I don’t know about you guys, but I am all about food freedom and the rights of small farms to sell to the marketplace — free and unfettered. Unfortunately, with the suburbanization and commercialization of just about everything, small farms are under threat every day. Whether it’s local ordinances or state regulations, farmers just don’t have the sort of access or muscle the big boys do — and sadly, events and local nanny staters conspire to make the local farm less and less profitable… and ultimately an unsustainable way of life.
That’s why I am elated to see this head off to the Republican Party of Virginia’s resolutions committee. Thomas Jefferson lauded the yeoman farmer as the future of America. The day that way of life becomes illegal or prohibited through law is the day when America loses our soul.
WHEREAS, farmers, farms and farming have historically played an important 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 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, 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 may 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 support state legislation and local ordinances consistent with this Resolution, and repeal of state laws and local ordinances inconsistent with this Resolution;
Further, be it 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.
Frequent readers here at Bearing Drift know that I strongly encourage everyone to grow a patch of garden on their property — whether it’s ornamental or vegetable, several acres or a 4×4 plot in a sunny part of the backyard. If you’re looking to do even just a small part, go here and look for some ideas or just check out the Wikipedia entry for this extraordinary method.
With a small 4×4 plot, you can do all sorts of great things — four Romaine lettuce plants, four beds for small carrots, four pea beds, and four tomatoes growing up a trellis? Now who can’t do that?
Hopefully you don’t learn the hard way how HOAs or local busybodies love to tell you what to do or sell on your property… as small farmers learn the hard way all the time.
