Everyone is working with each other to help create a thriving, economically stable community.
Tom Stearns, a citizen of the Hardwick community, owner of High Mowing Organic Seeds and President of the Center for Agricultural Economy, started growing organic seeds for sale as a hobby before he left college. Today, High Mowing Organic Seeds is a $1.6 million business with 30 employees!
Hardwick, VA has created a food cycle that is less dependent on fossil fuels and at the same time has allowed its residents a deeper connection with their food. The people are less reliant on industrial agriculture and it ultimately gives them more control with what they are consuming.
According to Ben Hewitt, Writer and Farmer, “We don’t have to struggle so hard if we all apply some outside-the-box thinking.” The timing is right for what they’re doing, and Hardwick Vermont is an inspiration to create more sustainable communities. Being proactive and making lifestyle choices that we want now may prevent us from being forced to make changes that we don’t want later.
A great video featuring Hardwick, VA from Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie called, “The Collective” can be streamed here.
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Posted on 07/22/2009 03:11 pm