New York Produce Show and Conference 2012

 THE NATIONAL PRODUCE SHOW & CONFERENCE, NYC DECEMBER 4-6 2012

http://www.nyproduceshow.com/about.html

For the second year in a row I had the great honor of taking four Johnson & Wales University, Culinary Foodservice Management Students with me to NYC for the National Produce Show & Conference.

Prior to the event opening up to the public the students and I got a chance to forage from all of the fresh produce on the trade show floor.  This to many may seem to be a chefs dream, but as soon as you start foraging you don't know where to begin.  Do I want unique and new to the market produce such as the finger limes, or produce that have yet to hit the market such as the micro greens that taste like granny smith apple, or the one that taste like cheese?  Do I want to use product that I have never seen before or really have never cooked with? Do I want to use a product my students coined "culinary pop-rocks"? These Herb Crystals & Flower Crystals from  Fresh Origins were my personal favorite of the show.

Herb Crystals™ and Flower Crystals™ are an innovative original concept from Fresh Origins!  With dazzling, all-natural colors, an exciting crunch and incredible flavors of fresh flowers and herbs, these are spectacular new flavor ingredients.  We are developing a full spectrum of flavors and colors to be introduced over the coming months.  

Currently they have four flavors Mint, Basil, Fennel and Rose.  I added these to several of the dishes we prepared, they were great for both a pop of flavor and for a garnish.

The students had the great opportunity to assist Chef Ben Pollinger

 and Chef Michael Giletto with their chef demonstrations: 

Executive Chef Ben Pollinger from New York City's Oceana 

Chef Michael C. Giletto, Executive Chef for Bayonne Golf Club

"The students from JW helped me with my demos , they all performed fantastic !"

Chef Stuchel and his team

Until I blog again:  Eat Well, Live Life and Be Safe

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4612378101199.179684.1044914656&type=1&l=342759b6c1

http://www.freshorigins.com

The urban chicken roost movement hits Rhode Island - This Just In

Providence Phoenix article where I am quoted in about the Urban Chicken Movement
The urban chicken roost movement hits Rhode Island - This Just In

The urban chicken roost movement hits Rhode Island

Good Eggs

By JOHN LARRABEE  |  November 21, 2012

Ernest and Linda Lambert, retirees living in a shaded suburban cul-de-sac just off Woonsocket's Mendon Road, have an unusual backyard project.

There, in a series of plywood coop houses, sit more than three dozen chickens — Rhode Island Reds, Guinea Hens, and other pedestrian breeds. And some that are more exotic, like Araucana, known for their turquoise eggs, and Silkies, covered with fluffy plumage to the tips of their toes.

A wire fence surrounds the hen house, but during the day the gate is open and the birds run about the yard. They've scratched small pits into the earth where they sit and rub their feathers in the dust, a behavior said to ward off mites. They also pursue any squirrel that tries to mooch some feed.

Linda collects 10 or 12 eggs a day. "They taste better than the ones you get in a supermarket," she says. "Buy them in a store, and you have no idea how old they are."

As it turns out, breakfast eggs that fresh can be a rarity, in Rhode Island and elsewhere. The Lamberts' flock is tolerated in Woonsocket only because their coop is older than a zoning ordinance that bans farm livestock from the city. Other families in the old mill town have been ordered to bid their birds goodbye. Many communities in America's urbanized areas — yes, the Blue States — have similar laws, adopted in an age when anything that smacked of Old MacDonald was viewed as a dirty, stinky nuisance.

But these days a revolution's brewing. Foodies and locavores across the country are pushing to end local restrictions, and a half dozen websites now advise urbanites on how to raise "pets with benefits." The argument: backyard eggs are cheaper, tastier, and healthier, with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Sustainability is an issue, too. Grow your own and you eliminate the energy consumption and carbon emissions that go with transporting food. What's more, chicken shit is a great fertilizer for your organic garden plot.

In just a few years grassroots activists have overturned ordinances in more than 30 major cities, including Los Angeles, Houston, Ann Arbor, Madison, and Missoula. They've gained ground in the Ocean State, too. Providence, West Warwick, and even snooty Barrington have all revised their laws, allowing residents to keep hens in limited numbers, so long as there are no crowing roosters in their coops. And in Cranston and Warwick, city council members are now reviewing proposed changes.

"It's definitely a national movement, and I think the Internet has a lot to do with it," says Douglas Stuchel, a professional chef who now teaches at the Hospitality College at Johnson & Wales University. "People can research and learn how agriculture has become big business. They know it's not simply about feeding the world."

Stuchel has taken up the banner himself. He's constructing a coop behind his West Warwick home where he plans to keep some Rhode Island Reds. "As a chef, I know the food your raise yourself is better," he says. "Pesticides are one concern, but taste is an issue, too."

Chicken fancier Sam Abram believes snobbery fuels anti-avian sentiments in some Rhode Island suburbs. The real estate manager raised hens while living in New Hampshire and never heard any complaints. Shortly after he moved to Barrington, he built a backyard hen house. A few days later an animal control officer told him it had to go.

He fought back, lobbying town officials to change the law. Today residents are allowed to keep up to six hens, and the town has a dozen coops. Abram says he's won over some neighbors by sharing eggs and letting their kids visit and observe his flock. "I guess some people thought Barrington would be less elite with chickens," he says. "One member of the zoning board told me it would change the character of the town."

The movement has some opposition. Sanitation is a common concern: manure piles can stink, and rats are attracted to food scraps left for hens. Critics also fret some newbie chicken enthusiasts will neglect their animals once the novelty wears off. In a recent Slate article, vegan journalist James McWilliams ridiculed urbanites who raise chickens as naive hipsters looking for a bandwagon to climb aboard. He emphasized the point by posting an audio file of a bleating goat; the animal was dying, sickened after eating something careless left around by a wannabe urban farmer.

Back in Woonsocket, the Lamberts are largely unaware of the national debate. They began raising hens almost two decades ago, when their children were young and there was nothing trendy about homegrown eggs. Today they enjoy their pets chiefly for the entertainment they provide.

"It's a great hobby," Ernest says. "But not in this city. There's a law against it on the books. We happen to be grandfathered."

Read more: http://providence.thephoenix.com/news/147912-urban-chicken-roost-movement-hits-rhode-island/#ixzz2DfHeZHKv

Urban Greens Food Cooperative- Providence

My latest locavore food adventure was joining Providence's only cooperative food market, Urban Greens Food Co-op, Urban Greens Food Co-op is a community of members who believe in establishing a full-scale, cooperatively owned market to expand access to healthy foods throughout our community.  They are scheduled to open this fall, I hope you join me and become a member in this sustainable food adventure.

So What is a Food Cooperative?

A food cooperative or food co-op is a grocery store organized as a cooperative. Food cooperatives are usually consumers' cooperatives and are owned by their members. Food cooperatives follow the 7 Cooperative Principles and typically offer natural foods. Since decisions about how to run a cooperative are not made by outside shareholders, cooperatives often exhibit a higher degree of social responsibility than their corporate analogues.  ^{^ The food cooperative. Guardian.co.uk. 8 December 2005.}

The following information is from the Urban Greens website. 

Urban Greens Food Co-op?

Urban Greens is a food co-op working to open a full-scale consumer-owned grocery store on Providence’s west side, to provide direct access to affordable, local, natural products. Urban Greens Food Co-op evolved out of a buying club that began in the year 2000 and is still in operation today. By opening a community-owned grocery store Urban Greens will meet our community’s needs for healthy food, support our local economy, and provide a sustainable community based-alternative to corporate supermarkets.

The store will have about 6,500 square feet of retail space, with another 1500 square feet of office space and storage space: the size of a well-stocked neighborhood grocery store.  The atmosphere will be warm, friendly, neighborly and informal.  The members shop at Urban Greens for reasons of health, affordability, politics, community involvement and quality.  The co-op will welcome members of the community into the storefront through classes and workshops on topics such as nutrition, health, gardening and more.  All members will have a equal opportunity to make organizational decisions and to become involved in programing.

Mission

Urban Greens is a food cooperative on the west side of Providence with a mission to provide simple, direct access to affordable, local, natural products through a full-scale, community-owned grocery store.

Values

• Equal Access: Every person, regardless of economic or social status, deserves access to healthy, affordable food produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
  
  •  Local Agriculture: Our health is dependent upon responsible stewardship of the planet's resources. Supporting local agriculture is an important part of this stewardship. Happily, local food also tastes better
  
  
  •  Local Economy: Small businesses, as opposed to national retail chains, keep a higher percentage of every dollar spent within the community. The co-op will help create and support jobs for local farmers, food producers, and staff.
  
  
  • Cooperative Principles, Cooperative Values: Cooperatives are based on the values of democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. As a cooperative, we believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.
  
  
  • Community Partnerships: Building and sharing strength requires actively seeking collaboration with neighbors, community members, local community groups, small businesses, non-profits, members and non-members.
  
  
  • Social Entrepreneurship: We can affect social change in our food systems through entrepreneurship. The cooperative measures success in terms of both social change and economic viability.

  Membership Options

  • The full one-time cost of a member share is $160, which can be paid in full or $40/year over 4 years.
  • We also offer the option to purchase a low-income member share, which reduces the cost to just $80, paid in full or $10/year over 8 years. (Download the Membership Form for more details about member shares)

  Contact Information

  
  
  Urban Greens Food Co-op
  1560 Westminster St
  Providence, RI 02909
  401-267-UGFC info@urbangreens.com
  
  
  
  
  I hope you join me and I look forward to seeing you as a member.
  
  

  Until I blog again:  Eat Well, Live Life and Be Safe

Now Legal to Raise Chickens (hens) in West Warwick, RI

Urban Chickens - THE VOTE

TOWN OF WEST WARWICK

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

DATE: TUESDAY, JULY 17, 2012

PLACE: TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER

1170 MAIN STREET, WEST WARWICK, RI 02893

Tonight the West Warwick Town Council voted and passed ORDINANCE NO. 2012- 6,

 

It is now legal to raise chickens (hens) in West Warwick, RI if you abide by the following:

 

TOWN OF WEST WARWICK ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34 KENNEL LICENCE OF THE WEST WARWICK CODE OF ORDINANCES.
WHEREAS: There has been shown an interest by the residents of the Town to raise hens for the personal consumption of home grown hens and the production for personal use of eggs from such hens, and

WHEREAS: The Town Council is desirous of enabling such endeavors but doing so in a manner that will be in the best interests of the Town and will have no adverse affect on the surrounding neighborhood, and

WHEREAS: The Town Council had been made aware of an error in the provisions for the issuing of kennel licenses and now desires to correct such error, Town Council

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED that the Town Council of the Town of West Warwick hereby that the West Warwick Code of Ordinance shall be amended as follows:

Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions shall be amended,

Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens and shall be added, and

Sec. 4-34. Kennel license shall be amended as follows:

Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions.

(b) In addition to those animals prohibited by Rhode Island General Law, the keeping of specific creatures is designated as a public nuisance: fowl, poultry except hens as hereinafter provided for in Sec. 4-24.1 hereof, rabbits, pigeons, poisonous snakes, pigs, minks and any similar species which carry or may carry and spread diseases or otherwise may be considered unsanitary or present a nuisance or hazard to the general public, except for the following:

(1) Pet stores that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinances and state laws;

(2) Agricultural enterprises that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and state laws;

(3) Research facilities that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and state laws;

(4) Creatures kept by special permit approved by the town council, with conditions as established by the town council;

(5) Rabbits and pigeons for personal enjoyment and/or use.

Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens.

(a) The keeping of hens shall be subject to the following restrictions and regulations:

(1) The keeping of hens shall be permitted in Residential Districts only and shall be on a lot containing a dwelling in which dwelling the owner of the hens must be a resident.

(2) There shall be no more than 12 hens per lot.

(3) The keeping of any roosters is prohibited.

(4) All hens must be provided with both a hen house and a fenced outdoor enclosure subject to the following conditions, restrictions and regulations:

a. The hen house must be covered, predator resistant and well ventilated.

b. The hen house must provide a minimum of two (2) square feet per hen.

c. The hen house must be kept clean, dry and sanitary at all times.

d. The hen house must be located on a permeable surface that prevents waste run-off.

e. The hen house must provide the hens with adequate protection from the elements and inclement weather and provide for the hens good health and prevent any unnecessary or unjustified suffering.

f. The enclosure fence must adequately contain the hens and provide security from intrusion by any predators or animals, wild or domesticated.

g. The fenced enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary at all times.

h. All manure must be composted in enclosed bins.

i. No food shall be placed in the open for the feeding of the hens except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground.

(b) All hens shall be subject to the nuisance provisions of Sec. 4-24 of the West Warwick Code of Ordinances and must be confined in the hen house between the hours of 9:00 pm and 8:00 am.

Sec. 4-34. Kennel license.

(a) Required. No person shall operate a kennel as defined herein, without first obtaining a license to operate said establishment by the state director of environmental management, as provided in §4-19-6 of the Rhode Island General Laws; and obtaining a license to operate said establishment as issues by the town council.

(b) Kennel permitted. No license shall be issued by the town council, director of environmental management to operate a kennel on premises other than those designated by the zoning ordinances.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34

Until I blog again: Eat Well, Live Life and Be Safe

Urban Chickens - First Reading at Town Council

TOWN OF WEST WARWICK

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012

PLACE: TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBER

1170 MAIN STREET, WEST WARWICK, RI 02893

Tonight the West Warwick Town Council had their first reading of ORDINANCE NO. 2012- 6.  This is the ordinance that we need changed in order for the residents of West Warwick to legally raises urban chickens for the purposes of fresh eggs.

Here is the proposal that was voted on and passed the first reading tonight.  In two weeks we will have the second reading and the ordinance is expected to pass.

TOWN OF WEST WARWICK ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL ORDINANCE NO.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34 KENNEL LICENCE OF THE WEST WARWICK CODE OF ORDINANCES.
WHEREAS: There has been shown an interest by the residents of the Town to raise hens for the personal consumption of home grown hens and the production for personal use of eggs from such hens, and

WHEREAS: The Town Council is desirous of enabling such endeavors but doing so in a manner that will be in the best interests of the Town and will have no adverse affect on the surrounding neighborhood, and

WHEREAS: The Town Council had been made aware of an error in the provisions for the issuing of kennel licenses and now desires to correct such error, Town Council

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED that the Town Council of the Town of West Warwick hereby that the West Warwick Code of Ordinance shall be amended as follows:

         Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions shall be amended,

         Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens and shall be added, and

         Sec. 4-34. Kennel license shall be amended as follows:

         Sec. 4-24. Abatement of nuisance animals and conditions.

       
(b) In addition to those animals prohibited by Rhode Island General Law, the keeping of specific creatures is designated as a public nuisance: fowl, poultry except hens as hereinafter provided for in Sec. 4-24.1 hereof, rabbits, pigeons, poisonous snakes, pigs, minks and any similar species which carry or may carry and spread diseases or otherwise may be considered unsanitary or present a nuisance or hazard to the general public, except for the following:

(1) Pet stores that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinances and state laws;

(2) Agricultural enterprises that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and   state laws;

(3) Research facilities that are in compliance with all applicable local ordinance and state laws;

(4) Creatures kept by special permit approved by the town council, with conditions as established by the town council;

(5) Rabbits and pigeons for personal enjoyment and/or use.

Sec. 4-24.1. Keeping of hens.

 (a) The keeping of hens shall be subject to the following restrictions and regulations:

(1) The keeping of hens shall be permitted in Residential Districts only and shall be on a lot containing a dwelling in which dwelling the owner of the hens must be a resident.

(2) There shall be no more than 12 hens per lot.

(3) The keeping of any roosters is prohibited.

(4) All hens must be provided with both a hen house and a fenced outdoor enclosure subject to the following conditions, restrictions and regulations:

a. The hen house must be covered, predator resistant and well ventilated.

b. The hen house must provide a minimum of two (2) square feet per hen.

c. The hen house must be kept clean, dry and sanitary at all times.

d. The hen house must be located on a permeable surface that prevents waste run-off.

e. The hen house must provide the hens with adequate protection from the elements and inclement weather and provide for the hens good health and prevent any unnecessary or unjustified suffering.

f. The enclosure fence must adequately contain the hens and provide security from intrusion by any predators or animals, wild or domesticated.

g. The fenced enclosure must be kept clean and sanitary at all times.

h. All manure must be composted in enclosed bins.

i. No food shall be placed in the open for the feeding of the hens except in such containers as will prevent the scattering of such food upon the ground.

(b) All hens shall be subject to the nuisance provisions of Sec. 4-24 of the West Warwick Code of Ordinances and must be confined in the hen house between the hours of 9:00 pm and 8:00 am.

Sec. 4-34. Kennel license.

(a) Required. No person shall operate a kennel as defined herein, without first obtaining a license to operate said establishment by the state director of environmental management, as provided in §4-19-6 of the Rhode Island General Laws; and obtaining a license to operate said establishment as issues by the town council.

(b) Kennel permitted. No license shall be issued by the town council, director of environmental management to operate a kennel on premises other than those designated by the zoning ordinances.

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SEC. 4-24 ABATEMENT OF NUISANCE ANIMALS AND CONDITIONS, ADDING SEC. 4-24.1 KEEPING OF HENS AND AMENDING SEC. 4-34

Until I blog again:  Eat Well, Live Life and Be Safe

Urban Chickens- Supporting the Urban Agricultural Movement

We are still waiting to be heard by the West Warwick Town Council in hopes that we can change the local chicken ordinance, to allow hens in our town for the purpose of providing fresh eggs.


The following is a fact sheet that I customized for the West Warwick Urban Chicken Campaign.


I would like to thank the following people/organizations who have thus far given their support:

• Christine Chitnis- from whom the fact sheet below originated
• John Engelhorn, colleague, friend, fellow West Warwick resident, Assistant Director of Campus Dining Johnson & Wales University
• Kenneth D. Ayars, Chief, Division of Agriculture, RIDEM
• Kathryn Teigen De Master, Ph.D., Visiting Assistant Professor, Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University
• Farm Fresh RI
• edible Rhody magazine
• Mark Bourget, Councilman Ward 5, West Warwick, RI.

URBAN CHICKENS:

S U P P O R T I N G T H E U R B A N A G R I C U L T U R A L

M O V E M E N T I N W E S T W A R W I C K

Why Urban Chickens?

As people grow more concerned about the economy, the environment, and food safety, there is a growing interest in vegetable gardening, canning food, and raising chickens. Adding urban chicken-keeping to this growth in local food would continue to establish West Warwick as a leader in the local food movement. More than 65% of major U.S. cities including Portland, Denver, Madison, Baltimore, and New Haven have chicken keeping ordinances. Now is the time for West Warwick to pass a chicken-keeping ordinance and build on the strength of its local food system.

Sustainability

It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate. By increasing production of local food and keeping a small number of egg-laying hens, West Warwick residents can reduce their consumption of resources, use fewer pesticides on lawns and in gardens, and also be more self-reliant. In addition to these environmental benefits, homegrown eggs are also known to contain more nutrients and are less likely to contain hazardous bacteria. Hens provide a high nutrient fertilizer that is easily composted and offer a natural form of pest control.

Economic FactorsA readily available source of eggs would save money, energy, and time for West Warwick families. The initial cost of a small chicken coop and pen can be as little as $100. Hens cost very little to feed, especially if their diet is supplemented with weeds, grass clippings, bugs, and kitchen and garden scraps. A single hen lays around five eggs a week, or over 20 dozen eggs per year! At West Warwick farmers markets, fresh, locally produced eggs cost nearly $5 a dozen. Families raising their own hens will save close to $100 per chicken per year. Chickens can also save families additional money by reducing fertilizer and pesticide use.

Educational Opportunities
Several educational opportunities are available to Rhode Island residents dedicated to raising hens in the state. Since 1981, the Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT) has partnered with Rhode Islanders to improve residents’ health and welfare by helping them grow food. SCLT is committed to educating city residents on responsible and economical chicken-raising. SCLT has offered to serve as a community resource to help answer chicken keeping questions, and provide free public workshops on raising urban chickens.  The Northeast Organic Farmers’ Association (NOFA) also offers Backyard Chicken Workshops throughout the year and at their annual summer conference.

Why West Warwick?

The unemployment rate in Rhode Island is at a record high, but food prices continue to rise, consuming a significant percentage of family budgets. The Rhode Island Food Bank reports that the prevalence of hunger in Rhode Island has reached the highest level in ten years. As the increased costs of food continue to hit West Warwick residents, efforts are urgently needed to increase both the affordability and availability of low-cost, local food. Enabling town residents to produce fresh eggs in their backyards increases access to healthy, affordable food, enhances sustainable environmental stewardship, and contributes to household economic resilience.


Benefits of Urban Chickens:

Local Source of Protein:  One egg provide 5.5 grams of protein, or 11% of the daily value for protein.

Better Quality:  Home-raised eggs tend to be naturally richer in many nutrients, including omega 3 fats and vitamin E, compared to chickens raised in industrial farm settings.  Also, there is no need to worry about food safety, antibiotics, or hormones.

Source of Fertilizer:  Chicken poop is high in nitrogen and, when added to compost, provides a rich food source for indoor and outdoor plants.

Natural Pest Control:  Chickens are great at controlling cockroaches, tomato horn worms, aphids, grubs, and many other unwanted insects.  Chickens will also eat small mice.

COMMON MYTHS ABOUT CHICKENS

They are noisy -- hens are one of the quietest domestic animals. Unless they are in danger, they do not squawk. They sleep at night just like most household pets, and are completely quiet from dusk to dawn.
They are dirty -- Chickens are very clean animals. They will occasionally give themselves “dirt baths” but this is actually in order for them to preen their feathers and keep themselves clean and cool.
They attract predators --Chickens do not attract predators any more than cats, rabbits, dogs and other pets.
They carry disease -- Diseases are much more likely to be harbored in confined animal feeding operations due to their sheer size and tight conditions than in a healthy backyard setting.
They need a lot of space -- Free range chickens need very little space. Most poultry associations designate that chickens need about 3 square feet of ranging area.



Until I Blog Again:  Eat Well, Live Life, Be Safe, and go raise some chickens


45FWZESBZDER

Changing the Chicken Law, So I Can Raise My Own Chickens in the Suburbs

I am trying to "Legally" raise chickens (hens) in West Warwick, RI so that I can have fresh eggs.

I contacted the West Warwick Town Council, through a friend of mine, but he was informed that it was illegal to raise chickens in West Warwick, I felt it was my duty to try and change the West Warwick law.  Seeing as though many large cities and small towns have already done the same.  In fact the following article was just pubished by

 
 U.S. City Dwellers Flock to Raising Chickens


Thus my Chicken Law experience began.

First thing I did was to send the following email to the Town Manager and each of the Town Council Members. 

Hello Mr. Town Manager and honorable town council members.

I hope this email finds you well.

I am a resident of our beloved town of West Warwick, I am also a chef, a foodie and a locavore who strongly believes in acting locally and thinking globally. I do my best to raise my own vegetable during the summer months, buying produce items during the non-growing months from farmers markets, and I buy my meats from local Rhode Island farmers.

I recently decided I wanted to raise a few chickens (no more than 3 hens) for the purposes of having fresh eggs, eggs that are not from chickens that have been fed steroids and pumped with antibiotics. But before I invested in buying the chickens and the chicken coop I wanted to make sure it was allowed, unfortunately yesterday I found out through my friends the Paliotta family that it is against the West Warwick zoning laws and or charter to raise chickens for eggs.

I am curious as to the reason for the ban? As I am sure many of you know many cities and towns in the United States permit their residents to raise chickens for the purposes of having fresh eggs, including Providence.

What would be the process to change the zoning or ordinance to raise chickens?

I thank you for your time and look forward to your response.

I quickly received from Mark Bourget, my town council representative stating that he would look into the matter.  A few days later Mr. Bourget informed me of the following:

This is the problem here in West Warwick and I am sure in other places as well. As you can see from the e-mail below there is a conflict between the zoning codes and the ordinance. I am going to have this placed on the next council agenda and see if the ordinance can be modified. In my opinion, if a person wants to raise chickens so they can have their own fresh eggs that is their choice and should not be obstructed. I will keep you informed.

Since that time Mr. Bourget has worked with the other council members to get a feel for the climate of acceptance from he fellow council members and the solicitor this is the email I received today.

  

One council member is uncomfortable with it as well as the solicitor. The zoning lawyer also has some concerns that he is going to mention Tuesday. This is listed as a first reading so if you cannot attend I can fill you in. There will be a second reading later in the month to finalize the ordinance.

I did just talk to the zoning lawyer his main concern is chickens being raised in certain areas of town that would not be appropriate, like very small yards with close neighbors.

So now I am pulling together resources that I have found while doing some research so that I can be prepared at this meeting.  Luckily I also have Chef John Engelhorn, a fellow West Warwick resident who is Pro Chicken Raising to help me and attend the Town Council Meeting as well.

I will keep you posted, but below you will find some of the great resources I have so far.

http://www.backyardchickens.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/PECK-green-News-People-Encouraging-Chicken-Keeping-in-greater-RI/140475832699344

U.S. City Dwellers Flock to Raising Chickens  http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5900



 Until I blog again:  Eat Well, Life Life and Be Safe  and go raise some chickens,,,,

How Does My Heirloom Garden Grow

As we approach the Memorial Day Weekend, the symbolic start of summer and the traditional  weekend to plant your summer garden plants such as tomatoes and peppers, I would like to share with you what is in my 2012 Heirloom Garden.




  Tips for growing heirloom vegetables by Esther Sung

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/heirloom-garden-vegetable#ixzz1vqXsHNcW


I have already harvested a bushel of spinach as well as a few onions and leeks that overwintered from last season.  Additionally my chives and sage are in full bloom, here is a photo of some of the flowers I picked:

I planted the following from seed in March and the plants are coming along nicely and I am looking forward to a bountiful harvest.

• Thomas Laxton Peas (Heirloom)
• Triumph De Farcy Garden Bean (Heirloom)
• Touchon Carrots (Heirloom)
• Short'n Sweet Carrots (Heirloom)
• Waltham 29 Broccoli
• Melody Hybrid Spinach
• Detroit King Beets
• Evergreen Long White Bunching Scallions
• Golden Grande Onions

The following plants I purchased at the Southside Community Land Trusts 20th Annual Rare and Unusual Plant Sale, to learn more about this great organization, click here.

• Mr. Stripey Tomato (Heirloom)
• Beefsteak Tomato (Heirloom)
• Golden Jubilee Tomato (Heirloom)
• Brandywine Tomato (Heirloom)
• Pruden's Purple Tomato (Heirloom)
• Banana Legs Tomato (Heirloom)
• Delicious Tomato (Heirloom)
• Hot Banana Pepper
• Chocolate Sweet Pepper (Heirloom)
• Sweet Banana Pepper (Heirloom)
• Golden California Wonder Pepper (Heirloom)
• Poona Kheera Cucumber (Heirloom)
• Sour Gherkin Cucumber
• Suhyo Long Cucumber
• Black Beauty Zucchini

 

Enjoy the summer and what bounty your garden my bring you.

Until I Blog Again: Eat well, Live Life and Be Safe

Blackbird Farm 4th Annual Farm-to-Chef Open House

On Monday, May 21, 2012 the Bouthillette Family held their 4th annual Farm-to-Chef Open House at Blackbird Farm located in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

The Farm-to Chef Open House for the past three years has been an event for culinary professionals, chefs and farmers, but this year the event was opened to the general public and I would estimate there were approximately 60 attendees to this years event.

The program started with welcome from Ann Marie Bouthillette and an introduction of her husband, sons and David Dadekian of Eat Drink RI.  We were then entertained and educated by Levi Geyer who did a USDA grading demonstration.  Levi is a USDA-Market News Supervisory Market Reporter for Pennsylvania and the Northeast.

Levi  both spoke about and demonstrated how Feeder Cattle are evaluated based on their age, frame, muscle thickness, flesh to determine their U.S. Quality Grades (prime, choice, select, standard and utility).  For a detailed description of how the Feeder Cattle are evaluated click here.  Blackbird Farm produces and sales only 100% high quality Black Angus Beef from high quality animals from superior stock.

We then moved onto the American Heritage Berkshire Pigs where Levi and Brandon Bouthillette spoke about the breed and how it is graded.  Brandon also spoke about why the family raises only this high quality heritage breed.  For more about American Heritage Berkshire Pigs, click here.

We then enjoyed a great lunch by Chef Derek Wagner of Nicks on Broadway.  Lunch consisted of:

SLOW-BRAISED BARBECUED BLACKBIRD FARM BEEF

GEER FARM CORN +BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

SCHATNER FARM ASPARAGUS, RADISHES + POTATOES

As well as

COWBOY BEANS

SOUTHERN MAC & CHEESE

from Chef Kaitlyn Roberts

After lunch Mr. Tom Burke, President of the American Angus Hall of Fame in Smithville, Missouri reinvigorated us with a tent revival presentation on the history of Black Angus Beef and why he, and the farm feel that it is a superior breed of beef,

Mr Ed Maltby, Manager of Adams Farm a USDA, USDA Natural and USDA Organic Certified, Halal, Kosher and Animal Welfare Certified harvesting plant spoke about how the Blackbird Farm cattle are only harvested at the Adams Farm plant and how the animals end their life cycle with the most human and ethical treatment possible,

The tour also included a walk in the fields to see the free range pigs and cattle as well as a tour of the Rhode Island Red chickens used for both meat and egg production.

This Farm-to-Chef Open House is just another example of how America is reaching back in time and embracing the small local farmer.  I hope this trend continues to both help the American economy and diet. 

Until I blog again:  Eat Well, Live Life, and Be Safe