Farmers vs Lawyers

The District of Lantzville on Vancouver Island has a curious method of dealing with the food INsecurity that’s inherent with islands but particularly there: it’s lawyering up in a battle to stop a couple from farming organic food.

If there is a looming food crunch, from peak oil or peak soil or climate change or whatever…who are you going to turn to? Tinpot councillors? Their barking dog lawyers? Or your neighbourhood farmers?

Here’s what the local farmer, Dirk Becker, had to say in an email:

Dear supporters of sustainability, local food, food sustainability, and
food security.

Late Friday afternoon, we were served with a letter (posted below) by a
Law Firm from Victoria, informing us that the District of Lantzille,
City Council, is taking further legal action against us. We have been
fighting this fight since September of last year.

After eight months, we are feeling harassed and tired. Our hope is that
people use their networks of email, facebook, twitter, etc. to share
this situation widely. We also hope that people will take action
individually and in groups to bring reason to the situation. As many of
you know, we only grow less than 5% of our food on Vancouver Island,
thus over 95% is imported. Furthermore, there is only 2 days fresh food
supply in our grocery stores. As more people move here, and the
population increases, combined with natural disasters and global unrest,
food, water and climate change are the three big, global issues today.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the local food movement is the
most powerful tool we have to create a shift in our current culture.

We look forward to seeing how people respond to yet another attack on
those who are thinking about the future, our children’s future and doing
their best to create a world that we can all live in. Thank you in
advance for the action you will take.

Yours in service,

Dirk and Nicole

I can’t get the lawyer letter to reprint because of a WordPress glitch, but you can learn more about the farm and the law by googling one or more of the following: Dirk Becker, Lantzville, island food lunacy, wacky Lantville politicians.