That’s right – Denver has finally passed a new Food Producing Animal (or FPA) ordinance that allows residents to have up to 8 chickens and 2 dwarf goats. As a vegan for over 2 years now, I’ve been following the FPA ordinance with a unique perspective. I find myself wanting to have chickens and goats in the backyard and wanting to have a reason to eat eggs and cheese. I’m very fortunate to be able to choose a vegan lifestyle. I can afford the luxury of going to a natural food store to buy healthy vegan proteins of amazing variety – organic tofu, mung beans, lentils and more. But local, natural, sustainably-produced eggs and goat cheese have wonderful nutritional properties that go far beyond protein. As a vegan, for example, I have to be particularly concerned about Vitamin B12 and D intake and use regular supplements to get what I need. Eggs provide all that naturally. I don’t typically worry about calcium, eating plenty of greens, seaweed, nuts and seeds in my diet but I can certainly appreciate the taste of some fresh, natural goat cheese. I do remember that fondly.
So as I look to new decisions over the coming year, I’ll be evaluating when to start building a privacy fence and a chicken coop and whether to take on a goat shelter. I already have some friends vying to hold a chicken of their own in my coop so they can have fresh eggs. I like the sound of that. 
Many thanks to Councilman Nevitt, Tina Axelrad with City Planning, Doug Kelley with Animal Control and dedicated residents like Sundari Kraft with Heirloom Gardens for working together to lead such a positive change.
We appreciate you!
For more information on Denver’s new FPA ordinance, on FPA’s in general and tips for turning your city into an FPA city, visit EatWhereULive.