Did you feel the earth move a short time ago?  Perhaps you heard my scream?  My children jumped, the dog ran off, and papers fell from my hand.  Why? Because I had just read the most fantastic news: Michael Schmidt was cleared of all charges-HURRAY!

But what is all this about, you might ask?  Well for those who don’t know let me quickly explain.  Michael Schmidt had been charged with, and found guilty of, 20 counts of operating an illegal herdshare.   Michael’s saga has been going on for years.  He came to Ontario from Germany and set out to be a dairy farmer.  But in Canada, just as in the USA, Big Agriculture does not like to lose the tiny market share which goes to providers of un-processed milk.

This of course means a crackdown on small farms producing quality, nutrient-dense foods, especially dairy products.  The crackdown is clearly driven by corporate influence on the people’s government under the guise of protecting the poor, ignorant masses. But we are not ignorant, nor are we the masses (public).  We are well-informed, private citizens seeking to make wise choices for ourselves and our families.  And we are clear on one very important point:  the fundamental right of choice.  The right to choose the food we eat and whom we purchase it from, as well as the farmer’s right to conduct private business between he and his friends and neighbors.  After all, this is not some new, untried fad.  This is how things have been done through the entire course of human history!  Until now, that is, with the advent of corporations and large professional associations in modern America & Canada.

Folks, be sure of one thing:  our governments do not have our best interest at heart!  No, instead they are concerned with the business of protecting Big Business.  This is demonstrated daily in our 2 countries.  Consider the American “Health Care” bill currently under construction which will dictate “appropriate” testing and treatment for every medical situation you or I might find ourselves in, regardless of individuality. It seeks to virtually wipe out alternative medicine and natural cures and would impose criminal penalties upon doctors who stray from approved treatments, as well as penalize private citizens who refuse these same treatments.

And then there is the “Food Safety” bill also under consideration.  Its objective seems to be to eliminate all consumer choice by regulating, and penalizing, small farms and Grandma’s kitchen right out of existence. You see, if “they” control the food supply and the medical system (Oh!  Let’s not forget education…), they really control us, don’t they?  Scary, scary thought.

And of course, the United States Supreme Court decision which gives corporations the rights of individuals:  free speech.  This now allows corporations legal, unencumbered influence over our elected officials in the form of campaign contributions and more.

So Michael’s victory today was really a victory for all of us; a step in the right direction.  The judge was brave enough to stand up and put a stop to this unjust persecution of a small farmer.  And he recognized that said farmer was providing a highly valued service to a well informed private citizenry!  I’m so happy I could go hug a judge!  (Were it not for that he is oh, so far away in the cold, cold north:-)

Let’s recognize that this victory did not happen because one farmer stood up and challenged the system.  It happened because one farmer with a very large group of citizens behind him, stood up and cried foul!  These victories need to be happening over and over again all over the world, but especially here in North America.  (Sadly, much of the world seems to follow our lead in these matters.)  And these victories can only happen if you stand up and demand to be heard!

So become friends with your neighborhood sustainable farmer.  Make sure your elected officials really know you!  Speak out!  Get involved with your local Weston A Price Foundation Chapter, join the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, hook up with your state’s NICFA group, or whatever organizations are within your range that support the local and sustainable food movement, the only true safe food system there is!  And stay tuned for more ways that you can help.

As for this moment, I think I’ll go grab my husband and kids and raise a glass of fresh, unprocessed milk to celebrate. Michael Schmidt, here’s to you!