Support for Claravale Farm
March 31, 2007
Dear Friends,
Claravale Farm is moving to a new location and we need your help.
We would like to thank you for all of your support to date as customers
of Claravale Farm and for your emotional support in the face of our permit
process in Santa Cruz County. However, after an 11 year long, frustrating
and ultimately unsuccessful battle with the Santa Cruz County Building
and Planning Department to build the Dairy on our property in Watsonville,
we have decided to move. We have purchased property in San Benito County
and have begun the permit process to build a dairy there
While the codes of San Benito county are actually quite conducive to agriculture,
unfortunately, as in Santa Cruz County, the county planners are unfamiliar
with agriculture and see agriculture not as the asset that it is but as
something that people need to be protected from. As our customers, you
know the truth of the situation. You know that we use old fashioned, ecologically
and socially responsible farming practices. You know that our products,
unique in California and rare in the nation, are a tremendous asset to
the people of California . We need to convince the San Benito County planners
of these things as well.
If you value our dairy and our products; if you want to see us continue
in business; if you want to continue to be able to buy our milk and cream
then it is imperative that you take the time right now to write a letter
and/or e-mail to the appropriate people at the County (see below) indicating
your support. Let them know how you feel about us and our farm.
Our plans are being reviewed by the county right now. If you wait it will
be too late.
Following are the important points:
1) It is imperative that we be moved by June 30th, 2007. We have been
leasing a facility in Santa Cruz County for the last 10 years while trying
to build on our land in Watsonville . This lease expires at the end of
June and is non-negotiable. This means, that we need San Benito County
to expedite their review process so that we can complete building and
meet this deadline. Any delays in the process will put us out of business.
We need our permits by the end of April.
2) It is imperative that we stay in business for all of the reasons that
are important to you. Express what Claravale Farm means to you –
what the milk means to you and your family, why we’re not just another
dairy operation, why small family farming is important in food production,
why buying fresh and local is good, why we’d be good for the County
etc. If you’ve been to the Farm, write about what’s impressed
you. Things like what a clean facility with happy cows would be excellent.
If you’re a professional or business owner it would be a good idea
to write it on your letterhead. Don’t let that hang you up though,
everything is welcome. Keep it simple and to the point.
Address e-mails and letters to:
Art Henriques
Director of Planning
San Benito County
3224 Southside Road
Hollister, CA 95023
ahenriques@planning.co.san-benito.ca.us
Reb Monaco
Supervisor District #4
County of San Benito
Board of Supervisors
481 Fourth Street
Hollister, CA 95023
sbcsuper@supervisor.co.san-benito.ca.us
In the subject line put Support for Claravale Farm. Please forward this
letter to those whom you think would be interested in helping us. Thank
you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Ron Garthwaite and Collette Cassidy, owners
Claravale Farm
Collette Cassidy
Acupuncturist/Herbalist
claravaledairy.com
cassidysgeneralstore.com
mybiopro.com/collettecassidy
Cell: (831)234-7088
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