Scribe: Brian Martin Burkholder Local Foods – Backyard Chickens Convener: Brian Martin Burkholder Location: Earth & Tea Cafe Time: 11:00 a.m.
Attendees: Brian Martin Burkholder, Ted Butchart, Ellen Butchart, Andrea Gram, Justin Van Kleek, Pelham Beck, Lara Sokoloff, Harvey Yoder, Pam Yates, Troy Lucas, Kim McGoff, Beth Schermerhorn, Noel Levan
Local Food Initiatives
Healthy Food Choices on a Small Budget
Backyard Food Sources: Backyard Chickens in the City
Local Food Initiatives
Healthy Food Choices on a Small Budget
Several people expressed their interest in these themes/issues:
-Growing our own food on 5,000 square feet – self sustaining, reducing carbon footprint
-Social justice – being inclusive with low income citizens as consumers
-Green Right – greening the entire market (Andrea Gram)
-Transition toward a local food economy such that it is environmentally sustainable
-We eat way too much meat
-Backyard gardens can increase a sense of community
-What about going to the school systems to educate teachers and students about sustainable food practices? (It is happening – example – Friendly City Food Co-op recently showed the movie Two Angry Moms followed by discussion with food service directors from area schools and universities. They are also meeting with folks at Keister Elementary about food sources
-Perhaps there could be a demonstration plot at every school – moving from something mowed to something hoed. Children and families are missing our on some basic “low-tech” growing and sustainability skills
-At the Politics of Food Conference in Raleigh, NC, a teacher developed a back-to-earth project developing a community garden and using it to teach basic skills and academic subjects such as using seeds in mathematics
-How about selling seed packets instead of cookie dough for a PTA fundraiser
-New Community Project is working with projects across the city
-Not all food can be grown locally (ie. coffee beans) but the Lucas Coffee Co. is working to create efforts that support the local producers around the world in their own context
-Growing your own food is less expensive in the long run. Many people don’t know how to grow their own food or raise chickens for eggs
-Everyone DOES need to grow at least some of their own food
-The aspect of neighbor helping neighbor can’t be over emphasized – sharing seeds and things such as irrigation
-It’s better to have organic gardens in our backyards rather than having too much lawn. Using compost (leaves, etc.) rather than chemical fertilizer is important. If there are worms under the leaves or a few inches down in the soil, it’s a sign of a healthy lawn and garden. The worms also help to aerate the soil
-Rain barrels are an important resource as well
Backyard Food Sources: Backyard Chickens in the City
-Overview of the local initiative for keeping small flocks in backyards within city limits
-Backyard chickens can contribute to a sense of community – especially if they are shared between yards/neighbors
-Concern about the care given to chickens kept in backyards
-See SeattleTilth.org for approaches to chicken coop tours. Etc. in Seattle, WA
-“It’s strange that large industry could/would have the power to keep me from having my 2 chickens in my backyard.”
-Perhaps we can’t “sell” backyard chickens as being
-Backyard chickens create a way to connect with your food
-Chickens can also reduce insect pests around the garden
-Chicken owners can tithe some eggs to Our Community Place or a food pantry to help contribute to the needs of people with fewer resources
-The City Chicken Information & Discussion Event to be held Tuesday, June 2 from 7-8 p.m. at the downtown Massanutten Regional Library was announced.
NOTE: There was a second gathering of people interested in or concerned about the Harrisonburg Backyard Chicken Project held at Earth & Tea Café at 1:30 p.m. Notes from this gathering were taken by Nicholas Stoddard.
