Food Forum October 23 in Stevenson

[lori loranger]

Save the date! WSU Extension and Gorge Winds Community Grocery are
hosting a Food Forum Saturday, October 23rd at Hegewald Center
(formerly known as Rock Creek Center) in Stevenson. The day's agenda
begins with a meet and greet at 9:30 a.m. followed by a keynote
address. Morning and afternoon workshops on a variety of food-related
topics including wild edibles, organic gardening, cooking vegetables,
keeping chickens, beekeeping, and worm composting will be offered.
Lunch will include a food-related film with a discussion, followed by
p.m. workshops and a short closing talk, wrapping up the day by 3:30.
Admission is free with donations and canned food items accepted.
Babysitting will be provided. Keep an eye out for more information in
the coming weeks.

[Sally]

Sounds like a fantastic line-up! 

On a side note, I hope it's okay to comment here, since this is regarding local food: It's interesting to me that this will be the 2nd class in just a few months on keeping chickens (last one was hosted at/by Stevenson Library) and yet keeping chickens in Stevenson is illegal. Would it be okay if I created a petition for folks that want to see that changed to sign at the Forum? 

We were forced to move our 5 hens from our backyard to a friend's farm in Carson because they are considered an illegal nuisance by the City of Stevenson. It was and continues to be quite an ordeal and is just ridiculous. I have been researching a bit on other cities and towns where they are allowed and would be happy to share the info I've found already.

Thanks, Sally

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[Joseph Robertson]

Sally,
This subject came up at our last City Steering committee. You can have hen chickens in SR zoning here in Stevenson. Up on the hill more less.
It's a matter of zoning. I believe we, (those of us on the steering committee) can make the recommendation you are working on here. It may not take the petition your working on. I will ask the city planner Ben when I see him. 
Joe

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[Laila Goldring]

Joe and Sally, 

I have chickens and live in North Bonneville.  When I called the city hall to clear it with them first, they said it was fine as long as I checked with my neighbors and they weren't opposed.  That was the only thing I had to do; no limits on numbers, roosters, etc.

Laila Goldring

[D]

On the Food Forum: I am looking forward to participating in the
forum. We will be there are presenters and hopefully to do a bit of
learning ourselves.

On the Chickens in Stevenson Issue:
I find it interesting that it sounds like in some parts of Stevenson
chickens are okay and others not, depending on "zoning". Even in many
large cities chickens are allowed...I'd be willing to sign anything to
help out my "neighbors" in Stevenson. This year at the Stevenson
Farmers' Market we were told by Norm Haight that the City Council told
him (he did all the liason work for the Farmers' Market this year-
Good job Norm!) that we could have the Farmer's Market on the main
street in town, but we could not sell eggs! The logic is that
chickens are not allowed in Stevenson city, so therefore eggs could
not be sold there! UGH! So then why can A&J Select sell eggs? Or
Main Street? And considering that the majority of the farmer's at the
market ( all except one) lived outside Stevenson, this is a lame claim
for the City Council to stand behind, I feel. The idea behind the
Farmers' Market is to bring fresh wholesome food to the local people.
This should include eggs. So if infact the City has said chickens can
now be living in even some areas of Stevenson, this should not be an
issue at the Farmers' Market. Either way fresh eggs should be
available to shoppers in Stevenson.
Okay, I'll get off my soap box now..( Farm Fresh Quail Eggs will
hopefully be available from us at the Gorge Winds Community Grocery
when it gets off the ground).

Deanne

[Sally]

Thanks for your comments Deanne and your offer of help, Joe. The issues you bring up Deanne are most interesting. One of the things I think is so wonderful about this community grocery and something like this food forum is the getting together of people interested in where their food is coming from and the sharing of ideas and experiences with each other. Really looking forward to the forum!

-Sally

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[Norm Haight]

Hello everyone. Just to try and clear up any misunderstandings, here is what I know. Deanne got the impression that the City would not allow any eggs to be sold at the Market, but what I tried to relay was that I personally was not allowed to sell eggs or chicken products coming from my property here in Stevenson, due to the zoning laws, whether it was at the Market or anywhere else. We live in the "SR" zone, which is the most lenient zoning for animals in Stevenson, but chickens and eggs in that zone are only to be for your own use.

 

What I was told is that the City wants vendors to comply with Health Dept./ Wash. State rules for anything that is sold at the Market. Zoning laws are a separate issue between you and your municipality. Produce grown by you on your own property has the least amount of regulation from the Health Dept./ State. As you move up the line to processed foods, meat etc., regulations increase. Our local Health Dept. ought to be able to answer most of your questions. They are located in the annex building east of the Courthouse.

 

Please don't get discouraged. It sounds like there is some flexibility at the local Health Dept. level, but they need to update some antiquated language in their rulebook, in order to help support a farmer's market type of activity. 

 

Norm 

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[Joseph Robertson]

Norm,
Thanks a ton of chicken eggs for helping us with legalese. So to speak.
All it takes is one of us to understand the "rules" and pass it on in a way we can all benefit from. I know just about anything is possible if we work with the local municipalities in the spirit of good will.
Sincerely,
Joseph

[Sally]

Oops, I should have clarified that we currently live in Zone R1 in Stevenson, where we were indeed forced by Ben Shumaker to remove the hens or face fines, removal of the hens (I am guessing animal control?), a lawsuit and possible jail time. This was for 5 quiet & clean little pullets in a small coop completely surrounded by trees and bushes, not even visible from the road, but the neighbors across the street complained to the city. I have seen many people in R1 with chickens, but not all are prosecuted, only when someone complains. From conversations with Ben, he would rather not prosecute people and is open to the law changing. When I said "in Stevenson" in my original post, I was just thinking "in town" more or less, which is how the zoning is figured also. I apologize for not including all areas of Stevenson.

We are moving up the hill to where chickens are allowed in Stevenson, but I would like to see things changed for folks living closer to town, as well as being able to legally sell the eggs to people who want them.

-Sally

[D]

Fresh From the Farm is pleased to be able to present two sessions
on vermicomposting (redworm composting) at the Food Forum on Oct
23rd. It is so much more than just about feeding your compostables
to
worms. Think about more nutritious soils/growing medium available
for
you to grow a better and more abundant harvest. Gardens with veggies
that are nutritious and grown organically. Being able to water less.
Improve soil texture and quality. Better seed germination, plant
growth, less disease and plant pests. You can have a pot of
gardeners gold from your trash, even if you live in a small
apartment! Yes, it is 'green" AND easy, and a great budget help!
Fun workshop for adults AND kids!

[Joseph Robertson]

Thanks for the clarification Sally. Having dealt with codes as a general contractor I could read between your lines when it comes to general references you made. I also was able to concur from your complaint that someone most likely complained, ( weather justified or not ) to the city. Ben is a nice fellow but in his job he is tasked with passing the rules on to you. I know he feels some laws in this area don't make much sense.  Hopefully Sally,  working with Dave Bennett and all the rest on the city of Stevenson's steering committee we can influence some new laws that fit better here with this city.
Joe