Old99 farm week of Jan 16 2022

Yes we dug out from the snow and deep freeze, vegetables in the greenhouses well protected. I do love winter storms. It reminds me of how winter used to be when I was a boy in Caledon, real freeze up, real snow drifts. Never again.

Most of this blogpost is going to be political. But first, So we have crops for you again this week, fresh harvested and from the cold cellar.
We have available celery, mixed greens (aka mesclun), spinach, chard, mustards, collards and a selection of fresh herbs. Root vegetables include carrots, garlic, leeks, fennel, potatoes, turnip, rutabaga, squash varieties, and beets. Of course the freezers are full of beef, pork and chicken, and the hens lay eggs every day. Link to store here

Our Conservation Authority is about to hold an election for chairman. The current chair, Lloyd Ferguson, longtime councillor for ward 12 Ancaster, wants to run again on a pro-development platform. Recently all CA board members voted against a rezoning application to ‘re-site’ sensitive wetlands to help a developer max out the usable area. Ferguson voted in favour saying ’i’m for jobs, I’m for increased tax revenue’. No. He’s for construction on ecological assets the CA is mandated to protect.

Please write a letter voicing your opinion for/against Lloyd Ferguson using this link provided by Action 13.
Here’s what I wrote:
I am probably known to some of you as an advocate for climate emergency responses for the last 3 years. I operate a small farm in Ward 12 Ancaster since 2007 providing local organic food for the Dundas Valley. I am a businessman by training and 20 years experience as owner-operator of several companies.
I am writing to encourage you to follow through with the effective non-confidence motion on wetlands where no one voted with Chairman Ferguson. Do not re-elect him. You probably know much better that the public does his voting record, priorities and allegiances. Thank Goodness, Action 13 got this messaging tool up and running for people like me to register our deep concerns.
Not only are wetlands important for clean water, they are key component in stabilizing the local microclimate, precipitation and heat waves. They store carbon naturally, which we need to prioritise if we are to get anywhere close to the city’s goals for climate action.

Chairman Ferguson scoffed at the climate emergency motion when it was presented to city council in 2019. He said an emergency is when the house is on fire and you see it and have to act fast. He can’t see slow moving emergencies. He’s not fit to lead one of the key resources the city has to stabilize climate and eco-diversity.
I am asking you:
1) do not support the re-election of Chair Lloyd Ferguson to the position of Chair of the HCA Board at the Annual General Meeting on February 3, 2022.

2) to elect a Chair who has a proven track record of defending our watershed and natural heritage, and not interfering with natural assets management at the core of a CA mandate.

3) to ensure members elected to the HCA Board, especially the Chair, have a basic knowledge and understanding of watersheds, wetlands, biodiversity and natural heritage.

Thank you for reading this, I appreciate hearing from you with your intentions.
Yours truly
Ian Graham