Growing Your Own.

Chickens in the city, just imagine, instead of going to the supermarket to buy eggs, that are several days old, you get up in the morning go out into your backyard and gather the eggs yourself. It is possible to set up a portable chicken coop even in a small urban backyard. City bylaws will need to be changed if this is to happen on a scale large enough to make any difference in how we obtain our food. Public perception of chickens as noisy and smelly will also have to change. Both noise and smell can be reduced through appropriate design.

Now you may not want to raise chickens but love to garden so you decide to convert your backyard into a herb garden and to trade with a neighbour for eggs. Or, if you are an apartment dweller and unable to raise either eggs or herbs, you may be able to exchange your labour for the produce you need. A few hours after work and/or on weekends in your neighbours' garden or chicken ranch can earn you all the herbs and eggs you need for that week.

Access to land is a major barrier to setting up a mini-farm. If you live in an apartment, you may want to find out if other people who live there have an interest in starting a community garden and then negotiate with the owners for space. Don't forget the rooftop. Another way to access land for gardening is to appeal to your neighbours and ask them to allow you to use it for your self.

If you can't grow your own or trade your labour, then take a look around your region for farmer's markets. Farmers' markets are often open air markets which include crafts, food, music and more. If you are craft-oriented then you may be able to sell your work there.

Fish farming on a small scale is also a means to produce food for yourself or give you an item to trade or sell. You can use the water from your rooftop for the fish and recycle the nutrient rich water from the fish tanks into the garden or trade it with a neighbour for eggs, honey or herbs. Next column we'll talk about fair trade.

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