WEST MILFORD The Arizona Hopi Nation captures their spiritual essence in a mantra that concludes with the line, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” Those optimistic words are also the unofficial motto for Sustainable West Milford, a community organization intent on meeting the needs of this generation without compromising the needs of the future. The non-profit, volunteer group is led by Dave and Wendy Watson-Hallowell. Sustainable’s focus is to “enable community members to transform West Milford into an economically vibrant, environmentally friendly, and sustainable community through their personal participation and leadership.” A new development for the group has been the access granted to a half-acre of land on Union Valley Road to develop a little organic oasis in West Milford. The gardens will be divided into plots 6 x 8 or 8 x 10 where members can grow their own fruit, vegetables or flowers. There will also be a community section where larger produce can be grown such as pumpkins and corn. There are still some loose ends to tie up on the agreement to use the land with owner Anne Thornton but both sides are excited to see the plan come to fruition. Organic growing is the key to this project, which will be headed by Sustainable’s Katie Hayes. “There are so many benefits with organic food,” said Hayes. “By using organic compost and soil, you eliminate chemicals leaching into the food. Also, the food is alive; it tastes so much better and retains all its nutrients and vitamins.” Local stores are making organic food more available but Hayes argues that it’s still a no contest to growing your own. Hayes said, “Supermarkets are getting better with organic foods but the problem there, as with conventional foods, is that it’s been sitting in the back of a truck and then on their shelf for so long it’s no longer fresh.” “There’s also the benefit of being out here and getting your hands dirty. You get connected to the earth,” said Dave. The group currently has 65 members and with the development of around 20 plots Wendy Watson-Hallowell says they’ll be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis. “A lot of people have already lent their knowledge to us and hopefully others will be able to lend things such as a tractor or a plow,” said Wendy. Small garden plots will be of particular benefit to those who live in condos in town, according to Wendy, with those people now able to have their own. Growers can keep the produce they grow and place them on their own tables at home. Some of the food and flowers that are left over may be donated to good causes. Dave and Wendy operate their own consulting business and intend to start an eco-tourism business this year. “In the first year we’ll be managing our expectations,” said Dave. “We need to let the ground develop; we’ll adopt a kind of bio-dynamics; a homeopathy for the soil. It will treat the soil like a living thing.” This is just the start of what could be a town-wide project. Wallisch estates, which are co-owned by the township and the school board, lie unused but amongst the potential uses there is an even larger community organic farm. “We’re pretty confident we can get on the agenda for a presentation,” said Dave. “The Wallisch property is disturbed wetlands and, according to the Department of Environmental Protection, the only real use for that kind of land is for farming.” Dave continued, “If we could use that land for organic growing we could supply the whole of West Milford. It would be so cool for a town to say that it grows its own food. It would be such an attraction for people to move here.” As part of a greater development, an eco-lodge could also be built to house tourists to the area. As Dave explained, this would be set up as a community corporation, funded by residents who would then be shareholders in the project. “If a profit was realized, and I’m confident there would be, those investors would see a return on their money,” said Dave. “Also as a community corporation, the business and the profits would stay in town, as the regulations insist shareholders must be residents.” Wendy was keen to express gratitude toward land owner Anne Thornton for considering them. “She is very generous,” said Wendy. “She told us she wanted to do something to contribute, and we are so grateful to her.” On one of the sunniest and warmest days of the spring Wendy looked across the land and said, “If you believe in sustainability, here’s an opportunity to do something yourself. We want to give people the chance to make a difference themselves. We’re not just into talking, we want to do stuff.” For those interested in participating in the organic gardening project or becoming involved with Sustainable West Milford, the group’s next meeting takes place on Monday, April 30, in the Hillcrest Community Center between 7 and 9 p.m. Visitors can also read about the group at www.sustainablewestmilford.org. As if to mirror this new opportunity for West Milford residents, the Hopi Indians in their inspirational telling also say, “Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader.” Sounds like a plan ....