Nominations for Best Natural Family Living City - come post your favorite city!

[Cynthia Mosher]

We are looking for the Best Natural Family Living City and we need your help!  Starting with this discussion we set out to determine the best natural family living city qualities. We've narrowed that down to twenty qualities regarded to be most important.

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

Judging from that list of qualities we'd like you to nominate your city, or a city you know well, as a great natural family living city.  To do that, post the city name and the qualities list from above. Then remove any of the qualities it does not have. Here is a sample post:

Quote:

I nominate Parentsville. It has 17 NFL qualities:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting, and recycling programs.
3.  
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10.  
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18.  
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

If someone has already posted to nominate your city of choice you should then vote by way of the thumbs up at the bottom of the post.  If your city is really outstanding in any of the 20 qualities please post that as well. Such comments will be used to determine the winning cities in cases of equivalent scores. 

Keep in mind this is not limited to the US. Any city in the world can be nominated. 

May the Best Natural Family Living City win!

---

Cities nominated so far: (please click the thumbs up in the nomination post if you vote for this city too)

1.    Portland, OR 18/20

2.    Berkeley, CA 19/20

3.    Madison, WI 17/20

4.    Bend, Oregon 19/20

5.    Santa Cruz, Ca.

6.    Bellingham, WA 19/20

7.    Oakland, CA 19/20

8.    Neenah Wisconsin 19/20

9.    Eugene, OR 19/20

10.   Ferndale, MI 18/20

11.   Traverse City, MI

12.   Austin, TX 19/20

13.   Santa Fe, NM 18/20

14.   Chapel Hill NC 20/20

15.   Carrboro NC 20/20

16.   San Francisco, CA 19/20

17.   Toronto, Ontario Canada 18/20

18.   Corvallis, Oregon 20/20

19.   Nevada City, CA 20/20

20.   Brattleboro, VT 20/20

21.   Seattle, WA 19/20

22.   Belfast, MA 19/20

23.   Farmington, UT 18/20

24.   Owen Sound, Ontario - unsure of some qualities

25.   Vancouver, BC 20/20

26.   Milwaukee, WI 19/20

27.   Denver, CO 19/20

28.   28. Victoria, BC 19/20

29.   Chicago, IL 15/20

30.   Hanover, NH 17/20

31.   Des Moines. IA 16/20

[tiacait]

Portland, OR 

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4.  
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Vegan Princess]

Berkeley, CA.

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3.  
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

Everything except for affordable housing!

Cindy

[CI Mama]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Mosher 

I nominate Madison, Wisconsin! Here are the qualities that I am 100% sure about:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.

1. Backyard chickens legal
2. Homeschool friendly
3. Midwives and homebirth legal
4. Healthy birth culture
5. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
6. Breastfeeding friendly
7. Clean air
8. Great public library and affordable family activities
9. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Jennie Sand]

I second Madison Wisconsin! It's the most child friendly, breastfeeding friendly city I've ever known! The premade hospital "birth plan" even asked if I wanted to keep my placenta! I thought that was cool.

[Candice Marie]

I nominate Bend, Oregon. We moved here for these very reasons:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4.  
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Michelle Lee A]

I Nominate Bellingham, WA

 

Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.

Composting and recycling programs.

Affordable housing

Diverse population

Good elder services   ???

Good public transit

Child friendly

 

Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.

Backyard chickens legal

Homeschool friendly

Midwives and homebirth legal

Healthy birth culture

Philosophical exemptions for vaccines

Alternative and integrative health practitioners

Breastfeeding friendly

Clean air

Quiet

Great public library and affordable family activities

Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[LTurtle]

I second Portland, OR! Though it is pretty homogenous, there are pockets of diversity. Also, we have exceptional parks and public transit.

[julietea8]

Oakland, CA

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3.  
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8. Pesticides banned
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

I removed affordable housing, although some can be found either by being creative about how you live (e.g., co-ops, etc.) or by being open to some of the more affordable neighborhoods.

[Beth Schultz]

Neenah Wisconsin has them all! Except for bannin pesticides - I don't know either way on that!

[madoc]

I wholeheartedly nominate Eugene, Oregon!

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Klllowe]

Santa Cruz, Ca.

[milrova_mama]

 Ferndale, MI !!!!
 

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6.  
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[TracyGladRags]

Originally Posted by tiacait 

Portland, OR 

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4.  
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

I "third" Portland, OR!

[Dede Scheppe]

TRAVERSE CITY MICHIGAN, we have all 1-20 and much much more!!

[orangekoolaid]

I vote San Francisco, CA

• Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
• Composting and recycling programs.
• Affordable housing
• Diverse population
• Good elder services
• Good public transit
• Child friendly
•  
• Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
• Backyard chickens legal
• Homeschool friendly
• Midwives and homebirth legal
• Healthy birth culture
• Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
• Alternative and integrative health practitioners
• Breastfeeding friendly
• Clean air
• Quiet
• Great public library and affordable family activities
• Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[drobinson]

I nominate Austin, TX:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[Peggy O'Mara]

I'm nominating my home, Santa Fe, NM. While it's expensive to live here, there are some active affordable housing programs. Also, a few co-housing communities.

Diverse population in that we are 50% hispanic, bilingual, and strong American Indian population. Small African-American population though. Sign coming into town says, "Santa Fe is an Inclusive Community."

Public Transit is limited.

I don't know about pesticides banned, but would expect so. Our city council is voting to stop water fluoridation this week.

Very birth, breastfeeding, alternative education friendly and family friendly. One of the best Farmer's Market in the US. Lots of great food. Nature very close and it's so quiet.

Rich with art and culture.

Still love it after 27 years.

• Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
• Composting and recycling programs.
•  
• Diverse population
• Good elder services
•  
• Child friendly
• Pesticides banned
• Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
• Backyard chickens legal
• Homeschool friendly
• Midwives and homebirth legal
• Healthy birth culture
• Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
• Alternative and integrative health practitioners
• Breastfeeding friendly
• Clean air
• Quiet
• Great public library and affordable family activities
• Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[faithfulmama]

I also vote Austin, TX:

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water.
2. Composting and recycling programs.
3. Affordable housing
4. Diverse population
5. Good elder services
6. Good public transit
7. Child friendly
8.  
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens.
10. Backyard chickens legal
11. Homeschool friendly
12. Midwives and homebirth legal
13. Healthy birth culture
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners
16. Breastfeeding friendly
17. Clean air
18. Quiet
19. Great public library and affordable family activities
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup

[beanma]

Can I nominate 2 cities/towns close to each other? 

Chapel Hill & Carrboro NC (Durham is also nearby and gets plusses on many of these)

1. Easy access to nature through large public parks, bike trails, state and national parks, and nearby bodies of water. √√ (plus the beach is 2.5 hrs away and the mts are 3)
2. Composting and recycling programs. √√ 
3. Affordable housing (yes for Durham, but CH/C is more $pendy. It depends on where you're coming from—some from outside NC might find it very affordable, but in NC not so much)
4. Diverse population √√
5. Good elder services √ (I think. It's a very popular retiree destination.)
6. Good public transit √√√√ (free bus system in CH/C)
7. Child friendly √√√√
8. ?? Pesticides banned (not banned, but I'm pretty sure the town uses alternatives such as hot water to kill weeds when they deem it feasible)
9. Farmer markets, CSAs, community gardens. √√√√√√√ (super foodie area)
10. Backyard chickens legal √√√√√
11. Homeschool friendly √√√√ (great homeschooling community, plus great alternative school options, plus great public schools in CH/C)
12. Midwives and homebirth legal √ (only one check because CNM are legal only and there has been a bit of a problem locally with redtape)
13. Healthy birth culture √√ (local free-standing birth center)
14. Philosophical exemptions for vaccines XXX (no, religious or medical only)
15. Alternative and integrative health practitioners √√√√√ (lots)
16. Breastfeeding friendly √√√√ (yes, great LLL groups, too)
17. Clean air √ (mostly, but sometimes some bad days in the summer)
18. Quiet √ (not in my house at the moment, but I guess so in general compared to a more urban environment)
19. Great public library and affordable family activities √√ (love our library)
20. Support groups such as LLL, API, Holistic Moms, and Meetup √√ (great LLL group and several other non-national groups, easy to find support here w/o organized groups. Babywearing moms all over the place.)