The Observation Deck

I had the pleasure of sitting in on a meeting of Ward 13 Councilman Joe Cimperman tonight.

The topic was the law 205.04, The keeping of Farm Animals and Bees.

It would seem from all I heard that besides 10, 20, and 30 year tax-abatements on new homes, that Cleveland is about to legalize the keeping of Chickens, Ducks, and Bees in residential areas.

The amount of work presented by the building, legal, health departments was very impressive. ALL agree that it is a great idea. Another thing that was fascinating to watch and listen to, was the different departments talking about waving their permits, so that owners would only have to register at one place to get all the permits, or permission to go ahead.

That's right, abatements, fresh eggs, and a simplification of the permit process!

If passed you will be allowed, one animal for every 800 square feet. or approximately six chickens on an average lot in Ohio City.

In the past you would have needed building permits, to build a coop with a foundation, but common sense pointed out that you do not need a permit for a dog house, so why need one for a Chicken Coop.

Beehives would only be allowed if set back 5' from a property line.

All in all it was pretty impressive how forward thinking they were.

FWIW

Implications for Lakewood? I know quite a few people who would be interested in this here.

Are there any advocates for this on Lakewood City Council? Or the Mayor's office?

A million years ago, when I was growing up, people in Cleveland used to keep chickens. My grandpa would trade tomatoes for eggs in the summertime.

Of course back then there was also a RagMan that would come by, once a month and collect your old rags that you didn't use anymore and there was also a guy with a produce wagon that would sell fresh fruits and vegetables.

This was the 50's folks, on W. 114th where my grandparents and aunt and uncle lived.

Where I used to live, lots of people had chickens and coops in their back yards. friends of ours live in Seattle, they are architects and most of their friends are as well... they were telling us it has become a contest for who can build the coolest coop in their back yards.

I think it is great and I've never seen an issue with is, even in small urban yards because they dont take up that much space. But I am surprised that they are allowing roosters? Most of the places that allow chickens do NOT allow roosters for various reasons.

All

As I told Councilman Cimperman last night, and as outlined in my note. I can think of about twenty people that would consider moving there.

As I found out years ago, when it was discovered my neighbor was keeping chickens for years and years, without me knowing was. Most major cities have NO LAWS about chickens and ducks. That LA, Chicago, Seattle, and New York have laws that allow for 4 times the amount of chickens that the new Cleveland law would provide.

One of my Uncle's favorite stories to tell, was during the depression, the Homestead Theater, and the Hippodrome downtown would have "Livestock Night" You would get a ticket to a movie, and could win a live, chicken, duck, turkey, pig, or lamb. One time he won a baby pig. My Uncle loved pork.

There are ways to regulate, health and nuisance issues, or which they are rare. Last night they admitted that there were over 60 people keeping chickens illegally in Cleveland. ZERO nuisance calls. 3 calls for roosters, and all with found to be keeping them for fighting, which should be illegal.

Another interesting figure was that Clevelanders buy $6 million dollars in eggs from stores every year.

FWIW


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I remember the roosters crowing early in the morning and my grandpa yelling at the neighbors to shut the d*** up before he cooked it..

Jim O'Bryan wrote: All in all it was pretty impressive how forward thinking they were.

Kind of ironic when forward thinking means going back in time. I know my wife would like the idea of having fresh eggs and the kids would get a kick out of it too.

What’s next? Fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving? Ham for Christmas? The Lakewood Bacon Company? Not bad ideas.

Since we've been in Iowa, Jennie & I have enjoyed the benefits of eating local food... Sheeder Farms Turkey from Guthrie Center, Niman Ranch Pork from Thornton, Webster City Bacon, the list goes on and on. We get most if not all our vegetables from the Farmer's Market or Gateway Market, a specialty foods store similar to Whole Foods.

Iowa is a treasure trove of locally-made food from hard-working farmers.

The Paul Willis Farm in Thornton (about 100 miles north of Des Moines), run by the farm's namesake, raises pigs the old-fashioned way - free range, and fed an all-vegetarian diet. Paul also runs the Niman Ranch Pork Company, a 600-farm network of pig farmers for Niman Ranch. Niman Ranch has strict standards for how their animals are raised, fed, and cared for. Jennie & I are planning on paying the farm a visit come Spring when the weather is nicer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9HF93LfBDw

I will sometimes pass Lorain and West 65th on my ride into work in the morning. You can hear roosters crowing in a yard somewhere around there. I haven't seen them, but they sound quite proud.

The priest at St. Colman's Church, Fr. Bob Begin, keeps chickens somewhere around there.

I understand he has a fridge in a garage where the eggs are kept and neighbors can take eggs and leave money for them on the honor system.

Too much talk not enough action......

Chickens serve so many purposes. They lay eggs, turn over your compost piles, eat insects, are fun to watch, make great pets and teach children about life. It's about time things change....with a little education they just might.

Check it out:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... s-and-hens

If any one's interested in such a great animal I can tell you just about all you want to know about these wonderful creatures.

A Khaki Cambell duck won it's class at The Ohio Nationals a few years back.....Guess where it was born and raised?

What you got a poultry stash? Do you have a muzzle on that thing? I heard they're dangerous.

One of my friends from lakewood mentioned some lebanese or palestinian neighbors keeping lambs. the lambs only lasted so long.

Steve Hoffert wrote:A Khaki Cambell duck won it's class at The Ohio Nationals a few years back.....Guess where it was born and raised?

Steve

You nailed it, now can I finally do the story about how Lakewood Chickens
have been winning contest around America!

The city of Cleveland has outlawed roosters, and there was a plea but one woman to allow them with enough room.

Charlie

Sometimes changes were made by accident or for silly reasons. I can see where many thought chickens were not very "metropolitan."

If you are going to go green, then go GREEN. Windmills The new fondue. Urban gardens feeding neighbors and those that need food, free range chickens and ducks, and cheap honey.


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We've got some friends in Willoughby who built a coop and pen and are now raising chickens in their backyard ... a couple neighbors were skeptical and unhappy, UNTIL they started getting the fresh eggs, and now they're clamoring for more! We've got some pretty small yards in Lakewood, but it'd be cool to see some folks raising chickens around here and selling the eggs. I'd sure be a taker ... NOTHING beats a fresh egg!