A few years ago, Steve and Wendy bought a five-acre parcel in southern Michigan, perfect for growing specialty crops. Unbeknownst to them, their idyllic parcel was located in a dystopian township, run by a mean-spirited zoning inspector who did not cotton to outsiders and had no grasp…
Preserving Aquaculture Heritage in Virginia – HB 1897 & SB 1529
Virginia House Bill 1897 (HB 1897) and Senate Bill 1529 (SB 1529) are companion bills introduced, respectively, by Delegate Nick Freitas and Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel to make it crystal clear that aquaculture is
FTCLDF Member Bavuso Before Virginia Supreme Court Again
On September 15 at 9:00 a.m. the Virginia Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case of York County Board of Supervisors et al. v. Bavuso, marking the second time in three years that oyster farmer and Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund member Anthony Bavuso will
Town Health Board Limits Poultry But Not Cows
It started over four years ago; I fell in love with four ducklings that I had almost thrown out after a hatch we did in a school where I work. All the eggs came from a 4-H project and were all supposed to be chicken
It’s More Than Just Chickens—It’s About Feeding My Family
People across the country are fighting for the right to provide for their families with gardens and small backyard livestock. My family is one of those affected, and the new laws are taking the food off my children’s plates. This is our story.
No Chickens Allowed on the Farm
Henrico County Virginia officials have told FTCLDF member Stewart Goodwin that she cannot have chickens on her property that is zoned for agriculture. Here is Stewart’s account of her dispute with the county.
The Fight Over the Right to Produce Your Own Food
FTCLDF was initially formed to protect the rights of farmers and consumers to engage in direct commerce, and that remains a major focus of the organization’s work. In recent years, however, FTCLDF has spent an increasing amount of time and resources fighting for
Bavuso’s Fight for Local Aquaculture in Virginia Continues
Anthony Bavuso began oyster farming on his property in York County, Virginia because he wanted to be a producer and saw oysters as a way to help improve
FTCLDF Member Bavuso Wins Virginia Right to Farm Case
In a major victory for Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund member Anthony Bavuso, a York County Poquoson Circuit Court Judge has ruled that the Virginia Right to Farm Act and a state zoning law prohibited York County from requiring Bavuso to obtain a special use permit in order to conduct oyster
FTCLDF Case Updates
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund General Counsel Gary Cox provides updates on the cases he’s currently handling. Everyone represented in court by the Fund is a member of the organization.