Monday, April 9, 2012

Poultry Farming in Williams Lake?

Last Friday - the Williams Lake Tribune ran a story on the local Potato House Society (Society) asking for "Letters of Support" for its' grant applications - see the full story here

In the meantime - according to the Tribune article, the Society has the following work plan for 2012:

a) community garden raised beds
b) spring fruit tree pruning workshop
c) urban poultry petition to City of Williams Lake...

Now - Urban Poultry Farming is not a new subject for municipalities.  Vancouver City Council allowed it in the last term (2008-2011) in their municipal boundaries.  Quesnel Council has asked its' Staff to look into it after receiving a request from a Quesnel resident

In the meantime - the idea is worth exploring here in Williams Lake although I think that allowing it (poultry farming) City-wide would be fraught with public complaints (smell, etc) however if it was restricted to certain areas of the City (ie: the 2 already established Community Gardens or even taking surplus park land that the City has identified throughout the City) and establish a local communal garden(s) with fruits, vegetables & poultry farming and put aside a budget of $20,000 over a 2-3 year period for fencing, etc to get the capital into place.  If this was done - I suspect very few public complaints would be lodged with the City.  In fact - this would be another step forward in supporting "local food security" and complying with the terms of the City's new OCP/ICSP (Official Community Plan/Integrated Community Sustainability Plan)

SBF

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I would be more in support of allowing households to have a hen or 2. More money for community gardens? When is the last time you saw anyone at the community garden at the old cariboo lodge? No one can even be bothered to plant seeds and water. The potato house group could probaly swing it at the moment but as for having hens at other community gardens, we would have a coup of hens that freeze in the winter because no one can bother to check the heat lamps. If we were to allow homeowners to have them at least the majority will look after them because they want to and because they have a vested interest.