Toxic Pesticide Exposure Defense Fund

I fully understand the Swartz's concern about the spraying of the adjacent orchards. We were invited for an outdoor BBQ over one summer and were forced to go inside after a tractor came through spraying the orchard. There was a distinct smell in the air of whatever was being sprayed and I would have to assume that the weather conditions for spraying were not ideal as the drift came our way.

I hope this goes miles and miles toward helping the health of the community in Califon, NJ!

Why would a farmer want to build next to existing homes knowing he would endanger the community? Why would the town allow it? Why would the DEP allow it? Assuming the town and DEP did not know the danger at first, what stopped them from taking action when they did know? These questions need to be answered.

This is such an important issue and it needs to be well publicized. Education is of utmost importance. I feel when people are educated (as in my business) they will be motivated to do the right thing. The information you have collected is compelling. All credit to the great amount of research you have done!

This is an outrage! The very authorities and agencies that are paid by our tax $$$ are allowing the orchard to continue spraying toxic chemicals and are not enforcing the directives of the settlement that they composed; furthermore, Melicks Orchard is not complying with those directives. Laws are in place to insure the health and well being of the community, why doesn't the orchard have to follow them?

Pesticides are hazardous and highly volatile, likely to drift and linked to a wide range of health impacts, including cancer. Thus, it must be fully regulated by the state in residential areas. The state must provide the basis for critical new rules for use of pesticide fumigants, and any neighbor’s right to know their rights and the full extent of any regulations governing its use in residential areas.

This is a David and Goliath story. "David had no armor, no experience, no equipment, he was not battle tested, nor was he trained. The one thing he had that Goliath also had was confidence. The huge difference was that his confidence was in his God, and not in his own strength." Bill Swartz is just one man. He has used every outlet available to a citizen of these United States to solve this problem on his own. Law is being broken by Melick's Orchard. People, air and water are being poisoned. The NJDEP refuses to act and stop the spraying of illegal and dangerous pesticides. They refuse to stop this lawlessness, and protect these citizens. Bill Swartz cares about the health of the citizens of Califon and the health of the environment. I am proud to help fund his fight. Lori Milks

We have visited Bill's house and know that the orchard borders his property and other residential properties. We are always concerned about pesticide exposure that this community experiences and we experience when we visit.