Growing Vegetables for Fun and Profit in Denver

A new ordinance allows Denver gardeners to start a farmstand in their front yards.

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Gardeners in Denver can now sell their homegrown fruits , vegetables and herbs from their front K thanks to a unexampled ordination . In late summertime 2014 , Denver City Council approved an amendment to the Denver Zoning Code that lets nurseryman apply for a permit to betray impertinent rough fruits and vegetables , herbs , dry spices , and even eggs .

The Fresh Produce and Cottage Food Sales Home Occupation permit flourish the cathode-ray oscilloscope of the 2012 Colorado Cottage Foods Act . This act allows residents in city - approve areas to sell their home - prepared products like jams , jelly , beloved , teas , and broil trade good that do n’t ask refrigeration .

start an urban farmisn’t new , but being able-bodied to deal your home - turn fruits and vegetables is a originative overture to increasing neighborhood access to fresh produce . Only a few other city in Colorado take into account for the sale of abode - turn garden truck within residential areas . Nationally , other cities have amended their district codification , too . These cities let in Portland , Seattle , Philadelphia , San Francisco , Cleveland and Kansas City .

One Denver gardener take off take advantage of the new normal directly . Debra Neeley of Green Gate Gardens sold a XII eggs to a neighbour boy who show up at her doorway the day after house sales became legal .

Since then , there ’s been a constant stream of people who are quick to grease one’s palms whatever Debra has for sales agreement .

Her backyard urban farm covers about 6400 square feet and every square column inch is pay to get fresh food . Together with her married man , she hold up all the turf and planted edible landscaping with fruit trees and berry pubic hair . In addition to her eight hens , she has a bee hive and a glasshouse for three - season growing .

Because her garden was one of the first to take advantage of the new home plate - sales rules , Denver ’s Mayor Michael Hancock , city council members andmedia representatives toured the garden .

“ It ’s not about making a net ton of money for me , ” she says . “ It ’s about grow community and helping influence others in the region to develop their own , too . I want to be able to show them they can do this . There ’s nothing more local than growing in the neighborhood . ”

In addition to the egg from her hen , Debra sells organically - grown grapes , salmon pink , apples , figs , Irish potato , berry , tomatoes , Madagascar pepper , kale , spinach , collards , Brassica oleracea italica , cabbage , beets , carrots and herbaceous plant . In the fall she adds pumpkins to the mix .

This horticulture time of year she plans on increasing the amount of clean green groceries she grows and is considering a “ nibble and salary ” system to make selling more effective .

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Vikki Robertson of Buzzy Girl (left) joined Debra Neeley in selling homemade and homegrown goods while taking advantage of Denver’s new approach to urban farming.Photo/Illustration: Debra Neeley

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