The Many Benefits of Raw Milk
June 6, 2016Canadian Raw Milk in Parliament
June 25, 2016To survive the government harassment, Michael and Elisa of Glencolton Farms make an urgent appeal for legal defense funds.
Dairy Farmer Michael Schmidt on food freedom
As the Canadian government continues their targeted harassment of Michael Schmidt, farmer at Glencolton Farms, the legal cases continue through the Canadian court system. Michael Schmidt’s 23 year-battle with the Canadian government has entered a new chapter. This time, the Canadian government has taken a new approach by targeting all consumers of raw milk in addition to the farmers.
Agents harass Michael and Elisa and other farm owners while raiding Glencolton Farms
In this video, that is sure to make your blood boil, Canadian agents threaten peaceful farmers while farm co-owners express their opinions in October of 2015.
Current Court Battles
In February of 2016, the Provincial government filed an application for injunction against Michael Schmidt, his wife and son and, for the first time, all the herdshare members or anyone involved in distribution including property owners who allow their space to be used as a drop site for Glencolton Farms.
At a past court hearing on March 16, 2016, the court set a date in September for the final hearing on the applications. Since that time, Michael and attorneys for the coop have successfully argued for a separate hearing on the motion to have a jury trial. It is unlikely that this case will be heard as soon as September. Whether it happens sooner or later, Michael Schmidt and the Canadian people need your support to continue this fight and to set a beneficial precedent.
Michael and Elisa recently sent out a message to their supporters reminding them that legal fees are necessary and should be shared by all with an interest in Glencolton Farms or raw milk from any source. Since this case will be watched throughout Canada and the US, it is imperative that those of us who care about food access and the farmers who feed us also take note and contribute where we can.
Letter from Michael and Elisa to supporters:
(For additional information and background on the case, the Bovine has comprehensive coverage of the cases and actions against food freedom related to Glencolton Farms.)
June 2016
Dear Supporters,
By now you must know that Government is very serious to shut down any attempts of people to make an informed choice about their milk, their food and their individual relationship to their farmer and farmer to their shareholders.
This battle is going on for me now over 22 years. I have been in and out of court so many times that it is impossible to even count. Endless nights are spent on formulating defence, filing papers, responding to new threats.
Our beloved farm has been the focus of at least 3 major raids with up to 25 armed officers.
I have fines of over 100 000 dollars hanging over my head, got a jail sentence in BC for helping a raw milk farm there.
We are now in our last round. There is so much at stake that we at Glencolton Farms might as well pack it in unless supporters of food freedom understand that we cannot do it alone.
We are willing to fight. But we are not willing to worry 24 hours a day how to pay the lawyer to defend that last action.
We keep shelving out money, some money comes in from some members and a trickle here and there from other farmers. That is NOT enough.
We are not able to continue this fight unless we know that everyone will do ALL you can to raise legal funds.
We don’t have the money either, but we have to keep paying and paying and paying out of our last resources.
We are asking all our supporters and all those who want food freedom to please step up:
10 dollars a week, or 50 dollars a month or 500 dollars in one shot.
Unless we raise these funds we will have absolutely no chance of succeeding.
So we might as well pack it in now put a for sale sign up and look back in 10 years how we have miserably failed to bring about positive change.
Thank you for your support. It is through a true community and through our efforts together that we will succeed. Please donate directly to our legal expenses here.
The time is now
Elisa and Michael
Note: if you are donating from the US, the exchange rate is currently to our advantage; your generosity will go further in Canada. Thank you
To learn more about raw milk and other nutrient dense foods, visit westonaprice.org
4 Comments
This will effect everyone’s rights wether you know it or not 🙁
Please take the time to read and help if you can !
Bon courage- food freedom is a real issue and should be a personal choice and personal choice has garnered much support when threatened – so hang on to your boots! Crazy that someone spends money on raiding your farm when serious crimes happen that require those same resources.
Billions spent on gun registry! Love to know how much of our tax money is wasted harassing honest, moral farmers sacrificing so much to provide an alternative choice to informed and educated consumers.
The majority of voters/taxpayers do NOT want to believe how inferior and unhealthy industrially produced food is. Billions spent in marketing have brainwashed too many of us into accepting the status quo – at the expense of our health!
And after “they” take away any and all chances we have to choose healthy alternatives to commercially produced industrial food what will they take next?
FREE health care!! Because our existing system could never sustain the expense of healing the extreme level of chronic disease caused by lack of healthy food!!
I will pray for your situation. God is way bigger than any government. IN JESUS NAME we need a win in court for this farm…God give them favor I ask IN JESUS NAME> AMEN