your farm. anywhere.

Our city is on the forefront of urban agriculture. This past fall, the Somerville officials passed regulations and an ordinance allowing residents to keep chickens, bees, and personal commercial farms right in their own back yard. In most cities, zoning laws hinder homesteading activities such as these due to conflicts with health, safety, and noise regulations. But with proper government, selling your own vegetables and keeping your own hens can be a safe, rewarding path towards self-sufficiency. For example, if you are selling vegetables grown on your property in Somerville, you are required to run an annual soil health test. Hens are fine, but because of the noise issue roosters are not allowed to be kept on Somerville lots.

Silly me, I neglected to introduce myself with my last post. My name is Annie Gilmore and I am one of the new interns for GCG this fall. My passion for locally, sustainably grown food aligns with GCG’s mission to bring farm fresh food to everyone’s backyard (or roof!) and I am thrilled to be a part of it.

Don’t you love September? The weather is warm, the sun is still up by the time you get home, and so many of the summer crops are ripe for the picking.
Though chilly temperatures are just around the corner, you don’t have to give up fresh food from your own backyard. If you want to extend your growing season and keep those veggies coming, consider getting a cold frame.
As a new intern for GCG, I’ve learned that anyone, most anywhere, can have his or her own garden. Cold frames take this a step further and allow you to have a garden most any time of the year.