Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011 on Dec 8th, 2011
This is Fred Weasley (aka Freddie), our Indian Runner drake. He replaced our beloved Georgie Porgie Weasley, who was killed by a raccoon a few months ago. We all took a while to warm up to him because we were missing Georgie Porgie so much, but he’s definitely growing on us.
He’s constantly on guard, warning [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Birding, Changing Seasons on Dec 1st, 2011
The ducks were quacking extra early this morning. I couldn’t figure out why they were so darn quacky at 7am, when they usually aren’t up until 8:30ish. In retrospect, I think they were chilly and complaining for a hot breakfast.
When I went down at 7:45 to let the poultry out, I had to [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Homemaking, Learning on Apr 25th, 2011
We’ve all been dreaming of them for such a long time, and now they’re finally here!! 3 fuzzy little day-old Indian Runner ducklings came home with us this past Wednesday.
The duckings are just about the cutest things we’ve ever seen!! They’re comical, inquisitive, interested in people, and love to snuggle their little heads in the [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011 on Apr 9th, 2011
Meet Bolt, a lovely year-old Speckled Sussex with a seriously bossy attitude. She’s the queen of the coop around here, getting the best choice of treats and the highest roost, not to mention staking her claim to the “best” nesting box. She is also outgoing, curious, and very fast (hence her name) – always attempting [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Changing Seasons on Mar 23rd, 2011
When my girls were in preschool, one of their favorite outdoor activities was patrolling the school grounds with the class, hunting for “signs of spring”. Today, after yard chores were done (including snuggling with her favorite hen, Plucky (above)), my oldest and I hunted for signs of spring in the garden. It was quite encouraging [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Giveaways, Homemaking, Knitting on Mar 16th, 2011
Well, somewhere I’m going to have to find some time to knit this, because I’m going to give one away via the Salt of the Earth Urban Farm Facebook page! When we hit 100 likes, I will randomly select one of those 100 folks to win a mason jar cozy in their choice of colors. [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Birding, Learning on Mar 4th, 2011
The chicks, 9 and 10 days old (Here’s hoping they all survive and none turn out to be cockerels, because the kids are just smitten and have named them all):
Cookie, the Buff Orpington. (She’s the largest and fluffiest of the chicks, by far.)
Violet (dark brown), and Nudge II (golden), the Auracanas. (You can see their [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Birding on Mar 3rd, 2011
Let me start off by saying that the entertainment potential of chickens is extremely under-valued in most poultry books.
This is Oregon, in March. Needless to say, the ground is VERY soggy and it rains every day. Our hens don’t have a spot of dry ground anywhere in their run to dust-bathe. Because we have not [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011 on Feb 22nd, 2011
Sunday afternoon was spent starting our first big round of seeds for the year.
We filled pots leftover from last year with organic compost, and shifted them into the basement to be planted and set under grow lights (When we run out of pots, we’ll be using yogurt cups and such we’ve been saving over the [...]
Posted in BCS Teaching Garden/SotE Urban Farm 2011, Changing Seasons, Learning, Working the earth/harvesting its bounty on Feb 19th, 2011
On this brilliantly sunny February Saturday, we ordered chicks and ducklings from the feed store, and discovered garlic, crocus, vibrant-pink rhubarb emerging from the soil, and soaked up the first hints of spring-to-come.
In a week in which we had a lot of sickness and stress, and grief, I am doubly blessed that we are learning [...]