Milwaukee couple shares urban chicken-keeping, farming knowledge with others

MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- One couple who found a love for urban farming during the COVID-19 pandemic are working to make agriculture accessible to others.

For Milwaukee residents, Crystal Ayad and Andar Muhammad, urban farming is a new skill.

"There was a time when I didn't know how to do this, and I felt that it was an impossible task. It took many years of research, trial, and error, sometimes more error than success," Ayad said.

The couple's hard work helped them flourish. Now, they have eight garden beds and five fruit trees in their yard. Through urban farming, they have access to fresh food, something many do not.

"Most of the time, people are not driving. They are on the bus, or they're walking. So, what they have is a corner store, and mostly, it's chips and processed food," Muhammad said.

To share their urban farming knowledge, they started Blueprint Ranch MKE.

"We realized our backyard kind of became the blueprint for other people so they can see what's possible. That even in a small inner-city setting, you can grow a lot of food," Muhammad said. "We want to teach people, give them a blueprint for how they can do the same."

One way they help others get into urban farming is through urban chicken-keeping. They are currently offering classes for people to get all the information needed to keep chickens in their backyards.

"There's a lot of misconceptions about what chickens do, how they lay eggs," Muhammad said. "What I enjoy the most about the class, is, having that moment with people where they realize it's easier than they thought and it's very possible."

They also encourage city residents to grow their produce.

"We really believe it's important to use the land you have. Even if you have no land, even if you have an apartment, start somewhere, grow where you live," Ayad said.

Their next urban chicken-keeping class is from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 5225 N Ironwood Rd, Suite 210, Glendale, WI. The class will cover chicken permitting, proper coop setup, and more. The course costs $30. For more information, visit blueprintranch.com.