Consider Donating to LEAF Community in the season of giving!

LEAF Community is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  A donation from you can assist with increasing healthy food access to limited income neighbors, bring quality programming for educating our community about sustainable living and increase our capacity to facilitate community gardens at five locations around Lakewood.

Any donation of $12 or more will include a thank you gift from us: a limited edition stainless steel double wall travel tumbler.  Fill it with squash soup, homegrown chamomile tea or tap water.  Or, give it to your favorite local food fan!

Hens In Lakewood Update

Last Monday, City Council introduced a proposed ordinance that would remove Mayor Summer's power to exempt families to own hens (in this case, on a pilot basis) for "other legitimate reasons".  Instead of following normal procedure, the proposed ordinance was included in the agenda as a last-minute "add on" and included "emergency" language (meaning it could go into effect immediately, rather than the normal 40-day waiting period). The legislation was referred for discussion to the Committee of the Whole (all City Council members, chaired by Mary Louise Madigan, President of Council).

Your calls and emails to the Lakewood municipal leaders supporting the pilot were much appreciated by the committed families seeking permits for the pilot project, and the many Lakewood residents who support local food and urban agriculture! It is estimated that a large number of emails or calls were made between Sunday and Monday!! This community response to a local issue is the largest response that the city has seen in years!  The support that you all showed made quite an impression on council members! 

The ordinance that provides legal authority to the mayor to allow a family to keep hens on a pilot project basis was reviewed and re-approved by Council this past July.  Since many other Lakewood laws grant discretion to the mayor, yet this is the only law challenged by Council, it seems that the intent is not to adjust "checks and balances" as proponents state but rather to stop the pilot project allowing three families to keep hens in Lakewood.    

Another troubling issue is that the supporters of responsible hen raising in Lakewood are being dubbed a "special interest group" by a council member.  This term, "special interest group" seems to have been used to make it appear that only a small subset of Lakewood residents supports this issue.  LEAF understands that healthy, local, sustainable food is a unifier that knows no boundaries.  Several council members, the Mayor, and city officials have participated in LEAF Night Markets. They sought out fresh, local food for their families because they understand the benefits, just like the hundreds of families who visit LEAF Nights each week during the season.  Local food is an issue that we all can rally around as committed, caring, responsible citizens who want to see their community thrive and support generations to come.    

Mayor Summers still has the power to go through with what he verbally told the three pilot families that he would do, based upon the current law. If you support this issue, it is still very important to let the Mayor know that you support him to keep his word. It is important that we continue to reach out to Mayor Summers and council.  LEAF Community thanks the Mayor for agreeing to provide permits for hen ownership to three families on a pilot project basis. We agree with his decision to gather information and to gain on-the-ground experience for hen-raising in Lakewood.  We are asking the Mayor to stand by his decision and move forward with the permits to those families.  We ask the sponsors of the proposed ordinance to learn about the facts of responsible hen raising, rather than making decisions based on perception or personal opinions. 

Join the LEAF Community on Facebook! 

Stay up to date and show your support by joining the LEAF Facebook Group.

Once you join, you will receive updates, invites to our events, and have the ability to post messages and have discussions with other members.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10201667065

Thank you to everyone who pitched in over the past couple of years either at the library, City Fresh Distribution Center, or in the many other ways by which volunteers added their unique character and support to the project. Without the help of dedicated volunteers, LEAF Nights would not have been possible.

To meet the growing demand for our programs, we need to expand our volunteer base. There are many volunteer opportunities; in fact, there are options for all ages, interests and skills. If you haven't told us about your interests already please fill out the form at the bottom of the page. This will help us identify whom to contact for future events and volunteer opportunities. We are also seeking applications for board member positions, which can be indicated below.