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Across the Fence:  I May Have Cooked My Own Goose  |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
 Posted - May 12 2008 : 1:11:56 PM
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Jonni- You have inspired me to try to make a change here in Henry Co., where I live. I have e-mailed our County Commissioner, and I hope that he doesn't come look at my back yard anytime soon!!lol
Here is the letter I sent. Rereading it, I think I sound like a nut, but oh well, a nut I'll be with chickens in my backyard! hee hee
Here it is:
Dear Mr. Basler,
In light of the present economic state of the country, and the problems that we have seen concerning the safety of our food supplies, I would like to ask your opinion on how you feel you can better assist your constituents attempts to become self- reliant,
specifically, to maintain a small flock (under 10) of backyard chickens to provide for the family's needs for eggs (and if for eggs only, eliminating the necessity for a rooster), and possibly meat.
I believe that currently the county ordinances do not provide for homeowners to do so. But I can tell you that a small flock of chickens, well-provided for and maintained are less noisy and less of a threat than the German Shepherd that is penned up in my neighbor's back yard for instance, who lunges for the fence and engages in a barking session that sends chills up your spine, when you walk out my back door.
How can we change this ordinance to allow for such?
I believe that an allowance for families to do everything that they can to provide for themselves in certain areas, such as having chickens and encouraging them to grow large gardens, would allow them to be able to more afford consumeables such as gasoline, electricity and natural gas, that cannot be generated from a small plot of land.
It is how things used to be before we became a consumer nation, relying upon others to care and provide for us, where our only effort is to open our wallets and swipe a credit card.
I do not believe that the economy is going to improve overnight, or even in a few years. I do believe that each of us needs to become less-reliant upon others and more reliant upon ourselves, if we can physically do so.
I can and I will. And with your assistance, I can make this small plot of Henry County upon which I live a vibrant, productive piece of earth, and others would be able to do the same.
With your assistance, we can make Henry County a pioneer in self-reliance and preparedness, and give her residents the best of opportunities to become such themselves.
I would appreciate your serious investigation into this matter, and I thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Karin K. Smith
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 1:16:55 PM
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Bravo, Karin!!! Very well written, and to the point. I love this line, "I can and I will."
I will await the telephone call from our ordinance man, at which time he will say, "um no, no livestock" and I will send a letter very similar!!! We should start a letter writing campaign if this works!!!!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 1:37:38 PM
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Let us know the reply!! I love it that us farmgirls are taking the "bull by the horns" (the chicken by the feet?) and going for what we need!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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queenofdreamsz4u
True Blue Farmgirl
3845 Posts
Stephanie Suzanne
Smoky Mountains Tennessee
USA
3845 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 2:01:05 PM
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Not long before I left Mobile Cty, Alabama (Mobile) the city council agreed for homeowners within city limits to have up to 25 hens (no roosters) to keep down the noise pollution. Lots of folks loved the change and went to buy chickens immediately.
I hope the wrong person doesn't read your letter and shows up at your house and tells you to remove the chickens since there's not an ordinance for it (yet)  Hoping for a good outcome!!
Hugs...
Stephanie
www.queenofdreamsz.blogspot.com
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.blogspot.com
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com |
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venuscarroll
Farmgirl in Training
18 Posts
Jessica
Portland
Oregon
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 2:23:33 PM
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That is a wonderful letter- very well written and well said!
Farmgirl Sisterhood #174
Being in the city I always think, "Oh to be in the country." |
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ruralfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
4309 Posts
Rene'
Prosser
WA
USA
4309 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 4:57:08 PM
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WOW Karin!
Very well written and such conviction.. You inspire me!
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
" Plant goodness, harvest the fruit of loyalty, plow the new ground of knowledge. Hosea 10:12 |
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Maryjane Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
2195 Posts
Maryjane
CA
USA
2195 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2008 : 5:19:39 PM
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Karin, You go girl! Well said! Good luck with this important issue and we wouldn't want you to loose those chickens! They would miss their pretty chicken coop! xo
Hugs, Maryjane Lee
Farmgirl Sister #44
http://thebeehivecottage.blogspot.com
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
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sewgirlie
True Blue Farmgirl
1894 Posts
Sheryl-lyn
Calverton
NY
USA
1894 Posts |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
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Meg
Moderator/Farmgirl True
974 Posts
Meg
Idaho
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 07:23:24 AM
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Yay, Karin! Well said. I love how you refer to Henry County as a female!!
MaryJane's daughter,
Meg
megan@maryjanesfarm.org |
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miss wilma
True Blue Farmgirl
3410 Posts
Wilma
Knob Lick
Ky
USA
3410 Posts |
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Hideaway Farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1553 Posts
Jo
Virginia
USA
1553 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2008 : 12:06:50 PM
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Great letter, Karin! And I love Alee's comment about your taking "the bull by the horns" and "chicken by the feet"
... thanks for posting this!
Jo
"Wish I had time to work with herbs all day!" |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2008 : 12:15:00 PM
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I knew the farmgirls would understand what I was trying to convey. Apparently, our county commissioner did not, as I have yet to hear from him. Not even a "Thank you for writing." note. Hmmmm. I'm glad I did not vote for him. :) I'm going to wait another week, and then try again. My next step is to go to a town meeting and see what heappens when I bring the subject up there. And I will be bringing back-up, believe me. lol
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com
www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2008 : 12:18:57 PM
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Go Karin go! You know, there are some merit badges that deal with getting involved in things in your local government!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2008 : 1:33:59 PM
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Karin--
I've been trying to find a sortof "model" for a petition, and I ran across this very one from my favorite Canadian Gardner, Gayla from You Grow Girl. She's awesome, and I thought this was very well informed and still in "layman's terms" for folks who could really care less where their food comes from. You should check out her site...she rocks!
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/torontochickens/
http://yougrowgirl.com/
Maybe this will help you, also, eventually!
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"...
NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian.
http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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sugarplum
True Blue Farmgirl
131 Posts
RoseMarie
MS
USA
131 Posts |
Posted - May 19 2008 : 5:15:22 PM
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Oh Karin I've thought of doing the same thing. We have a neighbor who has 4 rottweilers, what is a few chickins gonna hurt. I also want some pigmy goats, but I'll have to try one thing at a time. We have plenty of land. Please let me know how it goes.
Hugs, RoseMarie
www.sugarplumcottage.blogspot.com
www.sugarplumcottage.etsy.com
"I try to balance my life, barefoot and with a cookie in both hands" |
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Across the Fence: I May Have Cooked My Own Goose |
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I May Have Cooked My Own Goose
