Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

Well, maybe. They're messing around with legislation in D.C. now which still 
threatens all small growers here, not just one.

paul tradingpost@lobo.net

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********

On 11/20/2010 at 6:59 PM Arzeena Hamir wrote:

>Just in case people thought the craziness was limited to south of the
>border...
>
>Arzeena Hamir MSc. P.Ag.
>Coordinator
>Richmond Food Security Society
>http://richmondfoodsecurity.org
>coordinator@richmondfoodsecurity.org
>http://twitter.com/arzeena
>
>Lantzville shuts down Dirk Becker's urban farm
>
>http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=c59ffbaa-16ec-4768-a0d1-d6df650e2ff0
>
>Nanaimo Daily News
>
>November 20, 2010
>
>Well-known urban farmer and local food production advocate Dirk Becker has
>been ordered to shut down his 2.5-acre Lantzville farm because of a home
>business bylaw that does not include agriculture in its regulations.
>
>People can grow food for personal consumption, but they cannot sell the
>food for profit, according to the district's bylaws.
>
>Becker and his partner, Nicole Shaw, spent five years transforming their
>property into a rich urban farm that produces an abundance of fresh food.
>
>Dirk Becker will fight a Lantzville bylaw that threatens to shut down his
>urban farm.
>
>They sell their produce at the Bowen Road Farmers' Market, which the
>couple founded several years ago. They are the epitome of the modern food
>movement that encourages people to grow food in their backyards.
>
>Shaw and Becker have protested the order delivered earlier this month and
>have taken the opportunity to have the bylaw changed. Lantzville Mayor
>Colin Haime invites the couple to present their concerns to council.
>
>"We want the District of Lantzville to change the business bylaws to
>reflect current future needs," said Becker.
>
>"These bylaws are quite typical in communities all across the country.
>It's time for governments to catch up to Canadians who want to grow more
>food themselves."
>
>Regional District of Nanaimo bylaw enforcement officers, who are
>contracted by the District of Lantzville, responded to complaints about
>mounds of dirt and manure in front of the Becker home on Fernmar Road.
>
>Officer Brian Brack ordered Becker to clean up the property, which was in
>violation of the unsightly premises bylaw. During that original
>investigation, it was discovered that the farm has been used to grow food
>commercially, according to Haime.
>
>The mayor said the order to stop growing food illustrates the need to
>revisit the bylaws.
>
>"There has been this characterization that this is an attack on urban
>farming, agriculture and sustainability, but that's just not the case,"
>said Haime.
>
>Becker and Shaw want to change the laws. The business bylaw should allow
>people to grow food commercially. Otherwise, "nearly every farmer who
>shows up at the farmers' market is doing business illegally," Becker said.
>
>Haime agrees that this should not simply be a rezoning of one property. He
>said the entire community should consider the issue and weigh in.
>
>Becker is prepared to lobby council to initiate the necessary public
>process required to make any changes. Haime already said that process will
>only begin, if the politicians deem it necessary.
>
>"It has to be a council decision. . . and it's a lengthy process," he
>explained.
>
>Haime visited some of Becker and Shaw's neighbours and has found that most
>people agree with urban farming, but they have some concerns.
>
>"Nobody's in opposition of growing food. I can't see anybody opposing
>that, but how is it going to work?" he asked.
>
>Becker said he has had difficulty with one neighbour over the years, but
>he and Shaw have never tried to hide what they do. They grow about 1,300
>kilograms of squash in a single year, 900 kilograms of potatoes, 230
>kilograms of watermelon and 4,000 garlic bulbs. Plus enough greens to fill
>a pickup truck 10 times over.
>
>"What we want to see is an amendment to the bylaw as Victoria has done,
>where urban farming is considered legal and a home-based business," said
>Becker.
>
>DSpalding@nanaimodailynews.com
>
>250-729-4231
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