Land banking seminar definitely a move in the right direction

To the Editor:

I am very interested to know that Kings County Council has approved a grant to help cover costs of a seminar on 'Land Banking' in this County, to be held in the fall. This is a wise investment.

Just a few days ago I read about the newly established Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, with $23 million set aside from the initial payment of the Crown share agreement with the federal government. This also is a wise investment. Environment Minister Mark Parent said that the Nova Scotia government is making protection of coastal lands a priority, “simply because we have so little of it in our portfolio.” Provincial officials are drawing up guidelines around applications for funding. (Chronicle-Herald, July 17, 2008).

As one consumer stakeholder in this province, I am deeply supportive of valuable land protection, both coastal and agricultural, and believe that both are worthy of protection as our legacy for the future. Therefore, I would propose that a portion of this Trust Fund be allocated to protect from 'development' the most vulnerable farmland in Kings County.

We all know that for several years Kings County Council has struggled with the heroic task of maintaining its 'Agricultural Bylaw”, which has been largely successful in keeping agricultural land in production. This is a significant benefit to other parts of Nova Scotia as well, and is critical for present and future food security in the province.

But it becomes increasingly difficult when under pressure from commercial development, as well as it being a growing financial burden to the county. It’s time for the province to play a stakeholder role in this unfolding drama, where we are literally creating the future.

Speaking personally with a little history, please let me explain how I established my credentials as a consumer advocate in the late '70s while living in Halifax. Others will have different histories.

I became involved as a volunteer with the Ecology Action Centre, which was founded in 1970. With a friend, Ginny Point, we established the “Sustainable Agriculture Committee”, which over the next few years evolved into MARSAN, the Maritime Sustainable Agriculture Network, then into the Nova Scotia Organic Growers Association, and is now known as ACORN (Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network).

This network is supported in its research in transitional agriculture by the expertise and knowledge of the skilled staff at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, also located at the NSAC. It is also supported by the many and increasing number of farmers who are introducing more sustainable practices into their production.

It would appear that the planets are moving into a position of alignment, with the province, the county, the farmers and consumers as the obvious stakeholders so far identified, and a bit of federal cash to ease the way.

Another important stakeholder in my view is the media, in particular The Kings County Advertiser, whose accurate and fair reporting of this evolving issue has been outstanding!

Sincerely,

Peggy Hope-Simpson

Wolfville