Organic vegetables gardens are so 2008 – these days, the real urban farmer has a foul new habit.
Many people in these tough economic times are trying their hand at doing things that were commonplace 100 years ago. For instance, more and more people are now raising chickens.
“Anyone can do this,” said backyard farmer Rachel Alessio. “I work in an office all day yet come home to this fabulous hen house. And they really are therapeutic.”
The Valley Center resident works in an insurance office during the day. This is the first year she has tried her hand at raising chickens, nine altogether. They’ve just started laying eggs.
She's not alone in her new interest.
“We think it's great,” said Alan Armstrong. “You know, people having birds in their back yards are being self-sufficient. We think it's a good thing.”
Armstrong raises chickens himself and also runs a feed store in Valley Center. He said chicken-feed sales have nearly doubled, with most of those sales being made to families raising chickens at home. He said it takes no more room to raise chickens than it does having a dog in the back yard. And, unless you have a rooster, it's much quieter.
Coronado is the only city in the county banning live chickens, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, but anybody who’s game for raising chickens should check their local ordinances.
