Did you hear that the Garfield County Board of Commissioners is considering changing the zoning immediately next to one of the region’s most productive organic farms to allow an asphalt plant to set up shop?

First of all, can you just up and change zoning that harms adjacent homeowners and existing businesses that bought their land rurally zoned? Well, the County statutes say no, you can’t … but isn’t the conversation deeper than this?

It’s likely that Mr.’s Samson, Martin and Jankovsky never saw the barren, weed covered piece of throw-away land just a couple of years ago before Eagle Springs Organic Farm in Silt transformed it into a thriving, luscious, food-filled enterprise. The topsoil has been carefully reclaimed with rich compost produced on the premises. The farm is supplying local restaurants, stores, and food co-ops with healthy local produce that only needs to travel a few miles (and healthy jobs for locals.) The farm is even working with Colorado Mountain College to teach other locals about their cutting-edge practices.

Eagle Springs represents the future we could have, should we value it enough to stand up for it, commit to it, love it enough. But it will take demanding that we let go of the past – where the short-term profit of an asphalt plant would even be considered against the vast long-term benefits of a farm – you can only pave over so much, then you’re sitting on a parking lot, hot and hungry.

The Roaring Fork Food Policy Council invites you to a Local Food Rally on Monday, Feb. 27, at noon at the Garfield County Courthouse lawn in Glenwood Springs – the BOCC will vote at 1 p.m. on this issue. This is one of those pivotal moments that our children and our ancestors are watching. Show your love and commitment to a future that is not just sustainable, but phenomenal. Contact Gwen at gwen@highlifeunlimited.com for more info.

Gwen Garcelon

Roaring Fork Food Policy Council

Carbondale

I am very disappointed in the way Garfield County Commissioner Tom Jankovsky represented himself at the county commissioners meeting on the Bedrock Resources-Eagle Springs Organic Farm debate. His body language and facial expressions showed clearly that he didn’t care what had to be said. For him to sum it up at the end with the comment, “I made my decision two weeks ago,” was disgusting.

This concerns the jobs of 50 people that he is willing to jeopardize. Also, for the Bedrock Resources company to call upon Mischa Popoff to testify about organic farms was a laugh. After research into Mr. Popoff, I found that not only does he dislike organic farms, but his credentials aren’t entirely true. He claims to be an International Organic Inspectors Association advanced inspector. However, the executive director of the association says Mr. Popoff made up the title and has never worked for them.

We are focusing on a land use code change, that according to the county’s rules cannot be done if it is going to interfere with already established businesses. Why would the commissioners ignore this rule to the benefit of one company and the detriment of another?

Bedrock Resources may create jobs while it moves its plant, but those jobs are temporary. Eagle Springs Organic is looking to triple its workforce permanently. I hope the commissioners consider this before they reach a decision on Monday.

Stephanie White

Silt