Seeds sown on stony ground rarely flourish. That agricultural bromide fits perfectly the situation with Colony Farm.
While on the surface, restoring Colony Farm to its former status as a productive farm seems like a good idea, many questions remain regarding scope, financing and environmental impacts. What's more, many of the individuals and groups that fought to keep the property as public park instead of a golf course or PNE site - as was once contemplated - are against the project. These groups want more public consultation and more discussion about the project, which would require a $5-million capital investment.
The concern is that the farm has been "let go" over the years, with limited public investment, and only now, with an academy possibly involving private enterprise is Metro Vancouver considering pumping money into the park. Environmentalists want to know more about who would be involved in this project, how wildlife will be protected and whether public access will be restricted. They also want a say in how this plan is shaped.
Why shouldn't they have a say?
Working with park users and groups might take more time but gaining their support and acceptance would give the academy legitimacy it doesn't currently have. What's more, these groups could help with fundraising in the future and possibly be part of the group overseeing the farm initiatives.
There are many positives to this project that shouldn't be discarded with a poorly thought-out campaign. Not only would the heritage farm buildings be restored but some of the required $5 million would go to drainage, improving parks and trails and developing an education centre and bird banding laboratory.
Colony Farm is a rare bird itself. Located in the heart of Metro Vancouver, it is ideally suited to showcase local agriculture and educate the public about the value of supporting agriculture in B.C. But how big the farms should be and who should be allowed to use the land are all questions that need to be answered.
The end result, if done right, could be a flowering of sustainable agriculture in the Lower Mainland.
