By Susan Ellis of Key Life Journeys

Michael Stadtländer 's Letter to Ontario says it all. I quote part of it here -

“If you have ever seen the film Avatar, James Cameron’s story about the futuristic destruction of an alien planet’s environment by humans hungry for natural resources, you’ll be surprised to learn that such an exploitation has been proposed right in my backyard!

Highland Companies, funded by US hedge-fund Baupost Group, has purchased approximately 8,000 acres of prime farmland on either side of highway 124. They intend to dig a 2,300 acre limestone quarry, the 2nd largest in North America, that will extend 200 feet below the water table.

The proposed mega quarry threatens not only the watersheds of many rivers and the water supply to over one million Canadians, but also viable, high yield farmland in close proximity to Canada’s most dense population.

On October 16th, the Canadian Chefs' Congress, of which I’m the President, will present Foodstock, a once in a lifetime event where thousands of Canadian citizens will gather on 4 farms that did not sell to Highland Companies to celebrate local food and fresh water, and to voice their objections to this proposal.

I have invited over 70 Canadian chefs (from Nunavut to Nova Scotia to BC) to cook with ingredients from local farms, so that all who attend may taste the bounty of the land threatened by the proposed mega quarry. The day will also include a rich variety of programming with music, art and speakers.

We are constantly faced with environmental challenges and it is our responsibility, as ambassadors of the future, to work to protect our shared resources. We cannot afford to lose this farmland or allow the destruction of our fragile watersheds.”

According to the Toronto Star, the hoped for 22,000 people did show up -

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1070839--foodies-unite-en-masse-to-oppose-land-excavation

Organizers seem to think it was nearer 28,000. I was one of them. I was glad to be driving a hybrid car so no idling fumes filled the air as we crawled and stopped along highway 124 to reach the farm where the festivities were to take place. Some had chosen to park on the road’s shoulders and walk, but I got to a field parking lot. Then my friends and I crossed two fields of oozing mud and clover. That earth looked so; oh so good. I wished I had some of that in my garden. We had driven through rain to get there but as we walked to the wooded area having made our financial donation to the cause, the sun came out.

It was later in the afternoon by the time we got there so much of the food from around 100 chef’s booths had gone. But we lined up with 100s of others to have some Ontario morsel put on the plate we had brought with us. Much of the cooking was done over open flame with flapping tarps keeping the rain off. I tasted some fresh pork with an apple sauce; I loved some pulled pork in a BBQ sauce; a spicy tomato sauce- all that was left after the meat balls had gone and finally a delicate fish on a slice of while radish.





Artisans sold their works, promoters sold their anti quarry t-shirts. In the background was the sound of voices and music from the sound stage; all around the call of children playing in the woods.

The sum of  around $86M had changed hands for the land and will it a choice. Food and water versus building materials. People had come from many places to stand on this land adjacent to the planned quarry having made their decision.

The story continues to unfold. And according to the Orangeville Banner. http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1226868--protest-never-tasted-so-sweet Foodstock may return next year.

Other resources –

http://ndact.com/

http://www.citizensalliance.ca/