Brad chats with a small Certified Naturally Grown farmer in Michigan about his recent victory over a zoning regulation that would’ve shut him down. Randy Buchler used the state’s Right to Farm Act to overrule his local zoning authority, who said he had to get rid of his chickens, livestock and vegetable garden, because his 6.5-acre property was zoned “residential,” not “agricultural.” The state sided with Buchler’s Shady Grove Farm, saying the right to farm, right to work, and ultimately right to live, supersedes the town’s authority to zone land for particular uses.
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I'd love to know if I could use this act in Grand Rapids, MI. We used to have bees and chickens, and currently have a nice garden, fruit trees, grapes etc. We'd love to get our chickens and bees back but don't know if we could use the Right To Farm Act to do so. Even if we tried, who would pay the court fees if the city took us to court? We would not be able to.
@meme12 It covers the whole state, but the people who are the ones in charge of "helping" the farmers are not very nice so if the city took you to court you would have to fight it. I worked with my city and they agreed i was within my rights to have chickens
Good!
Small step for mankind : )
Thanks! Big win for farmers!
Brad, this is awesome, mate! Way to go Michigan.