The Nelson HENS group (Homegrown Eggs for Nelson Sustainability) open house planned for tonight at City Hall has been cancelled due to "unforeseen" circumstances. The City of Nelson issued a news release this morning to inform residents of the cancellation of the meeting scheduled for tonight.
There were to be presentations by the regional apiary (bee) inspector and a local expert on bear issues. There was also going to be information about how other municipalities are handling these issues, including some of the concerns and benefits.
The idea of backyard chickens is not new. Cities as large as Los Angeles, New York and Vancouver have passed bylaws allowing residents to keep a few hens, and communities as small and rural as Rossland and Kaslo have also successfully been keeping hens.
Of course, the City of Nelson is unique and homegrown ideas on how to make backyard hens and bees a success in our city are needed. For example, the Nelson Good Neighbours neighbourhood volunteer mediation program was put together precisely to support new initiatives such as this in our city.
A few representatives of the program were planning to be there to explain their potential role.
Advocates say that backyard chickens present a learning experience for families and neighbours and foster an understanding of where food comes from. Children learn first hand about food, biology, geography and community. Having chickens allows families to know how the hens producing the eggs have been raised, fed and treated too.
Information that was to be presented will be made available on the City’s webpage after the event.
There will also be an opportunity to leave your comments online, so if you cannot attend the open house, visit this site as of February 1 to have your input heard: tinyurl.com/hens-bees.
For more information, email Nelsonchickens@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.