NDACT Discussion Forum
Kate Armstrong's impassioned plea for land preservation
My name is Kate Armstrong. I live on a farm located north of Shelburne, Ont. in Melancthon Township. My father's name is Ralph Armstrong. He lives on the same farm north of Shelburne. My Grandfather's name was Russell Armstrong and he lived on the same farm north of Shelburne. My Great Grandfather's name was Richard Armstrong and he lived on the same farm, north of Shelburne, My Great Great Grandfather's name was Henry Armstrong and he lived on the same farm north of Shelburne. My great Great Great Great Grandfather's name was James Armstrong and he lived on the same farm. He was the original owner of this farm north of Shelburne. James obtained this land in 1853, before Canada was even a nation.
This land has provided for over 150 years and will continue to do so if we don't destroy it. I am speaking to you on behalf of a generation who hopes to continue farming some of the best farmland in Ontario that a company of international private investors known as the Highland Companies, may destroy by creating a limestone quarry.
I understand that no one wants a quarry in their backyard, but it is disgusting to even suggest putting a quarry where food can be produced for generations to come. For those who do not understand soil very well, it is important to know that not all soil is the same. The soil in this area north of Shelburne is designated as the highest grade of soil in Ontario, and is so special that it is designated as its own category as the Honeywood silt loam soil, our soil is the BMW of soil.
Part of the reason that this land is so good is that the limestone underneath it allows it to drain, whereas many farmers in other areas have to tile their land so that water does not pool and drown their crops. Take away this limestone and you will take away the soil's ability to grow high yield crops.
The Highland companies have claimed that they can restore this land after they mine the limestone, but the fact is that quarry rehabilitation is in the process of being researched. There is no guarantee that the land will be the same as it is now after it is rehabilitated. Even the Ministry of Natural Resources does not have any research on the specific agricultural capacity of the land before and after a quarry.
The Highland companies is proposing a 2,400 acre quarry that is going to be 200 feet deep and they expect us to believe that farming is going to go on as normal in this giant hole, that water is somehow miraculously going to stay out of.
I hope that nobody is this naive.
Some people have said, why not just sell this farm and buy a new one? If this is your thought line, then you are missing the point completely. People search for land that is as good as ours, land that is fertile, land that has excellent drainage in a climate and altitude that is perfect for growing crop and land that can even benefit from our strong winds and blowing snow. The combination is perfect here.
Most importantly we know that food land is a non-renewable resource. Let me say that again non-renewable. 1/3 of Canada's best farmland can be seen from the CN tower on a clear day. However 49% of central Ontario's prime farmland has been paved over in the later half of the twentieth century due to the growth of the GTA.
49%
Why destroy more prime food land, when limestone is found in many areas that can barely grow grass?
I don't want to buy potatoes from Spain and I don't want to buy my steaks from China. I want fresh local produce. What do you want on your table? My neighbors, friends and myself want to continue farming this beautiful land, so please help us to do so.
Visit the north Dufferin agriculture and community taskforce website at www.ndact.com and place a comment, sign the petition and contact your local representatives. Tell them that we want to buy local food and you don't want to prime farmland to be destroyed by a large limestone quarry.
I know it is hard not to be swayed by the Highland Companies money and their donations to "key" locations in the county, but ask yourself - are all the things they are giving worth what they are going to take away? I don't think so.
There is a saying only when the last tree has died and the last river poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can not eat money.
When my Great Great Great grandfather came to this area, I am sure that he had hopes that his land would provide food for centuries to come. The decision that we are making now will determine weather all our Great Great Great grandchildren will be trying to fix our mistakes or whether they will be enjoying the food land, water and community that we have now.
Kate Armstrong
5th generation on the same farm in Melancthon Township
Karren Wallace: This is an excellent piece of work. Kate spoke these words at NDACT's June meeting and it was very powerful. (10/11/09)
Dave Adeney: Thank you, Kate Armstrong. Powerfully and beautifully expressed. (10/12/09)
3rd line: check out this blog miningforthetruthinmelancthon.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html (10/12/09)
gary h rideout: how do companies get away with this stuff,Don,t our ministry of natural resources have any say in this.Where,s our environment although i just saw what they almost let simcoe county get away with at dumpsite41. What happened to democracy,government by the people for the people,I think mayor fawcett would have made a better farmer than a mayor .,she,s supposed to represent the people that elected her.Where is the sierra defence league or council of canadians on this matter. (12/13/09)
gary h rideout: how do companies get away with this stuff,Don,t our ministry of natural resources have any say in this.Where,s our environment although i just saw what they almost let simcoe county get away with at dumpsite41. What happened to democracy,government by the people for the people,I think mayor fawcett would have made a better farmer than a mayor .,she,s supposed to represent the people that elected her.Where is the sierra defence league or council of canadians on this matter. (12/13/09)
Beth Attwood: Well said, Kate. It appears common sense is not all that common. I was raised on a farm by Lavender , Ontario and know the farm land in that area was good. I am behind this petition 100% (12/20/09)
jan: Currently another company called Titan is attempting to acquire thousands of acres in North Carolina and in Florida "building the 4th largest coal fired Cement Plant in the nation and strip mining 1000s of acres of the adjacent wetlands for limestone" Do a search for any of these items, Titan Cement Plant Wilmington NC, Titan Cape Fear Florida, or search for "stop titan dot org" I wonder if the same principals own Titan (02/02/10)
Bruce Enright: This can not happen. We need to stand dtrong on this for what is right. (06/29/11)
gaille Musgrove: Beautifully written Kate Armstrong. When will we learn from our past mistakes. Caledon has been totally given over to the gravel barons. Please let us not make the same mistake again. We need food and we need to keep the headwaters of the Nottawasaga and Grand Rivers safe from harm. Water is life. (06/30/11)
gaille Musgrove: Beautifully written Kate Armstrong. When will we learn from our past mistakes. Caledon has been totally given over to the gravel barons. Please let us not make the same mistake again. We need food and we need to keep the headwaters of the Nottawasaga and Grand Rivers safe from harm. Water is life. (06/30/11)
David Fowler: I support the petition created to oppose the Highland Mine project. This will be an environmental disaster. DF (07/11/11)
Ted Moriarty: Thank-you for taking action. This land is a precious gift worth protecting. (07/12/11)
Jessica Rodgers: I support this petition. (07/22/11)
Jennifer Urbanski: Kate - your letter is so impactful. I agree 100% that people need to realize the true impact of this issue. Too much of the food supplied to us in supermarkets and big boxed stores is from faraway lands and this is not a sustainable supply. I urge you all to read "The End of Food" by Paul Roberts for a full understanding of the need for local and organic food. Hopefully that can instill some motivation to really get behind this issue and fight for these rights. I often hear people say that one person can't make a difference or that it's too late to go back and change what big business has done to our society but this is a prime example of a chance to make a real change/impact. When I visit my parents on weekends in Shelburne I am still overwhelmed by the natural beauty in the area and wonder how many city kids fully get to appreciate the power and beauty of such environments. This is real life, this are real issues and cannot be ignored, passed off as political issues or taken lightly. (08/01/11)
bob ransier: Sombody wants me to send money to an adress that I dont know a name with it. that aint gona happen. Of all the literature that I have read there has never been a name or phone # that I can call and have a personal conversation about this situation. Unless we the public see a name that we want to suport you aint gona get much help (08/01/11)
Allen Jones: I can't believe that a Government would condone this type of destruction for the sake of building Condo's in Toronto. Where do the politicians think their food comes from - the supermarket? I totally support the petition. Common Sense has to happen - it just has too! (08/15/11)
Thelma Marrin: GREAT LETTER, KATE {COUSIN}!!!!!!!! You said it all and I HEARTILY AGREE! Who can believe that this amazing land could be restored to "Agricultural Purposes"??????? Sure and who's THAT Stupid? Keep up the Good Fight. All the Best. Thelma M. (11/29/11)