Backyard chicken envy–no, urban agriculture envy
I’ve been dreaming about having my own backyard chickens for a long time, but my dreams became full fledged jealousy on Friday. I visited my friend’s house and, from her kitchen window, watched her hens peck about their chicken run. On her fridge was a big basket of eggs. I yearn for two, maybe three, hens of my own to peck about my yard and feed me eggs.
But there are many reasons why I can’t have chickens. The backyard is too small and we park our car in it too. My husband and I agree on most things but when it comes to animals, particularly livestock, our opinions differ. So even if Toronto were to change its bylaw and we were to move, I still think chickens would be a stretch for our family–so here’s to my sister’s husband coming around so I can keep a hen in her yard.
I’ve also started to read Novella Carpenter’s Farm City which has me yearning to grow more of my own food. Problem is, our yard is mostly shaded and the south-facing roof would need to be reinforced if I wanted to turn it into a food producing one. I am looking at my neighbour’s sunny lawn with envy… looks like this urban ag thing may be yet another cause of real estate lust here in the T-Dot.
Bernard said:
I really do not think your yard is too small, it would have to be tiny to not have space for chickens.
For 2-3 hens, you only need a space of about 6×6 feet for them to have a large enough space to be more than happy. You can also go narrower, say 9×4.
My wife is not a fan of chickens, but as along as she does not have to deal with them, she is ok with them being here. She has learned to like them for the quality of the eggs she gets to work with, fresh eggs means she can whip stiff peaks in egg whites by hand.
Carrie said:
I feel your pain! We too have a small back yard, but I think I’m going to attempt some raised planters this year. Although my real dream would be to have an outdoor wood fired pizza/bread oven. Sigh. Don’t think the neighbours would approve.
Jenna said:
Hello, I stumbled across your blog from the David Suzuki Book Club on facebook and I am absolutely thrilled to have found it. As a young adult just starting to realize the impacts that the food industry is having on the Earth and all the things that I can partake in to do my part I am quite happy to finally have found some guidance. I have looked through a few of your posts and I am just so happy to have found a place where I can come and read about the things that I truly care about.
Thank you so much.
Zibi said:
I want a garden so badly these days. If we had a backyard, I would tuck a beehive or two behind some hedges too!
Have you ever considered growing veggies hydroponically using an AeroGarden-type contraption? We considered it but it seems a little weird… you have to buy their seeds and nutrient tablets, it doesn’t sound very natural to me.
As for the fresh eggs, the ones from St. Lawrence market are really good don’t you think?
kate said:
How forgiving are your neighbours? It wasn’t so long ago (maybe 2 years) that I was awoken one morning in the Kristie Bloor area by a Rooster. Left me a little confused as to where I was that morn, but I was assured by my friend that her neighbourhood was full of live stock city or not!