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HB NEWS FARMING IN LARGELY URBAN REGION ‘VERY DIFFICULT Continued from page 1 ment with limited or no further family member to continue farming," said lo- cal farmer Robert McClure in a letter he penned to re- gional council on behalf of VOW. "Our farms are our business, our homes, our pensions, our retirement income, and our financial legacy to our children.” oted that farming in thet urban shadow is “very difficult," with challenges such as: heavy traffic and narrow roads not being compatible farm equipment, water shortag- es from wells running dry, municipal and environ- infra. achinery have I Graton) and you can't con- vince any of them to come back," said McClure, not- ing some farmers who want to continue are also oving out to more agri- culturally focused areas of the pro The next generation of prospective farmers have limited opportunities ie build successful, able farming operations i in Halton Region. group's message comes as a contrast to the one being put forth by citi- zens' coalition Stop Sprawl Halton (SSH), which has supporters throughout the region who are fighting to preserve farmland and promote growth within ex- isting urban boundaries. “The next generation of prospective farmers have limited opportunities to build successful, sustainable farming operations in Halton Region.” Among SSHs Key a argu. ments are growth can ot accom. dated on the thousands of acres that have already been approved for develop- ment, planners should fo- cus more on increasing density within the current urban boundary, and des- ignating farmland for growth runs against the climate emergencies de- clared by Halton and the four local municipalities. Farmer Don Rowntree said while stopping sprawl and saving farms is a Sreat idea, he contends that "re- farm in Becntetown and also do hay and cash cropping. He echoed the concerns raised by McClure and explained that carrying on with day- to-day farm operations has become increasingly diffi- cult 3 in the face of nearby "love ‘moving tractors and (farming) implements are not welcomed by the majority of Halton resi- dents," he said, noting a road he commonly used to take crops to a Caledon grain mill is now off limits due to a truck restriction. ~ local farmer Robert McClure "We have had to increase our liability i irance again — another added ex- pense. City traffic andfarm equipment do not mix.” With no family mem- bers to take over when they tire, Rowntree said that areas in Ontario with high- er yields and not all of our constraints.’ The preferred growth concept put forth by Halton staff says an additional 5,238 acres are needed in Milton and Halton Hills for new community and em- ployment lands to support growth targets prescribed by the province. While regional council iS Ol ly set to vote onthe matter Feb, 9, the de- cision has been resched- uled to a future meeting, with the February session now serving as a council workshop. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Amidst an im- pending regional council vote on expanding Halton's urban boundaries and a growing push against that, we wanted to share how local farmers felt about the SUE. WE DIG DEEPER ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO YOU. VISIT THEIFP.CA TO READ CURRENT AND PAST INVESTIGATIONS: — ADVERTORIAL — Creativity abounds downtown Creativity can take on various forms and Downtown Georgetown is an outlet for many. Paint your own pottery, glass or canvas, take part in a creative workshop or event or enroll in a private art class, after-school art club or take home a craft kit. Downtown Georgetown is where you can be inspired to pick up a paint brush, make over a piece of furniture or a front door, learn to dance, become a performer or watch a live performance on stage. You can explore handmade items and artworks by local artists and the local public library is a resource that both features and feeds creativity. Whether you want to get equipped for role-playing games or are seeking creative services to provide marketing solutions, tap into the offerings of Downtown Georgetown. Check out the list below for creative and cultural businesses to visit in Downtown Georgetown. Find a complete list of downtown businesses online at www.downtowngeorgetown.com. CREATIVITY, TUITION, ARTS & CULTURE Glazed Expressions ¢ Trendos Interiors ¢ Ink Point Graphics * Center Stage * Halton Hills Public Library ¢ John Elliott Theatre Helson Art Gallery ¢ The Hooded Goblin ¢ The Sewing Café * Inkwell Montessori ¢ The Royal Academy of Arts and Education Dini & Co * Lemon Drop Interior Design and Renovations # Downtown @ Georgetown www.d UONEH - dl UL | 2 5 Z Z a 3 = Z gz 13 < 3 8 8 eordyouy