害羞草研究所淚 see a kid walking down the street, I just want to give them a hug and say I害羞草研究所檓 sorry.害羞草研究所�

John McLeod is referring to the destruction of agricultural land in B.C. and the subsequent lack of locally grown food available for the future.

Although reluctant to be featured in the newspaper, McLeod speaks passionately about the need to think more about future generations 害羞草研究所� what and how they害羞草研究所檙e going to source food.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got to change our mentality. It害羞草研究所檚 not just about 害羞草研究所榤e害羞草研究所� all the time害羞草研究所� We can learn from our First Nations害羞草研究所� neighbours. We害羞草研究所檝e let greed rule for too long. I hear people saying kids today are all entitled. I think it was our generation that was entitled. Hair straight back and do what we want.害羞草研究所�

He stresses Canada must have the ability to feed its own people.

害羞草研究所淚f you have to rely on foreign corporations and other countries to feed you害羞草研究所�. when they control your stomach, they害羞草研究所檝e got your brain. It害羞草研究所檚 up to us to protect and maintain all viable land. And by viable, I mean all land. We have to get away from soil classifications; poor dirt is better than no dirt. You can害羞草研究所檛 grow vegetables out of concrete and asphalt.害羞草研究所�

With only a small percentage of land in B.C. available as viable agricultural land, McLeod would like to see more hillsides and mountains used for residential, commercial and industrial.

This community grew out of agriculture and forestry, he reminds.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e kind of kicked it to the curb because of a boat coming from offshore with our food.害羞草研究所�

He points to existing starvation on the planet.

害羞草研究所淲e kind of ignore it and think there害羞草研究所檚 always going to be food in the grocery store. I think that害羞草研究所檚 false bravado.害羞草研究所�

McLeod害羞草研究所檚 family has been farming in Salmon Arm since 1911. He was born and raised on the property next door to where he and his spouse Lois now live. In 1979, when his uncle was ready to quit farming, he began farming Edgemont Farms, near the corner of Foothill and 30th Street SW.

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He害羞草研究所檚 a long-time member of the city害羞草研究所檚 agricultural advisory committee and the environmental advisory committee; in fact he was instrumental in the formation of the agricultural committee. He is also a member of the Shuswap Food Action Co-op.

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McLeod presented a report to Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and the Standing Committee on Agriculture regarding an idea he害羞草研究所檚 been touting for many years. He would like to see hospitals source local ingredients to help ensure healthier outcomes and support local economies. The report was well received and he is pleased the minister is moving forward with the initiative.

McLeod points to a recent report from the BC Real Estate Foundation on sustainable food systems in B.C. as well one from Kwantlen College on the future of the food system in the Southwest B.C. Bioregion. Both emphasize the need to look to the future regarding land use and food provision.

In a submission to the province on the Agricultural Land Reserve, the Union of BC Municipalities asked the agriculture ministry to 害羞草研究所渞ecognize that local governments are a key component of agricultural planning and protection in B.C. and that thorough consultation with local governments is an integral aspect of enabling a robust and effective ALC and ALR.害羞草研究所�

McLeod believes food security and food sovereignty should be part of official community plans.

害羞草研究所淪ixty communities in B.C. have a strategy to start moving agricultural land into their OCPs (official community plans). We害羞草研究所檙e a way behind the curve. It would be nice to see that change. We害羞草研究所檙e having civic elections in the fall. I think we should have this asked of the candidates.害羞草研究所�

He finds that local and regional governments don害羞草研究所檛 have the desire to preserve agricultural land.

害羞草研究所淲hat we have to do is get broad representation in the community to work on agricultural policy and the importance 害羞草研究所� importance isn害羞草研究所檛 a strong enough word 害羞草研究所� the necessity of looking out for future generations. We害羞草研究所檙e only looking for our own return on investment. We have to think of two and three generations down the road. Minimum. That害羞草研究所檚 the thing I want to try and hit home.

害羞草研究所淲e just have to keep our eye on the proper focus and not rely on the multinational industrial complex to keep feeding us.害羞草研究所�

Then there害羞草研究所檚 climate change, which has huge implications for agriculture.

害羞草研究所淭here again, it害羞草研究所檚 a thing we害羞草研究所檙e oblivious to害羞草研究所� There害羞草研究所檚 a whole host of birds we don害羞草研究所檛 have anymore. What happened there? Did they just decide to go somewhere else? We shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be oblivious to this. We害羞草研究所檙e the stewards for the next generations. The way I see things, I don害羞草研究所檛 think we害羞草研究所檝e been very good at our jobs.害羞草研究所�

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On the positive side, McLeod points out there害羞草研究所檚 been a good turnout for the recent Shuswap Food Action Co-op害羞草研究所檚 series of food conversations towards a local food system, and more people with young families have been participating in the co-op. Canning is making a comeback.

On the global scale, however, he害羞草研究所檚 concerned about trade agreements.

害羞草研究所淭he NAFTA trade agreements control what governments can and can害羞草研究所檛 do. How did we allow that to happen? The NAFTA agreement we害羞草研究所檙e now negotiating, they want no labelling of ingredients on food. We get to go vote once every four years, after that the lobbyist has an open door to government and the constituent has been told to sit down and shut up.害羞草研究所�

He quips, with his characteristic wit: 害羞草研究所淚 quit drinking 10 years ago and it was too soon.害羞草研究所�

But, despite any discouragement, McLeod is driven to keep working towards a sustainable food supply.

He remarks, this time deadly serious: 害羞草研究所淚 see that little kid and I can害羞草研究所檛 let it go.害羞草研究所�

marthawickett@saobserver.net
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