Progress - Urban Farming approved in Seattle!!!

[Amy D Crawford]

This just came across my "kitchen table".... I can see progress written all over it! What a terrific model for other cities/groups to utilize in getting the ordinances changed in their communities to enhance the producers ability to reach the local community.

"Urban Farming Approved in Seattle
The Seattle City Council on Monday passed legislation designed to encourage urban farmers. People would be allowed to keep up to eight chickens per house; roosters would be prohibited. The ordinance, which passed unanimously, also paves the way for urban farms and taller greenhouses. Specifically, it would allow: Urban farms of up to 4,000 square feet in residential zones. Food grown on site can be sold on site. There are limits on sales hours, amount of farm equipment allowed, and size of signs; and Greenhouses dedicated to food production to extend 15 feet above height limits in certain zones."

Amy

[Jon Baldwin]

HA!  In Colorado it's illegal just to collect your own rain water! It's considered "diverting the natural flow of water" which goes back to the water wars of the ranchers and farmers when the first settlers first came to CO.

 

In my city there can be no backyard livestock of any kind.

[Amy D Crawford]

Aren't the regs just idiot stuff many times. I can't believe Chico would have such a "stupid" ordinance. I will say I admire some of my new friends here in Cotati (we just moved here a year ago). A co-housing group (30 homes built on 3 acres, with focused developed open space) had a few chickens. Now get this, there are wild chickens running around this little hamlet (pop. 7,000)... and people love seeing them, BUT they got "reported" for having less than a dozen hens in a large penned up area.

They ended up going to the citycouncil/planning department and after a year, got the regs changed. They did 90% of the work (getting the new regs written up)... so there is a some possibility for change. Even more so now that the economic climate is changing so dramatically.

I don't think I could live without my "fresh" eggs; even store bought organic are just "blah" in comparison.

Glad to hear that you are keeping your hens!!!!!
amy
(an hour above SF)

[Rich Milliron]

That's great! Here in Chico (N. Calif, surrounded by farm and orchards), they have a city ordinance that states you need a $1,300 permit to have a few hens! They recently proposed a "less stringent" $100/yr fee, and you have to keep your hens in the coop. I don't know if it passed and I don't care. We have three hens that have the run of the backyard, and so do our neighbors - No problem!