Organic Farmer Could Face Jail Time

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/822/657/908/

In the last ten years, Canadian man Dirk Becker has transformed his property from a gravel-strewn wasteland to a self-sufficient organic farm. Now, the council of Lantzville, British Columbia has ordered him to cease all agricultural activity or face jail time.

Although Dirk's neighborhood is residentially zoned, there are only four other houses on his country road. With horses and cows in pastures just down the street from him, Dirk's one-acre farm is not out of place. Even so, the city of Lantzville has deemed that his well-maintained land is "unsightly." If Dirk doesn't destroy his farm, he could face up to six months in jail.

Every year, land prices in British Columbia have increased, preventing new farmers from acquiring property. Only 5% of the food on Vancouver Island is grown domestically. Lantzville's attempts to destroy Dirk's farm are economically and environmentally irresponsible. Demand that Lantzville redefine the zoning laws to fit urban farming today!

This is absolutely ridiculous. His land is well maintained, how can that be considered unsightly? How does that not fit in with the cow pastures? And he is residentially zoned. Did the county really prefer the wasteland that it was before? Being self sufficient is a good thing, not having to rely on others. To think of all the work he put into it could now go to waste is a shame. Facing jail time for growing vegetables is unbelievable. Something else must be going on that the county is not telling us. Maybe the country is under the influence of private special influence groups who want the only legal way to get vegetables is through corporate mega-farms. I'm not sure. This seems too weird. I hope somehow he can keep his farm and not go to jail. Dirk has my support.