Reinventing Springfield: Urban Ag and Sustainability.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Development/Urban-Agriculture-and/i-w7Lrbk4/0/O/Urban-Ag-Forum-Banner.jpg)
Much ado about Urban Ag has been made lately here in Jacksonville.
Goats being confiscated, Chicken wars, heavy fines etc. Where did all the hubbub come from?
It wasn't this way in Jacksonville just a generation ago. Join us after the jump for Springfield's push to open up the past so that we can step forward into the future! Urban Agriculture is alive and well here in Jacksonville.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-reinventing-springfield-urban-ag-and-sustainability
Great article! San Diego, also a conservative city, has just deregulated their urban ag codes, including goats and hens. The way they did it is very intresting with a "graduated" approach where lot size really comes into play, this could work with goats too, altough there they were very liberal on their goat legislation.
http://www.healthycal.org/archives/7405 (http://www.healthycal.org/archives/7405)
Pinellas County also has a good apprach http://pinellascountycitizensforbackyardpoultry.weebly.com/ordinances.html (http://pinellascountycitizensforbackyardpoultry.weebly.com/ordinances.html)
Many cities have amended theiri codes, so there is lots to pull from in figuring out what will work for Springfield. Also, contrary to what many in Jax think, Historic Springfield has some pretty large lots, in addition to smaller lots. My own lot is half an acre and I was at a house the other day whose lot is close to 1 acre.
Excellent article! I'll be at the forum tonight. Anyone interested in this subject should attend. You don't have to live in Springfield. Come check out the subject no matter where in town you live.
The nice thing about what I've seen with hen owners is that they have adapted their space to give the hens what they need without making the back yard look like a barnyard. Some of the coops are amazing! Responsible animal ownership is always what it's about!
I grew up with more chickens than anyone could ever count!!! and the neighbors had goats....much as I love animals, they are not the cute cartoon's we want them to be. chickens escape into others yards and dig up pansies, goats are sociable and really quite annoying and noisey when they want something. Nice to have a big lot, but maybe the hens and goats ought to live in your home and not next to the neighbors lot line. that way, they'd only bother you. btw, wish someone would run on better dog regulation too! Barking, cackling, baaing...it's all a form of pollution.
"I grew up with more chickens than anyone could ever count"
That is a completely different scale than anything that is allowed under urban ag restrictions nationwide. We are talking about scale here. And small scale is what makes urban ag work. If it wasn't true then the over 700 cities who have amended their zoning codes to allow it would be repealing their code changes. But instead some are re-vamping them to increase the scale. Seattle, for instance, recently increased the numbers that they had originally allowed when they discovered it wasn't a nuisance.
It is all about scale.
Good article. Urban Ag is a great way to fight nutritional obstacles in the urban core. Let's face it, we truly need to know our food and our food sources. The best way to know what you eat is to grow it yourself.
Hats off to Amanda and Sustainable Springfield, and you to StephenDare for helping to spread the word.
I ran out of space so i bought an empty lot and made that my garden away from home. Riverside lots are tiny and filled fast. I raise my birds to a certain age here then they go out to the northside. The lot cost was the same as a new car and ive enjoyed it so much more. Anyone interested in a hand raised pet miniature chicken let me know. I've got a little boy thats about ready but hes taken. Poultry is a great hobby and can be as cheap or expensive as you want. They produce wonderful eggs and can make really wonderful pets.
Fantastic article! I'm quite interested in how this pans out. As Springfield Chicken said, "Responsible animal ownership is always what it's about." Concur.
This could be a boon for Springfield and set a precedent for other parts of the city as well.
Good crowd last night, looked to be about 50 people. All comments were positive. Stephen Dare opened the forum up talking about bringing back a good vibe to Springfield (my words, not his), making this community a city trend-setter by opening up urban ag here.
Amanda and her guests gave detailed information about raising hens and goats, and mostly, convinced the audience that urban ag is about having pets "with benefits".
Fill out the survey!
http://www.sustainablespringfield.net/urban_ag_survey.html
online and easy.
Growing ones own food is a basic human right.
What a FANTASTIC idea
Chicago is very progressive on this issue.
Locally, next week is very important for even scratching the surface in Jacksonville on amending local zoning laws to allow more urban ag. Council Member Don Redman will meet with Council Member Doyle Carter on March 26, 2013 at 2:30pm. The meeting location is City Hall at St. James Building, 117 West Duval Street, Suite 425, Jacksonville, Florida 32216, Lynwood Roberts Room. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a proposal to extend the ability to raise and keep pet hens for backyard egg production in residential RLD zoned areas of the City (reference Section 656.401 (a) (3), Ordinance Code)."
All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
Please contact Scott Wilson, ECA, District 4, for additional information at 630-1394.
I think the problems caused by roosters is over exaggerated. I have a neighbor who has one and unless I'm walking right past his house I've never heard it. Granted I've heard crowing tends to vary greatly between breeds but I would imagine most in an urban setting would choose roosters that wouldn't make much noise.
Does anyone know if other birds like turkeys or peacocks would be similarly exempt?
Maybe, FSBA, but I grew up on the Southside near Englewood. Some neighbor, never figured out who, had a rooster and it woke me every morning. You just can't stop a rooster from crowing, and you don't need them for egg production. I have to agree on a hens only, especially in the city limits on small urban lots.
Chicken pen placement is crucial..the more sound breaks the better...a rooster in the open can be heard for a mile..but as someone has said it was hard to hear ev
en..the issue is that there is more than one...men will be men and they will try each other in calls but mostly its for keeping his girls in line and happy..chicken behavior is facinating and more people should be able to enjoy them. There are very small versions that take so little space that they can be kept in the house easily..its true that hens can be kept without roos but i find they arent happy without a leader..one of those hens will take lead and have been known to crow..well..something like a crow..happy day
I wish I had seen this in time to have attended. I've heard wonderful things about the information that was shared. Were there any handouts that the organizers could share with those of us who were not able to attend? Thanks!