I gotta admit, I love Martha Boneta.
Let me give you a quick example — when these regulations came to Fluvanna County, I pointedly asked as a supervisor whether birthday parties would qualify under the same ordinances that were punishing folks like Martha Boneta. I was assured this was not the case, even though I drilled home the fact that I have several children… and their “parties” in an Irish-Lebanese household would consist of populations greater than some towns.
Good for us.
Not so good for Martha… so let her tell you her story:
The Boneta Bill is very real. If you haven’t learned about this bill — call your legislator and have them explain it to you. When they can’t, scold them (playfully) and tell them why they should.
When the yeoman farmer dies, America dies with it.
Virginians need to know that the war on small farms is real. Pressured on all sides by nosy neighbors, suburban elites, proto-fascist HOAs, aggressive local planners, ridiculous regulations, and the increased costs of just about everything from fuel to feed — small farms are very much in jeopardy.
Farming and self-sufficiency is about as old as America. The whole idea that the average American family wouldn’t — and in many cases today, cannot — grow their own food and raise a farm alongside a family would strike the sensibilities of our Founding Fathers in equal parts horror and insanity.
It’s about time we won a round for the Jeffersonian farmer, is it not?
One of the resolutions coming to the floor during the convention is the Virginia Small Farm and Food Freedom Resolution. When it comes up, I hope you’ll join me in endorsing it, and encourage your state senators and delegates to do the same.
Hats off to Delegate Lingamfelter and Mark Fitzgibbons for leading the charge on this… and to Martha Boneta, who refused to back down when pressured by local bullies and busybodies.
That takes real courage… and I’m glad she’s leading the charge.
VIRGINIA SMALL FARM AND FOOD FREEDOM RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, farmers, farms and farming have historically played a vital role in the economy, traditions, culture, art and literature of Virginia, and are entitled to protection under the supreme American law guaranteeing certain unalienable rights such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness; and
WHEREAS, the success of farms and farming depends on free-market remuneration resulting from farmers’ labor, capital, ingenuity and products; and
WHEREAS, each farmer has the right to determine in his or her own estimation what best constitutes farming, farm life and the best uses of their farm land, and farmers have the right to just remuneration for their labor, capital, ingenuity and products so long as they respect their neighbors’ rights; and
WHEREAS, farm life may constitute more than just production agriculture, and farmers have the right of commerce, the right to the pursuit of happiness, the right of quiet enjoyment of their land, the right of peaceable assembly on their private property, the right to exercise religious freedom on their private property, and other rights reserved to all people by America’s supreme law; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians deserve access to wholesome, healthy, and locally produced foods, and small farmers should be able to supply these products without burdensome government regulations; and
WHEREAS, government may not restrict the rights of farmers or their guests from the community, or categorize farmers, farming or farmland in any way that diminishes their freedoms, based simply on the fact that they are farmers or the guests of farmers, own farmland, or engage in commerce that is consistent with the goods, services, traditions, culture, art and literature of farming; and
WHEREAS, government must not use laws or the color of law, regulations, zoning ordinances or the dictates of permits to violate or trespass on the rights of farmers and their guests, and farmers are entitled to fair, reasonable and full remedies from government agencies or subdivisions that violate or trespass on their rights.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Republican Party of Virginia supports state legislation and local ordinances consistent with this Resolution, and repeal of state laws and local ordinances inconsistent with this Resolution;
Be it further resolved that the Republican Party calls upon the General Assembly and the Governor to advance legislation in the 2014 Session of the General Assembly to make the Code of Virginia consistent with the provisions of this Resolution and the Founding vision with respect to the rights of citizens to pursue their self-interests as protected by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Virginia.
And be it further resolved that the Virginia Republican Party immediately publish this Resolution and disseminate it to the Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, members of the State Central Committee, and to the Republican members of the Virginia General Assembly, and post it to the RPV website in a publicly accessible area, with a link to that page on the home page.
