EatWhereULive

We've Moved!

2011-06-28T07:18:00.002-06:00

We're excited to announce that the blog has moved! Please put

http://www.eatwhereUlive.com

in your browser's bookmarks. It's your one-stop site for the blog and all information related to Heirloom Gardens, Sustainable Food Denver, and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading."

The older content will remain archived on this site, and you can use the google search box in the upper right corner to look for recipes, photos, and articles.

Pop on over to the new site and check it out!

Join us for a TweetChat, and Ask Your Urban Homesteading Questions!

2011-06-22T21:24:00.002-06:00

Thursday, June 23rd

12:00 MST

search #AskCIG on Twitter to participate

In a worldthat is turning to more sustainable living techniques, the practice off urban homesteading has been increasing. Sundari Elizabeth Kraft, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Urban Homesteading (ISBN: 9781615641048, June 2011, $18.95) will be available via live TweetChatThursday, June 23 at 12:00 pm MST to discuss the benefits of urban homesteadingas well as how to start a garden, no matter the yard situation. She will alsotalk about:

· - How togrow organic foods and preserve them

· - How tokeep your garden healthy

· - Reusingwater and water collecting

· - How toprevent weeds in a garden

· - Otheritems that can be made sustainably, like soap and household cleaning products

Log on to Twitter and search #AskCIG toparticipate. This TweetChat will be monitored by @CIG_Lifestyle. Sundari’sTwitter handle is @EatWhereULive. Please include #AskCIG in all questions.

Sundari Elizabeth Kraft (Denver, Colo.) hasbeen a dedicated urban homesteader for nearly a decade. Currently, shehomesteads in Denver with her chickens, goats, and organic front yard garden.She organizes a group of community members to grow vegetables in city yards,then sells and distributes the produce in the neighborhood. She sits on theDenver Food Policy Council and works with a number of local urbansustainability groups. Sundari teaches classes in backyard chicken and goat keeping,urban gardening, canning, and cooking.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading
ISBN: 9781615641048, June 2011, $18.95

Author: Sundari Elizabeth Kraft (Denver,Colo.)

Recipe: Double Garlic Soup

2011-06-22T11:53:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:

3 fat bulbs green garlic, root and green parts trimmed, outer layer removed *

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 cups sliced garlic scapes (about 3/4 pound)

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, more for garnish

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste

Ground black pepper to taste

1 large Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced

1 quart chicken or vegetable broth

1 cup half-and-half or whole milk

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste

Freshly grated nutmeg.

Directions:

1. Chop green garlic. In a soup pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add green garlic and sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add scapes, thyme, salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes.

2. Stir in potato and broth, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until scapes and potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes. Add half-and-half, and purée soup with an immersion blender or pour into a regular blender. Stir in the lemon juice and season with more salt and pepper. Garnish with nutmeg and thyme leaves, and serve hot.

Yield: 4 servings.

*If you're not finding green garlic in the market anymore, you could improvise with a few garlic cloves and a handful of a pungent spring green like arugula or watercress.

Time: 45 minutes

Recipe: Melissa Clark, New York Times, June 18, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/dining/185arex.html?ref=dining

As found on the Serious Eats blog. http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/06/the-crisper-whisperer-what-to-do-with-garlic-scapes-recipe.html

Photo from Fresh 4 Five blog.

http://fresh4five.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

Recipe: Vegan Garlic Scape Pesto

2011-06-22T11:43:00.003-06:00

Ingredients:

3 garlic scapes, rinsed and chopped a few times to break up

1 ½ cups of my 3-minute parmesan cheeze **

Juice of 1/2 a fresh lemon (approx 2 tbsp)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

handful of fresh spinach

Directions: Make the 3 minute vegan parmesan cheeze, by toasting 1.5 cups of sesame seeds in the oven until lightly golden in colour and then throw seeds, nutritional yeast, and salt into a blender. Process for 30-60 seconds. Parmesan cheese is complete! Remove cheese from processor and set aside.

Now throw in the garlic scapes and fresh lemon juice and process until fine. Add the vegan parmesan slowly in 1/2 cup increments, alternating with the extra virgin olive oil. Process until smooth or desired consistency.

As a final step take your rinsed spinach and throw in and process. It will turn into a lovely green colour. Serve and enjoy!

** Can also use Parmesan cheese.

Makes 1 ½ - 2 cups.

Recipe and photo from Oh She Glows blog.

http://ohsheglows.com/2010/06/12/easy-vegan-garlic-scape-pesto/

Recipe: Asian Salad with ponzu ginger dressing and wasabi peas

2011-06-22T11:36:00.002-06:00

Salad:

5 ounces Spring Lettuce Mix --baby green and red romaine, tango, baby green and read oak, lolla rosa, baby green and red leaf, and baby green and red butter & red swiss chard, mizuna, tatsoi, baby spinach, and baby arugala, frisee, and radicchio

1 cup wasabi peas

Ponzu Ginger Dressing:

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 Tablespoons water

1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

1/2 teaspoon grated freshly peeled ginger

1 scallion, thinly sliced

(Makes about 1/2 cup of dressing)

In a small bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients.

In a large bowl toss together lettuce and wasabi peas. Add dressing to taste and gently toss. Serve immediately.

Recipe and photo from Simply Salads cookbook by Jennifer Chandler.

http://www.cookwithjennifer.com/index.cfm?section=books

Recipe: White Bean and Radish Salad

2011-06-22T11:04:00.005-06:00

INGREDIENTS
Salad:

4 radish, sliced
1 cucumber, diced
2 spring onion, chopped
8oz cannellini beans, drained (about half of 15.5 oz. can)
salt and pepper to taste

3 cups salad greens, chopped

Dressing:

¼ cup olive oil
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ tsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. stone-ground mustard
¼ tsp. each salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Combine salad ingredients in a medium bowl.

Place dressing ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and buzz until the dressing is
emulsified; or, combine in a bowl and whisk until mixture thickens and blends. Pour dressing over salad ingredients then toss.

If desired, add 4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled, on top.

Makes about 4 light servings.

***I brought this salad to a party on Saturday and we loved it so much that on Sunday I made another batch into a dip by zipping all ingredients (except lettuce) in the food processor.

Recipe and photo from Cold Cereal and Toast blog.

http://coldcerealandtoast.com/2010/06/09/easy-green-white-bean-and-radish-salad/

Let's Say "Thank You"

2011-06-21T10:22:00.003-06:00

(To jump to the sample emails, look for the Action Alert below.)

Well, we did it! Last night the new Food Producing Animals ordinance passed City Council with a 7-3 vote. No amendments were added.

I know that there are lots of questions about the specifics of the new ordinance, when it will take effect, and how people can go about applying for the new, simple Animal Control license for FPAs. These are all great questions and I promise to address them very soon, but first things first.

We need to say "thank you."

We know that there was overwhelming support in the community for FPAs, a tremendous turnout at the public hearing, and considerable precedent for the ordinance set by other cities. Happily, City Council listened to all of this, and so the public process went the way that it's supposed to. However, in passing the ordinance, City Council did have to stand up to the NIMBY folks, and established neighborhood groups who opposed the changes.

Let's take a moment to express our gratitude to the members of City Council who voted for the ordinance, and so eloquently shared their reasons for doing so during last night's Council meeting. Plus, it's important for us to remember that as news of the ordinance's passage spreads, Councilmembers may be receiving angry notes from sustainable food opponents. Let's give their in-boxes a little balance, shall we?

ACTION ALERT

I'm going to provide a choice of 3 sample emails, depending on whether you already own FPAs, are planning on getting FPAs, or don't want FPAs but still support the ordinance. Of course, you can feel free to modify the sample emails in any way you'd like, or write your own from scratch.

Regardless of which sample email text you use, please copy and paste the following text (including commas) for the "To" field of your email:

paul.lopez@denvergov.org, charlie.brown@denvergov.org, chris.nevitt@denvergov.org, judy.montero@denvergov.org, jeanne.robb@denvergov.org, michael.hancock@denvergov.org, linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org, doug.linkhart@denvergov.org, sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line: Thank you!

If you already own FPAs

Dear Mayor-Elect Hancock and Councilmembers Nevitt, Lopez, Brown, Montero, Robb, and Linkhart,

I am a resident of Denver, and I want to thank you for your support of the FPA ordinance. I believe that this ordinance will be a positive step for Denver (as similar ordinances have been for other cities) and will allow our residents better access to healthy, safe, affordable, and ethically-produced eggs and/or dairy.

As someone who currently owns FPAs in Denver, I can attest that it is absolutely possible to raise these animals in an urban setting without creating a problem. I pledge to continue being a responsible FPA owner, and to raise my animals within the reasonable guidelines set forth in the new ordinance.

Sincerely,

(your name)

If you are planning on getting FPAs

Dear Mayor-Elect Hancock and Councilmembers Nevitt, Lopez, Brown, Montero, Robb, and Linkhart,

My family has been interested in owning FPAs, but we were not able to do so legally because the former process was so cumbersome and expensive. We look forward to the healthy, sustainable food that our FPAs will provide. We understand that owning FPAs is a big responsibility and not to be taken lightly, and we pledge to follow the reasonable guidelines in the ordinance and raise the animals in a way that is considerate of those around us.

Sincerely,

(your name)

If you are not planning on getting FPAs, but still support the ordinance

Dear Mayor-Elect Hancock and Councilmembers Nevitt, Lopez, Brown, Montero, Robb, and Linkhart,

I personally have no plans to get backyard chickens or dwarf dairy goats. However, even though I won't be doing it myself, I support the ability of my neighbors to have a sustainable, healthy source of food. I believe that the ordinance is well written, and I trust that it will facilitate the keeping of FPAs while protecting neighbors from negative impacts.

Sincerely,

(your name)

Info on City Council Final Vote Tonight

2011-06-20T12:14:00.000-06:00

Tonight the Denver City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance. We had a fantastic turnout at the public hearing last Monday, and I'm hopeful that all of the wonderful testimony will have an impact on tonight's decision.

There are a few options for viewing tonight's vote:

1. If you have cable, you can watch the meeting live on Channel 8.
2. You can stream the meeting live through your computer at the City Council website.
3. You can come down and watch the meeting in person. It will held in the same place as the public hearing: City & Building (14th & Bannock), room 451.

My understanding is that there will be no opportunity for the public to speak during tonight's vote. The City Council meeting starts (as usual) at 5:30. According to the City Council secretary, the only way to be assured of seeing any particular vote is to come at the start of the meeting, since the format can be a little unpredictable. However, when I look at what's on the agenda before the vote, it seems to be that it's unlikely the FPA ordinance will come up before 6:30 (but, again, there's no guarantee).

We've all done great work together to get the ordinance to this point. We've done everything we can, and now we just need to hope/trust that City Council will make the sensible decision and pass the ordinance!

Channel 4: The Upcoming FPA Vote

2011-06-20T10:28:00.001-06:00

A story from Channel 4 reporter Jane Monreal about the upcoming Food Producing Animals vote. This story aired last Tuesday, the night after the public hearing. The final City Council vote is this evening. (And, by the way, when the anchorwoman says that "most" of the 53 people testifying at the hearing supported the ordinance, that's correct -- the exact number was 49 in favor, 4 opposed.)

Great Points on the Environmental Benefits of Backyard FPAs

2011-06-20T09:58:00.002-06:00

Stephen Fischer is a PhD candidate at the University of Colorado, and a supporter of Sustainable Food Denver. He testified at the City Council public hearing on the environmental benefits of backyard Food Producing Animals. A number of the people sitting around me expressed an interest in what he had to say, so I asked Steve for permission to post his testimony on our blog. Thank you, Steve!

My name is Steve Fisher, I live in the West Highlandneighborhood, and I’m going to talk about some of the environmental benefits ofbackyard chickens.

Denverites consume about 418,000 eggs every day.¹ Where do all these eggs come from? About 90% come from Colorado according to theColorado Egg Producers Association.² Nearly all these eggs are produced in about four confined animal feedingoperations, or CAFOs, the largest of which can have up to 1.3 million hens, andproduces about 1 million eggs a day.³ Can you imagine what that many eggs,chickens, and associated infrastructure looks like? Now think about the manure. A chicken egg CAFO of this size generatesabout 163 tons of chicken manure every day, basically in one large waste streamat a single location.⁴ By theway, the CAFO regulations start to apply to operations at just 30,000 hens.⁵The chicken manure can degrade aerobically, resulting in concentrated releasesof nitrates to the land and surface- and groundwater. Or it can degradeanaerobically, producing methane, which has about 25 times the global warmingpotential of carbon dioxide.

In fact, the whole operation typically makes intensive useof hormones, antibiotics, energy, and water because it’s a factory. And factories a) use resources, and b)pollute. The backyard chicken, in contrast, lives off of our household food waste,which helps divert a methane-producing waste stream from our landfills. The chicken manure, at the household scale,is not a threat to human health but, in fact, can make for wonderful soil. Every single backyard egg will displacedemand for a factory egg.

So, if this ordinance passes, you will be thanked. First bya sizeable number of residents for making the backyard egg more achievable.Second, by the City’s Greenprint Denver program, for accelerating their goal ofa 10% per capita greenhouse gas emission reduction by next year. The backyard egg could reduce emissions at arate up to 1.5 lbs of carbon dioxide equivalent per pound of egg.⁶ And third, the State of Colorado will thankyou for doing your part to reduce the risk to our water quality and environmentbecause they enforce the state’s CAFO regulations and federal Clean Water Actdischarge regulations.

As leaders and decisionmakers that are called upon routinelyto weigh potential risk against potential benefit, hopefully my talk and thoseof others tonight will give you a clear choice.

1. U.S. Poultry andEgg Association. 2011. Economic Data. http://www.poultryegg.org/economic_data/

U.S. Census Bureau. 2011. Fact Sheet –Denver City. http://www.factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US0820000&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=denver+city&_cityTown=denver+city&_state=&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2009_5YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=

0.68 egg/person/day × 610,000 person

2. La Junta TribuneDemocrat. 2010. Ag Day at the State Capitol: Egg producers fly under the radar.March 26.
http://www.lajuntatribunedemocrat.com/features/x1447158306/Ag-Day-at-the-State-Capitol-Egg-producers-fly-under-the-radar

3. ColoradoDepartment of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). 2011. Personalcommunication.

CDPHE. 2011. Personal communication.

Half off Heirloom Seedling Sale this Saturday -- June 18th!

2011-06-17T09:13:00.000-06:00

Our gardens are all planted, and we need to find homes for our remaining garden seedlings. Everything was grown by us. They are heirloom, non-GMO varieties, and organic. Seedlings have been hardened off for a while now and growing on a patio in full sun -- they're tough little buggers!

Saturday, June 18th
9:00-1:00
Highland Farmers Market in NW Denver
16th & Boulder Street (in front of Lola)
look for the Heirloom Gardens tent, with the green banners!

We are offering tomatoes, winter squash, eggplants, and cucumbers. Click on the link for each variety to see a photo and description.

HALF OFF!!
Tomatoes = now $2.75 (4.5 inch pots)
Squash, Eggplants = now $2 (4.5 inch pots)
Pickling Cucumbers = now $1.50 (2.5 inch pots)

Tomatoes:
Pink Accordian
Plum Lemon
Snow White
Mortgage Lifter
Pink Oxheart
Brandywine
Fox Cherry
Pink Henderson
Cherokee Purple

Winter Squash:
Spaghetti
Pink Banana
Connecticut Pumpkin

Eggplants:
Listada de Gandia
Diamond
Ping Tung
Casper

Cucumbers:
Boston Pickling

Recipe: Parmesan Spinach Cakes

2011-06-16T10:36:00.004-06:00

12 ounces fresh spinach (see Note)
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese or
low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese,
plus more for garnish
2 large eggs, beaten
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Pulse spinach in three batches in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add ricotta (or cottage cheese), Parmesan, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper; stir to combine.

Coat 8 cups of the muffin pan with cooking spray.

Divide the spinach mixture among the 8 cups (they will be very full).

Bake the spinach cakes until set, about 20 minutes. Let stand in the pan for 5 minutes. Loosen the edges with a knife and turn out onto a clean cutting board or large plate.

Serve warm, sprinkled with more Parmesan, if desired.

Note: 12 oz trimmed mature spinach = about 12 cups raw

Recipe from EatingWell: September/October 2008
www.eatingwell.com/recipes/parmesan_spinach_cakes.html

Recipe: Radish Tops Antioxidant Smoothie

2011-06-16T10:03:00.004-06:00

1 cup radish greens, packed

1 banana, ripe

1/2 cup pomegrante kernels, frozen

1 cup strawberries, frozen

1/8 teaspoon stevia *

1 1/4 cup pure water

Pour the water in the blender. Then add the rest of the ingredients with the frozen fruit on top. Blend until smooth.

Serves 1 - 2.

*The leaves of this small, green Stevia rebaudiana plant have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. http://www.stevia.com/

Recipe from the Smoothie Handbook website.
http://www.smoothie-handbook.com/radish-recipes.html

Photo from Lovely Morning blog. http://www.lovelymorning.com/

Video: Watch Monday's FPA Public Hearing

2011-06-16T07:34:00.001-06:00

This is really worth a look, if only for a few minutes. Check out the packed room -- citizens who showed up to participate, to speak (or just support with their presence) a cause they believe in.

If you'd like to watch the wonderful, incredible, inspiring testimony from the people who spoke at Monday night's public hearing in favor of the FPA ordinance, click on the link below. The city staff presentation about the nuts and bolts of the ordinance begins at around 1:36, and the public testimony starts at 2:01. The council secretary tried to alternate speakers who were pro and con, so most of the anti-FPA people are in the beginning. However, since the final tally was 49 speakers in favor and 4 opposed, the testimony soon becomes consistently pro-FPA.

http://denver.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=21&clip_id=4709

Also, I wanted to share a photo of Monday night's youngest presenter. He is seven years old. He was one of the last people to speak, which means he waited patiently about 4 hours for his turn to talk. His family owns chickens and dwarf goats, and he talked to City Council about how he likes having goats because they eat the weeds (so he doesn't have to pull them) and he likes to drink their milk. Photo is shared with permission from his mother.

Last Night's Public Hearing, and the Upcoming FPA Vote

2011-06-14T13:17:00.000-06:00

I want to say a big, big thank you to everyone who showed up for last night's public hearing. Though it was looong (and hot in that room!) I found the whole thing very inspiring. How wonderful to hear so, so many people speak passionately on behalf of self-sufficiency, ethical animal care, and creating a sustainable urban food system.

Sustainable Food Denver coordinated 25 citizens to speak on behalf of the ordinance (go, team!). There were additional citizens that stepped forward to speak in favor of the ordinance, as well as fantastic representatives from Grow Local Colorado, Slow Food Denver, and the Colorado Director of the Humane Society of the United States. District 1 Councilwoman-Elect Susan Shepherd spoke in favor of the ordinance, and we also had speakers read letters from Denver Urban Gardens and a local goat veterinarian. Capitol Hill United Neighbors, West Washington Park Neighborhood Association, and the College View Neighborhood Association sent representatives to convey their organization's support for the FPA ordinance (Stapleton United Neighbors and La Alma/Lincoln Park RNOs sent letters in support of the ordinance).

All in all, the final count was 49 speakers in favor of the ordinance, and 4 opposed. It was an overwhelming show of support for an improved, sensible Food Producing Animals ordinance for Denver.

City Council technically has 13 seats, and it takes an "absolute majority" -- or 7 votes -- to pass anything. City Council currently has 2 vacant seats (Councilwoman Madison passed away, and Councilwoman Sandoval stepped down), and last night 3 additional councilmembers were gone. So, with only 8 councilmembers present, the Council President made the decision that it was more sensible to delay the vote for a week, when all remaining 11 councilmembers would be present.

The final vote on the FPA ordinance will be held:

Monday, June 20th

meeting starts at 5:30 (not sure yet where the vote falls within the agenda)

City & County Building, room 451

I don't believe there will be an opportunity for further public comment at the meeting on the 20th -- the councilmembers will simply be discussing the issue among themselves, then voting. However, the meeting is open to the public, so anyone who's interested is welcome to attend and be present for the result of the vote!

Update: Humane Society Clarifies Their Position on FPA Ordinance

2011-06-14T12:54:00.002-06:00

Jamie with her Nigerian Dwarf goat, Kosi.

The Colorado director of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) recently weighed in on the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance with this letter to City Council, sent last Friday. On Monday, she sent a follow-up email to the Denver City Council to clarify the HSUS position on the FPA ordinance. (Ms. Tarry also attended the public hearing on Monday night, and spoke in favor of the ordinance.)

---

Dear Council Members,

I’m writing to clarify The HSUS position on the ordinance you are considering. We are not opposed to this ordinance. We have been active in several efforts to allow urban egg-producing hens in other cities and have developed our position on that issue well. Our letter on the topic was aimed at raising important welfare considerations for chickens. Our position on urban goats is far less refined. It’s an issue that raises several questions for us but we have not developed guidelines on urban goat care nor researched successful attempts to house urban goats and use them for food.

Since sending our letter I’ve been in touch with Sustainable Food Denver and learned many details about urban homesteading. I understand this issue to be well researched by SFD and, in many cases, already in practice. In short, I think our letter posed questions that have long since been satisfactorily answered by the progressive, professional and well-organized sustainable food movement in Denver. Most importantly, I understand Denver animal control to be in favor of this ordinance. I hope their support will weigh heavily in this debate- as the enforcing agency their support is a clear sign of a broad-based community effort.

I am grateful for the relationships that have resulted from our involvement in this issue and thankful for SFD’s effort to bring people closer to their food and further from factory farmed products that cause animals to suffer immensely. I apologize for any insinuation that The HSUS is opposed to this ordinance.

Thanks so much for your time.

Holly Tarry
Colorado Director, State Affairs

Response to the Humane Society's Position on Food Producing Animals

2011-06-12T23:28:00.001-06:00

On June 10th, Holly Tarry (the Colorado Director of the Humane Society of the United States) sent the following letter to the member of Denver City Council: click here to view. [The link will take you away from this post. Just come back to us after you've finished reading the letter!]

The following is Sustainable Food Denver's response, sent to Ms. Tarry and cc'd to the members of the Denver City Council:

June 13th, 2011

Dear Ms. Tarry,

Thankyou for the work that you do with the Humane Society of the United States. TheHumane Society is a wonderful organization, and it contributes many valuablethings to our communities.

Iwould like to respond to your letter addressing various aspects of Denver’sproposed Food Producing Animals ordinance. I was happy to see you mention themany benefits of backyard chickens. I also appreciate your recommendationsregarding best practices for urban chicken care. As you may know, Denver’sAnimal Care and Control department is planning on putting together informationregarding suggested care for Food Producing Animals, which would be distributedto new chicken and dwarf goat owners with their license following the passageof the new ordinance. I’m sure that they will take your recommendations intoconsideration. Of course, the ordinance itself does not contain all of thedetails you included regarding animal care (in the same way that Denver doesnot legislate best practices for the care of dogs or cats). Nonetheless, theproposed Food Producing Animals ordinance does contain space requirements forthe animals that go above and beyond anything that is legislated for otherpets, as well as above and beyond what some other cities with Food ProducingAnimals ordinances have mandated.

I amnot sure I understand your request for permits and annual license fees forindividual animals. A one-time Food Producing Animals license accomplishes twomain goals: 1) It provides Animal Control with the opportunity to presentcitizens with both the requirements of the ordinance and suggested bestpractices for animal care; and 2) It allows Animal Control to know where FoodProducing Animals are being kept, in the rare instance of an animal escape orother problems. There is no benefit in Animal Control knowing whether a specifichome has 6 hens or 8 hens, as long as the owner is complying with theguidelines of the ordinance and not creating a nuisance. Additionally, there isnot a need to use annual licensing fees as a way to raise funds. Other citieswith progressive Food Producing Animals ordinances have not reported anincrease in enforcement costs as a result of the keeping of chickens or dwarfgoats. Dogs and cats require a license renewal as a way to document rabies vaccinations;backyard chickens and goats in Colorado do not require a comparable vaccinationto protect the public health.

I takeconsiderable issue with your statement that including dwarf goats in theproposed Food Producing Animals ordinance is leading Denver into “unexploredterritory.” Seattle and Portland allow the keeping of 3 dwarf dairy goatswithout any sort of permit. Oakland and Chicago place dwarf goats in the samecategory as other pets, and they’re allowed without any sort of permit orspecial regulations. In addition, there are several other cities across thecountry that have some type of urban goat ordinance.

Becauseof their compact size, dwarf goats can (and do) thrive in urban backyards. Inmandating a minimum space requirement for the keeping of dwarf goats, Denver isgoing above and beyond the ordinances in Seattle, Portland, Oakland, andChicago (which have no minimum space requirement). In addition, if an animal isbeing abused, neglected, or mistreated, Animal Control has the ability tointervene, even if the owner is meeting the minimum space requirement for care.

Therisk of parasitic infection in dwarf goats relates to the condition of thegoats’ pen, not its size. If a dwarf goat owner is concerned, they can use anherbal de-wormer to further protect their goats.

Goatdiseases are typically region-specific. Soremouth (orf) is not highly prevalentin Colorado. If the disease was to transfer to a human, the consequences aremild (the symptoms resolve themselves in 6-8 weeks without requiring treatment).I think we run the risk of losing perspective when we point selectively to the zoonoticdisease potential of certain animals. Let’s remember that our cats and dogs canpotentially transfer the following disease to humans: rabies, toxoplasmosis,hookworms, roundworms, dog heartworms, cryptosporidium, campylobacteria,helicobacter pylori, bartonellosis, lyme disease, ringworm, and sarcopticmange. And yet, they exist successfully in our cities.

I amdisappointed that you spoke so eloquently about the benefits of backyardchickens, but neglected to acknowledge that identical benefits (reduction ofsuffering in factory farms, increased appreciation for the animals, greatercompassion, etc) exist with the keeping of dwarf goats. Please remember thatdwarf goats are already legal in Denver, and there are many people who areraising them successfully. The proposed ordinance does not seek to legalizedwarf goats (or chicken and ducks); rather, it streamlines a bureaucratic andunnecessarily expensive process, while adding some common-sense guidelines forthe keeping of the animals that did not previously exist.

Iappreciate the mission of the Humane Society, and I hope that we can worktogether in the future to encourage the sensible, responsible keeping ofbackyard Food Producing Animals. The continued increase in urban residentsobtaining their eggs and/or dairy from backyard animals will result in adecrease in the consumption of factory-farmed animal products, and a concurrentdecrease in animal suffering.

Sincerely,

SundariKraft

SustainableFood Denver

New York Times: When Food Kills

2011-06-11T22:46:00.003-06:00

This editorial by Nicholas Kristof presents a compelling argument against factory farming -- our standard means for producing eggs, dairy, and meat in this country. The horrendously dangerous practices used in factory farming are yet another reason why our culture would benefit from an increase in urban-appropriate Food Producing Animals in our backyards.

Strangely, some of the most virulent opponents of progressive Food Producing Animals policies are supposed animal-rights vegans. Yet, as Kristof points out, the dangers of factory farming don't only affect those that eat eggs, dairy, or meat. The recent E. coli tragedy in Germany was traced back to organic bean sprouts, and the alarming increase in MRSA affects us all.

"We would never think of trying to keep our children healthy by adding antibiotics to school water fountains, because we know this would breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It's unconscionable that Big Ag does something similar for livestock."

This is a must-read -- click here for the full editorial.

City Council Public Hearing & Final Vote on FPA Ordinance

2011-06-09T12:55:00.002-06:00

City Council Public Hearing and Final Vote
Monday, June 13th
Meeting starts at 5:30; public hearing begins after initial Council business is over
City & County Building (14th & Bannock)
Room 451

This is it! After two years of community members asking for changes to our existing rules regarding the keeping of backyard Food Producing Animals (hen chickens, ducks, and dwarf dairy goats), Denver's City Council will be holding its public hearing and final vote on a new proposed ordinance. If you're not familiar with the proposed ordinance, click here to read an outline.

If the proposed FPA ordinance passes, it will be a wonderful thing for our city. It will remove the current confusing, expensive, and unnecessarily bureaucratic process, and replace it with something that makes much more sense. The proposed ordinance contains protections for the animals and for neighbors, while allowing individuals to keep small numbers of FPAs in their backyards for healthy, affordable, sustainable food production.

Please set aside time to attend the public hearing. It is very important to show City Council how much support there is in the community for this issue. A few details:

Parking: There is street parking with meters (though you only have to pay for your spot through 6pm) and paid parking lots. Finding parking can be a bit of a challenge, and you may have to walk a few blocks. There is a Light Rail station at 16th & Stout, about 8 blocks from the City & County building

Entering and security: If you arrive after 5:00, the only open entrance is the one in the northeast part of the building (facing Civic Center Park). You will need to allow time to go through security.

Staying for the duration: If at all possible, we need everyone to stay until the public testimony has finished. There will be an opportunity for everyone in the room who supports the ordinance to stand, so your presence will be noted by City Council. We're not sure how long the hearing will take (we may be there until 7:30-8:30). You may want to bring a book and a snack.

We'll see you on Monday night! Thank you for your support of sustainable food in our city.

It's Here! -- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading

2011-06-08T11:26:00.001-06:00

The book is available! I'm excited to announce that "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Urban Homesteading" has been released, and can be purchased online.

Last August I was approached by the editors from Penguin Publishing, who oversee "The Complete Idiot's Guide" books. Despite their goofy-sounding titles, I've always been a fan of the Idiot's Guides. I like the way they're structured, and I feel like I'm getting comprehensive information when I read them.

The editors asked me if I would write the book, and what followed was a period that was both challenging and immensely rewarding. I'm pretty proud of the result. The goal was to make the book accessible to beginners, but also provide a depth of information for those that have been homesteading for a while and want to expand their repertoire. Just to give you an idea of what's inside, here is a listing of the book's chapters:

Part 1: What It Means to Homestead in the City

Ch 1 - What is Urban Homesteading?

Ch 2 - City Considerations (lots of information about zoning, and how to change your zoning code)

Ch 3 - The Life of an Urban Homesteader

Part 2: City Farming

Ch 4 - Growing Without a Yard (container & rooftop gardening, sprouts, mushrooms, etc)

Ch 5 - Growing in Your Yard (bio-intensive growing*, succession planting, yard-to-garden conversion, etc)

Ch 6 - Growing on Someone Else's Land (community gardens, land-share agreements, guerrilla gardening)

Ch 7 - Seed Starting in the City

Ch 8 - Keeping Your Garden Healthy

Ch 9 - Enjoying Your Bounty (harvesting, extending the harvest, sharing/selling)

*Appendix C contains a detailed plant information chart, sample garden map, and sample garden planning chart

Part 3: Raising Animals for Food

Ch 10 - Livestock in the City (zoning issues, barnyard basics, neighbors, fitting animal care into a busy life)

Ch 11 - Chickens Coming Home to Roost

Ch 12 - Getting Your (Dwarf) Goat

Ch 13 - Raising Rabbits

Ch 14 - Bee Busy

Ch 15 - Aquaponics: Raising Fish and Plants Together

Part 4: A Homemade Life in the City

Ch 16 - Small Batch Food Preserving (canning, fermenting, drying, root "cellaring," etc)

Ch 17 - Preparing What You Harvest (cheese, yogurt, butter, stock, herb infusions, etc)

Ch 18 - The Finer Things (soap, shampoo, lotion, spinning yarn)

Ch 19 - Cleaning Your Home, Naturally (cupboard ingredients, recipes, etc)

Part 5: Making the Most of What You Have

Ch 20 - Energy-Wise Living (powering down, getting off grid, getting around town, etc)

Ch 21 - Water is Precious (conservation, rainwater harvesting, recycling water, etc)

Ch 22 - Turning Waste Into Gold (composting, worms, etc)

Ch 23 - Foraging in the City (fruit trees, wild plants, discarded items, etc)

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: Resources

Appendix C: Garden Planning Guides

The book was enriched greatly by the wonderful people (almost all of them from Denver!) who gave me feedback on the chapters, and who are thanked in the acknowledgements. I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the wonderful 2010 Heirloom Gardens urban farmers, who kept things going when I was working on the book.

The book is available at various places online and at bookstores. However, if you'd like to purchase it, I'd love it if you ordered it here (there's no shipping cost). By ordering the book through Heirloom Gardens you're helping to support urban farming and sustainable food advocacy in Denver, and it allows us a much bigger slice of the "pie" than if you purchase the book somewhere else. Thank you!

Recipe: Radish Greens Soup

2011-06-08T09:28:00.004-06:00

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Large Shallot, finely chopped
2 Cups radish greens, roughly chopped, packed
2 Cups Vegetable Stock
1 Tablespoon Fresh Mint, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
Sea Salt
Freshly ground Black Pepper
Fresh Chives for serving

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat; add finely diced shallots.
Sauté, stirring often, until shallots are soft and translucent.
Add the radish greens and wilt, then add the stock.

Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
Add the chopped parsley and mint. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Remove from heat; purée with an immersion blender or in blender, in batches.
Top with freshly chopped chives just prior to serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Recipe & photo from Vegan Visitor blog.

http://veganvisitor.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/dont-toss-those-radish-greens/

Recipe: Spinach and Orzo Salad

2011-06-08T09:24:00.004-06:00

INGREDIENTS

8 ounces orzo pasta

Salt

1/4 cup pine nuts

6 ounces feta cheese, roughly crumbled

2 ounces Kalamata Greek olives pitted, roughly chopped, about 1/2 cup (about 20 olives)

4 ounces baby spinach

1/2 cup chopped red onion (about half a red onion)

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar (can substitute white vinegar or lemon juice)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Pinch dried basil

Pinch dried tarragon

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

METHOD

1 Cook the orzo pasta. Bring to a boil a pot with 2 quarts of water in it. Once the water is boiling, salt it with a couple teaspoons of salt. Once the water returns to a boil add the orzo to the pot. Leave uncovered, cook on high heat with a vigorous boil. Put the timer on for 8-10 minutes, or whatever your pasta package says is appropriate for al dente (cooked but still a little firm). Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool quickly.

2 Toast the pine nuts by heating a small skillet on medium heat. Add the pine nuts and stir occasionally until the pine nuts are lightly browned. Pay attention or you'll burn the pine nuts.

3 Take half of the spinach and purée it in a food processor or blender, adding one tablespoon of the olive oil. Roughly chop the other half of the spinach. In a large serving bowl mix the spinach purée olive oil mixture in with cooked orzo until the pasta is well coated with the purée. Then gently mix in the remaining spinach, the red onion, feta cheese, pine nuts, and the Kalamata olives.

3 In a small jar, combine the remaining olive oil (2 Tbsp), balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, mustard, dried basil, and dried tarragon. Put a lid on the jar and shake to combine. (You can also just whisk together these ingredients in a small bowl, but the jar method works great to get a good emulsion.) Pour over orzo spinach mixture and gently mix in until well incorporated.

4 Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Serves 4.

Recipe & photo from Simply Recipes.

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spinach_and_orzo_salad/

Recipe: Peas With Lemon and Tarragon

2011-06-08T09:00:00.007-06:00

Ingredients:

16 ounces frozen baby peas

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon lemon juice

salt and pepper

Place peas, sugar and salt in a medium saucepan; add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer about 6 minutes. Drain.

Return the drained peas to the saucepan and add all remaining ingredients. Toss well to coat. Serve.

Recipe & photo from www.food.com
http://www.food.com/recipe/peas-with-lemon-and-tarragon-166409#ixzz1OdshtxwB

The LAST Action Alert -- Let's Make it Count!

2011-06-07T09:43:00.002-06:00

The City Council public hearing and final vote on the Food Producing Animals ordinance is this Monday, June 13th at 5:30 in the City & County building (click here for more details). We need everyone at the hearing -- a strong show of support will be very important.

But, in the meantime, we need to do one last action alert to really make a statement to City Council about the ordinance before the hearing. I can't overstate how helpful the input from all of you has been in getting the ordinance as far as it's come. We need to take that last step to get us there!

This one is a two-fer -- both parts are important. And both are quick! You can make a real difference with just a 2 minute email and a 2 minute phone call.

Action Alert -- Part 1

As always, please feel free to craft your own email from scratch, modify the sample email below. or use the sample email in its entirety.

Please copy and paste the following text (including commas) for the "To" field of your email:

jeanne.faatz@denvergov.org, paul.lopez@denvergov.org, peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org, marcia.johnson@denvergov.org, charlie.brown@denvergov.org, chris.nevitt@denvergov.org, judy.montero@denvergov.org, jeanne.robb@denvergov.org, michael.hancock@denvergov.org, linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org, boigon.atlarge@denvergov.org, carol.boigon@denvergov.org, sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line: Please vote for the FPA ordinance

Dear Members of City Council,

I am a resident of Denver, living in the _____ neighborhood. On Monday you will be asked to vote on a new Food Producing Animals ordinance for Denver. This ordinance has the support of Community Planning & Development and the Department of Environmental Health (including Animal Control). It passed unanimously through Planning Board, and was supported by the Mayor's Sustainable Food Policy Council.

The FPA ordinance represents a reasonable compromise that addresses the interests and concerns of a variety of different groups. It contains numerous protections for neighbors and neighborhood context, above and beyond what exists in successful FPA ordinances in other cities. It contains numerous protections and considerations for the welfare and keeping of the animals, above and beyond what exists in successful FPA ordinances in other cities (and, incidentally, above and beyond what we require for other animals that are kept in the city).

This is a well written, balanced compromise that remedies the unreasonably burdensome current process for legally owning backyard Food Producing Animals. I ask you to vote in favor of the FPA ordinance on Monday night.

Sincerely,
(your name)
------------------
Action Alert -- Part 2

Councilwoman Carol Boigon is an At-Large councilmember, which means that she represents every resident of Denver. She is currently undecided about the FPA ordinance, and we would very much like her to vote in favor of it.

I would like everyone to take 1-2 minutes to place a quick phone call to Councilwoman Boigon's office. You should certainly ask to speak with her, but my guess is that she will be unavailable. However, you should leave a message with her aides. Leaving a message is a concrete way to register your "vote" in favor of the ordinance.

Call Councilwoman Boigon's office at (720) 865-8100 now. Explain to her aides (or the voicemail) that you are a Denver resident, and you would like her to vote in favor of the Food Producing Animals ordinance on Monday night. You don't need to have lots of specific talking points as to why you want her to vote in favor -- just tell her whatever your reason(s) might be.

Thank you!

Recipe: Mint Lemonade

2011-06-01T19:01:00.001-06:00

(This is so simple, it really shouldn't count as a "recipe.")

Boil 2 cups of water. Remove from heat and add mint leaves to steep. Cool in the refrigerator.

Once it's cool, strain (or pick) the mint leaves out of the water. Use the mint water as part of the liquid for making lemonade. For example, I like the Minute Maid Lemonade that's made from concentrate. Use the mint water, then any additional water that the concentrate directions call for.

Use additional mint leaves for garnish, if desired.

Recipe: Radish Leaf Pesto

2011-06-01T18:53:00.001-06:00

2 large handfuls ofgood-looking Heirloom Garden radishleaves, stems removed

1 ounce hard cheese,such as pecorino or parmesan, grated or shaved using a vegetable peeler
1 ounce nuts, such as pistachios, almonds, or pine nuts

1 clove garlic,germ removed, cut in four
a short ribbon of lemon zest cut thinly from an organic lemon witha vegetable peeler (optional)
2 tablespoons olive oil,plus more to get the consistency you like
salt, pepper, ground chili pepper

Put all the ingredients in afood processor or blender or mini-chopper, andprocess in short pulses until smooth. You will likely have to scrape down thesides of the bowl once or twice. This produces a thick pesto; add more oil andpulse again to get the consistency you prefer. This can also be done with a mortarand pestle.

Taste, adjust the seasoning,and pack into an airtight container. Use within a few days (it will keep longerif you pour a thin layer of oil on the surface) or freeze.

Recipe adapted from Chocolate and Zucchini blog.

http://chocolateandzucchini.com

You've Got to Be Plucking Kidding Me...

2011-05-26T08:27:00.001-06:00

A great 3 1/2 minute video about an "outlaw" in suburban Georgia, who is risking a fine and 6 months in jail because he chooses to keep a few backyard chickens to provide his family with safe, healthy eggs.

Also includes an appearance by the wonderful Chicken Whisperer, who has a radio show. I especially like this quote from The Chicken Whisperer: "Cities say, 'We welcome chickens. You just have to abide by this ordinance.' But then they make the ordinance so ridiculously strict that they know no one could keep chickens in their town. But we're on to them -- we know when they do that."

Denver folks -- sound familiar?

Eighth Graders Speak Out on Behalf of Urban Chickens

2011-05-21T08:51:00.000-06:00

Two letters to the editor recently published by The Denver Post, in response to the story "Urban Chickens Scratch Up a Following Along the Front Range" (5/10/2011)

The new Denver ordinance proposed for keeping backyard chickens is not the first proposal in the state of Colorado. There seems to be a movement for urban backyard poultry. This is likely a product of our society’s trend to become more eco-friendly. There are many legitimate reasons to have backyard chickens, but I believe the most meaningful is that they are helping us get back to our roots.

Chickens have been food and pets in Colorado ever since Denver became a mining town. They have been banned over many years as our city has grown and modernized. Having chickens will bring us closer to the old ways of life, times where we couldn’t get everything with a click of a button. Not only will backyard chickens get us back to our roots, it is also a great learning experience for you and your family.

Liam Dunn, Denver

The writer is an eighth-grader.

Let me get this straight – Denver City Council is faced with a proposed ordinance allowing pet hens in the city with adequate but not arbitrary restrictions and a reasonable application process; there should be no questions, this is a definite yes for the council members. Currently you are required to get two separate approvals and pay a hefty fee each year. To add to that you are required to notify your neighbors and they can end all of your hard work by a simple no. The other side of the story; the current requirements for cats is pretty much nothing, the only cost is feed and litter boxes and there isn’t even an application process. The cats have no restriction from pooping in your garden; the only thing that can keep them in line is a strict owner. Council Members should accept that chickens should have regulations similar to cats and dogs.

Cormac Dunn, Denver

The writer is an eighth-grader.

Save the Date!

2011-05-21T08:34:00.001-06:00

City Council Public Hearing and Final Vote

Food Producing Animals Ordinance

Monday, June 13th beginning at 5:30

City & County Building (14th & Bannock)

Room 451

We need everyone in Denver who supports the Food Producing Animals ordinance to attend the public hearing on June 13th. Even if you don't want to testify before City Council, your presence matters. There will be an opportunity for everyone in the room who supports the ordinance to stand, and we need a BIG presence.

If you are interested in testifying before City Council on behalf of the ordinance, please contact sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com.

Runoff: Susan Shepherd for Council District 1

2011-05-13T15:10:00.000-06:00

After an initial election with several worthy candidates, we are now looking at a runoff for the City Council seat in District 1. I am abundantly pleased that Susan Shepherd is in the runoff, and I am proud to be supporting her.

I first met Susan at a little neighborhood Farmers' Market a couple of years ago. She came up to my table and chatted with me about her own small Neighborhood Supported Agriculture project. Susan was farming a large plot in her backyard, and distributing the food to a handful of neighborhood families. Susan has always been passionate about urban farming and sustainable food issues, especially as they relate to healthy food access and food justice. Susan is currently serving with me on the Sustainable Food Policy Council, and she will be a strong advocate for sustainability issues on City Council.

In addition to her "green" cred, Susan is dedicated to our neighborhood schools and local businesses. During her campaign Susan sends as much work as possible to local companies. She also asks her supporters to pledge to send their kids to local DPS schools (rather than opting for out-of-district options), and to commit to donating some time each year to volunteering in the schools.

Please vote for Susan Shepherd for City Council District 1!

Preparations for Planting

2011-05-11T09:55:00.002-06:00

Heirloom Gardens is a "multi-plot urban farm." This means that we work our land like a farm, but it's broken up into several different pieces. This year we have 11 separate gardens, mostly front or back yards in the northwest Denver area.

The queen garden is our space on Lowell Blvd. It's a full lot -- around 6250 square feet. Last year we transformed the space from bare dirt to this:

But, once the season was over, everything growing was either pulled out or died back. So, this year we began again with removing weeds, marking garden beds, spreading composted manure, and tilling it into the soil. One of our gardeners brought her son with her to help (he definitely has the best footware of all the gardeners!).

See the slideshow below for a few photos of our Lowell garden preparations. Thanks to Brian Kraft Photography for the photos. (Note: the slideshow does contain music.)

Baby Goat Video: The Acrobats!

2011-05-10T13:21:00.000-06:00

My husband Brian titled this video "Attack of the Baby Goats: Your Lap is Never Safe!" I especially love watching their mom's calm in the face of the babies' antics, and their aunt (the blonde goat) teaching the little one how to play.

The Denver Post: Backyard Chickens

2011-05-10T11:10:00.000-06:00

Cyrus McCrimmon - The Denver Post

"The Front Range has gone cuckoo for chickens," says The Denver Post. Click here to read this terrific article about backyard chicken keeping, in all its many facets.

Thanks to writer Douglas Brown for penning such a thoughtful article, and to photographer Cyrus McCrimmon for his lovely pictures.

Baby Goat Video: Why walk when you can jump?

2011-05-06T08:03:00.000-06:00

The last time we posted a baby goat video, they were 2 days old and just learning how to jump onto the lower straw bale. Now they're 5 days old, and can reach the top straw bale in a single bound! (well, most of the time.)

When I first got my chicks I had a veteran chicken owner tell me that nothing in the world grows as fast as a baby chicken. That may be, but I don't think anything in the world develops as quickly as a baby goat.

The only other comment I have about this video is that I hope I'm as patient as this momma when my little one arrives! (You'll notice that "Auntie" isn't quite as tolerant, though...)

Action Alert: Childhood Nutrition & Food Access

2011-05-05T13:19:00.002-06:00

(To jump to the sample email, look for the Action Alert below.)

We are making great progress in lobbying City Council to pass the Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance. However, there are still a few Councilmembers who are either on the fence or stating that they won't vote for it. I would think it'd be hard to vote against hungry or at-risk kids and families. So, let's remind them what this ordinance is about.

There are lots of children and families -- right here in Denver -- that don't have access to healthy food, or enough food. We need to make this point clear to City Council. When they vote on the FPA ordinance, there are bigger issues at stake than "neighborhood context" and whether a few people think that chickens belong out in the country.

Over the course of this process, I've heard from some of you that having backyard animals would make it easier to feed your family. If this is the case, please be sure to include your own personal testimony in your Action Alert email.

Action Alert

As always, please feel free to craft your own email from scratch, modify the sample email below, or use the sample email in its entirety.

Please copy and paste the following text (including commas) for the "To" field of your email:

paula.sandoval@denvergov.org, jeanne.faatz@denvergov.org, paul.lopez@denvergov.org, peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org, marcia.johnson@denvergov.org, charlie.brown@denvergov.org, chris.nevitt@denvergov.org, judy.montero@denvergov.org, jeanne.robb@denvergov.org, michael.hancock@denvergov.org, linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org, boigon.atlarge@denvergov.org, carol.boigon@denvergov.org, sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line: Food access and childhood nutrition

Dear Members of City Council,

I am a resident of Denver, living in the ______ neighborhood. You will soon be asked to vote on a Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance, which will streamline the process for Denver families who want to raise a limited number of fowl and dwarf goats. The proposed ordinance isn't just about reducing food miles, or avoiding contamination from factory-farmed food, or owning a few cute hens. It's also about making healthy, affordable, accessible food available to families that are struggling to meet their food needs.

There are lots of children and families -- right here in Denver -- that don't have access to healthy food, or enough food. Food insecurity and the health consequences of inadequate childhood nutrition are serious problems. When the only "food" easily accessible within a community comes from a convenience store, or when processed food can be purchased for a fraction of the price of fresh food, there are consequences.

Denver families need improved access to healthy, affordable food. Just a few bits of information:

- At the Valdez school in northwest Denver, 73% of the students qualify for free school lunch. (North Denver Tribune, http://bit.ly/jJ7QaO )

- In 2010, 53,800 Denver kids were available for free or reduced-price school lunches. Once school let out, only 8 out of 100 kids children who ate free or reduced-priced school lunches ate a summer lunch in July 2010. (Hunger Free Colorado, http://bit.ly/jRdYkA )

- 8.8% of the population in Colorado is on food stamps. The year-to-year rise is food stamp use is 11.2%. (Wall Street Journal, http://on.wsj.com/ihHADG )

- 37.2% of Denver's children are obese. Not overweight -- obese. (Kids Count data survey, 2009. http://bit.ly/jBjVxx )

Passing a sensible Food Producing Animals ordinance, as other cities have done, is a step toward improving healthy food access and helping improve the pervasive issue of food deserts. This is a way to address a real problem, and it doesn't require big grants or elaborate investments from the city. All you need to do is replace the current excessive barriers with common-sense regulations, and allow people to provide for themselves and their families. Please vote in favor of the Food Producing Animals ordinance.

Sincerely,

(your name)

Baby Goat Video: Learning to Jump

2011-05-04T13:22:00.002-06:00

Baby Nigerian Dwarf goats at 2 days... learning how to jump is fun!

Local Seedling Sales

2011-05-04T09:41:00.000-06:00

Looking to buy some locally grown, organic seedlings over the next couple of weekends? Check out these fantastic seedling sales run by local Denver growers.

Heirloom Tomato Plant Sale
put on by Heirloom Tomato Farms Denver (Tracy Weil and Carolyne Janssen)
Saturday, May 7th
9am - 3pm
3611 Chestnut Place, Denver
70 varieties of heirloom tomatoes

Heirloom Seedling Sale
put on by Mike Miller
Saturday, May 7th
9am - 1pm
2229 Grove Street, Denver
25 varieties of tomatoes, plus melons, winter squash, summer squash, peppers, cucumbers, herbs

Vegetable & Herb Plant Sale
put on by Front Range Organic Gardeners club and The Herb Society
Saturday, May 14th
9am - 1pm (pre-priced sale)
9am - 11:30am (silent auction)
9:30am - 10:15am (free presentation on organic gardening)
1710 South Grant Street, Denver
70+ tomato varieties, 30 varieties of peppers, other vegetables, 45+ varieties of herbs

New Goat Babies!

2011-04-30T20:31:00.004-06:00

Our lovely goat Dasha gave birth to 3 beautiful babies this afternoon. We could tell that Dasha was likely to go into labor earlier in the day, but we expected her to kid at night (as she has done in the past). Brian and I left for 2.5 hours to do a gardening activity, and when we returned home we found the 3 babies!

Dairy goats need to be bred periodically in order to maintain their milk production. A Nigerian Dwarf goat's lactation cycle is around 300 days. The gestation period is 5 months, and the babies need to be nursing for the first 2 months of the 300 day lactation. Given all those numbers, we figure that we need to breed each of our two goats about every 16 months in order to keep a steady flow off milk for our household. So, around every 8 months or so, we welcome 1-3 new goat babies!

The babies will stay with their mom until they are 8 weeks old, and then they will be re-homed. We feel confident that they'll find wonderful homes!

The light-colored girl, brown eyes.

The dark-colored girl (with a white spot on her head and chest!), brown eyes.

The boy, with blue eyes.

The light-colored girl, stretching her long legs...

...and showing off her beautiful markings!

The dark-colored girl nursing...

...and saying hello.

The boy getting some love from his mom...

...and then falling asleep on his feet.

The baby Dwarf goats are quite little -- they're smaller than a chicken!

Our neighbors came by to visit the babies. Peaberry is wondering why no one is paying attention to her (she's usually the center of attention).

Dasha and her 3 kids.

(Thanks to Brian Kraft Photography for the photos.)

District 8 Candidates' Positions on FPA Ordinance

2011-04-30T10:05:00.004-06:00

The race for the District 8 City Council seat has 36 (or so, it's hard to keep track) people running as write-in candidates. Some of the residents of District 8 are understandably overwhelmed by the choices. A few Sustainable Food Denver supporters have asked me to survey the candidates for their position on the proposed Food-Producing Animals ordinance.

The new District 8 councilperson will not be seated until mid-July, and the FPA ordinance is currently scheduled for a vote on June 13th. However, even though the candidates will not have the opportunity to vote on the ordinance, their position is still important to many District 8 constituents.

I emailed every candidate who had an email address listed on the city elections website. The email went out on Monday afternoon. Below are the responses I have received.

In Favor of FPA Ordinance

Titus Peterson (www.tituspetersonforcitycouncil8.com)
I completely support urban homesteading including the keeping of chickens, ducks and goats. I spent a significant amount of time in Switzerland and Germany where almost everyone has a collection of animals that they keep as pets and to produce food. They are an integral part of the garden.

With that said, as a practical matter, I don't know why there is any real permitting process for people who are in compliance with the law. It seems as if, so long as you have the requisite space, you should be able to buy the animals like a dog or a cat and bring them home without having to ask permission first. If you wanted to keep animals in excess of what is allowed or in a smaller space than what is provided by law maybe permitting is appropriate but I don't see why the involvement of the city is required otherwise. I see no reason why "drakes" should not be permitted. I can sort of understand roosters, maybe, although I don't find there crowing any more annoying than leaf blowers or the many other machine noises that assault us all day long. I don't know if male piggy goats are as aggressive as regular goats but surely they are not as aggressive as pit bulls which are presently allowed in the city.

I hope this helps. Keep up the good work.

Therese-Marie O'Sullivan (www.tmos4ccd8.com)
   In general I am in favor of the FPA ordinance and would vote for it.

Susan Whitehurst (susanwhitehurst@yahoo.com)
   Yes! I strongly believe in sustainable living in an urban setting. Bring it on. It will only improve the character of our neighborhoods. I'm urban. I'm sustainable. Let's do it.

Generally in Favor; with Concerns/Reservations

Warren Edson (www.edsonfordenver.com)
   I am in support of the FPA. The amendments appear to address most potential noise and odor issues. Is there a number where you can be reached where we can discuss the details? I do have a few concerns about animal waste disposal but would also like to discuss expanding other areas. (Note from Sundari: I did follow up with Warren to try and set up a phone call for further discussion, but we haven't been able to connect yet.)

Penelope Zeller (www.zellerdistrict8.com)
   (1st answer -- on Facebook page) Good question, complicated answer... I fully support FPA but am not completely satisfied with the proposed language in the upcoming ordinance. As we discussed at INC last meeting, the ordinance will likely need to pass as is because of the time frame, then citizens and Council will need to work on tweaking the language for a better ordinance for animals and people. There are too many specifics to write - character limited on facebook - so come to a Forum and we can discuss details.
   (Follow-up -- via email) Thanks for your inquiry about this one topic. In short, I am concerned about amount permeable ground for the welfare of the animals. Combined with the pet ordinance that allows 3 (sometimes) large dogs plus two goats, this might be a strain on a small lot. Since no notice to neighbors is neccessary for dog and cats in a home, I do not feel that neighbor notice should be required for chickens or goats. Just as most responsible pet owners obtain training for themselves and their pets, I think we need to look at potential basic farm education for urbanites.

(I worked my garndparent chicken farm as a kid - I am really concerned that some urbanites may have a romantic notion of the idea of fresh eggs and really not understand how much work is involved. Education is a key in my opinion.)

There's much more, but I hope you understaind that this is one of many many topics to address in a very limited time.

Ultimately, no matter my own personal feelings, this and other topics are at the will of an informed constituenticy. For instance, I have a reputation of practicing research and outreach. 83 repondents to a survey about dog parks, or any issue for that matter, does not set the tone for a decision that affects 40,000+ residents.

City-Wide Chicken Open Houses (can you help?)

2011-04-22T14:01:00.000-06:00

From Marsha, a member of Sustainable Food Denver...

Planning Meeting: Sunday, May 1st at 1:30pm
4074 Quince Street, Denver 80237

Open Houses: Sunday, May 8th from 2:00-4:00

Marsha wants to organize a bunch of Denver chicken owners to hold an "open house" (or maybe "open coop") event on Sunday, May 8th. The purposes of the event is to allow folks in different Denver neighborhoods to see backyard chickens up close, learn about their care, and see that chickens can be successfully raised in the city! This outreach is meant to help build public support for the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance, which will soon be up for a vote before City Council.

If you own chickens and can volunteer to be a site for an Open House, contact Marsha at:

marshalvsgardens@gmail.com

and let her know. If you can come to the planning meeting ahead of the Open House, that's terrific. Each Open House site will have a petition that guests can sign to indicate their support for the Food Producing Animals ordinance, as well as a brochure that describes the ordinance. The Open Houses will be announced to the Denver Post and various neighborhood groups.

If you're willing to open your backyard to your neighbors for a couple of hours, please contact Marsha. Let's do everything we can to raise awareness about this issue, and build even more community support for the Food Producing Animals ordinance!

Endorsements, and Why Local Politics Matter (a lot) if You Care About Sustainable Food

2011-04-17T22:02:00.000-06:00

I never intended to pay much attention to local politics. All I wanted to do was live quietly on my property, growing vegetables and caring for my backyard animals. However, I learned -- very quickly -- that local politics (and local politicians) have an incredible amount of influence over my plans for my property. All of the good intentions in the world don't matter if you're not allowed to do what you hope to do. If your seedling hoophouse, your front-yard garden, or your backyard chickens or dwarf goats are forbidden under your city's rules, then local politics become very relevant.

With that in mind, I want to pass along my endorsements for our upcoming election. While I believe that all of the candidates below show exceptional leadership skills and the knowledge base to make great decisions, ultimately my endorsements are based on their sustainability platforms (particularly as they relate to food issues). Please mail in your ballot before May 3rd. Let's get some pro-food, pro-sustainability leadership in Denver!

Mayor: James Mejia

City Council At-Large: Robin Kniech

City Council District 1: Katherine Cornwell

The Big One: Action Alert!

2011-04-15T13:14:00.002-06:00

Note: You can still send participate in this Action Alert, even though Monday evening has passed. City Council has delayed the first reading, so we still have time to get in extra emails in support of the ordinance!

(To jump to the sample email, look for the Action Alert below.)

Thanks to everyone for your participation in our Action Alerts so far. Please know that they have been making a difference. For example, following last Monday's Action Alert, Councilman Linkhart has been responding via email that he is supporting the current version of the Food Producing Animals ordinance.

This Monday evening City Council is having the first reading of the FPA ordinance, which is usually just a formality (the public hearing and City Council vote are scheduled for May 16th). However, now there is reason to believe that one or more Councilmembers may attempt to hold up (or even kill) the FPA ordinance during Monday night's meeting. Therefore, now is the time that we need to flood City Council with emails in support of the ordinance.

Please send this Action Alert far and wide -- pass it on to everyone you know in Denver. We need to make a really big push for this ordinance.

Action Alert

As always, please feel free to craft your own email from scratch, edit the sample email below, or use the sample email in its entirety.

Please copy and past the following text (including commas) for the "To" field of your email:

paula.sandoval@denvergov.org, jeanne.faatz@denvergov.org, paul.lopez@denvergov.org, peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org, marcia.johnson@denvergov.org, charlie.brown@denvergov.org, chris.nevitt@denvergov.org, judy.montero@denvergov.org, jeanne.robb@denvergov.org, michael.hancock@denvergov.org, boigon.atlarge@denvergov.org, carol.boigon@denvergov.org, doug@douglinkhart.org, linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org, sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line: Please support chickens!

Dear Members of City Council,

I am a resident of Denver, living in the _______ neighborhood. I am writing to ask you to support the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance.

I and other supporters were hoping for a much more generous bill. But we understand that all interests and concerns need to be accommodated. After all, this is what we have been fighting for all along -- that our passions for backyard gardens with chickens and dwarf goats be finally given fair recognition and treatment. We may not have everything we want, but we believe we still have a fair and reasonable compromise, a bill that finally meets the needs of Denver's growing "chicken movement" while providing appropriate protections and assurances for our neighbors.

Please support the proposed Food Producing Animals compromise. Please vote for Denver to join the many cities across the country who have embraced the urban chicken!

Thank you,

(your name)

James Mejia: Mayor

2011-04-14T16:30:00.001-06:00

I first met James Mejia at a community event last year, and I liked him right away. However, when considering who to support for Mayor, I wanted to be sure not to base my decision on personality. While there are many different topics that I care about, I focused most of my attention on sustainability -- particularly as it relates to local food issues. Food is not a "niche" topic within the realm of sustainability. It is literally what sustains us, and our diet is one of the biggest energy consumers and polluters in our lives.

I find Mejia's entire sustainability platform to be impressive. In particular, he is one of only two major candidates to even mention food when discussing sustainable policies for Denver. Mejia's thoughts about sustainable food policy include converting some city owned land into community gardens, increasing the number of Farmers' Markets in Denver, changing the laws around the sharing and sale of backyard produce, and -- yes -- improving the rules regarding Food Producing Animals like hen chickens and dwarf dairy goats.

In my advocacy work I've spent a lot of time on the Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance, and I've had the opportunity to talk with several of the candidates about this issue. Though it may seem like a small thing to focus on, I truly believe that the FPA ordinance is an accurate barometer for where an elected official stands on sustainability issues. Remember that the FPA ordinance is not some slapdash policy thrown together by activists on the fringe. The proposed ordinance was carefully crafted by staff from Community Planning & Development, Animal Care & Control, the Department of Environmental Health, and the City Attorney's office. The team spent time researching successful FPA ordinances in other major cities, and the guidelines in Denver's proposed ordinance fall well within the boundaries of what is working elsewhere. The ordinance passed unanimously through the Denver Planning Board.

Therefore, the FPA ordinance represents supporting well-researched and well-written policies that address a legitimate urban sustainability issue -- even in the face of the inevitable fear of change from some members of the community.

James Mejia recognizes that Denver has a reputation for being a sustainable city, and he wants us to do everything we can to live up to (and exceed) that reputation. Sustainable, affordable, accessible food is a food justice issue -- and he understands how important that is for our all of our city's residents. I'm also a huge fan of Mejia's Buy Denver Initiative (BDI), which would require the City of Denver to give preference to local vendors in the procurement process, and also promote the production and purchase of local foods and sustainably made goods.

I would love to see Denver's development as a sustainable city if James Mejia becomes our Mayor. Visit the Mejia for Mayor website to learn more about James Mejia, sign on as a supporter, or request a yard sign.

Action Alert: Why is the "green" candidate not supporting the FPA ordinance?

2011-04-11T11:33:00.003-06:00

(To jump to the sample email, look for the Action Alert below.)

Councilman Doug Linkhart is a City Councilperson At-Large (meaning he represents all of Denver) and is currently running for Mayor. Whenever Linkhart speaks at sustainability events, he touts his history with the the EPA and likes to bill himself as the "green" candidate. However, in his role as a City Councilperson, Linkhart has not yet said that he would support the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance.

Regardless of the results of the first mayoral ballot on May 3rd, Linkhart will still retain his City Council seat through May 16th, which is when the Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance will be up for a vote. With only 12 people serving on our City Council right now, every vote is critically important. We need him to vote in favor of the ordinance.

When I've spoken with Councilman Linkhart about this issue, part of his hesitation stems from his desire to be the "neighborhood" guy in addition to the "green" guy. We need to let Linkhart know that sustainable food systems actually help to build community, and that implementation of FPA ordinances in other cities has not diminished property values or quality of life. All of us who live in Denver should be counted as "neighborhood" people. He also needs to understand that his positioning of himself as a green candidate needs to include support for a well-written FPA ordinance.

Since Linkhart is a Councilperson At-Large, everyone in Denver can write him about this issue. Please feel free to craft your own email, edit the sample email below, or use the sample email in its entirety. Thank you for your help as we take these important steps to pass a new Food Producing Animals ordinance for Denver!
-------------
Action Alert

Send your email to all of these addresses:
doug@douglinkhart.org
linkhartatlarge@denvergov.org
chy.montoya@denvergov.org (this is Linkhart's aide, and she'll be sure the emails reach him)
CC:
sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject line:
The FPA ordinance -- Good for sustainability AND neighborhoods!
---
Dear Councilman Linkhart,

I am a Denver resident, living in the ______ neighborhood. I love where I live, and consider myself to be a "neighborhood" person. I am writing to ask you to support the Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance.

In your campaign for Mayor, you often portray yourself as the "green" candidate. You're quoted in HuffPost Denver as saying that if you're elected, "Denver will be the greenest city in the country." If that's the case, then why are you not taking a position in favor of the FPA ordinance? Other cities that are green and progressive -- like Seattle -- have already adopted ordinances similar to what Denver is considering. Why should Denver be left behind in its quest to be a truly green city?

Please understand that the FPA ordinance is about more than just chickens and goats. It really is an accurate barometer of where an elected official stands on sustainability issues. The FPA ordinance represents supporting well-researched and well-written policies that address a legitimate urban sustainability issue -- even in the face of knee-jerk NIMBYism and fear of change. If you can't vote for an ordinance that has the support of Community Planning & Development, the Department of Environmental Health, and the Denver Planning Board, how can we trust that you'll take a stand for sustainable policies if you become Mayor?

If you listen to the stories of those who raise backyard chickens and goats (like these in the North Denver Tribune: http://bit.ly/hSIM0d) you would understand that these animals help to build community and connect neighbors in a positive way. There is absolutely no evidence in the experience of other cities that points to problems with property values or neighborhood quality of life following the implementation of FPA ordinances.

Please support the Food Producing Animals ordinance. It's a sustainable, sensible policy for Denver.

Sincerely,
(your name)

Katherine Cornwell: City Council District 1

2011-04-10T07:17:00.004-06:00

I am proud to be supporting Katherine Cornwell for City Council District 1 (northwest Denver). Katherine is extraordinarily qualified, with 15 years of experience as a city planner. She has been a resident of northwest Denver for the last 10 years, and has a deep understanding of the issues that affect our neighborhoods. She will be ready to do her job as an effective City Councilperson on day 1 -- she has the skills and knowledge base to hit the ground running.

Katherine has made the local food economy one of the key issues of her platform. She recognizes the vital role that sustainable urban food systems hold in the development of healthy communities. Our local food system is also a tremendous untapped opportunity for economic growth. Our community spends over $6 billion dollars each year on food that is trucked in from far-away farms. Katherine wants to bring some of that money home to our local economy, creating countless jobs -- and improving our health and environment along the way.

Please join me at a Meet & Greet on Tuesday, April 19th from 5:30-8:30 at The Oriental (4335 W. 44th Ave). Take the opportunity to talk with Katherine and share your thoughts about the issues that affect northwest Denver.

You can learn more about Katherine by visiting her website at www.Cornwell4Council.com If you'd like to get more information or receive a yard sign, just send an email to cornwell4council@gmail.com

One Chicken Owner's Story

2011-03-30T20:47:00.004-06:00

Many, many thanks to all of you who have taken the time to email the City Council Land Use committee to share your support of the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance. There have been lots of great thoughts expressed to the Councilmembers. I wanted to highlight one of the emails that I feel really expressed things well.

Thank you to Ben T. for writing this email, and giving me permission to post it.
---
Dear Committee,

I am a resident of Denver, living in the Speer neighborhood. I wanted to let you know that I support the proposed Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance as it is currently written.

I could send you a longer email with a more complete and detailed explanation of why each component in the proposed ordinance is what should be passed. Instead, I would like to offer my experience as an urban chicken owner, when I lived in Portland, OR.

Urban chickens are not a new concept. Even a few decades ago, it was common for everyone to have chickens in their yard. When my wife first brought up the idea, I was completely against it. "No way" was my response. After taking two introductory courses, and speaking to several owners of Urban Chickens, I was convinced of the merits - and possible enjoyment - of owning the birds. It's hard to explain the enjoyment, entertainment, educational value and sustainability that come from having them.

- Chickens eat almost any scraps that come from the kitchen - reducing our waste stream.
- Well kept chickens don't have an odor.
- They provide eggs that are far more rich than those you can buy in the supermarket - produced right in your own back yard!
- They educate children about the sources of our food.
- Chickens are interesting enough that our neighbors across the fence started asking questions, and we became friends with them. Chickens actually helped to strengthen our community!

How many people on the committee own chickens?

Of the 7 people on the committee, the number who own chickens is likely in the minority. That isn't wrong - not everyone should or needs to own chickens - but to make a ruling on an issue, with no firsthand experience, it becomes increasingly important that the team spend a significant amount of time speaking with and sharing the experiences of those that have owned them. Most of the detractors on this issue have no first hand experience with them.

I was disappointed when I moved from Portland, OR to Denver, CO last year. Denver is not nearly as "green" or sustainable of a city as I would have expected - not for a place that draws so much from the outdoors and it's surrounding environment. Denver needs to take some significant steps forward. This committee is positioned to help Denver do that.

I live in an apartment building in Washington Park area. I don't stand to gain if the ordinance passes - but I stopped to take the 30 minutes out of my day because this issue is important. Easy access to responsible ownership of Urban chickens is a building block for creating a more sustainable city.
Call the city of Portland. Talk to chicken owners. Get balanced information. Don't let fear of the unknown slow Denver down in it's transition to a more sustainable future.

Thanks for all that you do to lead this community forward. Your leadership is important.

All the best,
Ben T_____

Neighborhood Support for the FPA ordinance: La Alma/Lincoln Park and Stapleton United Neighbors

2011-03-30T07:44:00.004-06:00

(Click here to view the February 2nd letter of support from the River North Art District.)

Letter of support for the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance from the La Alma/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association.

March 15, 2011

Councilwoman Judy Montero
Councilwoman Carol Boigon
Councilman Doug Linkhart
Denver Planning Board
City and County of Denver
Denver, Colorado

Re: Food Producing Animals Ordinance

Dear City Council members and Planning Board:

The La Alma/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association appreciates the opportunity to share with you our thoughts on the proposed Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance currently under consideration. At our monthly meeting in February representatives from Sustainable Food Denver provided an overview of the FPA ordinance and the issues surrounding urban agriculture in Denver. After a robust discussion around the details of raising animals in the city and the proposed ordinance, our association unanimously voted to support the FPA ordinance.

As a neighborhood ranging from single-family residential areas to high-density residential and office towers to industrial campuses, La Alma/Lincoln Park has a diverse population with varying opinions and preferences that are just as diverse. Noting the diversity of our members, we appreciate that the proposed FPA ordinance seeks to tackle the issues facing urban agriculture and animals – noise, sanitation, property rights, permits, etc – in a straight forward manner and in cooperation with City staff and departments.

Urban agriculture is a common topic at our monthly meetings, as many of our members actively garden through plots at their homes or through community gardens. Denver Housing Authority staff has indicated that as part of the South Lincoln redevelopment they are looking to incorporate space for community gardens on that site. Underlying these discussions are desires for sustainability in our neighborhood and access to healthy, inexpensive food. While our neighborhood does have a large-format grocery store, many residents choose to garden as an alternative. Given a straight forward and simple manner in which to raise chickens and goats for eggs and milk, our neighborhood would benefit from a comprehensive FPA law that allow for these activities without excessive red tape and bureaucracy.

In closing, the La Alma/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association supports the proposed FPA ordinance, and as our representatives we ask for your support of this measure.

Sincerely,
La Alma/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association
---
A letter of support for the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance from Stapleton United Neighbors.

March 18, 2011

Dear City Council and Planning Board,

The Stapleton United Neighbors (SUN) board would like to express its support for the Food-Producing Animals ordinance that is being proposed by Councilman Nevitt. We appreciate the thought that has been put into the proposed ordinance by CPD, DEH, and the City Attorney's office, and we believe that the guidelines for the keeping of animals are adequate to support the health, safety, and welfare of our neighborhoods. We understand that cities across the country have adopted Food-Producing Animals ordinances similar to the one that Denver is considering.

The community that resides in Stapleton values sustainable living, and we recognize that urban-appropriate backyard food production can be a part of sustainable city living. In addition, we support our residents who choose to grow or raise some of their own food because of health, economic, and food safety considerations. There are currently residents in Stapleton who have backyard Food-Producing Animals, and it has not created a problem for our community.

We encourage the Planning Board and City Council to adopt the proposed Food-Producing Animals ordinance. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Steven C. Lawrence
President, Board of Directors

Action Alert: Don't Negotiate Away the Proposed Ordinance!

2011-03-29T15:23:00.002-06:00

(If you want to jump to the sample email, look for the yellow Action Alert further down the page.)

The proposed Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance is at a critical place. It is important to show our support in order to hold on to the improvements that we've been working on for the last 2 years. The ordinance is now sitting in City Council's Land Use, Infrastructure, and Transportation (LUTI) committee. LUTI is charged with evaluating the ordinance, modifying it if necessary, and then passing it along to the full City Council for a vote.

The bad news is that there are a couple of neighborhood activists that have been strongly lobbying for significant changes to the proposed ordinance. Those of us who have been advocating for this issue for a long time understand that compromise is part of the process. However, if these neighborhood activists are successful in getting their way, it would effectively gut much of the progress in the ordinance, and continue to make it unnecessarily difficult for urban residents to raise small numbers of backyard chickens, ducks, and dwarf goats.

It is critical that we take a stand for the ordinance as it is currently written. If we don't stand for the current ordinance, it will be easier for those that oppose it to continue to drag the various provisions backward. A significant amount of thought and care went into crafting the proposed ordinance, and its guidelines are well in line with successful FPA ordinances in other cities.

One more piece of important information before we move into the Action Alert... The two aforementioned neighborhood activists took their case to INC this weekend. INC is the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation. The idea behind INC is that each Registered Neighborhood Organization (RNO) will send a representative to serve at INC. However, though there are over 200 RNOs in the city, only 20 or so were represented at Saturday's INC meeting.

The INC folks are generally long-time neighborhood activists. They're often retired (or of retirement age) and fit within a certain demographic. As you can imagine, the demands to significantly alter the proposed Food Producing Animals ordinance were generally embraced by the people at INC. While they are certainly entitled to their individual opinions, the unfortunate fact is that INC often tries to present itself as the "voice of the neighborhoods." You live in a Denver neighborhood, as do I. INC doesn't speak for us, and it's important that we remind our City Councilmembers of this fact.

Action Alert

The ways in which the neighborhood activists want to alter the proposed ordinance can be found in the sample email below. Please feel free to use the sample email in its entirety, cut and paste what you'd like, or create something of your own from scratch. My only request is that you keep the subject line intact -- we'd like to send a unified message to the members of the LUTI committee who will be deciding whether to drastically alter the proposed ordinance.

Please send your email to the following members of City Council. You can do one email that cc's all of them. It's also ok that some of these people aren't your designated representative -- they sit on the LUTI committee, so they're working on behalf of all of Denver right now.

paula.sandoval@denvergov.org
peggy.lehmann@denvergov.org
marcia.johnson@denvergov.org
chris.nevitt@denvergov.org
carla.madison@denvergov.org
judy.montero@denvergov.org
jeanne.robb@denvergov.org

and cc: sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

Subject: Don't change the proposed ordinance -- INC doesn't speak for me!
---
Dear Members of the LUTI committee:

I am a resident of Denver, living in the ______ neighborhood. I wanted to let you know that I support the proposed Food Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance as it is currently written. I believe that the proposed ordinance strikes a fair balance between supporting the rights of individual property owners and protecting neighbors from adverse impacts. In addition, the current guidelines within the proposed ordinance fall well within the range of what is occurring in other cities with successful FPA ordinances.

I understand that INC may be issuing a position statement asking for various parts of the ordinance to be changed. INC does not speak for me, nor do they speak for a number of my Denver friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers.

I would like the following provisions in the proposed FPA ordinance to remain intact:

No needless RNO/neighbor notification -- Some RNOs have expressed concern that public notification will not occur for a limited number of FPAs under the proposed ordinance. Standards for public notification should be based on impact. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that 8 female fowl and 2 dwarf goats would cause significant impact to a neighborhood. Many people in Denver are currently raising these animals, and state that their neighbors have absolutely no idea that the animals exist. We do not require public notice/input for up to 3 dogs (even if these dogs weigh 150 pounds each and have the potential to bark and bite). It is patently unfair and illogical to require public notice for 8 female fowl and 2 dwarf goats, when there is no evidence of negative impact on neighborhoods. Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles allow the keeping of a specified number and/or type of FPAs without public notification. Seattle used to allow up to 3 chickens and 3 dwarf goats without a permit. They experienced so few problems that in 2010 they upped their allowed numbers to 8 chickens and 3 dwarf goats.

No annual permitting fee -- Other cities that have adopted FPA ordinances have not reported an increased burden to city agencies because of enforcement. There is no logical reason for requiring ongoing annual permitting fees for animal that don't require vaccinations for public health reasons (like dogs and cats do). Many people who wish to raise backyard FPAs are doing so because they want access to healthy, affordable food. While chickens and goats do pay for themselves, there are some costs associated with their care. Adding unjustified annual fees to that amount would unduly burden Denver residents, especially low-income families who stand to benefit the most from access to affordable food. Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Colorado Springs all allow a specified number and/or type of FPAs with no permit and no fees.

10 foot separation between FPA structure and a neighbor's dwelling unit -- The proposed 10 foot separation (coupled with noise, odor, and nuisance regulations) is adequate to balance potential impacts on neighbors with the ability of Denver residents to enjoy reasonable use of their property. The suggested 25 foot separation would effectively "zone out" many Denver residents from the ability to keep FPAs. There are people in Denver who are currently keeping FPAs with a shelter 10 feet from their neighbor's dwelling, and they haven't experienced any problems. Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles do not have any shelter distance requirements for the keeping of FPAs. Seattle successfully requires just a 10 foot separation from a neighbor's dwelling.

Permeable space requirement -- Respected chicken keeping books cite a minimum space requirement of 4 square feet per bird. Denver's proposed ordinance asks for 10 square feet per bird, which is 2.5 times what is listed in some books and 20 times the amount of space that factory farm chickens have access to. Urban backyard chicken keepers acknowledge 10 square feet of space as a respectable standard -- this would equal a minimum of 80 total square feet of wandering room for anyone who kept 8 hens. While many chicken owners may opt to voluntarily provide their birds with more than the required minimum, I believe that the suggestion of mandating 16 square feet of space per bird is unnecessary and is not supported by successful FPA ordinances in other cities. Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Fort Collins do not include any permeable space requirements in their ordinances.

Shelter space requirement -- The shelter space requirement in the proposed ordinance is addressing the predator-proof, nighttime enclosure for chickens. Because chickens go blind and don't move at night, a relatively small space (1 square foot per bird) is adequate for containing them. Chicken owners generally provide their birds with some form of shelter/shade/structure to daytime shelter when it's needed (which isn't very often with Colorado's low precipitation rates), but whatever daytime shelter is provided doesn't need to meet the construction standards of the predator-proof, nighttime enclosure. Asking that an excessively large (4 square feet per bird) nighttime enclosure be required would not only present an unnecessary cost burden to the chicken owner, but also leaves the chickens at greater risk of frostbite during winter nights. Seattle, Portland, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles do not include any space minimums for chicken shelters in their FPA ordinances.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. I look forward to seeing the LUTI committee vote on April 5th to move the proposed ordinance, in its current form, through to City Council.

Sincerely,
(your name)

Getting the Greenhouse Ready (subtitle: I still have all my fingers!)

2011-03-06T10:35:00.002-07:00

For me, the definitive sign that spring is coming is when it's time to get the greenhouse ready. We have a 12' x 11' PVC frame greenhouse next to our house. It's tiny by commercial growing standards, but it works for us.

Every spring we cover the greenhouse frame with 6mm clear plastic sheeting (you can find it in the paint section of Lowe's or Home Depot). Covering the greenhouse is not an easy task. Luckily, the fantastic Heirloom Gardens urban farmers were on hand to provide assistance. Half of the group worked with me to cover the greenhouse, and the other half sterilized our seedling trays and pots so we could reuse them for this year's plants. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos during that work session (too busy wrestling with big rolls of plastic), but you can see the result!

The next task was to rebuild the greenhouse tables. We have 8 tall (4 foot) tables and 6 short (2 foot) tables in the greenhouse. The short ones fit under the tall ones, and can be pulled into the aisles so that all of the plants get sunshine.

Unfortunately, I was the one in charge of designing and building the initial tables. The result was somewhat precarious, because building is not one of my fortes (copious amount of Gorilla Glue were involved in the construction). Therefore, after two years, the tall tables were about ready to topple over.

Enter Dave. Dave and his wife are good friends of ours. Dave works as a firefighter, and often spends his days off helping his less talented friends with construction/home remodeling projects. Dave took apart the old tables and rebuilt them so that they'd be structurally sound. I am, needless to say, eternally grateful. Once the seedlings are ready to go, Dave and his wife will get to come by and select whatever they would like to take home and plant in their garden.

Dave brought a whole bunch of neat tools, and I helped him cut the 2x4s that were used for the tables' frames. Here's the saw that I used:

I'm pretty sure I just heard my mom's heart skip a beat. Yep -- I used the big saw. I have a bit of a reputation for being clumsy, so I was pretty proud to successfully use the saw without bloodshed.

Together, we got the tables rebuilt and ready to go. Looking forward to a great crop of seedlings this year!

(Thanks to Brian Kraft Photography for the photos.)

Getting 'Em Started

2011-03-03T08:52:00.053-07:00

One of the most interesting things to me about growing food is how it forces you to stay ahead of the curve. On a chilly morning in early March, no one's thoughts are naturally on garden tomatoes. Yet, if you want tomatoes in July and August, you have to start them in March.

Seed starting (and some of our other seated gardening activities, like repotting) reminds me a bit of a quilting bee. A great chance to relax for a couple of hours and catch up with the folks in your community.

Henderson's Pink Ponderosa and Black Cherry tomato packets. Heirloom varieties have the best names!

Counting Purple Calabash tomato seeds.

We have a small hoophouse to grow our seedlings. It works well once seeds have germinated, but it's difficult to heat the hoophouse so that it's warm enough (consistently 70ish degrees) for seeds to sprout. So, we sprout most of our seeds indoors, in damp paper towels. Once they've germinated, then they get planted in seed trays and placed in the outdoor hoophouse.

The seeds (folded into wet paper towels) then go into open plastic bags. The plastic keeps the paper towels from drying out, but leaving the bag open prevents mold.

We grow thousands of seedlings in our little hoophouse -- got to keep track of what's been planted!

Each bag typically contains 50-70 seeds. With this method, we can use just one heating pad to germinate literally thousands of seeds, rather than investing in lots of grow lights or several space heaters to heat the hoophouse.

Do You Care About Animals? Why Turning Backyards into Barnyards is a Great Idea!

2011-02-22T22:31:00.007-07:00

(If you want to skip ahead to the Action Alert, scroll down and look for yellow.)

You may already know that -- after two years of growing community momentum -- Denver's City Council is getting ready to consider a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance. The ordinance is still in draft form, and Sustainable Food Denver (along with all of the members of the Sustainable Food Policy Council) have been actively soliciting feedback.

Recently, a woman who is associated with a vegan advocacy group here in Denver has started sending letters to members of her organization, other animal rights organizations, and Denver neighborhood organizations. She, as an animal rights activist, opposes the Food-Producing Animals ordinance and the general practice of keeping backyard livestock. She is strongly urging City Council to vote against the ordinance.

Now, I want to be clear -- I very much support everyone's right to their views, opinions, and dietary choices. I also understand that conflicting opinions are going to be a part of the process, especially when we're dealing with an issue as public as this one.

However, no matter how passionate someone may be about a topic, facts still matter. The author of the anti-FPA letter makes a number of claims, and they're generally based in fear-mongering and fallacy. It's worth noting that the author's sole source to back up her claims is United Poultry Concerns, a website that sells a book entitled "The Holocaust & The Henmaid's Tale: A Case for Comparing Atrocities."

I'm going to address the many myths that were present in the anti-FPA letter, and counter with facts about the keeping of backyard chickens and goats. But, before I go any further, I want to say again that I have great respect for those who choose to follow a vegan diet. In fact, there are several vegans (and vegetarians) who support the work of Sustainable Food Denver. Here is what a few of them have to say:

"Six years ago I made the decision to move from a vegetarian lifestyle to a vegan lifestyle. Not everyone is willing or able to make that sort of decision. With this understanding I am compelled to support the Food-Producing Animals ordinance. I am hopeful that families who choose to raise chickens and/or goats will halt consumption of animal products derived from factory farming processes and continue to cultivate compassion for the animals they care for. Additionally, I believe the ordinance has the potential to influence and create laws protecting farm animals from cruelty and abuse." --C.B.

"As a vegan I actually applaud and wholeheartedly support the Food Producing Animals ordinance. I feel strongly that my friends and acquaintances with chickens and/or goats care deeply about these animals and care for them as they would any other companion animal in their lives. They have chosen to take a stand and remove themselves from the vicious circle that contains animal cruelty through factory farming. It would be a shame to take wholesome and kindly produced milk and eggs from them and their children." --T.H.

"I'm a vegetarian that loves eggs, however, I haven't eaten meat for 16 years. I know that the meat eaters outnumber the vegans and vegetarians, so I choose to work with them in our society. I think the benefits of raising your own chickens are far better than the nasty conditions of the chicken warehouses. The more of us that aren't supporting the corporations slaughtering our precious animals, the better off we are at saving this planet. We can only take one step at a time and if Denver households find it easier to raise chickens, they won't go to the local grocery store to support the evil American meat business." --A.H.

If your goal as an animal rights activist is a 100% vegan society, then be honest about that and work toward it through education and outreach. However, in lieu of a purely vegan society, I can't fathom why anyone who truly cared about animal rights would prefer that consumers get their eggs and dairy from Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) as opposed to backyard barnyards. Not every backyard chicken-raiser is going to be perfect, to be sure -- but on average the backyard barnyard is a far cry more humane than CAFOs.

Here are some photos of the types of places where the vast majority of Americans get their eggs and dairy:

In contrast, this is where my family gets its eggs and dairy...

All right, let's get to looking at the points that the anti-FPA letter raised. Later in this post, look for the Action Alert to learn how you can help!

Myth: FPAs are bad for cities, resulting in numerous complaints and an increase in enforcement costs.

Fact: The actual experience of cities that have tried FPA ordinances is that the result is either positive or neutral for the city's agencies. A professor at DePaul University did a study of 23 cities across the country that had recently enacted chicken keeping ordinances, and the study showed very few problems, with a "positive" or "neutral" assessment of the overall impact. Cities like Seattle and Portland allow the keeping of hen chickens and dwarf goats without a permit, and Seattle even recently voted to make its laws more progressive (going from 3 hens up to 8). We can also find evidence of the lack of negative impact closer to home. Fort Collins and Longmont recently enacted chicken-keeping ordinances, and both cities had the option of "sunsetting" (cancelling) the new rules after one year. Neither city chose to invoke the sunset.

Looking at the FPA policies of other cities across the country is a fundamental part of countering each of the anti-FPA arguments. If FPAs were truly so hazardous, disruptive, etc, then cities that had tried allowing FPAs would be undoing the laws at the first opportunity. Instead, we see the opposite occurring -- every week there is a new city (large or small) that decides to allow the keeping of FPAs in some form, and cities that had previously passed FPA ordinances are often expanding them.

Myth: Urban FPAs will attract predators to Denver neighborhoods.

Fact: Small mammal predators are a fact of life in the city.Outdoor cats, squirrels, birds, and – most especially – our garbage, all ensurethat predators will continue to stick around. In fact, with our city’s trash system, there are probably several dead chickens right now in every block of Denver.They’re in the dumpsters – the chicken carcasses that people throw away afterdinner, or grocery store rotisseries throw out whole if they don’t sell by theend of the day. This isn’t to say that if you put a live chicken in front of afox then the fox won’t eat it, but it’s not correct to think that a fewchickens would impact the predator population when there is already such a vastabundance of available food for them to eat. Note from Sundari: I have a neighbor that keeps cat food on her front porch. I watched a fox walk down my street, go up her steps, and eat out of the bowl!

Myth: FPAs will get loose and damage neighbor's gardens.

Fact: The proposed FPA ordinance requires fencing adequate to keep the animals contained. If someone's animals get out, they're not following the ordinance. It's interesting to be concerned about the impact that chickens (who weigh about 5 pounds each) and dwarf goats (who weigh 50 pounds and can't dig) could have on a neighbor's garden, compared to the possible impact of a 100-pound dog on the loose.

Myth: Passing an FPA ordinance will increase the likelihood of on-site slaughter.

Fact: The proposed ordinance expressly prohibits the slaughtering of FPAs in a residentially zoned district. Slaughtering on-site is against the law now, and it will be against the law if the FPA ordinance passes. Yes, there will always be people who don't care about the law. But, since those people don't follow the laws anyway, they're just as likely to slaughter FPAs now as in the future.

Myth: Eggs and dairy are bad for peoples' health.

Fact: I believe that diet is a deeply personal choice. We are all different people with different body chemistries, and not everyone can thrive on the same diet. For every vegan advocacy group that states that eggs and dairy are dangerous, there are groups like the Weston A. Price Foundation that say that an exclusively vegan diet is dangerous. What can be reliably proven is that the eggs and dairy produced by healthy, ethically raised animals is safer than what comes out of CAFOs (due to antibiotics, bacterial contamination, and a host of other dangers).

Myth: Raising animals is not environmentally sustainable, because the grain used to feed them is grown on land that could be used to grow other crops.
Fact: The above isn't a misstatement, but more of a misdirection. There are a number of factors that each person considers when deciding what to eat, and land use concerns are something that motivate some folks to choose a vegan diet. However, this discussion is not about whether everyone in the world should be a vegan. (That is a separate discussion, and if 100% veganism is the anti-FPA advocate's goal, then she needs to be upfront about that.) The backyard FPA issue is about how those people who do choose to consume eggs and dairy can best obtain that food. From an environmental point of view, it goes without saying that the well-documented pollution of CAFOs is a significant environmental hazard. It is also more ecologically sound to consume food that is produced in your backyard, rather than food that has been trucked in from somewhere else.

Myth: FPAs attract mice and rats.

Fact: The recommended method for storing animal feed is in a sealable, airtight container (like a big tupperware tub). It is certainly in the FPA owner's interest to keep the food sealed so that mice aren't attracted to it. However, let's also remember that lots of people throughout the city have birdfeeders, and they can also choose to leave cat food on their front porches if they choose to.

Myth: FPA ordinances result in an increase in FPAs being turned in to animal shelters.

Fact: The DePaul University study does not support this idea of a negative impact. If an FPA owner wants to re-home their animals, there are multiple options available to them. Denver is surrounded by lots of rural space, and those "country folk" have the sense to recognize the value of an FPA -- especially if it's being given away for free. This includes roosters that occasionally show up by mistake in a chick order and older non-productive hens. It also includes baby goat offspring. There is a significant demand in the agricultural communities surrounding Denver for dwarf dairy goats.

Myth: FPAs will result in an increase in noise and odor.

Fact: First of all, FPAs are much quieter than many of the critters that are currently residing in Denver backyards. Secondly, the FPA ordinance will address the issue of disruptive animal noise. In the unlikely situation that your chickens or dwarf goats are creating a disturbance, there will be consequences. The same goes for the odor question. Poorly cared for animals of any species are likely to smell bad. However, it is not challenging to maintain FPAs in a way that does not produce an odor or nuisance to neighbors.

I want to close this section by saying that I have had the following people (among many others) visit my backyard barnyard -- seven City Councilmembers, the former mayor's chief of staff, the Zoning Administrator, the head of Neighborhood Inspection Services, the director of Animal Care and Control, and a Principal City Planner. If anyone is trained to spot problems with backyard FPAs or their impact on the neighborhood, it's these folks. Everyone inspected my little barnyard and saw that things were just fine (and I'm not even the best barnyard-keeper-upper I know!).

Action Alert: How You Can Help!

Once again, it's time to fire up those email accounts to contact our City Councilmembers and Registered Neighborhood Organizations! If you're not sure which way to point your emails:

- Click here to find out which council district you live in.

- Click here to get the email addresses (and phone numbers) of your city councilperson. Don't forget to contact the two At-Large members!

- Click here to find out which neighborhood organization represents the area you live in, and to get the contact information.

Feel free to craft your own email from scratch. If you'd like to use a template, try this:

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Subject: Backyard Barnyards are a Great Idea!

Dear _________,

I am writing to express my support for the proposed new Food-Producing Animals ordinance. Although the keeping of FPAs is allowed in many cities throughout the country (including Seattle, Portland, Chicago, and New York), there are still many misconceptions about raising hen chickens, ducks, and dwarf dairy goats in an urban setting. I want to share the following information with you:

- Removing the financial and bureaucratic barriers to the keeping of backyard Food-Producing Animals will have multiple benefits. It will result in improved access to healthy and affordable protein to Denver families, provide an alternative to industrially-produced food, and provide a way for our city's residents to participate in a sustainable local food system.

- Community Planning and Development, the Department of Environmental Health (including the Director of Animal Control), and the City Attorney's office all support the draft outline for a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance.

- Cities across the country have successfully adopted Food-Producing Animals ordinances, including some cities that allow these animals without a permit. DePaul University conducted a study of 23 cities across the country to investigate the impact of chicken ordinances, and found that cities rated the impact of the ordiance as either "positive" or "neutral" (link to the study at http://www.sustainablefooddenver.org). The adoption of FPA ordinances has not been shown to burden city agencies or increase enforcement costs.

- The adoption of FPA ordinances has also not been shown to increase the incidence of small mammal predators within a city. The proposed Denver ordinance requires that FPA owners have a predator-proof enclosure for their animals, and there are additional measures that owners can take to protect their animals from predators. However, every Denver resident knows that predators are a fact of life in the city. Our current garbage collection system (with dead chickens in every dumpster in Denver) ensures that our predators have a consistent food supply.

- There are multiple avenues for FPA owners to "re-home" unwanted animals. Denver is surrounded by rural areas, and many "country folks" are typically more than happy to take FPAs (they do provide food, after all).

- The proposed FPA ordinance specifically prohibits the slaughtering of animals in residential districts. Slaughtering is illegal now, and it would be illegal if the ordinance passes.

To read the draft outline for the FPA ordinance, and for additional information, go to http://www.sustainablefooddenver.org

As a resident of your (council district/neighborhood), I strongly urge you to support Food-Producing Animals in Denver!

Sincerely,

(your name)

(your address would be helpful)

You're Invited: Denver Food-Producing Animals Forum!

2011-02-22T10:32:00.005-07:00

Please join Grow Local Colorado, Slow Food Denver, Sustainable Food Denver, and CROP (Campus Raised Organic Produce - a UCD student group) for an educational forum regarding Food-Producing Animals (FPAs) in Denver.

When: Monday, March 7th, 6:00-7:30pm
Where: The Tivoli at Auraria Campus, Room 320s

There is great impetus now in Denver to change the permitting process for having FPAs. The city has heard that the current permitting process is unclear, lengthy and expensive and that there is concern about the requirement of neighborhood notification. There is a draft outline for a new FPA ordinance that was prepared as a collaborative effort with Denver Community Planning and Development (zoning), the Department of Environmental Health (animal control), Sustainable Food Denver and the City Attorney's office.

Come join us to hear about the current process, the proposed ordinance and have a chance to ask questions and comment about FPAs in the City of Denver.

To read a DRAFT outline of the proposed ordinance, please click here.

You can RSVP for the event by contacting Dana at pompomdana@comcast.net. However, feel free to come even if you haven't RSVP'd!

Sustainable Food Denver in the ATTRA Newsletter

2011-02-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of ATTRA (the National Sustainable Sustainable Agriculture Information Service). If you haven't visited their website, I'd highly recommend that you check it out. It's chock-full of helpful, well-researched info about sustainable ag.

It was quite a nice surprise to see a mention of the Food-Producing Animals draft outline in the February 16th ATTRA Weekly Harvest newsletter. Here's what they reported:

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Food-Producing Animal Ordinance Drafted for Denver
Sustainable Food Denver is circulating a draft outline for a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance for Denver, prepared as a collaborative effort with Community Planning and Development, the Department of Environmental Health, and the City Attorney's office. The draft outline proposes the keeping of 8 female fowl or 2 dwarf dairy goats without requiring a permit. The intent of the draft ordinance is to promote the keeping of Food Producing Animals and concurrent food access and food security benefits, where most appropriate, while assuring compatibility with existing land uses and minimization of any adverse impacts on neighboring properties or neighborhood character. As part of the process for creating this draft, the team compiled detailed information on successful FPA ordinances in other major cities across the country, as well as neighboring cities along the Front Range. The group also looked at an analysis of the impact of chicken ordinances on cities, as part of a study done through De Paul University.

-----

Glad that word is spreading!

Urban Homesteading, on an Urban Homestead

2011-02-21T00:01:00.001-07:00

I am an urban homesteader. You might be, too. If you live in a city and grow or produce some of what you eat, that's urban homesteading. If you like to make things from scratch instead of buying them at the store -- cleaning products, candles, cheese, soap -- that's urban homesteading. If you use solar power, capture some of your bathwater to irrigate your garden, or repurpose old items -- that's also urban homesteading.

Who invented urban homesteading?? I know that sounds like a ridiculous question. The truth is that people have been homesteading in cities for as long as they've been living in cities. Growing gardens, raising backyard chickens, canning vegetables and jam -- these are things that people have always done, wherever they've lived.

At any rate, one thing most people can agree on is that the prevalence of urban homesteading is good thing -- both for individuals and for the health of the general society. There are tons and tons of websites and blogs, plus a fair number of books and magazines, that address this topic. As someone who incorporates urban homesteading into both her personal and professional life, I think that this is terrific. The more people talking, teaching, and sharing about urban homesteading -- and all of the sustainable, healthy activities that go with it -- the better!

The reason that my identity as an urban homesteader (and likely yours, too) is in question can be found in this article posted on the OC Weekly website. A family in California has trademarked the terms "urban homestead" and "urban homesteading" (among others). And, very unfortunately, they've set about the task of shutting down the Facebook pages of writers and businesses who incorporate the words "urban homesteading" into what they do, and they've sent what are essentially cease and desist letters to other organizations as well. Including, for example, the Santa Monica Public Library, because they offered a free event on urban homesteading.

The presumption that someone can "own" the commonly used term (which folks have found references to dating back at least to the 1970s) of urban homesteading has -- shall we say -- not gone over well. Let me be clear that I support everyone's right to the protection of their specific writings and photographs. However, we are NOT talking about blatant plagiarism. We are talking about a widely used phrase that many people feel accurately describes their lifestyle. Plus, unfortunately, the family pursuing the trademark has a history of not just claiming ownership of the words "urban homesteading," but of the factual information about urban homesteading itself. No one owns the fact that beets can be planted 4 inches apart or that chickens enjoy eating curdled milk. Similarly, no one owns the basic tenants of living sustainably in an urban setting.

Sadly, this family's actions have consequences that go beyond picking on bloggers or public libraries. For example, the city that I live in has just one year-round farmers' market. It is a locally owned small business, and the folks who sell at the market are local small farmers and producers. This market has "urban homesteading" in its name, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the California family that is claiming the trademark. However, since the market's name contains the words "urban homesteading," its Facebook page was summarily removed this week. The page had thousands of customers connected to it, and the market's owner used the page each week to talk about the products the vendors were bringing to market, special events, etc. The market -- and, by extension, the local farmers and producers -- are going to suffer because the market's owner has lost the main way that he communicates with his customers. That is real, tangible damage to folks' livelihoods. Not ok at all.

There is a Facebook group that has been established to organize those who oppose the trademark and its subsequent shutdown of websites. Also, if you'd like to post a review of their business on Google, you can do so here. There are also a number of other folks who have posted on the "I Am An Urban Homesteader" theme:

http://nwedibles.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader-nyah-nyah.html?spref=tw
http://www.dogislandfarm.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader-not-trademarked.html
http://www.farmcurious.com/trademarks-patents-thieves-oh-my/
http://deniseintn.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://fightingsharks.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-home-steader.html
http://champagnewishesandcoupondreams.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-am-urban-homesteader.html
http://www.halfacrehomestead.com/2011/02/urban-homesteaders-unite/
http://birdsandgardens.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/i-am-an-urban-homesteader/
http://viggiesveggies.com/?p=1197

Growing Our Urban AgriCULTURE Potluck and Networking

2011-02-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 5th
3:30 - 6:00
The GrowHaus
4751 York Street in Denver
3:30 -- Tour of The GrowHaus
4:00 -- Potluck and networking

Event is being coordinated by Grow Local Colorado and The GrowHaus. $5 suggested donation to benefit Grow Local Colorado and The GrowHaus.

More info from the invite:
The Denver Metro area is a hotbed of interesting and inspiring urban agriculture advocates and sustainable food projects. From aquaponics to hydroponics to indoor farmers' markets to permaculture gardens, the list of innovative efforts to create a robust local food system just keep GROWING. Connect with other pioneers in the local food movement and grow our urban agriCULTURE.

What to bring: Yummy food and libations to share. Think "Colorado" when deciding what to bring. This event is Zero Waste. Please bring your own plate, silverware, napkin and glass. You can also bring information to share for the community table.

RSVP by March 1st to Dana Miller at pompomdana@comcast.net

Action Alert: Contact Your Neighborhood Organization!

2011-02-11T12:08:00.003-07:00

(Scroll down to the Action Alert to read about how you can help, including a sample email.)

Our efforts to pass a comprehensive Food-Producing Animals ordinance (which would allow Denver residents to keep up to 8 hen chickens and 2 dwarf dairy goats without an expensive permit) is going well.

Right now we're in major community outreach mode, or as one of the participants in the process calls it -- "Outreach-a-Palooza!" Sustainable Food Denver has been contacting neighborhood organizations throughout the city, as well as other community groups (like moms' groups). Our goals are to let them know about the ordinance, to answer any questions they have, and to collect feedback that we can use to make the ordinance better. Besides the obvious benefits of working with the community before passing any new laws, it's also important to get the neighborhood organizations on board if we expect our City Council to pass the ordinance.

There's an especially effective way to reach out to neighborhood organizations -- if everyone who supports backyard Food-Producing Animals contacts their neighborhood organization and asks them to get behind the ordinance. The Registered Neighborhood Organziations (RNO) exist to represent *you* -- the resident. Let them know your thoughts on this issue!

ACTION ALERT -- Here's what you can do:

1. If you don't know which RNO represents your neighborhood (or don't have their email address), click here for that information. The form will ask you to enter your address, and then it will give you a list of the RNOs for your area, plus their contact information.

2. Send your RNO an email explaining that you live in their neighborhood, and you would like them to support the Food-Producing Animals ordinance. (If you'd like, you can direct them to the ordinance online by asking them to go to http://www.sustainablefooddenver.org and clicking "Animals" ) Share with them why you would like to see a limited number of backyard chickens and dwarf goats allowed without a permit. Your reasons could be based on health, food safety & security, economics, environmental concerns, or all of the above!

3. Share this email with your friends -- ask them to join in the effort to support healthy food in our city!

If it's helpful to you, I've composed a sample email that you can use -- or edit -- as you see fit. Thank you for taking the time to contact your RNO about this issue. This kind of community work is very important!

--------------------------------

Dear [name of neighborhood organization],

My name is _______, and I am a resident of [neighborhood]. I am writing to let you know that I strongly support the new Food-Producing Animals (hen chickens and dwarf dairy goats) ordinance that is being proposed by Councilman Nevitt, in conjunction with CPD, Animal Control, and the City Attorney's office. I hope that [name of neighborhood organization] will join me in supporting the ordinance, and asking City Council for its passage.

Denver residents are currently allowed to keep chickens and dwarf goats in their backyards. However, the permitting process that's required to keep these animals legally is incredibly expensive and bureaucratic. The cost and amount of process involved is completely out of step with what is required for other types of animals in Denver -- dogs, cats, pigeons, snakes, etc. And yet, hen chickens (not roosters) and dwarf dairy goats provide affordable, healthy food for families. Plus, they're quieter and safer than many of the other types of animals I mentioned.

Denver isn't alone in wanting to make this change. Other cities -- like Seattle, Portland, New York City, Chicago, and many others -- have more progressive Food-Producing Animals policies than we do. I don't believe that people should be able to own these animals without any sort of restrictions at all. However, the draft ordinance that has been created is kind of like what was passed a few years ago for backyard beekeeping. It allows a limited number of animals without a permit, but gives guidelines as to how the animals should be kept. Plus, the city's noise, odor, nuisance, and animal abuse guidelines will definitely apply to backyard Food-Producing Animals.

You can read the draft outline for a new ordinance by clicking going to http://www.sustainablefooddenver.org and clicking on the "Animals" section. If you're interested, you can also click here to see a study conducted by DePaul University on the impact of allowing chickens in cities: http://bit.ly/gN1Akw

I know that neighborhood organizations are an important part of the city process. You are the voice for the residents of the [name of neighborhood] neighborhood. I ask you to get behind the proposed Food-Producing Animals ordinance, as way to promote sensible and sustainable policies for our cities.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I know Sustainable Food Denver (http://www.sustainablefooddenver.org) is actively soliciting feedback from neighborhood organizations. They're also happy to come out and talk with your group about this issue, and answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

[Your name]
[your address would be helpful, so they know you truly live in their neighborhood]

Wash Park Profile: Sustainable Food Policy is More Than Chickens and Goats

2011-02-08T10:24:00.001-07:00

We are thrilled about this article -- Sustainable Food Policy is More Than Chickens and Goats -- by Paul Kashmann for the Wash Park Profile. He talks about some of the goals for Denver's newly formed Sustainable Food Policy Council, and discusses why such a council is needed. He also delves into one of the issues that has come to the forefront, which is the ability of Denver residents to keep backyard Food-Producing Animals (hen chickens and dwarf dairy goats).

So happy to see our city's sustainable food issues addressed in such a thoughtful way! Please click here to read the article, and share it with your friends!

RiNo Supports New Food-Producing Animals Draft Ordinance!

2011-02-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

The River North Art District (RiNo) has officially informed our City Council that they support the draft outline of a new Food-Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance. We are thrilled that they have thrown their support behind this measure, and appreciate that they took the time to make their feelings known to City Council. See letter below.

Do you belong to a community group -- a neighborhood organization, mother's group, etc -- that supports a comprehensive FPA ordinance? Do you belong to a group that might support it, but needs more information? If so, please contact Sundari at sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com

----

Dear City Council Members,

Please accept this letter on behalf of Sustainable Food Denver. The River North Art District and its membership are in complete support of the draft outline attached for a new Food-Producing Animals (FPA) ordinance for Denver.

Several of our members live and work in the district and have voiced that these new additions to the current ordinance would be extremely helpful in raising their own food. Some of our members are currently keeping chickens in compliance with the current permit based ordinance. They have raised concerns on the costs involved in keeping their animals as well as the bureaucratic process involved. With the current ordinance its cost prohibitive to keep these animals; this is hard on the low income members of our community. With these new changes it will be much easier for families and individuals in the River North Art District to raise their own food.

Having the ability for families to raise these animals for an added food source is very important to us. The district also houses several gardens in the area that generate produce. We would like to make the process easier and less expensive to raise food producing animals.

There will be economic benefits created from raising chickens and goats as well as health and food safety benefits for our residents and visitors. We encourage you to support these changes.

Please feel free to give me a call if you have any questions at ______.

Sincerely,

Tracy Weil

Co-Founder & President of the River North Art District

Registered Neighborhood Organization

Meet the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council!

2011-01-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

(Thanks to Katherine Cornwell at the Department of Environmental Health for this information.)

When and why did Denver form a Sustainable Food Policy Council?
In October 2010, Mayor Hickenlooper formed Denver’s Sustainable Food Policy Council. The City submitted an application to the US Department of Agriculture through the Food and Nutrition Service’s Hunger-Free Communities program. The application criteria for this grant provided the impetus to form the Denver Sustainable Food Policy Council. Regardless of whether we receive funding through this program, we recognize that a need exists for a food policy council. The Council will act as an advisory entity to the City on matters of food policy and programs and will help raise awareness in the community about the issues and challenges with our food system. The SFPC is comprised of community leaders working across the food system from farmers to restaurant owners to food justice advocates (see below for a complete list of members).

Why should I be concerned about food?
Less than 1% of the food that is consumed in the metro-region is produced within Colorado. Annually, we do not capture the $5.7 billion in economic activity that a robust local food production sector could generate. We have a short growing season. Denver leaves $30-$40 million dollars in unclaimed food stamp benefits on the table (enough to support 2-3 grocery stores) each year, with that number growing annually. We are raising the first generation of children with a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to obesity and a lack of physical activity. These are just a few of the reasons why we need your help. It is time for Denver to actively grow our food system to be more resilient, economically viable and focused on nourishing all of our citizens.

What is the purpose of the Sustainable Food Policy Council?
The purpose of the Sustainable Food Policy Council is to:
1. Increase food production in the City & County of Denver.
2. Enhance the food security of all Denver residents.
3. Improve access to locally produced food.
4. Improve the economic viability of urban agriculture.
5. Recognize and enhance the role of the food and agriculture system in conserving and regenerating Denver’s
natural resources and environment.
6. Improve health for all Denver’s residents.
7. Build awareness about the community impacts of local, healthy food access and encourage participation in
Denver’s local food system.

When does the Sustainable Food Policy Council meet?
The Sustainable Food Policy Council meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

If I want to learn more about the Sustainable Food Policy Council, who should I contact?
To learn more about the Sustainable Food Policy Council, contact:
Katherine K. Cornwell, LEED-AP
Healthy Eating Active Living Program Manager
200 W. 14th Ave, Suite 210
Denver, CO 80204
katherine.cornwell@denvergov.org

Council Members:
• Michael Buchenau - Denver Urban Gardens, Executive Director
• Andy Grant - Grant Family Farms CSA, Farmer/Owner
• Eric Kornacki - Revision International, Executive Director
• Sundari Kraft - Heirloom Gardens/Sustainable Food Denver, Farmer/Owner (Co-Chair)
• John Leevers - Leevers Supermarkets, CEO
• Leo Lesh - Denver Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services, Executive Director of Enterprise Management
• Pete Marczyk - Marczyk Fine Foods, CEO
• Dana Miller - Transition Denver/Grow Local Colorado, Executive Director
• Aaron Miripol - Urban Land Conservancy Executive Director
• Chris Parr - Denver Housing Authority, Director of Real Estate Development
• Nigel Perrymond - Harvesting True Growth, Executive Director
• Ceyl Prinster - Colorado Enterprise Fund, President & CEO
• Teri Rippeto - Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar, Chef/Owner
• Lisa Rogers - Feed Denver, Executive Director
• Adam Schlegel – Snooze AM Eatery, Consiglieri
• Wade Shelton - Trust for Public Land, Project Manager
• Susan Shepherd - Queen City Urban Farms, Farmer/Owner
• Krista Roberts - Slow Food Denver, Executive Director
• Adam Tsai – University of Colorado Division of General Internal Medicine & Center for Human Nutrition, Physician (Co-Chair)
• Todd Stevenson - In Season Local Market, CEO
• Paul Tamburello – GrowHaus, Owner
• Lisa Walvoord - LiveWell Colorado, Vice President of Policy
• Alexis Weightman - Colorado Health Foundation, Senior Public Policy Officer

Ex-Officio Team:
• Tina Axelrad - Department of Community Planning & Development, Principal City Planner
• Devon Buckels – Department of Parks & Recreation, Senior City Planner
• Rachel Cleaves - Colorado Center for Community Development at UC-Denver, LiveWell Westwood Coordinator
• Katherine Cornwell - Department of Environmental Health, Healthy Eating Active Living Program Manager
• Michael Miera - Office of Economic Development, Community Development Specialist
• Susan Motika - Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program), State Food Policy Coordinator
• Michelle Pyle – Department of Community Planning & Development, Associate City Planner
• Shannon Spurlock – Denver Urban Gardens, Community Initiatives Coordinator
• Jennifer Weiczoreck - Denver Public Health, Public Health Planner

Waiting Patiently

2011-01-25T10:13:00.001-07:00

Milking time is a big deal in our back yard. It's the favorite time of day for all of the animals. The goats love it, because they get their special goat grain while they're on the milking stand. The chickens love it, because they get to run around in the back garden and scratch for worms and bugs.

But, here's the catch about milking time -- it requires patience. Particularly if you're the younger, non-dominant goat. Herd management rules state that the alpha goat should always be milked first. So, that's how we do it at our house, but it does mean that our youngest goat (Peaberry) has to be soooo patient to wait for her turn on the milking stand. It's not easy!

Dasha (our alpha goat) enjoying her snack while she's getting milked.

Peaberry watching from a distance, at first...

Coming around the front of the stand to check out the grain.

"Is it my turn yet?"

"Are you almost done?"

Dasha's milking is finished, and Peaberry wants her to stop dilly-dallying.

"My turn!!"

"Ahhh... yummy goat treats."

(Many thanks to Brian Kraft Photography for the photos.)

Draft Outline of New Food-Producing Animals Ordinance

2011-01-21T11:21:00.006-07:00

To read the actual draft ordinance language -- updated from the outline! -- click here.

If you'd like to read a version of the draft outline that is formatted nicely into a chart (the version created by Community Planning and Development) click on this link.

Updated on 1/27/11. Updated information is in red.

We are pleased to share with you the draft outline for a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance for Denver. It was prepared as a collaborative effort with Community Planning and Development (zoning), the Department of Environmental Health (animal control), and the City Attorney's office.

As part of the process for creating this draft, the team compiled detailed information on successful FPA ordinances in other major cities across the country, as well as our neighboring cities along the Front Range. The group also looked at an analysis of the impact of chicken ordinances on cities, as part of a study done through De Paul university.

The most important thing to convey about this draft is that it's just what the name implies. It's not in any way final. It's a proposal, which is subject to change. However, I think it's a great starting point for a new FPA ordinance for Denver.

This draft outline proposes the keeping of a limited number of FPAs (8 female fowl, 2 dwarf dairy goats) without requiring a permit. However, just as was done when Denver enacted its beekeeping ordinance, there are some guidelines for keeping the animals. Significant care was taken to be sure that the guidelines were reasonable, and would not prevent those with even a modest amount of yard from raising FPAs.

The guidelines exist for 3 purposes:
- To require the keeping of the animals in a way that supports their basic welfare
- To mitigate the potential impact of the animals on the surrounding neighborhood
- To (hopefully) address the fears of anyone who would oppose this ordinance. For example, some people oppose the idea of chickens in the city by saying "People will be keeping chickens on balconies! People will be keeping chickens in apartments!" etc. The guidelines exist to provide a common-sense answer to those kinds of concerns.

Please see below for the draft outline. The changes are divided into two sections. The first are the changes to Denver's Zoning Code, and the second are changes to the Animal Code. The elements in blue are proposed changes. The italic green writing are comments from Sustainable Food Denver on the draft outline.
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Food Producing Animals in the City of Denver
Proposed Ordinance Changes
Prepared by Community Planning and Development Department, Department of Environmental Health (Animal Control), and the City Attorney’s Office for Councilmember Chris Nevitt and the Mayor’s Sustainable Food Policy Council. This document is a draft for public review and discussion. Provisions outlined below remain subject to change as public review continues.

What?

Proposed ordinance changes to the Denver Zoning Code and the Animal Code (D.M.C., Chapter 8) to change the current allowances for Food Producing Animals (FPAs). Food Producing Animals include fowl (chickens, ducks) that produce eggs, and dwarf goats that produce milk.

Proposed Amendment to the Denver Zoning Code

Intent of Amendment:
Promote the keeping of Food Producing Animals and concurrent food access and food security benefits, where most appropriate, while assuring compatibility with existing land uses and minimization of any adverse impacts on neighboring properties or neighborhood character.

Purpose for Amendment:
Denver currently allows FPAs in all zone districts as an accessory (secondary) use to a primary residential use. Before Denver residents may keep FPAs, they must submit an application to the city for a Zoning Permit with Informational Notice (“ZPIN”). The process for granting a ZPIN includes providing written notice to registered neighborhood organizations, as well as posting a sign on the subject property informing the public that a permit has been requested, and inviting comment. In addition to providing the standard ZPIN notice just described, an applicant wanting to keep Food Producing Animals must also notify abutting homeowners and request letters of support. The Denver Zoning Administrator considers the ZPIN application and all public comments, and decides whether to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the permit application.

The proposed Denver Zoning Code amendment would:

1. Change the zoning review process for keeping Food Producing Animals by allowing a set number and type of FPAs without a ZPIN process, similarly to how Denver allows its residents to keep dogs, cats, and domestic honeybees.
a. Keeping FPAs would, as with domestic honeybees, be subject to specific standards to avoid any potential impacts on neighboring properties.
b. Just as with keeping of other animals, if a resident does not follow the required zoning standards (typically discovered after a complaint is made to the city), the City can issue a notice of violation and work with the resident to correct any problems. If problems are not timely corrected, the City may take more formal action to abate the problem through municipal court.

2. Allow FPAs to be kept not only on residential properties, but also on properties occupied by civic or institutional users, such as schools or churches, or occupied by restaurants.

Summary of Denver Zoning Code Amendment

Allowed or Not Allowed

Expressly list specific types of FPAs allowed as an accessory use:
1. Maximum of 8 chickens/ducks (no roosters) per zone lot.
2. Maximum 2 dwarf goats and any number of their offspring younger than 6 months, per zone lot. No intact male dwarf goat older than 6 weeks may be kept on the zone lot.

Male animals are prohibited primarily to minimize noise and odor impacts. “Dwarf goats” will be defined to allow only Nigerian Dwarf or African Pygmy species (commonly raised for their milk).

Maintain the current use allowance and ZPIN review process for any FPAs not listed above and applications to keep more than the maximum number specified. See DZC, Section 11.8.6.B.

Type of Use/Where Allowed

Allow keeping FPAs as accessory use to the following primary uses in all zones (note: no change to primary “animal husbandry” use allowed in certain Industrial and Open Space zone districts):
1. Residential Uses
2. Civic/Institutional Uses
This includes schools, churches, and nursing homes.
3. Urban Gardens and Greenhouse Uses
4. Restaurants (Eating & Drinking Establishments)

Zoning Review Process

For the specific FPA types listed above, and provided the maximum numbers are not exceeded:

1. No zoning permit required

2. No public notice required

This is a critical part of the proposed changes -- you can have up to 8 fowl and 2 dwarf goats without a permit!
For all other types of FPAs and/or more than the allowed maximum number, a Zoning Permit with Informational Notice (ZPIN) required

Use Limitations

1. No on-site slaughtering allowed.
2. Structures housing the FPAs must be located at least 10 feet from any structure containing a dwelling unit on abutting properties.
Any dwelling built within the last 55 years must have a 5 foot setback from the side property lines. So, that means that (at most) you would need to keep your FPA shelter 5 feet from your own property line, since the neighbor's house would also be set back 5 feet from their property line. However, some older dwellings are built right up to the side property line. In that situation, you could place your shelter further back on the lot, so that (if you were to draw a diagonal line) it would still be 10 feet from the neighbor's dwelling.
People can build their homes right up to the rear property line, so if the neighbor behind you has built their house in that way, your FPA shelter will need to stay 10 feet from that. However, this applies only to the FPA shelter itself. Your chickens and goats are free to wander in their fenced area, including up to the property line.
3. As accessory to a primary residential use, FPA use must be maintained within the rear 50% of the zone lot. Zoning Administrator may approve exceptions to this standard based on a site’s physical characteristics through an administrative process (no public hearing or public notice).

Zoning Enforcement

No Change. Neighborhood Inspection Services (NIS) will inspect after complaints; work with owner to correction violations; issue notice of violation orders; follow-up with more formal, court-ordered remedies as necessary.

Proposed Amendment to the Denver Animal Code

Intent:
Assure the long-term care, health and welfare of Food Producing Animals; prevent the spread of disease; prevent cruelty and neglect to animals; and protect adjacent properties from adverse impacts due to animal escape or to improper care or treatment of animals or their waste.

Purpose for Amendment:
Keeping of Food Producing Animals currently requires either fowl or livestock permits issued by the Denver Department of Environmental Health (DEH). The DEH permit process includes a pre-permit inspection and an annual inspection/renewal of the permit. In addition to permit requirements, Denver’s animal control laws (D.M.C., Chapter 8) include generally applicable standards that control an owner’s treatment or management of domestic animals, including prohibitions on herding or grazing, proper handling of animal waste, prohibition on damages to public or other private property, and prevention of cruelty and neglect to animals. These generally applicable standards would apply equally to FPAs, without any need for amendment, except as specifically listed below.

The proposed amendment to the Denver Animal Code (D.M.C., Chapter 8) would:
1. Change the DEH process for keeping Food Producing Animals by allowing a set number and type of FPAs without requiring a DEH livestock or fowl permit or annual permit renewal, similar to how Denver allows its residents to keep dogs, cats, honeybees, and other domestic animals. Keeping of different types of FPAs other than chicken, ducks or goats, or keeping more than the maximum allowed number of FPAs as set by the Denver Zoning Code, would still required a livestock or fowl permit.
   a. Keeping a limited number of FPAs would, as with dogs and cats, be subject to specific standards under the Animal Code to assure the long-term health and welfare of the animals and to protect neighboring properties from any potential adverse impacts due to the improper care or management of the animals.
   b. Just as with keeping of other animals, if an owner does not follow the required animal control standards (typically discovered after a complaint is made to DEH’s animal control division), DEH will work with the animal owner to correct the problem and, if necessary, issue a citation or summons. If problems are not timely corrected, the City may take more formal action to abate the problem through the Denver County court.

2. Expand the current animal licensing laws to require licensing for dwarf goats to facilitate return of the animal to its owner should the animal escape. [This provision is still under review by DEH/Animal Control.]
This may end up being deemed unnecessary by Animal Control.

3. Expand the current “leash law,” which now applies only to dogs, to also apply to goats, such that it would be unlawful for goats to run “off leash” when not contained on the owner’s private property.

4. Expand the current “barking dog nuisance” ordinance to include protection from FPA animal noise. As with dogs, the city may not issue a summons against a FPA owner unless there are at least two or more complaining witnesses from separate households.

Summary of Animal Code Amendment

Allowed or Not Allowed

No change.

Process (Permits, Licensing, Public Notice)

For the specific types and maximum number of FPAs allowed in the Denver Zoning Code:
1. No livestock or fowl permit is required
2. Animal license required for goats only [this provision is still being reviewed by DEH]

For all other FPA types and/or for more than the allowed number, a DEH livestock/fowl permit from DEH will still be required.

Limitations

Require the following:
1. Fowl: 4 sq. ft. of permeable land area per chicken or duck.
2. Goats: 130 sq. ft. of permeable land per goat, plus at least 15 sq. ft. of shelter space per goat
3. All FPAs:
   a. Adequate shelter/enclosure must be provided to protect the animals from the elements and to prevent wildlife or other predators from gaining entry.
   b. Adequate fencing shall be provided to contain the animals to prevent escape.
   c. Animal noise will be controlled similar to how barking dogs are controlled.
   d. FPAs will be subject to the Denver leash law.

Generally applicable standards controlling cruelty to animals, proper handling of waste, prevention of damage to public or private property, and control of other animal nuisances will continue to apply to FPAs as they do today.

Enforcement

No change.

---------------

So, there you have it! If you currently own FPAs, want to own FPAs, or just care about urban sustainable food systems, let us know what you think.

Radio Interview: Chickens & Goats on The Rob McNealy Program

2011-01-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

I've often marveled at how sustainable food issues can make for (seemingly) strange bedfellows. As a lifelong left-leaning progressive, I've formed many friendships and alliances with right-leaning libertarian folk, who believe just as strongly as I do about the importance of access to healthy, self-produced food.

Rob McNealy fits that description. He and I may not agree on everything, but we sure can share our thoughts in earnest about the value of backyard gardens, frugality, sustainability, and the ridiculousness of bureaucratic rules that prevent people from producing their own food.

Rob recently invited me to join him for a conversation on his radio program -- click here to listen to the interview.

Accepting Apprenticeship Applications for 2011 Season

2011-01-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

Heirloom Gardens is currently accepting applications for our 2011 program. Please read through the information below, then contact us via email to receive an application. Applications are due by January 27th.

The Heirloom Gardens apprenticeship program is designed to give community members training and hands-on experience with several different aspects of urban food production.

Some people join the apprenticeship program in order to participate in a sustainable local food system, and to gain knowledge for their personal use. Others hope to start their own NSA (Neighborhood Supported Agriculture) programs. The Heirloom Gardens apprenticeship program includes training in the following areas:

- Locating and contracting new garden spaces

- Garden design and crop rotation planning

- Garden creation

- Volunteer training and supervision

- Seed starting, repotting, and transplanting

- Organic soil amendment methods

- Harvesting

- NSA distribution

- Farmers' Market setup and operation

- Wintering over crops and garden spaces

- Urban chicken and goat care (optional)

Apprentices will be required to make the following time commitment:

- February -- as needed (not more than 5 hours)

- March and April -- 10 hours per month

- May through October -- 20 hours per month

From late May to early October, Apprentices will need to commit to a regular schedule that includes a weekly harvesting session, plus a 3 hour weekend shift at least twice a month. Additional work hours will be scheduled as needed. Note: Apprentices will have a "bank" of 20 hours that they can utilize May-Oct in case of sickness, vacation, etc. For details on the scheduling requirements, please contact Sundari at info@eatwhereUlive.com.

In addition to the time commitment, Apprentices should:

- Feel comfortable supervising and directing others

- Be well organized

- Interact well with the public (i.e. customers)

- Be able to comfortably lift 40 pounds

- Have reliable transportation

- Own a shovel, trowel, and bucket

- Be ok with getting dirty!

Apprentices do not need to have special gardening knowledge or expertise.

In exchange for their work, Apprentices will receive a free vegetable share during the 20-week distribution season. At the conclusion of the season, interested Apprentices will receive all Heirloom Gardens applications and forms (including garden application, yard use contract, CSA member agreement, and volunteer release of liability) for their use in starting their own NSA program! Apprentices will also be able to attend Heirloom Gardens classes for free (on a space-available basis).

To apply for the 2011 program, or to ask questions, contact Sundari at info@eatwhereUlive.com.

Chickens, Chickens Everywhere: The Differences Between the Ordinance and the Ballot Initiative

2011-01-11T12:08:00.003-07:00

Boy, there's a lot going on in the world of Denver backyard barnyards right now! Between talk of a Food-Producing Animals ordinance and a 6-chicken ballot initiative, it's no wonder that things get confusing. I've had several conversations with people who think that these two efforts are one in the same, or are taking qualities of one thing and mistakenly attributing it to the other. So, I thought it would be worthwhile to take a moment and explain, as clearly as possible, the differences between the ordinance and the ballot initiative. I think it is important for anyone who supports chickens, sustainable food systems, or urban Food-Producing Animals to understand the two options.

(Note: This post also contains information on what you can do to get involved -- look for the ***** near the end.)

Ordinance -- Sustainable Food Denver (my organization) has been working on a comprehensive ordinance to allow Food-Producing Animals without a permit. You can read more details about the specifics of the process here, but basically we are part of a working group that includes folks from City Council, Community Planning & Development, Animal Control, and the Department of Law that is creating a basic outline for the ordinance. The outline will go to the Sustainable Food Policy Council (SFPC) this month for consideration, at which point the various agencies that participate in the SFPC (like Denver Urban Gardens, Slow Food Denver, Transition Denver, Feed Denver, The GrowHaus, Sustainable Food Denver, and many more) will discuss the outline with their members and ask for feedback. Then, in February, the SFPC will incorporate that feedback and produce a recommendation for a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance.

It isn't possible to know what will end up being in the ordinance until the SFPC produces its recommendation in February. However, there is a good chance that it may give us the opportunity for a pretty progressive FPA policy -- for example, it may allow 8 female fowl (chickens or ducks) and 2 dwarf dairy goats -- without requiring a permit. In addition, an ordinance like this would allow us to include a few common-sense guidelines for the keeping of these animals, like a certain amount of permeable ground (i.e. dirt) required per animal. For example, the ordinance might require 10-16 square feet of permeable ground per fowl, and 130 square feet per dwarf goat. (This will work similar to the bee ordinance, where there is not a permit, but there are guidelines for placement of the hives.) The guidelines for chickens and goats will not be onerous, or exist to create barriers for people who want to raise these animals. They will be meant to support the keeping of healthy animals, and will be in line with other progressive FPA ordinances across the country.

Once the SFPC makes its recommendation, the proposed ordinance will go through various city and public processes, eventually making its way to City Council by (hopefully) April. At that point, with enough help (look for the *** below to see how you can help!) a new Food-Producing Animals ordinance will get passed by the City Council. We are well on our way to getting enough votes to pass an ordinance like this, and there is considerable support for it in the community, on the Sustainable Food Policy Council, within city agencies, and within City Council. I really believe that we can pass it -- otherwise I wouldn't be working so hard on it!

Ballot Initiative -- As we mentioned, there is also a potential ballot initiative. This ballot initiative would allow for the keeping of 6 female chickens (no roosters) without a permit. There is no language in the ballot initiative regarding how the animals are to be kept (for example, there's no minimum land requirement), and the ballot initiative does not allow for ducks or dwarf goats. The ballot initiative is the thing that requires the gathering of signatures -- if you've seen a petition to allow chickens in the city, that is for the ballot initiative.

The first thing you may notice is that the possible FPA ordinance (8 fowl, 2 goats) is far more comprehensive than the proposed ballot initiative (6 hens). Another thing to understand is that a ballot initiative is like "doubling down" in a poker game. It could pass, but it's risky. If we don't pass our FPA ordinance in April, we can always then petition for a ballot initiative afterward (for the November ballot). However, if we push a ballot initiative and it gets voted down by the public, then City Council will not consider FPA issues for at least another 2 years.

And here's where it gets tricky... if the chicken ballot initiative gathers enough signatures, then it will be certified for the ballot and after March 3rd nobody (including the person who wrote it) has the power to pull it off the ballot. This means that we could potentially be in a situation where we DO pass our comprehensive FPA ordinance in April, but then if the public votes for the 6-chicken initiative in May, the initiative will actually UNDO parts of what we passed in April. In other words, we'd go from 8-12 chickens down to 6 chickens. I know it's confusing, but that's part of the conundrum we're in.

My personal wish is that we would wait on the ballot initiative, and give this comprehensive FPA ordinance a chance to pass City Council. If it doesn't pass the City Council vote, I promise you that I will be the first person to grab a clipboard and stand in front of the supermarket collecting signatures for a ballot initiative. If we proceed with our efforts in a logical order (ordinance first, then ballot initiative if we have to) we stand a good chance of getting what we want... but if we do things out of order then they could really get messed up.

*****How You Can Help*****

The information regarding helping with the ballot initiative (if you choose to do so) can be found here. If you'd like to help us pass the comprehensive FPA ordinance (8 fowl, 2 dwarf goats) Sustainable Food Denver is organizing people into council district "Action Teams," so that I can contact you at appropriate times and encourage to lobby your City Councilperson to support our FPA ordinance.

Please email me at sustainablefooddenver@gmail.com and let me know what council district you live in. If you're not sure, just send me your cross-streets and I'll look it up for you. We will be rallying the Action Teams to talk with their councilmembers and neighbors, and we'll be sure to provide you with all the information you need to advocate for this issue.

*************************

Thank you for your willingness to help us develop a more sustainable food system in Denver. If you have any concerns, or if there's something you'd like to see included in a new FPA ordinance, let me know and I'll pass the information along.

Kenny Be: The Denver County Fair

2011-01-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

You know you've "made it" in Denver when you have the honor of being drawn by Kenny Be for Westword. And, even better, if you're featured in the Westword Predictions of 2011!

The sure-to-be-fantastic Denver County Fair received this prediction from Westword: "The success of the first-ever Denver County Fair in July inspires apartment, condo and loft dwellers across the city to start their own swing-out, roof-top and window-box urban farms." Absolutely, Westword! (but where are the chickens and goats?)

We are thrilled at the prospect of participating in the Denver County Fair. Both Heirloom Gardens and Sustainable Food Denver will be taking part, alongside many other wonderful Denver sustainability organizations. Mark you calendar for July 28th-31st at the National Western Complex -- we hope to see you there!

Click h ere to read more about the Denver County Fair, and click here to follow them on Facebook.

The Vilified Ag-Land Tax Break, and Throwing the Baby Out with the Bathwater

2011-01-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

There has been a fair amount of media coverage in Denver recently about Colorado's lenient agricultural-land tax breaks. The articles focus on how this policy is being abused (generally by the super-rich) and, of course, the overall message is pretty harsh. For example, take a moment and read today's article in the Denver Post about tremendous property tax savings in the posh Cherry Hills Village area.

To be sure, it's unfair to grant millionaires tens of thousands of dollars in tax breaks for "agricultural" activities that appear to be purely window-dressing. However, in the justifiable uproar over the abuses, we risk losing a valuable opportunity for urban sustainability. In an effort to prevent the manipulation that is currently happening, some legislators want to impose a minimum land size (like 20 acres) in order to qualify for the ag-land designation.

The Post article requested feedback from readers, and I sent them this letter:

I understand that the abuses of the ag-land designation by the super-rich are troublesome. However, as we look at reforming the law, I will be advocating for tighter guidelines around how the land is truly being used -- NOT a minimum space requirement. Urban agriculture is growing rapidly in Denver, and there are many reasons to believe that more food production (both plant- and animal-based) within cities is one of the keys to a sustainable and healthy future for urban residents.

Around the world, more people now live in cities than live in rural areas. We can no longer afford to think of food production as something that happens "out there" -- for example, on spaces that are at least 20 acres. We need to start producing more of what we eat right where we live, and families (or neighborhood groups working together) can produce a surprising amount of vegetables, fruit, milk, eggs, grains, and/or meat on a small urban space.

Right now most of the regulations in urban areas discourage sustainable food production in favor of outdated wastefulness (i.e. trying to maintain a a perfect lawn in an arid climate). I believe that we should be incentivizing people to use their resources -- like water and land -- for growing or raising food, and tax law is one way to do that. The public revenues lost by giving tax breaks to true agricultural ventures, no matter the size of the land, will be more than made up for through the environmental, food safety, and public health savings that a sustainable food system would generate.

I would ask that our legislators' time be spent coming up with ways to tighten the use requirements for this designation. Grazing a couple of llamas twice a year is a questionable qualification for the tax break. However, don't throw the baby out with the bath water -- let's support our urban agriculture pioneers in building the food systems of the future.

Sincerely,

Sundari Kraft

What do you think? Can we leverage ag-land designations to actually promote urban agriculture, or is this tax break too often abused to be allowed to continue? Should urban farmers even have the option of receiving tax savings for using city land for food production? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and -- even better -- send them to The Denver Post at TIPS@denverpost.com

Caring for Backyard Chickens & Goats in Cold Weather

2011-01-01T23:38:00.003-07:00

After weeks of mild weather, we've experienced a bit of a cold snap. This morning I realized that you really know it's cold outside when there's steam rising out of the pail after you've finished milking!

Inquiries about winter care are some of the most frequently asked questions during my backyard chicken and goat classes, as future animal owners consider the challenges of raising animals that have to live outside 24/7 -- even during the harshest conditions.

The good news is that livestock (including the city kind!) are pretty tough critters, and are built to withstand the cold. The goats grow a thick winter coat, and the chickens puff up their feathers and hunker down. Backyard animal care isn't too difficult during the winter, but when temperatures start to fall there are a few things you can do to help keep your animals healthy.

Adventurous chicken tracks

Shelter: First and foremost, make sure your animals have a place to spend their day where they can stay dry and out of the wind. They may choose to wade out into the snow from time to time (surprisingly, the chickens are much more likely to venture out when it's snowing than the goats) but it's very important that they have access to dry bedding. In fact, you might want to give them a little extra bedding, just so they can burrow in when it gets really cold.

Water: As every animal owner knows, it's important to never let your critters go without water. And unfortunately, frozen water is as good as no water. Luckily, there are many different ways to keep your water from freezing. You can purchase a heated base for your water dispenser, or buy a heater that floats in the water bucket. If you spend most of the day at home, you can simply boil a teakettle of water from time to time, and use it to melt the ice that's formed in the water bucket.

My friend Jamie has a special trick she likes to use for her chickens and goats. She has a small, insulated cooler (the kind you'd fill with ice and soda cans before a picnic). She makes her animals their special "tea" by heating water on the stove, then pouring it into the open cooler. The insulation keeps the water warm, and the animals absolutely love to drink from it on cold days.

Food: Cold weather is no time to skimp on food. Goats, especially, use the process of ruminating their hay to warm their bodies. Give a little extra food to both your chickens and goats, so they can eat everything they need to keep their bodies nice and toasty.

Supplemental Heat: Many animal owners (though not all) use some form of supplemental heat during especially cold nights. The mechanism for delivering heat depends a lot on your shelter. A small chicken coop just needs a 60-watt light bulb, whereas a larger coop or shed might need a heat lamp. In the case of goats, you don't want to fully close them in because any ammonia fumes (from the bedding) will damage their lungs, so hanging a tarp to create a small insulated area can be helpful. Of course, be sure that any heat source is very well secured, and it's not a bad idea to keep a smoke detector in the area.

Vaseline: Chickens keep most of their body warm with their feathers, but their tender combs and wattles are susceptible to frostbite. Even with supplemental heat, you may find that you need to coat the comb and/or wattle of certain chickens with vaseline to protect from frostbite. In my flock, I've discovered that the only chicken at risk is my White Leghorn, with her extra-large comb. Vaseline-ing the head of a chicken is exactly as difficult as it sounds, but it's worth it because frostbite is very painful and can lead to infections.

Attention: While your animals don't need a constant babysitter during cold weather (though they always like the company), making an extra trip or two out to the barnyard to check on things is advisable. It's nice to be able to spot a burned-out heating lamp, or a chicken that stumbled into the water dish and now has damp feathers, before the cold weather turns the situation into an emergency. 99.9% of the time things will be just fine when you pop outside to check, but the peace of mind you get is worth the effort.

While cold snaps may add a few minutes to your daily animal care routine, you'll soon find that winter weather is nothing to fear. Happy backyard-animal-raising!

Gardening, Chicken & Goat Classes on the Schedule!

2010-12-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

We now have classes for early 2011 on our calendar! Whether you're hoping to grow some veggies for your family in your back (or front) yard, or want to raise a few chickens or dwarf dairy goats in the city, we have the class for you. All of our classes are small, with informative handouts (including resource lists) and lots of time for questions. The animal classes are hands-on, and the goat class even includes a milking demonstration!

You can click on each individual class date for more information or to register.

Animal Care

Backyard Chicken Keeping

Hands-onintroduction, including: choosing the perfect chickens, chick care, housing andfencing, feeding, common chicken challenges, all about the eggs, financialconsiderations, livestock permitting process

Sunday,January 23rd at 2:00

Sunday,February 13th at 9:00

Saturday,March 19th at 9:00

Saturday,April 9th at 2:00

Cost = $35 (includes instructional handouts)

Reviews for Backyard Chicken Keeping:

"What a great class! We learned so much and feel so much moreconfident and motivated about entering the world of chicken keeping. Thanks somuch for an interesting and informative class." --Jennifer P.

"This class was a wonderful introduction to backyardchickens. I learned so much, and seeing the chickens (and getting to hold one)was great. I appreciated the "resource list" provided at the end, toshow me where to go next (books, feed stores, web sites, in person, etc.) formore information. I highly recommend this class to anyone thinking aboutgetting chickens." --Jenny L.

Backyard Goat Keeping

Hands-onintroduction, including: choosing the perfect goats, housing and fencing,feeding, medical care, common goat challenges, all about the milk & milkingdemonstration, financial considerations, livestock permitting process

Saturday,March 19th at 2:00

Sunday,April 24th at 2:00

Cost = $35 (includes instructional handouts)

Reviews for Backyard Goat Keeping:

"I really enjoyed the class. I own 4 full size goats but knewnothing about the dwarf varieties. Came home with more knowledge than I went inwith. Definitely worth my while." --Jacinda G.

Gardening

Getting the Most Out of Your Home Garden

Maximizingthe production of your garden space, including: creating a master plan, soilpreparation, seed starting, companion planting, succession planting, spacing,organic pest and disease management, composting basics

Saturday,January 22nd at 2:00

Sunday,February 20th at 2:00

Sunday,March 20th at 9:00

Wednesday,March 23rd at 6:00

Wednesday,April 6th at 6:00

Saturday,April 9th at 9:00

Cost = $35 (includes instructional handouts and planning chart)

Reviews for Getting the Most Out of Your Home Garden:

"I've been gardening for many years, but got a lot of helpfulinformation out of the class. Sundari is knowledgeable and very easy to listento and understand. I would recommend the class." --Joni E.

"Informative and very practical. Makes succession plantingseem much less daunting." --Camille H.

"As someone who is new to gardening, I feel more comfortablein planning my garden after this class. I got the basic information needed toget started and a list of resources for topics I may want to explore in depth.It was also helpful to see the backyard garden to get an idea of how big I wantto start. There were great planting tips as well." --April L.

If you're interested in attending a full-day workshop onNeighborhood Supported Agriculture, please email info@eatwhereUlive.com for additional information.