permaculture

[Adele Field <adeleif@gmail.com>]

Brent,
Thank you so much. I see that there is a wealth of information on that site,
and I am reading through it now.
-- Adele

On Mon, Oct 3, 2011 at 3:00 PM, <brent@gp.org> wrote:

> Hi Adele:
>
> If you go to:
>
> http://www.greeninstitute.net/
>
> and select "GreenPRO" (now called GreenPolicy360) it will take you to a
> database of Policies, Resolutions, and Ordinances from around the U.S.
>
> >From here select "topics" and then select "animals"
>
> Sincerely:
>
> Brent McMillan, Steward of Woodhaven
> Avilla, IN USA
>
>
> > This is a request for some examples of small-town animal-friendly
> > ordinances
> > in rural areas, so that I can counter our town council's consideration of
> > a
> > livestock ban. I already presented examples of NY, L.A., and Seattle, but
> > was told these were not equivalent. I apologize if this is wordy, but I
> > feel
> > the need to paint the whole picture.
> >
> > Background
> > In the tiny rural Eastern Montana town (100 pop.) where I live, the town
> > council recently decided we need an ordinance restricting animals within
> > the
> > town limits. This stems from a complaint about the temporary smell from
> > nine
> > horses wafting into someone's kitchen window, and also preventing
> > enjoyment
> > of their deck and barbeque. Even though this problem is gone (most of the
> > horses are removed), the person who complained wants to make sure this
> > won't
> > happen again. Emotions are running high. I can see both sides, but feel
> > there is a better solution than making new laws.
> >
> > A small contingent (3 or 4) want to prohibit all chickens, pigs, goats,
> > dairy cows, horses, apiaries, ostriches, etc. -- in short, all livestock.
> > Goats are possibly outlawed already (although the ordinance cannot be
> > found), because an eccentric elderly woman used to walk with a herd
> > through
> > town while passing out religious tracts. In another oft-cited instance, a
> > man's goat died while he was out of the area and a neighbor had to take
> > care
> > of removing it.
> >
> > This is a ranching & oil worker community, formerly a railroad town.
> > Rural.
> > No paved streets (all gravel). Lots of trailer homes. Not so long ago,
> the
> > town had a dairy, a livery stable, a blacksmith shop, and a rodeo arena.
> > There are still some barns standing, although they don't house animals
> > currently. Sometimes one or two cows get loose from an adjacent pasture
> > and
> > roam through town. Typically, no one complains, because we're surrounded
> > by
> > ranches. Horse trailers are a daily sight on Main Street. Almost all the
> > kids are in 4H and FFA. Animals are a way of life here. Hunting and
> > fishing
> > are big, too. Freedom to live and let live is a big part of why people
> > live
> > here.
> >
> > If there is a real animal problem which almost everyone agrees on, it is
> > uncontrolled, unfriendly dogs -- some of which have bitten people. There
> > is
> > supposedly a leash law on the books, but it is not enforced. Anyway, the
> > "books" have disappeared. No one can find any of our ordinances
> > apparently.
> >
> > I moved back here permanently four years ago, and own a cluster of lots,
> > mostly vacant dryland, which I am trying to reclaim to raise food. For
> > animals, I envision a pair of goats, a chicken coop, a greenhouse, and
> > eventually an aquaponics operation, but I don't have a farming
> background.
> > The closest grocery store is 33 miles away; here there is just a
> > "convenience store"-type general store. We are officially a "food
> desert."
> > Poor health and poor diet are all too common. I co-manage the community
> > garden which is loved by many (although mostly for its beauty), and
> > disparaged by a few (who resent the use of water or see no need for
> public
> > amenities).
> >
> > Request
> > Although not welcomed, the public has been granted the opportunity to
> > present individual proposals to the council committee next week for
> > possible
> > consideration. So I respectfully ask if anyone can point me to some
> > detailed
> > examples of how other municipalities regulate backyard animals so that I
> > can
> > model a proposal. Not having been raised on a farm or ranch, I can't
> speak
> > from personal experience, and want to be sure that what I propose makes
> > sense.
> >
> > One resident here said that if she and her family were facing hunger, she
> > would get a milk cow and no one could stop her! If only we could leave
> > well
> > enough alone, and let everyone go about their business, 99% of the
> > community
> > would be quite happy. Since it's come down to a few deciding we have to
> > legislate, however, I want to voice an informed opinion.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Adele Field
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