Somerville Urban Ag

95 years later, we want you to keep chickens, too. We want you to keep chickens so badly that we have passed the first Urban Agriculture Ordinance in the Northeast.  AND, as if that is not enough, we even made a video for you to watch when you come get your permit.

Have a look:
“C” is for Chicken: Chicken Keeping in Somerville, MA

You can find all the rules and helpful tips for all urban ag practices in the easy-to-understand document: The ABC’s of Urban Agriculture in Somerville

Thank you to SomervilleArchives for the fantastic photo!

CHICKENS AND COMPOSTERS AND A SEED SWAP, OH MY!
Saturday, March 30th 9:30am until 2:00pm at the Somerville Winters Farmers Market.  191 Highland Ave, that really cool fortress-looking building, the Armory, in Somerville!

Are you planning a huge harvest from raised beds or a container herb garden in the windowsill? Either way, this day is for you. Join us at the market for activities and info about gardening in Somerville.Celebrate Spring, plan your garden, learn about composting, chickens and seeds! Happenings include:

• Seed Swap (part 2!) From the Somerville Community Growing Center!
• Chickens! Visit with Khrysti of Yardbirds Backyard Chickens and her Somerville “girls” and learn all about chickens in Somerville. She will arrive with her feathered ladies around 10:30 or so.
• Earth Machine compost bins available for purchase from the City of Somerville ($40 check or money order to “The City of Somerville”). Bike delivery available (thank you Andrew of Compost This!)
• Learn all about Urban Ag in Somerville! What are the opportunities, rules, and regs for chickens, bees, and urban farming?
• Groundwork Somerville demonstrating how to make a worm composting bin, with worms for sale!
• Green City Growers at market. Learn how they can help you make the most of your space for gardening!

Bring the kids, there will be planting activities. And buy fresh, local produce,too.  Can it get any better?

iluvyoulike:

I love you like Gonzo loves chickens

Happy Valentines Day urban farmers.

Mayor Joe Curtatone with local business owner, Khrysti Smyth, the Chickeness of Somerville and her happy hen.

Can urban agriculture = business?  The Chickeness of Somerville is a good example of how that can work.  Read about it in The Somerville Beat.

As if passing the first Urban Ag Ordinance in Massachusetts wasn’t enough, we have also broken it down for you here in the SOMERVILLE’S ABC’S OF URBAN AGRICULTURE GUIDE. This has the forms you need, some best practices and connections to local resources. (oh, we’ve got local resources…it’s happening here in the ‘Ville.)

On Thursday, May 31st, City Hall hosted Somerville resident Khrysti Smyth, also known as the Chickeness.  Khrysti talked to interested staff about urban chicken keeping and let people meet her “ambassador” chickens, Fleur and Lucifer. Her talk is part of a larger educational series aimed at sharing local knowledge about urban agriculture in the city.  Khrysti teaches her Urban Poultry 101 class throughout the metro Boston region.  For more hen info, check out her blog (linked above).