THE BLUEBERRY SIGN WAR AT PROSPECT LAKE
Farms and the foods that they produce are an important part of the rural culture and experience. People drive out to Rural Saanich and other rural areas often to purchase fruits, corn, eggs, and other fresh products. These farms operate as businesses and rely on the sale of their products for income and qualifying for farm status which reduces their property taxes. Farms might sell their goods at the farm gate from a stand.
Farmers quite often advertise their goods via social media such as Craigslist, Used Victoria, Facebook and even the farm's own website in order to sell their products.
For some farmers however, this form of advertising is not sufficient for them, perhaps due to their obscure location, so they post physical signs advertising their product and location on trees, traffic signs, and utility poles. Not only does this practice contravene Saanich bylaws, it is unsightly, and dangerous. These signs can interfere with traffic, can be harmful to trees, and is against Worksafe regulations that keep linemen safe. The mere practice of driving a nail or a screw into a high voltage power pole can have devastating life endangering consequences.
There are two blueberry farms in the Prospect Lake area that are practicing this form of public advertising, the Meadowbrook Family Farm and Sparton Acres Farm. Between these two farms there are no less than 14 signs located on 4 roadways.
Please do not patronize these businesses until they show respect for our bylaws and our neighborhood and remove their illegally posted signs. Below are some photo examples. There are 5 blueberry signs pointing you in two directions posted on high voltage hydro poles and traffic posts at the Sparton, West Saanich, and Prospect Lake intersection. Too busy of traffic location to be shopping for blueberries and trying to decide which direction to turn.
Farmers quite often advertise their goods via social media such as Craigslist, Used Victoria, Facebook and even the farm's own website in order to sell their products.
For some farmers however, this form of advertising is not sufficient for them, perhaps due to their obscure location, so they post physical signs advertising their product and location on trees, traffic signs, and utility poles. Not only does this practice contravene Saanich bylaws, it is unsightly, and dangerous. These signs can interfere with traffic, can be harmful to trees, and is against Worksafe regulations that keep linemen safe. The mere practice of driving a nail or a screw into a high voltage power pole can have devastating life endangering consequences.
There are two blueberry farms in the Prospect Lake area that are practicing this form of public advertising, the Meadowbrook Family Farm and Sparton Acres Farm. Between these two farms there are no less than 14 signs located on 4 roadways.
Please do not patronize these businesses until they show respect for our bylaws and our neighborhood and remove their illegally posted signs. Below are some photo examples. There are 5 blueberry signs pointing you in two directions posted on high voltage hydro poles and traffic posts at the Sparton, West Saanich, and Prospect Lake intersection. Too busy of traffic location to be shopping for blueberries and trying to decide which direction to turn.