This Weekend: Hen-side the Beltline Tour d’Coop

May, 14, 2010

Hen-side the Beltline Tour d’Coop
Saturday May 15, 2010
10am- 4pm rain or shine
The Fifth Annual Tour of Raleigh’s Urban Chickens and Their Coops
Sponsored by Whole Foods Market
Raleigh’s city chicken owners invite you into their backyards for a first-hand look at keeping chickens in an urban environment. Discover the variety of breeds that might be nesting in your neighborhood, learn about raising chickens in a healthy neighbor friendly environment, and see how families integrate chickens into their gardening practices. In addition, you’ll be impressed by the ingenious coops that can be devised to shelter these feathered pets.

Being Green, Eating Local and Fun Too!

Why do I keep chickens? Coop owners who were asked that question gave answers as varied as themselves. “I wanted to teach my children where food comes from”, “I wanted to live a more sustainable life”, “I grew up on a farm and wanted to continue some of those traditions”, “chickens make me laugh!”, “chicken manure makes great compost.” Gardeners, parents, farmers’ children, environmentalists and people with a sense of humor all enjoy keeping chickens in an urban environment.
Admission: Please bring a non-perishable food or cash donation for Raleigh Urban Ministries.

100% of the food and money collected goes to Urban Ministries. The 2009 Tour collected 2342 pounds of food and raised over $5300 for Urban Ministries. Founded in 1981, Urban Ministries of Wake County is a non-profit organization that provides essential basic services to close to 20,000 families and individuals in Wake County every year. These services include emergency and transitional housing, medical care, prescription medications, food assistance and other support services to promote self-sufficiency and a stable home environment for those in need. 94 cents of every dollar goes to services!

New this year the Tour d’Coop attendees have the option of donating online through Paypal prior to the tour through our website (www.urbanmin.org/chickentour)
Visit our blogsite: hensidethebeltline.blogspot.com
No surprise here, chickens can make you laugh.