Vegetable farmer stung by charges

Brookfield Gardens in court over counts against environmental act

Brookfield Gardens Inc. is a relatively big farm, producing close to 120 hectares of vegetables.

Farmer Ed Dykerman says great attention has been placed on responsible and safe farming practices in growing a wide variety of vegetables including squash, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets and turnips.

So being slapped with charges under the Environmental Protection Act this week stings, he says.

The Department of Environment, Labour and Justice issued a release Wednesday stating Brookfield Gardens has been charged with three counts under the Environmental Protection Act, Watercourse and Wetland Protection regulations.

Charges arose, the department adds, from the investigation of a reported fish kill on the North River on Aug. 9. The charges are the result of the cultivation of an agricultural crop in the North Milton area.

Dykerman takes exception to the wording of the release, feeling it may create a false impression.

“As far as we know we have not been charged with a fish kill but they (Department of Environment) are making it sound that way,’’ he says.

“We just got the information so we are not ready to make a comment at this point. It’s a bit of a confusing act...but we may have made a mistake.’’ The charges are: — Cultivation of an agricultural crop within 15 meters of a watercourse boundary or wetland boundary;

— Without a license or Buffer Zone Activity Permit alter or disturb the ground or soil within 15 meters of a watercourse boundary or wetland boundary;

— Cultivate one or more hectares of row crop on any parcel of land which has a slope which is greater than nine per cent unless there is a management plan for that area and the cultivation of the row crop is done, pursuant to, and in accordance with, that management plan.

Brookfield Gardens Inc. is to appear in Provincial Court in Charlottetown on Nov. 24, 2014.