Abstract The paper is devoted to the problem of return to a person a commensurate world which is reflected in the phenomenon of local. It identifies peculiarities of local based on agronomic knowledge as traditional knowledge presented as context. Local is determined by ability to cultivate land - ‘vital locus’ of a peasant-farmer. Ability to adapt to natural and social environment to solve the survival problem accompanies formation of a ‘sense of place’. Environment is a factor of agronomic knowledge development. The latter in its pre-scientific form as folk agronomy developed in the agricultural experience of people. Based on the contextual approach, principle of truth specificity, principle of consistency, the paper presents folk agronomic knowledge as a systemic integrity and justifies its elements: prescribed technological knowledge, actual technological knowledge, folk agricultural wisdom. Agronomic knowledge, demanded by context of agrarian activity, sets peculiarities of local: 1) place specificity; spatial forms of material phenomena, objects, bodies, their position in space; 2) variety of forms of adaptation to natural climatic conditions, existence of various methods of farming; 3) farmers’ rooted consciousness. The authors show its potential to be an impetus for development of society. Interaction of old and new can be practical and highly effective.