A return to Victory Gardens In support of Urban Farms

With the cost of food and the transportation costs of foodstuffs constantly rising and the likelihood of a deepening, world wide recession, it is time for the City of Lakewood to reconsider its prohibition on the keeping small livestock, such as rabbits and chickens.  I have lived in Lakewood for 26 years, and I do not make this suggestion lightly.  We are entering a time of great economic crisis, not unlike the World Wars and the Great Depression, when citizens turned their yards into gardens, and those living on functioning family farms and the wealthy were the only ones who could depend on a constant supply of fresh food.

I stopped vegetable gardening a few years ago because of declining mobility, but I have decided to put in raised vegetable beds this year to offset some of the increasing food costs.  What I would like to be able to include in my efforts to become more self sufficient, is a source of animal protein to help replace the meat and eggs that are rising in cost every day.  Keeping a few chickens would have a limited impact on the environment, and the care of small livestock is a good responsibility building tool for families with children. 

Any change in the code could be temporary, with a requirement for renewal every few years, or when the economy turns around. The flocks could be licensed, which would add a little coin to the city coffers to offset any enforcement costs and the licenses would be time-sensitive, with the provision that any animals must be removed should the city choose not to renew the license, or upon the lapse of the code change. The city could include a weight limit and a limit on flock size to prevent abuses and the keeping of larger livestock.

I am not suggesting that we begin grazing sheep on the front lawn of City Hall, as they did at the White House during WWI, but in order to help alleviate hunger, which is a growing problem in Lakewood, this step is worth consideration.

Diane R. Jones
Lakewood Homeowner