Recently, a backhoe was trundling around the 'old course', digging pits, to finally get the soil samples required by their application to Saanich, to remove this land from it's ALR designation. It's anticipated this means there is going to be some movement on the application soon. I also anticipate the developers to report soil classifications purporting that the land will be unsuitable for farming, as per it's designation. Soil classification within ALR land falls into to 7 categories, 1 being best, 7 worst (more info. can be found at alc.gov.bc.ca). Saanich Council, while deciding whether to forward the application to the ALC MUST keep in mind that most soil can be remediated to support some type of farming and all land, whether within the ALR or not, will probably require some type of remediation, and contain non farmable areas, such as rock outcroppings (we live on an island, after all) and wooded areas. You just need to come and walk the 'old course' to see the park like setting that is sprouting up healthy spring growth, to know this land is arable. An interesting article found on the Mother Jones website, linked here, writes about David Brandt a farmer in Ohio, who uses winter cover crops to mimic mother nature in building healthy soil on his farm. Brandt never, ever tills his soil. Ripping the soil up with steel blades creates a nice, clean, weed-free bed for seeds, but it also disturbs soil microbiota and leaves dirt vulnerable to erosion. The promise of no-till, cover-crop farming is that it not only can reduce agrichemical use, but also help keep the heartland churning out food—even as extreme weather events like drought and floods become ever more common. I believe similar, if not the exact same farming techniques are employed at Madrona Farms, close by in the Blenkinsop Valley, with extraordinary results and one would assume, very similar soil.
Although I personally would like to see Sannich and or the CRD designate this property as a park, usable for all, and a wonderful link between Beaver Lake Regional Park and the Commonwealth Pool, I fully understand the need for food security in these times of global warming. I laugh at people who think they shock when they ask me " how will you feel if it's turned into a farm? " as they envision rumbling tractors, and farm animals. Really people, we had tractors, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and all kinds of pesticides used daily, when this was a golf course! The noise pollution then was, I think, considerably worse than a farm tractor occasionally moving around the land. Farm animals? Bring them on! Feed lots, of course being a non-starter (and probable threat to bring folks on board with development). Sheep and goats would keep the weeds down and the land cleared (goats are now used to clear land of blackberries), free range chickens would till the land naturally, and I'm not offended by the smell of cows.

If you haven't yet signed this petition, I implore you to add your names to keep this property in it's present designation. It's one of the last, large, tracts of land within the area. You don't necessarily have to live in Saanich or even use the area to add your name, or to be passionate about saving land, forests and the wildlife they home and protect, and the availability of food production for PEOPLE.

Two last notes -

Much is being made lately about the need for affordable housing; agreed. But consider how much building is going on at present all over lower Vancouver Island. Reports are on the news about how landlords in Vancouver are offering incentives to renters and buyers. Is it REALLY more house, apartments and condo units needed or is it more a matter of affordability? Do we therefore need to sacrifice this property to even more housing development? A proposed 150 unit development is already in planning, backing right up against the Beaver Lake Park forest on Elk Lake Drive.

Lastly, if you are some of the folks who are using this wonderful area as a dog walk, I beseech you to NOT throw your doggy poop bags around the old clubhouse area. It is disgusting, unsightly and unhygienic and will surely be cause for the owners to put up NO TRESPASSING signs. They are already letting their displeasure be known. Don't be one of those few who ruin it for all! Take it with you and dispose of the waste in a proper fashion. And if your a smoker (and I admit to being one) please consider purchasing a pocket ashtray, even a small mint tin with lid, will do. Cigarette filters take eons to degrade and are a serious fire hazard to the property, as well as being unsightly on the paths. Put your butts in a pocket ashtray or at least your pocket to take home and dispose of properly. I'm ashamed of all who practice this unsightly gesture of leaving ANY type garbage.