The annual Tour de Coops is a self-guided, family-oriented tour of backyard chicken coops and this year’s event will showcases some of the coolest ways of integrating fowl into a sustainable urban environment.

Polish Crested chickens are one of a handful of breeds that are hardy enough to survive the scorching summer heat in Phoenix backyard coops (submitted photo).

In the United States, food travels roughly 1,500 miles on average from farm to consumer. It seems every day more and more people are raising their own chickens, in part due to a growing “locavore” movement stemming from interest in sustainability and eco-consciousness. Locavores are interested in eating food that is locally produced—and raising chickens is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to get started.

Tour de Coops will take place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at various homes around the Phoenix area. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 on the day of the event. Due to the impact of foot traffic, only 1,000 tickets will be available for this year’s event. Children 14 and younger who are accompanied by an adult ticket holder are admitted for free.

Check in and pick up your Tour Map at the newly added Sustainability Festival, taking place concurrently at the PHX Renews site, located at the northeast corner of Central Avenue and Indian School Road. The Sustainability Festival is free to everyone.

The festival will include free sustainability classes, “Best Chicken Call” and “Best Chicken Dance” contests, mesquite and carob Bean Milling, kids activities, raffles, live music, food trucks, and more.

For more information or to purchase Tour de Coops tickets, visit http://tourdecoops.vpaaz.org.