HALIFAX - Interested in turning your urban yard into a rural idyll? Always wanted a piece of the country right here in the city? On Wednesday at Halifax Hall, city staff are hosting a public information meeting regarding backyard laying hens and a proposed amendment to the Peninsula Land Use By-law. Following this meeting, the proposal will undergo a detailed review and staff will prepare a report to be tabled at Peninsula Community Council. If you're interested in the growing urban farm movement, this is the place to make yourself heard. WHAT: Public information meeting ...

HALIFAX - Enthusiasm for local food is on the rise in Halifax. One only needs to witness the bustle of the Saturday morning farmers’ market. It’s so busy that the market is moving to a bigger location to accommodate the crowds. New markets are popping up all over the city. Whether it’s from a North End street-side market or one found in a South End parking lot, more and more people are buying local food. Although most Haligonians embrace the local food movement, Halifax city council isn’t on board; at least when it comes to urban poultry. The beginning of 2008 saw city council taking a stance against food security with its decision to ban backyard laying hens. Almost two years later, it seems that urban agriculture enthusiasts and amateur chicken farmers will get another chance to plead their case. The issue first came into the limelight in January 2008 in the West End of Halifax. At the time, Louise Hanavan was raising three laying hens in her backyard, collecting fresh eggs and using the manure to compost her garden. But a complaint from a neighbour put an end to her small-scale urban farm. Reg Harper claimed that the chickens were attracting rats and not long after, Hanavan was given official notice to move the hens off the peninsula. It seems foolish that this single complaint about attracting vermin (in a port city that is full of mice, rats, cats and other assorted pests) was enough to derail the entire city’s foray into urban agriculture.

Co-written by Anna Duckworth and Mark Lamovsek HALIFAX - Tonight is the much-anticipated Hallowe’en Critical Mass ride. And hopefully the beginning of a new chapter for the Halifax ride. Critical Mass is an international monthly celebration of bikes and bike culture. In Halifax, cyclists gather at Victoria Park on the last Friday of every month to cruise around the city. For most, Critical Mass is a chance to cycle safely, experience strength in numbers and celebrate life on bikes. Despite Critical Mass’ generally celebratory and peaceful nature, it’s garnered some negative ...