What Your Neighbors Are Saying ...
(comments from petition signers around Arlington County)
"As an environmental professional, I support backyard egg production for the individual homeowner. It just makes sense to allow this with adequate regulation." - Y. Hopkins
"I want backyard hens because it is a good way to get fresh eggs." - J. Fendley, age 12
"I've seen a couple backyard chicken set-ups. They were quiet, odor-free and produced fantastic eggs." - J. Wolf
"Please allow backyard hens. They are not very different from other types of pets and actually have nutritional value. Thank you." - M. Elkind
"I support this proposal. The current ordinance effectively prohibits nearly every resident from raising hens. This ordinance should be modified." - G. Buzby
"Arlington residents should be free to raise hens on their own property, for their own egg production and enjoyment, provided they are able to care for them in a secure and humane manner." --Concerned Citizen
"Please modify the ordinance to allow residents to contribute to more sustainable local production of food." - P. Tuttle
"Backyard hens produce extremely healthy eggs, generate manure that is fantastic for garden vegetables and lawns, and are a great educational tool for children. A growing number of progressive communities across the country have embraced the urban agriculture and chicken movement and it makes sense for Arlington to change the zoning ordinance to allow people to raise a limited number of backyard hens in secure and well-kept coops." - T. Horsley
"Please support urban agriculture!" - M. Reamy
"Yes yes yes fresh eggs every day!" - K. DeCarlo
"I fully support modifying the code to allow backyard hens." - J. Senn
"I love chickens!" - H. Park
"Hello, I would like to keep a hen or two in my yard so as to enjoy my very own healthy local fresh eggs, share them with neighbors, help my compost pile, and reduce my annoying local bug population. Please change the ordinance to allow hen keeping in Arlington.
Thank you!" -- J. Cross
"This is a fabulous idea and Arlington County is so good about supporting an effort like this with educational information, workshops for making perfect coops. I have seen this successfully implemented in urban areas of Arkansas and welcome the Egg Project to our Arlington." -- E. Altobell
"Love the idea and would take good care of the chickens! Seattle and Key West are already ahead of Arlington in urban hen care. The hens that I've seen are clean, sweet-natured, eat a lot of insects, and produce wonderful eggs. Pretty sure that my next-door neighbors will be up for it, too. My family kept chickens when I was growing up -- I miss really healthy, tasty eggs and the feathered ladies who produce them. " -- M. Geradin
"As a long time resident and concerned grandparent I support this project as another opportunity to promote sustainable development especially in urban areas. Egg laying hens are easy to care for and do not require roosters so concerns about noise should be minimal." A. Wilson
"I am a parent, grandparent and 37-year resident of Arlington with a life-long interest in the development of sustainable culture in my community. I think creating a closer connection with what sustains us, ie., the soil, air, sun, plants and animals that provide us the ability to nourish ourselves, is a great way to cultivate a consciously symbiotic relationship with our world, and increases our understanding and capacity to care for it it. Children who care for other living beings, and learn that there is a mutually beneficial relationship, become humane and connected adults. Keeping hens for fresh eggs is healthy, logical, sustainable and universally beneficial for Arlington." -- R. Davis
"I want to keep chickens! My son does too! -- L. Cherkasky
"I think people need to all that they can do to sustain their families. Raising your own chickens and having freah eggs is one of rhw nmany sensible ways to be more frugal and is sensible! Let's give it a try!" -- M. Van Ness
"Chickens (without roosters) are far more benign than constantly-barking dogs or cats that roam outside and kill songbirds--both of which are permitted in the County. Residents would have healthier, less-costly access to animal protein (from eggs, not the chickens!) and the chickens would eat bugs that damage gardens, both decorative and vegetable-producing. In the County's effort to be green, this is just another way to accomplish it--without spending taxpayer money!" -- D. Wahl
"My wife and I are interested in being able to raise our own hens for eggs in our backyard. We feel that it would be an invaluable educational experience for our two small children, and encourage the Board to consider this proposal." -- S. Schaible
"I urge the County Board to modify its livestock ordinances and allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in their back yards without a licensing fee or tax. Perhaps hens will like the taste of our newest pest--stink bugs which are destroying my small pepper and tomato crop. The more I raise vegetables, the more I realize that success depends on a balanced ecosystem. I've lived in Hawaii where everyone keeps chickens, including roosters, and housing values don't suffer!" -- A. Schellman
"My wife and I are expecting our first baby in just a few weeks. I would love to be able to provide my baby with healthy, low-cost eggs and teach them about sustainable consumption." -- G. Gieryic
"I think this would be very beneficial to the community!" - J. Yamamoto
"Citizen and parent in Arlington, VA. Strong supporter of this project!" - K Symanski
"Thank you for the Arlington Egg Project. Please help keep Arlington aware & progressive." - K. Holland
"I strongly support zoning changes to allow keeping chickens on smaller lots in Arlington." - A. Wick
"I have been currently an urban Arlington bee keeper for three years, have my backyard certified for wildlife, and would like to add having hens. In addition to producing eggs (great benefit), hens may be particularly useful to eat larvae of bugs detrimental to the bees. Let's try to keep our environment free of pesticides by using natural enemies instead of sprays!" - C. De Jesus
"I want backyard hens because it is a good way to get fresh eggs." - J. Fendley, age 12
"I've seen a couple backyard chicken set-ups. They were quiet, odor-free and produced fantastic eggs." - J. Wolf
"Please allow backyard hens. They are not very different from other types of pets and actually have nutritional value. Thank you." - M. Elkind
"I support this proposal. The current ordinance effectively prohibits nearly every resident from raising hens. This ordinance should be modified." - G. Buzby
"Arlington residents should be free to raise hens on their own property, for their own egg production and enjoyment, provided they are able to care for them in a secure and humane manner." --Concerned Citizen
"Please modify the ordinance to allow residents to contribute to more sustainable local production of food." - P. Tuttle
"Backyard hens produce extremely healthy eggs, generate manure that is fantastic for garden vegetables and lawns, and are a great educational tool for children. A growing number of progressive communities across the country have embraced the urban agriculture and chicken movement and it makes sense for Arlington to change the zoning ordinance to allow people to raise a limited number of backyard hens in secure and well-kept coops." - T. Horsley
"Please support urban agriculture!" - M. Reamy
"Yes yes yes fresh eggs every day!" - K. DeCarlo
"I fully support modifying the code to allow backyard hens." - J. Senn
"I love chickens!" - H. Park
"Hello, I would like to keep a hen or two in my yard so as to enjoy my very own healthy local fresh eggs, share them with neighbors, help my compost pile, and reduce my annoying local bug population. Please change the ordinance to allow hen keeping in Arlington.
Thank you!" -- J. Cross
"This is a fabulous idea and Arlington County is so good about supporting an effort like this with educational information, workshops for making perfect coops. I have seen this successfully implemented in urban areas of Arkansas and welcome the Egg Project to our Arlington." -- E. Altobell
"Love the idea and would take good care of the chickens! Seattle and Key West are already ahead of Arlington in urban hen care. The hens that I've seen are clean, sweet-natured, eat a lot of insects, and produce wonderful eggs. Pretty sure that my next-door neighbors will be up for it, too. My family kept chickens when I was growing up -- I miss really healthy, tasty eggs and the feathered ladies who produce them. " -- M. Geradin
"As a long time resident and concerned grandparent I support this project as another opportunity to promote sustainable development especially in urban areas. Egg laying hens are easy to care for and do not require roosters so concerns about noise should be minimal." A. Wilson
"I am a parent, grandparent and 37-year resident of Arlington with a life-long interest in the development of sustainable culture in my community. I think creating a closer connection with what sustains us, ie., the soil, air, sun, plants and animals that provide us the ability to nourish ourselves, is a great way to cultivate a consciously symbiotic relationship with our world, and increases our understanding and capacity to care for it it. Children who care for other living beings, and learn that there is a mutually beneficial relationship, become humane and connected adults. Keeping hens for fresh eggs is healthy, logical, sustainable and universally beneficial for Arlington." -- R. Davis
"I want to keep chickens! My son does too! -- L. Cherkasky
"I think people need to all that they can do to sustain their families. Raising your own chickens and having freah eggs is one of rhw nmany sensible ways to be more frugal and is sensible! Let's give it a try!" -- M. Van Ness
"Chickens (without roosters) are far more benign than constantly-barking dogs or cats that roam outside and kill songbirds--both of which are permitted in the County. Residents would have healthier, less-costly access to animal protein (from eggs, not the chickens!) and the chickens would eat bugs that damage gardens, both decorative and vegetable-producing. In the County's effort to be green, this is just another way to accomplish it--without spending taxpayer money!" -- D. Wahl
"My wife and I are interested in being able to raise our own hens for eggs in our backyard. We feel that it would be an invaluable educational experience for our two small children, and encourage the Board to consider this proposal." -- S. Schaible
"I urge the County Board to modify its livestock ordinances and allow residents to keep a limited number of hens in their back yards without a licensing fee or tax. Perhaps hens will like the taste of our newest pest--stink bugs which are destroying my small pepper and tomato crop. The more I raise vegetables, the more I realize that success depends on a balanced ecosystem. I've lived in Hawaii where everyone keeps chickens, including roosters, and housing values don't suffer!" -- A. Schellman
"My wife and I are expecting our first baby in just a few weeks. I would love to be able to provide my baby with healthy, low-cost eggs and teach them about sustainable consumption." -- G. Gieryic
"I think this would be very beneficial to the community!" - J. Yamamoto
"Citizen and parent in Arlington, VA. Strong supporter of this project!" - K Symanski
"Thank you for the Arlington Egg Project. Please help keep Arlington aware & progressive." - K. Holland
"I strongly support zoning changes to allow keeping chickens on smaller lots in Arlington." - A. Wick
"I have been currently an urban Arlington bee keeper for three years, have my backyard certified for wildlife, and would like to add having hens. In addition to producing eggs (great benefit), hens may be particularly useful to eat larvae of bugs detrimental to the bees. Let's try to keep our environment free of pesticides by using natural enemies instead of sprays!" - C. De Jesus