Glencolton Farms - 2008 Message from Michael Schmidt, Glencolton Farms

2008 Message from Michael Schmidt, Glencolton Farms

Dear Friends

Dear Investigators

Dear Prosecutors

I would like to thank all of you equally for your cooperation in 2007. We did not resolve anything so far, but at the same time we raised the awareness within the general public surrounding the Raw Milk issue substantially.

Our Farm has been left alone since the raid on November 21, 2006. We have not received any of our equipment back; however, Cow-share members did invest in missing equipment so that we could function well enough to fulfil the contractual agreements we have with our cow-share members. It has been at times difficult but, considering the circumstances, our year in review is impressive:

·   The court order of June 2007 issued to prevent us from continuing with our cow-share holders was met with defiance. The Cow-share holders vowed to continue to exercise their right. I like to think that we have been left alone because we have a very valid case to stand up for.

·   In 2007, several Health Units across Ontario made very misleading statements regarding people falling ill due to raw milk or raw-milk cheeses, all of which proved to be either wrong or intentionally planted without proof only to scare people.

·   We succeeded in providing samples of raw-milk at some major food events in Toronto and served raw milk during our press conference at Queen’s Park in November.

·   We provided every MPP in the house a package containing information on how the raw-milk issue could be resolved in a constructive way. We will soon follow up with detailed statistics about which MPPs responded to our proposal and how.

·   Our raw milk was chosen as one of the 100 best foods in Toronto in 2007 by Toronto Life Magazine.

·   We received the 2007 activist award from the U.S.-based Weston Price Foundation.

·   Since the November 2006 raid, the Blue Bus did not miss one of its Tuesday milk runs. For a while, we had car escorts following and protecting the bus. Later, we returned to normal, but always have people in the bus with cameras at hand.

HISTORY OF RAW MILK SERVINGS from Glencolton Farms (approximates):

    * Since the raid in November 2006:                                                         330 000
    * Since the first “milk war” in 1994:                                                           1.8 million
    * Since 1990, the start of our original cow lease arrangements:         3.3 million

As far as we know, NOBODY fell ill due to our raw milk.

Considering the scope, this statistic would give any government-favoured corporation enough evidence to get approval for their products. However, we must be different. Yes, we are a grassroots movement. To quote Abraham Lincoln:

“To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of consumers”.

In the meantime, we have built a lot of awareness and great support. We are well connected in the event of another raid. We will be defended in a peaceful way. We have neither fear nor doubt that what will come will help to resolve the present differences and make way for a better dialogue between Farmer, Consumer and Government.

Lets celebrate 2008 with this vision:

WE FARMERS AND CONSUMERS WILL UNITE TO DECLARE OUR RIGHT TO DO AND CHOOSE WHAT IS GOOD AND NECESSARY FOR THE FUTURE, OUR HEALTH AND OUR PLANET.

Let me close with heartfelt thanks to each and everybody who is helping to resolve the present situation.

See you all in May 2008 for the trial and the Milk Symposium.

Regards

Michael Schmidt

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written by Carmen, April 01, 2008

I grew up in an Eastern Europe country with raw milk. My grandparents had 2-3 cows that would eat grass, absolutely natural grass on the fields. From time to time my grandparents would feed the cows with apples mixed with salt, once in a few months. In winter time they would feed the cows with dry grass, specially cut in summer for this purpose. And that's all. Happy cows. Periodically the cows were tested for disease by the veterinarian in that village, but I don't remember to have had major problems with the cows. And the tradition of growing cows for raw milk is for generations there. It's a way of living in the country side. I came to Canada not long time ago and I can say that nothing in the market, absolutely nothing compares with the raw milk taste and composition. We used to make cottage cheese in home in my back country from that milk, but here I can't. And truly, my son who is 22 years old really misses our home milk and it was very difficult for him to drink and get used with the milk on the canadian market. I would like to know that I would have a choice and I could buy from somewhere raw milk. Carmen

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written by Tomasz Winnicki, May 04, 2008

'Our' government's armed raid on your farm infuriated me. I plan to go your court case on May 20/08 to give you support.

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