Soap Lake woman champions chickens
Part of 'urban homesteading' movement
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| Ryan Lancaster/Columbia Basin Herald Jennifer Peterson is hoping the Soap Lake City Council will support backyard chicken rearing and a community garden project. |
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| Ryan Lancaster/Columbia Basin Herald |
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| Ryan Lancaster/Columbia Basin Herald |
Posted: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:00 am | Updated: 10:13 am, Mon Mar 5, 2012.
SOAP LAKE - A war on winter is underway at the Peterson family's home in Soap Lake.
Green seedlings soak up the mid-morning sun on a kitchen window sill and a well-marked garden catalogue lays open on a living room table. A few steps out the back door, a mostly-built chicken run optimistically awaits a change, not just in the weather, but in city law.
Jennifer Peterson and her husband, Fred, have always seen their annual vegetable garden as a way to maintain a little self-sufficiency. But they became ever more interested in the concept of "urban homesteading" as their family grew to accommodate five children - Brian, 15, Brianna, 10, Austin, 5, Marcus, 4, and Alexander, 1.
About 75 percent of her family's food comes from their own efforts, Jennifer says, thanks to the "back to basics" philosophy that espouses less consumption and a do-it-yourself mentality in city dwellers.
"It is a whole new mindset once you start on this path," she says. "You start with a garden. Then you want a bigger garden to preserve for the winter. Then you want chickens and other livestock for eggs, milk and compost."
Both she and Frank both point out the concept of urban homesteading is not new.
"Our grandparents were doing it," Frank says. "It's just developing skills that most people, in this society, have forgotten."
Frank, who grew up in a rural area, says his family produced for themselves nearly everything they needed. It's a knowledge he and his wife have tried to pass on to their children.
A few months back, Jennifer decided on a whim to expand that education to her neighbors by setting up a blog, a Facebook page and a Yahoo! group under the title of Soap Lake Urban Homesteads.
She sees urban homesteading as a vital option in an area with limited shopping options and in a time where there are regular recalls on animal products and vegetables alike.
"I want to know where my food comes from and I don't want it to come from Mexico. I want it to come from my backyard," she says. "I want my eggs to come from my backyard. I think it's a God-given right to be able to provide for your family without asking permission."
A big part of the reason the Petersons moved from Seattle to Soap Lake, a few years ago, was to start raising their own livestock. Jennifer says she was surprised and a little dismayed to find the city didn't allow chickens.
In 2007 the Soap Lake council drafted an ordinance to allow up to four hens per residence but ultimately voted 5-2 to scrap the issue, citing potential problems with enforcement and attraction of wild animals.
Several Washington cities allow residents to keep small numbers of chickens, including Seattle. Seattle recently raised the number of chickens allowed from three to eight, but they ban owning roosters, according to The Seattle Times.
"It was kind of surprising coming from Seattle where a lot of people have chickens and goats and pigs and rabbits - you come from a huge city that's well into the movement of knowing their food - into a community that's out in the country and there's nothing," Jennifer says.
The Petersons aren't alone in their quest for chickens. Jennifer said she's had several people approach her in support of the idea, and Soap Lake resident Trudy Black addressed the issue during the Feb. 15 council meeting.
"About four years ago an idea was presented to council to change the city ordinance for chickens and for some reason didn't go through," Black said. "I think that's something you guys should look at again. I think it would present a more wholesome picture to visitors to our community and it would help people who are on a fixed income to provide for themselves."
Jennifer's blog answers a list of common concerns about urban chicken rearing, including the noise and smell. Noisy roosters aren't needed for eggs and wouldn't be allowed within city limits, she says, and any aroma produced by an urban flock of three or four hens can be kept to a minimum with routine care.
She and others are also moving beyond chickens with a proposed community garden near John's Foods off Daisy Street. The garden, which Jennifer said city leaders are behind, will have 10 beds for rent, a few for the food bank and a weekly farmer's market.
Jennifer says what started on a whim as a personal project has snowballed into something with true momentum. She said she looks forward to seeing what this coming spring has in store for her fellow urban homesteaders.
"I just think everybody has the right to know their food," she says. "This is a step that should have been taken a long time ago."
The Soap Lake City Council will discuss the chicken ordinance during their regular meeting Wednesday before scheduling a public hearing on the issue and likely making a decision sometime in April.
For more information, visit www.SoapLakeUrbanHomesteads.com or call 509-312-9826.
Green seedlings soak up the mid-morning sun on a kitchen window sill and a well-marked garden catalogue lays open on a living room table. A few steps out the back door, a mostly-built chicken run optimistically awaits a change, not just in the weather, but in city law.
Jennifer Peterson and her husband, Fred, have always seen their annual vegetable garden as a way to maintain a little self-sufficiency. But they became ever more interested in the concept of "urban homesteading" as their family grew to accommodate five children - Brian, 15, Brianna, 10, Austin, 5, Marcus, 4, and Alexander, 1.
About 75 percent of her family's food comes from their own efforts, Jennifer says, thanks to the "back to basics" philosophy that espouses less consumption and a do-it-yourself mentality in city dwellers.
"It is a whole new mindset once you start on this path," she says. "You start with a garden. Then you want a bigger garden to preserve for the winter. Then you want chickens and other livestock for eggs, milk and compost."
Both she and Frank both point out the concept of urban homesteading is not new.
"Our grandparents were doing it," Frank says. "It's just developing skills that most people, in this society, have forgotten."
Frank, who grew up in a rural area, says his family produced for themselves nearly everything they needed. It's a knowledge he and his wife have tried to pass on to their children.
A few months back, Jennifer decided on a whim to expand that education to her neighbors by setting up a blog, a Facebook page and a Yahoo! group under the title of Soap Lake Urban Homesteads.
She sees urban homesteading as a vital option in an area with limited shopping options and in a time where there are regular recalls on animal products and vegetables alike.
"I want to know where my food comes from and I don't want it to come from Mexico. I want it to come from my backyard," she says. "I want my eggs to come from my backyard. I think it's a God-given right to be able to provide for your family without asking permission."
A big part of the reason the Petersons moved from Seattle to Soap Lake, a few years ago, was to start raising their own livestock. Jennifer says she was surprised and a little dismayed to find the city didn't allow chickens.
In 2007 the Soap Lake council drafted an ordinance to allow up to four hens per residence but ultimately voted 5-2 to scrap the issue, citing potential problems with enforcement and attraction of wild animals.
Several Washington cities allow residents to keep small numbers of chickens, including Seattle. Seattle recently raised the number of chickens allowed from three to eight, but they ban owning roosters, according to The Seattle Times.
"It was kind of surprising coming from Seattle where a lot of people have chickens and goats and pigs and rabbits - you come from a huge city that's well into the movement of knowing their food - into a community that's out in the country and there's nothing," Jennifer says.
The Petersons aren't alone in their quest for chickens. Jennifer said she's had several people approach her in support of the idea, and Soap Lake resident Trudy Black addressed the issue during the Feb. 15 council meeting.
"About four years ago an idea was presented to council to change the city ordinance for chickens and for some reason didn't go through," Black said. "I think that's something you guys should look at again. I think it would present a more wholesome picture to visitors to our community and it would help people who are on a fixed income to provide for themselves."
Jennifer's blog answers a list of common concerns about urban chicken rearing, including the noise and smell. Noisy roosters aren't needed for eggs and wouldn't be allowed within city limits, she says, and any aroma produced by an urban flock of three or four hens can be kept to a minimum with routine care.
She and others are also moving beyond chickens with a proposed community garden near John's Foods off Daisy Street. The garden, which Jennifer said city leaders are behind, will have 10 beds for rent, a few for the food bank and a weekly farmer's market.
Jennifer says what started on a whim as a personal project has snowballed into something with true momentum. She said she looks forward to seeing what this coming spring has in store for her fellow urban homesteaders.
"I just think everybody has the right to know their food," she says. "This is a step that should have been taken a long time ago."
The Soap Lake City Council will discuss the chicken ordinance during their regular meeting Wednesday before scheduling a public hearing on the issue and likely making a decision sometime in April.
For more information, visit www.SoapLakeUrbanHomesteads.com or call 509-312-9826.
Posted in Basin life, Community on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 9:00 am. Updated: 10:13 am.
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