By taking a short five-minute walk from his home in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, Dan Sullivan can enjoy this view.

From the bluff overlooking the Octorara Creek, Sullivan can see the farms spread down one hill and up the other side, showing the picture-book scene of Pennsylvania Amish farmlands of Chester and Lancaster Counties.

Views like this are becoming difficult to find.

The farm lands are quickly disappearing

And that's where Sullivan and farmpreserve.com want to help.

The farm lands of Pennsylvania -- and other parts of America -- are quickly disappearing in the name of urban growth and progress. Sullivan doesn't want to stop that growth. He wants the growth to be better planned and have a more focused design, rather than running rampant over grounds which can never be replaced.

"Under all is the land," Sullivan reminds us, quoting the Realtors' creed. There is a finite amount of that land. Sullivan queries: Is everyone involved in the process able to adequately consider the effects their construction will have on future generations?

"There needs to be an understanding," Sullivan says. "Some ground is better suited for development; some ground should just not be developed!"

Each individual piece of land, tract, and parcel needs to be evaluated before plans are made for development and building, Sullivan believes. And that appraisal process, planning and careful protection of resources needs to grow stronger now.

This is where Sullivan ultimately wants to be effective and win!

Having been born and bred amidst the farm country of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Sullivan began a real estate career about eight years ago, working with a local firm that shares many of his ideals. He is also partnered in a local appraisal and consulting firm. Sullivan has maintained his own real estate column for the past couple of years. While doing so, he has purchased a home, married and now enjoys spending time with his family of five and their German shepherd, Sam.

With the shrinking of the globe through growing populations and quicker communications like the Internet and the World Wide Web, Sullivan is among those who want to begin urban planning and community growth on a global scale. That global community desperately needs those farms that are so quickly disappearing, Sullivan believes. How else is that community going to eat today and tomorrow and into the new century?

"We can't chew up all the ground and not save some for agriculture," Sullivan insists. The time to begin preserving America's precious farmlands is now.

The question that remains is what options are available to urban planners, community leaders and the nation's farmers to protect the agricultural lands and still provide living space and business space for the growing population? Protection of open spaces, wetlands, game preserves, rain forests and the natural areas of the planet have been a constant battle for many years. It is past time to add precious farming communities to the list of areas needing protection.

Be among those who care!

If you share a concern for the future of the land on which we live; if you have ideas to help preserve these precious lands; or if you want to learn more about land and farm preservation, take advantage of the network Sullivan has already compiled. If you have additional resources which could help Sullivan build his network, please drop an e-mail message to him at: dsulli1000@brandywine.net.

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Farming on the edge