The Farm on Washington by Primal Pastures is a 30 acre organic farm just a half-mile from Downtown Murrieta.  Here, we believe in farming organically for our community.

Because our families eat directly from the land, we don’t use any synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or other gross chemicals to care for the soil. Instead, we follow God’s design—integrating pasture-raised, rotationally grazed animals like cattle, sheep, and chickens into our fields to fertilize crops and provide natural pest control, maximizing the nutrient density and flavor of the fruits and vegetables we grow.

In Murrieta, commercial crop farms like ours are allowed to have up to 50 birds per acre—a sensible and balanced policy that supports small farms and local food security. For a 30-acre property like ours, that would mean up to 1,500 birds—more than we need!

Back in 2021, we started 600 baby chicks in the brooder and raised them into healthy hens that served the land and our community. These hens helped regenerate the soil, reduce pests, and produce nutrient-dense eggs for local families. It was a beautiful example of how sustainable agriculture and community connection can work hand in hand.  By using rotational grazing and mobile coops, there is no smell or odor at all, and the chickens' manure is spread evenly over the field as organic fertilizer.

When the egg crisis of 2023 hit and prices skyrocketed, our small farm was able to keep eggs affordable and available to dozens of local households. But in 2024, we were informed of a little-known and outdated city code:

While Murrieta allows up to 50 birds per acre on farms, that policy specifically excludes chickens.

Chickens are limited to 30 total birds—no matter the size of the farm.

We were shocked to discover this anti-chicken clause, and heartbroken to comply by rehoming our flock to a friend’s farm in San Diego County.  Even the city acknowledged that this policy lacks sense, but "rules are rules" and we agreed that until this law changed, we need to move the birds.

Since our beginning, we have always sought to be a law-abiding, responsible, and community-oriented business—one that honors both city policy and principles of stewardship. We have worked hard to create a space that families can enjoy, learn from, and take pride in.

Now, our pastures sit underutilized, our crops lack their natural fertilization cycle, and our community has lost access to fresh, local eggs—all because of a technicality that treats chickens differently than ducks, turkeys, and geese.

We are asking the Murrieta City Council to work together with the community to update the local ordinance 16.44.010-1 and allow responsible farms like ours to include chickens under the same bird-per-acre limits that apply to other avian species.

This simple change will:

1. Support local food security and small farms.
2. Promote organic and regenerative agriculture.
3. Reduce waste and chemical fertilizer use.
4. Provide hands-on agricultural education for families and children.
5. Strengthen our community resilience.

Our request is modest, reasonable, and aligned with the city’s goals for sustainable growth and healthy living.

Please sign this petition to show your support for small-scale regenerative farming in Murrieta. Help local farmers bring our hens home and continue building a vibrant, faith-rooted, food-secure future for our community.

Let’s restore balance, support local families, and allow chickens to come home to The Farm on Washington.