City has opportunity to promote urban agriculture

On Sept. 17 I plan to go before Lethbridge City Council to request consideration for an amendment to Bylaw 3383, concerning the keeping of backyard hens in Lethbridge. This proposal is in keeping with the City Council Strategic Plan 20172021 released earlier this year to “promote and encourage local and urban agriculture” (pg 11).

Urban agriculture is the practice of utilizing urban spaces in local and sustainable food production. We see this enacted in the rise of stunning public community gardens in various areas of the city, public orchards in various parks, and public fruit trees. However, those of us interested in local urban agriculture are stymied by a bylaw that was last amended in 1983 — 35 years ago.

It is time Lethbridge joins other progressive Alberta communities like Edmonton, Red Deer, Lacombe and Airdrie and allow those citizens interested in keeping small flocks of hens (note: no roosters for noise considerations) to do so. Red Deer’s Urban Chicken bylaw allows home owners to establish small (not more than four hens) flocks on private property, and governs the maintenance of permits and premises for those animals.

The keeping of urban hens will go a long way to keeping invasive insect populations under control in urban and suburban areas, and provide an option for home-grown food security for those interested. I myself look forward to reducing the amount of table scraps going into the landfill, as my future flock will enjoy them immensely.

If you are in support of a pilot project to introduce urban henkeeping in Lethbridge, please let city council know before the Sept. 17 meeting. I look forward to public discussion on this issue.

Kelti Baird

Lethbridge