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Vol. 18, No. 12, Wednesday, February 15, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Group plans for sovereign food supply by vertical farming BY JANA SEMENIUK An open house held on Feb. 11 at the old Coop building in Andrew introduced a trio of people spearheading an effort to build a Vertical Farming business in town with the goal of creating a idea that I meant to take over the town.” sovereign food supply. In a later interview, Robinson said Chief Howie Jackson from Saddle she is a member of Life Lake Reserve, whose Force Canada and they ideas around a soverhave nothing to do eign food supply was with the vertical farm the inspiration for the operation in Andrew. Vertical Farming busi“Howie and Russ ness in Andrew, spoke don’t want anything to to the crowd of approxdo with it,” she said, imately 75 people adding that at least 20 along with Wendy members of Life Force Robinson, Director of Canada attended the Operations for Alberta Feb. 11 open house and Vertical Farms and are interested in purPresident Russel chasing property and Berkhoven, about their businesses in the vilintentions regarding lage. the vertical farm busiMeanwhile, Chief ness in Andrew and Russ Berkhoven, President Jackson the impact it would and Founder of Alberta Howie addressed the crowd, have on the communi- Vertical Farms. saying his idea of a ty. Photo: Jana Semeniuk sovereign food supply Tensions about the stemmed from the COVID pandemic new business centred around an online when he said indigenous people were video released last week where prevented from buying food in the St. Robinson was interviewed by Life Paul area. He said he was concerned Force Canada, a self-described ‘freedom movement’ whose mandate is about the safety of food and water, communal living. In the video, adding that he brought Berkhoven Robinson described her groups’ inten- onboard as his grow expert. Jackson said the Village of Andrew tions for Andrew which included pursits on Pakan land. chasing all available property for “Is the big picture here to reclaim approximately $6 million and creating land that is yours,?” asked one open a community living separately from house attendee. the government. Robinson described Jackson said it was already in the the scenario as an ‘Intentional commuprocess. nity’, likening it to Mennonites and “It's already in the process. The peoHutterites. Deputy Mayor Tammy Pickett spoke ple on the reserve don't need to move to Robinson during the open house anywhere. The people here don't need stating that the video upset a lot of the to move anywhere. It's the land base residents and that was why they were that's changing. It's not the communities, it's not the housing. What we're there. “I was speaking off the cuff to Life doing, we're taking out the governForce Canada. They understand how ment. And then we're going to be putimportant it is for us to have food sov- ting in sovereignty, where it's going to ereignty,” said Robinson. “I want to be natural law, we're going to be using apologize right now if anybody got the natural law in this instance,” he said.
Residents concerned about group taking over the town “What we're doing is we're going to be creating our own system, within a system.” Meanwhile, the open house lasted more than two hours leaving some attendees feeling there was a lack of clear answers including Deputy Mayor Tammy Pickett. “Unfortunately, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I personally am more than happy to have any new business come into town. What they do within their four walls is their choice,” she said by text message. “As for their external thoughts, hopes and dreams...
no direct comment. Our community has done just fine working together over the years. Andrew is an awesome place to live, away from the hustle and bustle of a large city.” Others became alarmed. One resident wrote a letter, after the open house, outlining her concerns with the plans for sovereignty and an Intentional Community. “We are looking for direction or assistance as the situation in Andrew appears to be much more than just a new business starting up to sell produce,” she wrote, sending the letter to several government officials including Lamont County Reeve and Councillors in addition to MP Shannon Stubbs and Premier Danielle Smith.
Andrew Deputy Mayor Tammy Pickett asks questions to members of Alberta Vertical Farm, at an open house they held on Feb. 11. The organization is setting up shop at the old Coop building in Andrew to grow vegetables indoors using towers and special lighting. Photo: Jana Semeniuk