March 12, 2015

Representative Leslie Love

leslielove@house.mi.gov
Re: House Bill No. 4012
Dear Representative Love:
I am writing to you as my State Representative to express my support for House Bill No.
4012. This bill is very important because it is in an attempt to amend the Michigan zoning
enabling act in section 204. This would be in support for backyard farming, as long as it
lawfully used under a structure legally marked as a residence. It states that the farm products
produced at the residence may be used for consumption by the residence or it can be sold,
traded or shared by the residents only on an extremely minimal scale, like a food stand.
I am a dietetics student at Madonna University and I am now more knowledgeable to just
how important backyard farming really is. It creates a lot of opportunity for residents to be
sustainable in their own food supply. By creating the availability for residents to maintain
backyard farming it is creating nutritional and educational opportunities as well as saving
residents money.
Backyard farming can create such versatility in the diet for people who otherwise may not
have encountered the options or opportunity. With backyard farming there is a chance to
create a variety in your diet, as well as an increase on the intake of nutritional value that may
not have otherwise been presented. It allows residents to have the opportunity to grow their
own produce, create their own dairy products and within reason maintain a number of farm
animals like cows or chickens.
Through opportunities like this it can create such a healthy opportunity for people to really
know where their food is coming from and the nutritive value that it holds. By having
chickens it is creating opportunity to produce their own eggs, and by allowing people to grow
fruits and vegetables in their backyard they can also create a wider range on their plate.
In other outcomes the production in backyard gardens may also be in abundance allowing for
them to share, trade or sell their produce and that would give them the availability to not only
help themselves, but to also help their neighbors and loved ones and on a minimal scale earn
extra money by doing something that would be healthy for themselves and the earth.
In conclusion, this bill is one that can benefit the environment, the people and the community.
It can lead to much healthier steps in the community and bountiful opportunity for the future
of our city and our state.
Thank you for taking your time to read this and I hope you will consider supporting this bill.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Stevens
9385 Hemingway

Redford, MI 48239