After retiring from farm broadcasting, Karl Guenther wrote a regular column for the Kalamazoo Gazette. “About three years ago, there were some changes made, including dumping the division for which I was writing – the Hometown Gazette, which was published on Saturday,” Karl said. However, before that actually happened Karl contacted Peter Tanz, operational vice president for Midwest Radio, which owns WKZO and dozens of other small and mid-market radio stations. Peter inquired as to Karl’s plans.  “I said I’d keep looking, maybe go to social media, and he said, ‘No, just keep on what you’re doing, only for WKZO.com’ and so, I am!,” Karl said. Among the topics Karl is covering is urban agriculture.

“Michigan is not generally considered to be in the agriculture ballpark as, well, Kansas, for example. I’d be surprised if urban agriculture was much of an issue there, but here in Michigan it’s coming to be.” He explained, “The major problem seems to be keeping the urban farmer from transgressing on non-farm residential neighbors, without denying those urban farmers their rights.” He adds, “I doubt they’ll get all the rights they’re demanding. For example, some of the urban farmers – and those who haven’t done it yet but are contemplating it, claim to be protected by Michigan’s Right to Farm legislation,” he said, “Not so. So far, the trend seems to be, let the county and township zoning people deal with it, so long as they don’t make arbitrary, exclusionary decisions.” He concludes, “Fortunately, so far objections have been fairly narrowly focused. Complaints arise out of the maintenance of goats and other livestock, but nobody complains about a few rows of carrots or a dozen hills of potatoes.”