2024 July 13 Hen Hopeful

While sitting out back with the chickens today I randomly googled myself. This article from the Lakewood Observer in 2012 popped up first. I forgot back then the local paper was running articles about keeping hens because it was not allowed at the time. I had attended some City Council meetings, Hens of Lakewood group meetings, and even did a tour of chicken coops in Cleveland Heights to see if we could get a pilot program started. My participation dropped off in 2014 when I started grad school, my first teaching job, and my dad died. Luckily others kept the movement going and I was able to keep hens by 2016.

Hen Hopefuls was a weekly feature in the local paper before hens were officially allowed in Lakewood.

I’m happy to report that the hen ladies are doing well. I still have one, Olive, of my original five from 2016, making her eight years old. I eat fresh eggs daily and enjoy their entertainment, just as I did back in my Peace Corps days. 

Looking back, I still love the sustainability of this community, and I’m still trying to live my life simply. I need to get the old bike out for a spin. I always loved riding bikes.