GA "Right to Grow" Bill # 853

Illegally grown? Even the Georgia peanuts?

GA Bill 853 seeks to remove local regulations that hamper a private property owner's ability to grow food for consumption by the grower and his/her family. This protection includes food crops (annual and perennial plants, shrubs and trees), as well as bees, rabbits and chickens raised in appropriate enclosures.

Currently, unincorporated DeKalb County sets a 2-acre requirement for keeping animals such as egg-laying hens. Individuals found in violation are cited and must dismantle coops and get rid of their hens in very short order. In recent years, DeKalb Code Enforcement has been known to respond to complaints about front yard gardens with a visit to the property owner. These visits did not result in citations or fines because they did not relate to noise or health nuisances affecting neighbors; the visits were essentially complaints about the property owner's choice of landscaping (edible). 

Dangerously fresh! 

In favor: Georgia Organics supports Bill 853. The White House supports home gardens and even beekeeping. The USA has a proud tradition of growing food at home, with victory gardens exemplifying a time when growing food in urban environments reflected responsibility and good sense. Both City of Decatur and Atlanta have flexible food-growing regulations that simultaneously respect an individual's right to provide for his/her family and protect neighbors from nuisances (such as noise from roosters, which are rarely allowed in residential areas). At a local level, we have the Oakhurst, the Clarkston and our own Medlock Park Community Gardens to illustrate that growing food close to home is a win-win. The call for growing food at home exists in a much larger context, well summarized by author Michael Pollan.

Against: The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) opposes this bill. Their concerns are typical of this debate, and have been addressed by municipalities with successful urban food ordinances.

"Breaking the law, breaking the law..." - Judas Priest

If you care about this issue, whether you oppose or favor this bill, the time to contact your legislators is now. 

Status of this Legislation

The idea of removing restrictions from urban food growing has been floating around for a while (e.g. House Bill 2). With support from multiple legislators, House Bill 853 reflects increasing support of local food sources,  environmentally sound farming, and humane animal husbandry.

As of last week, Bill 853 has been favorably reported upon by the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.  The next stop should be the Rules Committee, which next meets on February 15. || Rules Committee members

While in the House of Representatives, real-time updates on the status of this bill can be obtained by contacting the Clerk of the House at (404) 656-5015.

Possible outcomes: If supported by the House during the current session, Bill 853 will move to the Senate. If the Senate approves Bill 853, it would proceed to Gov. Nathan Deal for consideration. This all could be expected to happen in April at the earliest, by June otherwise.

How to voice your support or concerns

DeKalb--green is as green does.

The Georgia Food Rights group has put together a document with contact information for Georgia Senators and Legislators. This document is sortable and includes 3 tabs that list senators, house representatives and Agriculture Committee members separately as well as their stance on Bill 853, if known. The document also shows which House members serve in the Rules committee that will meet on Feb. 15. 

Our local representatives are:

Mary Margaret Oliver (State House Representative for District 83): email

Jason Carter (State Senator for District 42): email

Neighborhood Watch Meeting [Feb 27]

UPDATE: This meeting is cancelled, see updated information here.

Please join us Monday, February 27th 7:00 pm at North Decatur Presbyterian Church (611 Medlock Road) for the first Watch Meeting of 2012.


Ms Janean Hightower (Center Precinct Public Education Specialist for Dekalb County Safety Services) will join us to answer questions concerning crime in the neighborhood.


We will discuss the Neighborhood Watch program, the need for more email coordinators, and current crime in the neighborhood (especially the burglaries, many of which are door kick-ins).


Please email the watch ahead of time at manawatch@gmail.com with your questions so Ms Hightower will be able to do research and/or be prepared to answer promptly.

Reminder: ICS Open House [Feb 4]

International Community School Open House

WHEN: February 4
WHERE: 3260 Covington Highway
WHY: an opportunity to learn more  about ICS,  which will operate at Medlock Elementary effective Fall  2012

And don't forget that enrollment information is now posted.

The way we were

These aerial views show the Medlock Park area as it was in the 1940's, then in 1960, and finally, a recent view.

It is not quite a perfect overlay, but you can orient yourself by finding the railroad tracks on top left and Scott Blvd. towards the bottom right. The future location of Medlock Elementary is roughly at the middle of the 1940's photo, with the South Fork of Peachtree Creek very visible along the middle of the photo.

Can you spot your house, other landmarks?

1940 (left) and 1960 (right). Click to enlarge.

The above images are courtesy of the Digital Library of Georgia, where you can download the above images: 1940 | 1960.

Below, Google tells us the area is now positively infested with trees! But seriously, the transition from agricultural to residential appears to have been quite tree-friendly. Here's to hoping the Google plane flies over when the dogwoods are in bloom.

2011. Click to enlarge.

Reunited: Fluffy furry puppy & family

This adorable fuzzball is now safely home with family, yay!

Urban Chicken Symposium [Feb 25]

We know a lot of you are interested in urban chicken-keeping so here's an opportunity to learn more through the Urban Chicken Symposium, organized by the Oakhurst Community Garden. 

As to MANA chickens, well, we've heard DeKalb is working on changing regulations but to our knowledge, it is not legal to keep chickens in our district.

Click to enlarge.

Urban Chickens Symposium in the Heart of Oakhurst Village near Downtown Decatur February 25 

Eggstra! Eggstra! Poultry in Motion. 

On the wings of Oakhurst Community Garden Project’s wildly popular “Chicks in the City” classes comes a full day of urban poultry-keeping. On February 25 the Chicks in the City Symposium offers attendees a full plate of essentials on backyard chickens. Taught by local experts, the seven sessions highlight how-tos from bees and chickens to community co-ops. 

With urban farming on the rise, and concerns about how food is made increase, this timely full day of workshops will engage and enlighten both the committed “locavore” and curious alike. The Chicks in the City Symposium equips guests with all the resources needed to start an urban flock.  Several new topics will be covered including Baby Chicks by the Georgia Gardener, Walter Reeves.   

In an eggshell, the Chicks in the City Symposium runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4pm on Saturday, February 25 and will be held at the Oakhurst Church, 630 East Lake Drive, Decatur, GA. Cost is $65. Oakhurst Community Garden Project members pay just $50. Morning sweet tweets will be available for purchase from the Little Red Hen Bakeshop. Pre-registration is requested and limited to the first 150 registrants.  Register at Oakhurstgarden.org. Contact Andrea.zoppo@yahoo.com for questions. 

About the Oakhurst Community Garden Project Founded in 1997, and located on two acres at the corner of McDonough and Oakview in the Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur, the Oakhurst Community Garden Project works to preserve community greenspace and cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards. We engage people of all ages to take charge of their own health and environment through hands-on gardening and outdoor education programs. Our classes, events, and volunteer projects also offer community members opportunities to enhance their own green spaces and sustainable living skills. Visit oakhurstgarden.org.

Correcting erroneous statements by APN

from the MANA Board 

Some of you may have seen a report on the Atlanta Progressive News website about the protest against Walmart at Suburban Plaza.  There are several inaccuracies in the report that we would like to correct.

Someone was quoted as saying that MANA was offered $250,000 for supporting Walmart. This is untrue. There was a person purported to be from Walmart at one of the first public meetings who was overheard saying that Walmart usually supports local schools and community projects that surround their stores.

We have always welcomed the support of the local business community for Medlock Elementary programs and other neighborhood activities such as the Senior Dinner. We will welcome any future contributions, however, none were offered in exchange for the parking variance support.

MANA agreed to support the parking variance because we felt that it was in the best interest of the neighborhood and our watershed to have as little asphalt as possible at the site, and it was our understanding that the project would continue even if the variance did not pass.