Farm Food Freedom Fighters

Bella Coola Relief Effort

		FarmFoodFreedomFighters is planning to be at a number of locations in the next two months on the Sunshine Coast, to show people the extent of the problems for the farmers and to ask for donations. We will have a few interesting items for sale (by donation) including cookies and heritage seeds, and maybe a few surprises. Watch for updates. This is a community to community event, neighbour helping neighbour. Please read the information included on this web site.
How Can You Help? You can make your donation through Farmfoodfreedomfighters.ca (Contact Kit, kit@dccnet.com) or If you would like to donate directly and receive a receipt for tax purposes an account has been created at the local Credit Union in Bella Coola specifically for Farm Relief. Donations via cheque can be made to “CCRD-Farm Relief 2010″ and mailed to Williams Lake and District Credit Union, Box 214, Bella Coola V0T 1C0. Tax receipts can be issued if donors include their name and mailing address.

Flooded farmers desperate for supplies By Colleen Kimmett October 25, 2010 Farm animals in Bella Coola are at risk of starving to death after recent floods washed away or soaked tonnes of stored winter feed and hay, says Dayna Chapman of the Bella Coola Valley Sustainable Agricultural Society. Chapman issued an appeal on behalf of the town's farmers, asking for financial support. "At this point, our community has lost over 270 tonnes of winter feed, along with livestock, fencing, equipment, tools, heritage seeds, heritage fruit trees, corrals and paddocks, barns and shelters, market gardens, pasture, and actual acreage washed down the river," she wrote in a letter distributed to food security listserves and non-profits. "Our community's efforts to support local farmers and increase the resiliency of our agricultural sector, as well as increase our community's ability to feed itself, are in jeopardy." (read more...)		Farmers, small businesses hit hard by Bella Coola flood From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010 The day after the once-in-a-century flood hit the Bella Coola Valley last month, Allison Sayers was granted a license to legally sell lamb from her farm. Except there were precious few left to sell. The massive flood had wiped out 75 per cent of her herd and destroyed all of her feed. The fencing had collapsed, the barn and guest cabin had filled with almost a metre of water, and the greenhouse had slid four metres off the foundation. While the province has approved disaster financial assistance to reimburse homeowners, farmers, small businesses and charities whose properties were not insured against floods, Ms. Sayers fears she will not get relief funding even though she has lost tens of thousands of dollars. (read more...)

Farmers hit hard by Bella Coola flood devastation Updated: October 26, 2010 (Editorial) I hope to raise awareness of the devastation in the Bella Coola, BC community after the recent flood. This area was called a disaster, and thus received Disaster Relief Funding. However, the funding does not cover much of what was lost. There has been 270 tonnes of feed lost, as well as many miles of fencing, pasture, paddocks, animal shelters, livestock, gardens, and much more. And there is no help for farmers from Disaster Financial Assistance. The people of this community are spending long days volunteering to help their neighbors by mending fences, cleaning houses, organizing/bucking/delivering wood, moving hay, etc. (read more...)		FarmFoodFreedomFighters is taking donations for the Bella Coola Farmers Please contact Kit for more information. Check back with us for fundraising events and up to date information on what is happening in Bella Coola.