Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Urban Chickens Strengthen a Community (video)

(note: updated the embedded video to point to vimeo version on 3/3/10)

Lisa Schneider's created a nice mini-documentary showing just what happens to her El Cerrito neighborhood with the introduction of backyard chickens.

Are we bowling alone? Think again! Schneider shows how the act of owning urban chickens helps weave connections within and across a neighborhood. She shows that they're not just one person's chickens, they're the community's chickens.

Chickens Create Community on Elm Street from Linda Schneider on Vimeo.


In interview after interview you can see a social community has been created resulting in greater emotional and social support for everyone involved.

I found I could recognize many of the same reactions that Schneider's neighbors had mirrored those of my own neighbors. Have you seen the same thing happen when people discover you own urban chickens?

1 comment:

Unknown said...

We have 18 chickens and 3 ducks. Our street feeds them lots of veges etc. Some let themselves in the backyard and feed them, others leave bags of goodies by the gate (along with empty egg cartons hint hint) and yet another sails food over from her deck!

The neighborhood kids love them and when we are away for a night or weekend they are always keen to help out by locking them up and letting them out. They collect eggs and feed them by hand.

They really are neighborhood chickens. It is very cool.

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