Paradise Lost: Amanda on ActionNews

sheclown · December 24, 2011, 11:10:53 AM

QuoteJACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The urban farming craze is catching on in Jacksonville. More and more people want to know where their food comes from. And what better way to know that, then to grow it or raise the animals that produce it?

That's what some local homeowners have been trying to do, until they say the City got in their way and forced them to get rid of their animals.

"All I want for Christmas is my pets back," said urban farmer Amanda Searle.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Urban-Farm-Fight/N1Aa2Txn-E6D2K_8kGT1bA.cspx#.TvXVyWWs_Do.facebook

dougskiles · December 24, 2011, 03:40:12 PM

So wrong. Now that the re-org plan has gone thru and redistricting is done, perhaps the council will address the matter.

John P · December 25, 2011, 08:59:31 AM

She should have fought to to change the law first instead of breaking it first. Thats not a good recipe for success. You dont go 90 on the highway and get upset when ticketed. You fight to raise the limit first then go 90 without worry or consequences. Until then she deserves the penalty. Unless shes suggesting citizens choose which laws they dont like a break them because they dont care for them themselves. That would be another bad recipe. I am for changing code to support some urban agriculture but you have go about these things the right way..

ChriswUfGator · December 25, 2011, 12:09:52 PM

Unfortunately, John P, if you look at history nothing ever really gets accomplished (other than the suppression of change) when people approach things in the manner you evidently feel is the only way to approach things. Someone had to sit at the front of the bus, regardless of the law. If your advice were followed even semi-regularly, we'd all still be governed by the queen of England.

I get your point, but speaking realistically, if a law is truly stupid the only way to get rid of it is often to break it and create the example that stimulates public discourse. Just kind of how human nature works. In this case, Amanda has created a good example, where she and all her neighbors are in support of her two pet goats, the only person who has a problem with it is MCCD, who are fine-happy generally. This lets everyone see how retarded the hassle they're creating is.

sheclown · December 26, 2011, 07:10:40 AM

There are many people who have their hens in their backyards throughout all of Jacksonville and have for years. The step Amanda took was to open up her experience with the rest of the city to say, "why am I in hiding here? This is a good thing all around and I'd like to promote it." Once she did that, she painted a bull's eye on her life.

Knowing Amanda, like I do, I think it is safe to say that she didn't just want fresh eggs for herself, she wanted them for everyone

-- and that is admirable.

avs · December 26, 2011, 08:15:15 AM

I am not the only underground small scale urban farmer in Jax, John P, LOL. There are people all over. I have met LOTS having the petition signed, most who had no idea they weren't allowed. In fact, last week I closed a house here in Springfield (I am a Realtor) with a nice couple moving here from Fleming Island. The retired lady mentioned that the first thing she wanted to do was get 2 hens for the back yard for composting to build her garden and for fresh eggs. She had no idea she couldn't have them. That is why the city has to catch up with its citizenry. There are cities all over the US who have already amended their codes - Jax's code is antiquated and most people don't know that, especially people who are moving here from other parts of the country where urban ag isn't even questioned.

RAP will be hosting a forum on hens on January 26, 2012 at 6:30 at the WillowBranch Library for anyone who wants to learn more about small scale hen keeping and chaning the zoning code. SMPS is also planning on attending and has invited the San Marco community as well

avs · December 26, 2011, 08:26:18 AM

Also, John P, FYI we are't fighting the citation with city hall. We are fighting the city over the rulings is handed out: the first ruling we complied with and when we went back for our second hearing the magistrate went back on his first ruling and would not even look at our evidence to show that we had complied. THAT is just bad law. You don't make a ruling for someone to do community service then when they do the community service and bring you evidence that they have done it, throw out your first ruling and send them to jail. That ain't right.

ChriswUfGator · December 26, 2011, 08:45:58 AM

Who was the magistrate? Tannen? He can be taken care of.

avs · December 26, 2011, 10:26:34 AM

I would love to see the overlay amended, Stephen - and I agree several things need to be amended. There are people outside of Springfield that have hens and goats too though and I hate to see them left out. Springfield can always be the example to lead the way though - what would we need to do to get an amendment going? Planning is kind of trying to lay low these days

Dog Walker · December 26, 2011, 11:13:45 AM

Our friend, the New College professor who got the law changed in Sarasota County to allow 4 hens in the backyard, has moved on and now Manatee and Pinellas Counties have adopted the same ordinance that he got through in Sarasota.

See; http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,12628.0.html

If those affluent counties can accept "hens in the hood" then a semi-rural county like Duval should surely follow them.

avs · December 26, 2011, 11:36:12 AM

Yep. I had people contact me about a month ago about moving here from Kansas City. They wanted to retire in Springfield and had 3 hens (legal in KC). When I told them they couldn't have them here they moved on to Sarasota because the law was more progressive.

sheclown · December 27, 2011, 08:19:12 AM

It all boils down to this:

One yolk looks healthy and nutritious, the other pale and soupy. One is from Amanda's backyard. One is from Food Lion.

If all things were equal, it would be about the fun of having pet chickens in the backyard. This is about a greater issue -- the right to control what you eat. You can't get a fresh egg like this from some corporate farm a thousand miles away.

Captain Zissou · December 27, 2011, 09:16:54 AM

The last time I checked this subject, the rule was that you could maintain hens inside a coop as long as it was more than 50 feet from any structure and 50 feet from the property line. Is this still the case?

avs · December 27, 2011, 10:13:36 AM

you cannot keep hens on any residential prop in jax

uptowngirl · December 27, 2011, 10:28:59 AM

Quote from: John P on December 25, 2011, 08:59:31 AM
She should have fought to to change the law first instead of breaking it first. Thats not a good recipe for success. You dont go 90 on the highway and get upset when ticketed. You fight to raise the limit first then go 90 without worry or consequences. Until then she deserves the penalty. Unless shes suggesting citizens choose which laws they dont like a break them because they dont care for them themselves. That would be another bad recipe. I am for changing code to support some urban agriculture but you have go about these things the right way..

According to this, many of my friends and loved ones could be in jail for old stupid sodomy laws, some women could be ticketed for showing their belly button, and the so many more outdated laws based on societies fears and ideal of perfection. I agree, follow the law, IF it makes sense. This one does not, it is a stupid outdated law that has changed in much bigger and better cities than JAX.

Edit* I can have up to five dogs legally here in Springfield (and for those of you that know me- my five dogs would be 180-200lbs a PIECE), but I cannot have one small 5lb chicken???!!!