Basics of Chickens in Your Backyard

City of Cincinnati Urban Agriculture

The city of Cincinnati has now made permanent its urban farm project.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Garden-Program-Becomes-Permanent/S0gdD815-kOnTXc2R4OGOg.cspx

Update on Montgomery Chickens

The struggle to keep chicken keeping in Montgomery continues. There is a nice little video interview from channel 9 news. Check it out.

We support Michelle Obama's organic garden

Support local urban food everywhere... including the White House lawn. I have viewed Michelle Obama's move to install a White House garden as one of the most inspiring symbolic moves made in this decade.

Sign the petition.

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Subject: Tell Pesticide Peddlers: We support Michelle Obama's organic garden.

Dear Friend,

The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) has a bone to pick with Michelle Obama. MACA represents chemical companies that produce pesticides, and they are angry that - wait for it - Michelle Obama isn't using chemicals in her organic garden at the White House.

I am not making this up.

In an email they forwarded to their supporters, a MACA spokesman wrote, "While a garden is a great idea, the thought of it being organic made [us] shudder." MACA went on to publish a letter it had sent to the First Lady asking her to consider using chemicals -- or what they call "crop protection products" -- in her garden.

I just signed a petition telling MACA's board members to stop using Michelle Obama's garden to spread propaganda about produce needing to be sprayed with chemicals. I hope you will, too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/wh_garden/?r_by=-2015678-8reM6Px&rc=paste

Thanks!

Mike

Read the original MACA letter

Or Are Chickens Not Welcome... In Your Backyard

Someone mentioned to me last week that one benefit of all of these chickens in your backyard classes is to create a voice for having appropriate laws regarding fowl in your backyard.

It looks like that may become more of necessity more quickly than I thought.

Val has a great post on chickens on the Cincinnati Locavore site about what is happening in Montgomery. She makes some great points about what should be regulated, but that outlawing chickens is a complete misuse of power and time.

I think that the sharing of information between chicken folk will become more important as we can speak to the actualities of raising chickens in your yard, and not let the voice of those not familiar with the subject be heard too loudly.

If you are interested in joining the "Cincinnati Chicken List", please contact me at michael (dot) e (dot) roman (at) gmail (dot) com.

Be a Happy Chicken Folk!

Update:
Another municipality taking away chickens: Sycamore Township
What is going on? Appropriate limits would seem the way to go. Say no more than six chickens in small lots, with the number increasing as your lot gets bigger. Sensible laws make sense for everyone, not just the people who complain.

If You Are Thinking of Raising Chickens...

If you are thinking of raising chickens you may want to read this article about rare breeds.

The article mentions the appeal of raising heirloom vegetables like Brandywine tomatoes.

You may find that a rare breed of chickens is what you need!

Chickens in Your Backyard- Cincinnati, OH

You can do it...learn the basic requirements for keeping chickens in the city, where to buy, what types of shelter can be used, how to endear your neighbors to the project, money saving tips, and more. Collect local eggs in your backyard!

Three upcoming classes at various Greater Cincinnati locations:

Location: Park + Vine (map)
Date: April 28th, 2009
Time:6pm-8pm
Cost:Free
Reserve a spot: RSVP info[at]parkandvine[dot]com or 513-721-7275 before
April 27.

Location: Granny's Garden School (map)
Date: May 2, 2009
Time: Morning Time (Part of the Granny's Spring Garden Party)
Cost:Free
Contact: Granny's Garden School

Location: Gorman Heritage Farm (map)
Date: May 16, 2009
Time: 10am-12pm
Cost: $10/members-$15/non-members (visit the farm after the class)
Contact: Gorman Heritage Farm


Available Materials:
Chicken Keeping Basics
Relevant Cincinnati Municipal Codes
Local Feed Sources
Suggested Reading (Available at Cincinnati Hamilton County Library)

Feel free to email me with any questions. You can send pictures if you have specific questions about space, coop design, etc.

You can do it!

My contact:
Mike Roman
(513) 685-0689
Email: michael (dot) e (dot) roman (at) gmail (dot) com