INC NEWS - INC Agenda - August

[Christina Fish]

Hi All,
 
I am on the agenda tomorrow night to talk about the DurhamHENS campaign. Prior to meeting I wanted to share a letter that was drafted by Courtney James. I am including this letter as I feel it reflects the spirit of our efforts. I look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow and please feel free to email me if you have any immediate questions. 
Thank you,
Christina Fish
 
Dear Council Members: 
 
It has come to my attention that you will be reviewing a proposal regarding urban hens.  I am writing to express my support of Durham passing this ordinance that would make it possible for city residents to keep hens within city limits. 
  
I think it is impossible to deny that there is a very real trend not only in Durham, but nationally, to be more “green”.  This “greening” trend includes far more than energy and water conservation.  It is also related to the foods that we eat, where they come from, and how we can shorten the distance these foods travel.  These days I cannot seem to find a magazine cover or news story that does not mention this topic.  Popular books of the year include such titles as In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Real Food: What to Eat and Why, The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, to name a few. 
 
I feel personally tied to this movement.  As a mother of two young children, I believe that it is important for them to know where their food comes from.  I want them to understand that some people (their great grandparents included) can sustain themselves without multiple trips to the grocery store.  Although I know that a full-fledged farm is not in our immediate future, it would be nice to have the opportunity to partake in this lifestyle on a small scale.  With bacteria being discovered in mass produced foods and gas prices on the rise, I think most consumers would welcome the opportunity to get their food from more local sources. 
 
Lastly, as a real estate agent, I am constantly “selling” people on the many benefits of living in a city like Durham.  One of the factors that seems to be most important to people moving here is the fact that we are a progressive city with intelligent, community-minded, and environmentally conscious residents.  I want to be able to look my client in the eye and say, “Durham gets it”.  I want to let them know that we have a thriving farmer’s market, and that we have not just one, but a variety of restaurants that offer fantastic local foods.  Most of all, I want to tell my clients that they do not have to move to Orange or Wake counties, or a farm in Bahama, to take part in the movement towards backyard sustainability.  I realize that keeping chickens is not for everyone, but I think that people should have the opportunity available to them.  If we are, in fact, committed to the Durham Brand Promise that “Durham is a colorful, creative and entrepreneurial community where diverse and passionate people come together to shape a better world, and a place that visitors, residents, students and businesses find enriching, accepting and engaging”,  then I think the choice is clear.  Please pass the ordinance to allow urban hens in Durham.     
 
Thanks in advance for your consideration,
Courtney James
 
Why Pet Hens?• Hens ~no roosters!~ are quieter than dogs or parrots and when well-cared-for as suburban pets (not as farm animals) they don't smell.• Fresh organic eggs are healthier for you and the environment: no fuel used trucking them to stores!• Backyard chickens lead happy, healthy lives. Kept in attractive garden coops they won't roam into neighbors' yards (like some dogs and cats do!)• Composted droppings make incredible garden fertilizer: Reduce/Reuse/Recycle!• Cities all over America allow and even encourage backyard hens. They are fun, educational, and make good neighbors.> Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:37:53 -0400> From: deanna at crc32.com> To: inc-list at rtpnet.org> Subject: INC NEWS - INC Agenda - August> > Agenda for the Monthly meeting on Tuesday August 26, 2008> 7-9pm in the Civic Room> HERALD-SUN Building (2828 Pickett Road)> Directions: http://www.durhamINC.org/meetings.html> > Welcome and Introductions (10 min)> > Announcements (10 min)> > Hero Awards – Pick your neighborhood nominees – Deadline Extended to> September 15th! Email to scjdurham at aol.com> Make it Durham – Chamber of Commerce> Eno River Resolution> Durham.MyNC.com – NBC17 all local media – anyone can post announcements!> > Updates (15 min)> > Updates from Other Organizations> Minutes and Treasurer's Report> Substance Abuse Report> VOTE – Resolution for Environmentally Responsible Development> Other updates and new business> > Presentations (70 min)> > Project Safe Neighborhoods (5 min) Jennifer Snyder> > Becoming a Foster Parent (10 min) Sandra Reddish> > Urban Chickens in Durham (10 min) Christina Fish> > Durham Can You Spare a Change Campaign Launch (45 min) Durham> Congregations In Action> _______________________________________________> INC-list mailing list> INC-list at rtpnet.org> http://lists.deltaforce.net/mailman/listinfo/inc-list
_________________________________________________________________
See what people are saying about Windows Live.  Check out featured posts.
http://www.windowslive.com/connect?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_connect2_082008
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.deltaforce.net/mailman/private/inc-list/attachments/20080825/5cc9ea98/attachment.htm