Support for Claravale Farm

By Ron Garthwaite and Collette Cassidy

Update, Fall 2007–Victory For Claravale Dairy!

Thank you so much for your action alert and letter writing campaign to help us get our permits for our new raw milk dairy location. The letter writing was very successful and we have received the permit we needed. It took us one day short of a month! This is really incredible. In Santa Cruz County we had not been successful after trying for eleven years.

The planning director called and wrote to me twice asking to call off the letter writing campaign because it was taking all of his time to answer everyone. I told him we’d do it when he had our permit.

We are now up and running. A big “Thank you!” to everyone from us.

Collette Cassidy
Claravale Farm
Watsonville, California

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