Several thoughts on how things differ with geography:
- You mention you were told not to compost. Here in California they are requiring composting of food waste. We've had 'green bins' for years in many neighborhoods - for leaves/tree trimmings... Now you are supposed to put your food waste in them as well. We don't because we have a compost bin that is producing amazing soil for our veggie patch.
- You mention your back fence is 'city management'... I'm not sure exactly what that means, but perhaps it means you back up to a parcel owned by the city. Regardless - if the fence is inadequate, you can put a fence just inside your side of the property line and properly fence the area to keep the hens in and the predators out. It doesn't work for flying predators... we've looked at having hens but we have hawks and owls in our neighborhood because we are near a canyon.
- I understand that you feel they are unfairly citing you. At some point you may have to accept that 'might makes right'... and the city is mightier than most homeowners... You can appeal the decision, but is it a good choice for your mental health. I totally get wanting to fight for your rights... but losing repeatedly is not a good long term strategy.
FWIW - we are in a city, we have a veggie patch, fruit trees, on a quarter acre. But we don't call ourselves farmers... We just like fresh herbs, beans, tomatoes, onions, shallots, etc. And we never have to go far for limes for a fresh marguerita or gin and tonics or lemons to make limoncello... just to our back yard. We have neighbors with chickens but the local owl got the rooster not too long ago... And the owl lives in an owl box another neighbor put up... I don't complain about the rooster, or the owl that ate it... both are legal and the owl and hawks are really cool to watch.
- You mention you were told not to compost. Here in California they are requiring composting of food waste. We've had 'green bins' for years in many neighborhoods - for leaves/tree trimmings... Now you are supposed to put your food waste in them as well. We don't because we have a compost bin that is producing amazing soil for our veggie patch.
- You mention your back fence is 'city management'... I'm not sure exactly what that means, but perhaps it means you back up to a parcel owned by the city. Regardless - if the fence is inadequate, you can put a fence just inside your side of the property line and properly fence the area to keep the hens in and the predators out. It doesn't work for flying predators... we've looked at having hens but we have hawks and owls in our neighborhood because we are near a canyon.
- I understand that you feel they are unfairly citing you. At some point you may have to accept that 'might makes right'... and the city is mightier than most homeowners... You can appeal the decision, but is it a good choice for your mental health. I totally get wanting to fight for your rights... but losing repeatedly is not a good long term strategy.
FWIW - we are in a city, we have a veggie patch, fruit trees, on a quarter acre. But we don't call ourselves farmers... We just like fresh herbs, beans, tomatoes, onions, shallots, etc. And we never have to go far for limes for a fresh marguerita or gin and tonics or lemons to make limoncello... just to our back yard. We have neighbors with chickens but the local owl got the rooster not too long ago... And the owl lives in an owl box another neighbor put up... I don't complain about the rooster, or the owl that ate it... both are legal and the owl and hawks are really cool to watch.