Backyard Farming

Strange Things are Afoot at Chicago's O'Hare Airport

2012-01-27T10:41:00.000-08:00

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word airport? Metal detectors, full body x-rays, vacation, and delays are some of the first things that I think of. I probably would have never thought of the words vertical gardening or aeroponics gardening. The Chicago O'Hare airport hired the company Future Growing LLC to create an aeroponic food farm withing the airport. The garden is harvested by restaurants within the airport to use for their meals. Check out some of the pictures below taken from the futuregrowing.com website. These beautiful displays are inside an airport!

Photo: Future Growing

I love the idea of having gardens growing in public areas. Let's use every inch that we can to grow fresh local food. If an airport can do it, then we should be able to find a place or a way to grow food.

On of our reader's Michael A sent me a link about this. Thanks Michael for the idea.

~Michael~

Turkey Apocalypse

2012-01-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

I can’t beat Michael and Marisa’s recent disaster but all of my disasters here, and here, here, and here, and here combined dwarf their’s, particularly since many of mine involve loss of life. I had five turkeys that were well on their way to the Thanksgiving table. They were free range in the yard and they seemed to stick close by so we didn’t worry about them very much. But one morning just one of them showed up for feeding so I got a little concerned. I sent the kids around the neighborhood asking if anyone had seen four renegade white turkeys roaming around (We see wild turkeys all the time). No one had seen them so I got very apprehensive. Our single turkey stuck very close to the house acting lonesome.
One afternoon I went out onto the deck of our house and looked over our pasture. In the middle of the pasture I saw a white blotch. I hadn’t noticed it from ground level because the grass was tall. My heart sank. I walked down into the pasture to a pile of feathers. OH! NO! It was not just one pile of feathers but feathers strewn all over the 4 acre pasture. How could one fox get four turkeys and spread out those feathers so strategically? Our turkeys were all gone.
No one felt the lose more than the remaining turkey. He turned to us for companionship. I was building the veranda on the front of the house at the time and he would stay right by me and brush up against me as I walked around sawing and nailing boards. He kept going up to the glass storm door. I thought he actually wanted to go inside the house but then I realized he was looking at his reflection in the glass. I felt so bad for him. It was the first time I got really attached to a bird so it was tough when Thanksgiving rolled around. The whole episode made us particularly thankful at our Thanksgiving feast.

My coworkers from Turkey (yes, the country) admire my turkey in front of the almost competed veranda.

Full grown.

He was a big one!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Poultry Expo

2012-01-19T06:23:00.000-08:00

I invite all of our followers in the mid-Atlantic region to attend the Small Flock Poultry Expo that I am helping to organize. The University of Maryland will host this expo on Saturday, February 4 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at the Carroll County Agriculture Center in Westminster, Maryland.

The expo will feature educational seminars on poultry nutrition, disease prevention and control, chicken breeds, egg and meat production basics, housing, pasturing, feeding and watering systems, regulations and ordinances, organic production, litter and mortality composting, breeding and egg incubation, turkey production, brooding chicks, poultry in diversified livestock operations, exotics, egg grading and handling, marketing and economics, urban poultry, and protecting your flock. Vendors will be available with live poultry and poultry related items. A poultry processing demonstration will be conducted. Producers and Extension specialists will be available for technical questions about production practices. 4-H will conduct activities and competitions. Door prizes will be awarded. Lunch and snacks will be available for purchase.

For additional information and a registration form go to http://carroll.umd.edu/ag/poultry.cfm

I would be excited to meet our Backyard Farming followers there.

Uncle Dale

Backyard Farming Chicken Coop Fire

2012-01-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

Saturday night while we were leaving a wedding reception, we received a call from our neighbors asking if we knew our chicken coop was on fire. At first first, I thought it was a joke, but realized that's not something you joke about. I got off the phone and my other neighbor called to let me know the coop was on fire. Michael and I rushed the kids to the car, and I was about to rip my hair out as Michael was driving the speed limit. In my opinion, speeding was warranted. The 10 minute drive felt like an eternity.

Both neighbors worked together to find our hose and keep it contained. I had a few neighbors calling, giving me the minute by minute play by play, and taking pictures (above). At this point, I was told that 3 of my 7 chickens had escaped into the run area. I immediately broke into tears. I got a call back that the coop was completely gone, nothing could be salvaged. We arrive home, and as I got to the backyard, there were a few of my friends there, I couldn't help but bawl my eyes out. These sweet women wrapped their arms around me, offering comfort and words of encouragement.

We rushed over to the run area where the chickens were huddled, and we were able to count all 7 chickens. They looked pretty battered and beaten, but they were all there! I can just picture Barry White (our rooster), with his deep sexy voice, telling the girls to stay calm and move into the run.

The firemen were able to secure the run for the night so the chickens couldn't get out. In the morning we moved our Red Barn Coop into a dog run that was left from the previous owner of our home. It is such a blessing that we have our Red Barn Coop as well as the dog run. There were so many times that I almost got rid of the dog run.

One of our sweet neighbors tried to salvage a star from our old coop.

We are so lucky it wasn't worse, the field and our garden has started on fire. We were told that the wind was blowing quite hard toward our house.

We suspect that our heat lamp had something to do with the fire.

The money we had allocated to fencing for a goat, may have to be used to build a new coop. It is really disappointing, but I'm just grateful it wasn't worse. We are all safe, our house is okay, and our girls survived!

Thank you so much for your comments, prayers, and words of encouragement! We really appreciate each of you!

~marisa

Chickens in Heat

2012-01-15T14:08:00.000-08:00

Something terrible happened last night. Stay tuned for more information!

Ginger-bird house

2011-12-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

By Jennifer

My extended family has a holiday tradition of decorating gingerbread houses at grandma's with all of the cousins. It's always a fun -- if messy -- afternoon of visiting as we whip up royal icing and add pounds of candy to the big wooden houses my father-in-law built for annual use. Oh, the candy. The colorful, beautiful, teeth-wrecking, tantrum-inducing candy. I hate having so much candy around. I hate having to monitor my children's candy consumption once we bring our finished house home. Sure I love to gather with relatives, but the candy is one part of this tradition I could do without.

But how do you do gingerbread houses otherwise?

You make a bird feeder, that's how.

While cousins dabbled in sugar, my children and I used popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, sunflower seeds, crackers, dried fruit and a colorful variety of bird seed. The best part is most of my materials were already in my pantry and I didn't have to shell out a lot of money. I experimented with two types of mortar: vegetable shortening and peanut butter, both mixed with equal parts cornmeal. The cornmeal makes the mixture easier to spread. It also makes the peanut butter safer for birds to consume. (Ever got peanut butter stuck on the roof of your mouth? Try that with a beak!) I preferred the shortening, but the fact that my peanut butter variety was crunchy may have been a factor in why it was clumpier and harder to use.

I placed our finished house on our sheltered patio where we could see it from the window. Within a half hour, this is what it looked like:

The peanuts in the shell were a clear favorite. We have since remodeled that side of the house with more.

As mentioned my gingerbread house here is wood, but this bird feeder idea could be used with crackers, stale bread or even empty cardboard boxes. As long as it won't be placed where rain or snow will make it wet and soggy, the house base can be made out of anything.

I thought the candy-less house would be a hard sell for my children, but they loved it, too. My 4-year-old son enjoys watching the birds eat what he helped create. We're making this type of gingerbread house a new tradition.

How do you like to feed the birds?

An Early Christmas Present

2011-12-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

Life isn't fair. I hate this saying, but had to use it when my kids whined and complained that I got to open one of my Christmas presents BEFORE Christmas. I HAD to, it was a living thing and could die or be seriously damaged if I didn't open it. It was no consolation to the kids, and I still haven't heard the end of it. But, it was worth it, I love my cute little citrus trees!

The climate here in Utah isn't optimal for citrus trees, so I chose to get dwarf trees that I will be able to plant in a large pot. In the spring I will harden them off and let them be outside, in the fall we will bring them back into the house.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Reenacting the Nativity is our favorite Christmas tradition each year. Enjoy.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Backyard Farming Gift Guide

2011-12-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

We want to wish you all a happy holidays. As we try to teach our children, we stress the importance of giving and serving rather than receiving. Here are a few ideas for what to give your favorite backyard farmer. Today's ideas revolve around garden statues. We do not own these things, nor are we getting paid for showing them. We just think they are cool. Click on the names to see where they are sold.

Crocodile Garden Statue

Easter Island Monolith

Recycled Metal Rooster

Terra Cotta Pot Man (make it yourself)

Zombie Garden Statue (my favorite)

Which one would you choose?

~Michael~

Serenity

2011-12-11T07:45:00.000-08:00

(image credit)

We hope you are having a peaceful Sunday and find some serenity this Christmas season. Isn't this greenhouse bedroom overlooking a lake dreamy? I think I could forget about all the holiday hustle and bustle if I had a room like this.

~marisa

Spring Cleaning

2011-12-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

Like many of you, while others may be spring cleaning their homes, I have other plans. My spring consists of planing my garden, tilling the earth, starting seeds, transplanting plants, cleaning out the chicken coop, fixing hoses, etc. It isn't until fall when the garden has been harvested and is hibernating, and the chickens are cozy and hunkering down for the cold weather, that I finally get the spring cleaning itch.

I got my hands on a label maker, and Whoa Nellie, I've gone crazy. The kids have started asking if they need to be labeled. If you don't have a label maker, I highly suggest one. Just check out some of the areas I have been cleaning and organizing.

When do you get your spring cleaning done?

~marisa

Essential Oils Webinar-Tonight 7:00pm

2011-12-01T08:36:00.001-08:00

Don't forget, our Free Essential Oils Webinar will be tonight at 7:00 pm Mountain Time.

Click here to pre-register.

Our New Coop

2011-11-30T16:00:00.000-08:00

So, remember the mysterious boxes we got? You guys all had some great guesses! But, everyone was wrong. It is the cutest chicken coop ever! It took me 15 mins. to assemble, but don't worry the video is only about 2 mins. long. Check it out!

Red Barn Coop is having a holiday sale right now, so you can get a coop for just $399, plus shipping!

Goats vs. Cows

2011-11-29T09:16:00.000-08:00

(Purchase here)

Winter is our favorite time to think about the plans for our backyard farm for the upcoming year. As Michael and I talk, we just can't decide if we want a couple goats or if it would be better to have a cow. We are on an acre, so a cow is actually feasible on our property.

Let's let the great cow vs. goat debate begin!

Leave a comment to weigh in on the debate.

(Purchase here)

Essential Oils Webinar-Thursday 7:00pm

2011-11-29T09:09:00.000-08:00

The next essential oils webinar will be Thursday December 1 at 7:00 pm Mountain Time! Mark your calendars.

Pre-register for the class here.

Raw Milk Freedom Riders

2011-11-28T11:07:00.000-08:00

Mothers, Acting As ‘Agents,’ To Defy FDA Warning

Against FDA Prohibitions, Freedom Riders Will Publicly

Distribute over 100 gallons Raw Milk to Waiting Mothers

Chicago, IL—On December 8, a group of mothers and others will defy the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on “distributing” fresh milk across state lines by transporting 100 gallons of raw milk from Wisconsin to Chicago’s Independence Park and distributing it to customers waiting at the park.

Federal law 21 CFR § 1240.61 prohibits interstate movement and distribution of raw milk for human consumption. The FDA regulation applies to individuals, or “agents” acting on their behalf.

Over the past year, the FDA and state authorities have conducted undercover sting operations on, raided and prosecuted farmers, buying clubs, and individuals who help distribute raw milk and other farm fresh foods. Over a dozen people and businesses currently face charges, orders, and other enforcement actions; some are under “federal criminal investigation” and face possible indictment by a grand jury. Several small cheese producing dairies with no history of making anyone sick have been put out of business by the FDA’s actions.

“It is a God-given, inalienable right to engage in direct, private transactions with our food producers,” says Max Kane, director of a Chicago area local-food-buying club. “Americans deserve to know that the FDA is using their tax dollars to target and prosecute independent, peaceful, farmers and their customers.”

Mothers from around the country, determined to protect their families’ food supply, launched the Raw Milk Freedom Riders with an inaugural ride on November 1 when they transported raw milk from Pennsylvania to the FDA’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and distributed the milk to crowds gathered for a protest. In response the FDA issued a statement saying it does not “intend” to take “enforcement action against an individual who purchased and transported raw milk across state lines solely for his or her own personal consumption.”

The Freedom Riders say that the FDA’s statement leaves the door open for FDA to pursue farmers, buying clubs and individuals acting as “distribution agents.” The Wisconsin to Chicago Raw Milk Freedom ride will challenge the FDA’s use of force against raw milk distribution.

Media are invited to ride along as embedded reporters to witness the FDA’s reaction to the Freedom Riders’ standing up for their rights.

(Image Credit)

Dinosaur for Thanksgiving Dinner

2011-11-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

Are you eating one of Tyrannosaurus Rex's ancestors for Thanksgiving dinner? According to an article from wired.com most scientists now agree that birds actually are dinosaurs. The article talks about a paleontologist named Jack Horner that believes that we can reverse engineer chickens to become dinosaurs. I know it sounds like the beginning of a terrible nature gone wrong horror movie but Jack Horner is a well respected scientist in his field.

The idea of reverse engineering chickens by messing with their DNA raises a lot of ethical questions for many. It is an interesting idea but haven't scientists watched enough movies that show the terrible things that happen when they try to play God?

Following is a video from ted.com of Jack Horner talking about his dream of making Dinosaurs into chickens.

Whether you agree with his ideas or not, it's still kind of cool to think about the fact that you are biting into T Rex's ancestor when you take an extra large helping of dark meat.

Sneak Peak

2011-11-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

We just got something new and fun for our backyard farm. I'm so excited about it. Can you guess what it may be?

~marisa

Essential Oils Recap

2011-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone that joined us Thursday night for the essential oils webinar! Sorry about the technical difficulties. I will be reteaching the class Tuesday November 29th, with a DIFFERENT webinar service!

Here is a quick overview on what we went over:

Essential oils are really powerful, 50-70 times stronger than herbs
1 drop of peppermint essential oil is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea
There is little government regulation on essential oils, so it is VERY important that you do your research on the company you are using
A bottle of E.O. can be labeled 100% pure, but be 100% synthetic
Most E.O.'s have weeds, pesticides, synthetics, and fillers in them
I have chosen to use Doterra because it is the only company that uses 3rd party testing on EVERY SINGLE BATCH of oils to check for purity and potency. They will not have any pesticides, fillers, synthetics, or weeds. They are organic!
You only need to use about 3 drops of essential oils for each application
You can reapply essential oils every 20 mins if needed, you won't overdose on them!

Lemon- For freshening and cleaning

Put a few drops in your homemade kitchen and bath cleaners
Put a few drops in your water for as an antioxidant and detoxifier for the body and a refreshing drink (use only Doterra oils for this, they are labeled and checked for safe consumption) Most oils state on the label that they are not for internal use
Add a drop to honey to soothe a dry or sore throat
Diffuse in a room to neutralize odors and elevate mood

Lavender- All things Calming

Diffuse in a room or apply topically to calm anxiety and soothe emotions
Apply topically to soothe irritated skin and lips
Massage on the back or bottom of feet and apply a drop to pillow at bedtime for peaceful sleep
Apply immediately to help calm reaction to a bee sting or bug bite

Peppermint- Cooling and Invigorating

Use with lemon in water for a healthy, refreshing mouth rinse
Inhale deeply to invigorate lungs and increase alertness
Add to water in a spray bottle and mist body when overheated
Apply to neck and forehead with Lavender to calm headaches

Melaleuca- First Aid for the Skin

Apply to skin blemishes and rashes as part of a daily cleansing program
Use with shampoo or conditioner for healthy scalp and hair
Apply to feet for athletes foot
Apply topically for yeast infections
Use with Lavender in a lotion for diaper rash
Put a few drops on a cotton ball and keep in the ear overnight for ear infections

Oregano - Natural Immune Support

Take several drops in an empty gelatin capsule for periodic immune support
Dilute and apply to bottom of feet as a natural defense
Use internally as part of a monthly cleansing regiment for GI health
Apply carefully to skin tags and warts

Deep Blue- Muscle and Joint Support (Exclusive Doterra Blend of Oils)

Apply directly to tired, aching joints
Rub on muscles before and after exercise to reduce discomfort
Use with a carrier oil for a theraputic deep-tissue massage

Breathe- Respiratory Support (Exclusive Doterra Blend of Oils)

Apply topically to chest and neck to help clear lungs and sinuses
Diffuse or add to humidifier at bedtime for more restful sleep
Apply to chest or bottom of feet for seasonal respiratory discomfort
I no longer have use for my asthma rescue inhaler or my asthma perscription because of this blend!!!

Digestzen- Digestive Support (Exclusive Doterra Blend of Oils)

Rub on stomach to ease digestive discomfort, nausea, or motion sickness
Take internally at meal times to support healthy, comfortable, digestion
Apply to bottom of feet of children to help ease digestive issues

On Guard- Protective Blend (Exclusive Doterra Blend of Oils)

Dilute and gargle morning and night as a protective mouth rinse
Take several drops in an empty gelatin capsule for added immune support
Dilute in spray bottle to clean doorknobs, telephones, and other community surfaces
Diffuse in a room to eliminate airbourne pathogens

I would love to chat with you about your particular issues or problems, feel free to email me at

backyardfarmingblog(at)gmail(dot)com

If you would like to order any of these essential oils, go to this link.

You can also get to the link by clicking on "my herb store" at the top left of the blog.

If you order a kit by Friday November 25, I have a free oil to give you as well! Contact me before ordering so I can explain how to get it.

I recommend ordering a kit, because with the kit you get a free wholesale membership, so for the next year you get to buy the oils at wholesale cost!

Thanks!

~marisa

Celebrating with Chickens

2011-11-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been so excited and the only way you could think to celebrate was with your chicken?

Apparently this guy thought it was a good idea.

Baghdad, Iraq: A local man celebrates with a chicken after the national football team beat Jordan 3-1 in a World Cup qualifying match

(Source)

Thank you Michael A. for sending this to us.

Essential Oils Webinar- TONIGHT!!!

2011-11-17T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hope to see you...err....have you on tonight! 7:30 pm Mountain Time.

Here is the link:

http://208.85.7.230/go/IM_API_User_2132/ANRer4H

Password: healing

Essential Oils Webinar- Thursday

2011-11-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Don't forget, the essential oils webinar is this Thursday at 7:30 pm Mountain Time!

Link to the webinar:
http://208.85.7.230/go/IM_API_User_2132/ANRer4H

Password: healing

Unconsumption

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

We love up-cycling, recycling, reusing, and cutting back, so we love the blog Unconsumption which is dedicated to just that. Go check it out. Here is some of what you will see:

More: Creative Prize Winner – Dog. « Material Realizations

Via pratt:

Use old/unplayable records as charger plates.

via Green Wedding Shoes Wedding Blog.)

Old mail sacks repurposed as iPad cases.
via @itscolossal + uncommon goods

Chicken and Beef

2011-11-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

by Uncle Dale

We grow 50-100 broilers each year for our table. It’s not economical. It costs us over $1.50 per pound and that doesn’t account for our labor. http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/2010/06/cornish-cross-versus-freedom-rangers.html But it’s my hobby and I enjoy producing some of my own meat. They are pasture raised and I know what goes into them although I am not opposed to industrial produced broilers. I know the broiler industry well and I have friends who own contract broiler houses. Their mortality is less than mine. My palette is not discerning enough to tell if my chicken taste any better than industrial produced chicken. I am opposed to caged layers which is why I keep my own layers. http://backyardfarming.blogspot.com/2008/09/liberate-layers.html

So we eat a lot of chicken in our home. Chicken is less fattening and supposedly a healthier option than pork or beef. But boy do I like beef! Every few years we buy a side or quarter of beef but usually we just buy what is on the reduced rack. Beef on the reduced rack is one of the best deals in the grocery store. Beef industry marketing campaigns have convinced people that fresh beef is the best. But years ago people paid premium prices for “aged” beef. The carcass was allowed to hang much longer in the cooler. This process allows moisture to evaporate from the muscle concentrating the flavor and the beef’s natural enzymes break down the connective tissue in the muscle, which leads to more tender beef. But aging beef is expensive because of the extra time spent in the cooler and loss of moisture means less weight to sell to the customer. So the industry convinced consumers that fresh beef is better. Beef on the reduced rack has had a little more time for the enzymes to start working and it costs less! So I go for the premium aged, reduced rack beef at a bargain price.

We haven’t purchased a side of beef for several years. The other day one of my students in my course at the University came up and asked if I wanted part of beef that she raised this past summer. Well she has heard my lecture on growing your food, knowing your food, buying local, and buying directly from farmers. So I was trapped. But that is okay. We are buying a mixed quarter from her. We will get about 125 pounds of steaks, roasts, hamburger, soup bones, etc. for about $3.50 per pound. So move over chicken. We have to make room for beef.

Move over chicken, the beef is coming.

The guy on the right side of the photo is named Filet. He will be in our freezer in a few weeks.

Getting Chickens Ready for Winter Part Deux

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we talked about getting chickens ready for winter by making sure the structure is sound and there aren't any leaks letting water into the coop. We also discussed getting some bedding that they can use for insulation. This article will cover a few more ideas to get Mr and Mrs ( insert chicken name here) Featherbottom ready for the cold winter season.

Water

I am the science teacher in our homeschool. One of the things we learned about is the 3 states of matter; solid, liquid, and gas. An interesting thing happens to water as it gets cold. It goes from a liquid to a solid state. Chickens can't drink ice so you need to do something to keep the water warm.

One choice is to bring the water into a warm building every night and then take it back out every morning. This will work but you can't forgot to take the water out every morning. If the idea of hauling water in and out does not appeal to you, then you need to get a waterer that keeps it warm, or find a device to keep it warm. Dale did a great job talking about waterers in this article and video.

You can find waterers that plug in like the one we have in our coop. It looks like a dog bowl with a plug. I don't love it because it isn't enclosed but it is cheap and works OK.

If you already have a metal water heater you can get a heated plate that sits under the water can. I like using metal as much as possible in the coop as it inhibits mildew and other growth in the water.

There are also a lot of products that you plug in and then submerse in your water. The benefit of these is that you can find one to fit in almost any waterer that has an opening at the top. Any of these waterers or heaters should be available at your local feed store, or you can even order them on line through tractor supply company or amazon.com.

Heat Lamps

The first year we had chickens, the egg production went down to almost zero once the nights started getting cold. We didn't know what to do. Uncle Dale told us they needed to be warmer so we got a heat lamp. Within a few days of getting a lamp, we started seeing eggs in the coop. I think that heat lamps are the best things to keep your chickens warm enough so they can use some energy for egg laying. Most of the heat lamps use infrared lights. They won't bother the chickens at night. They don't need to heat the whole coop. You want to place the lamp where the chickens roost so they will be warm at night.

Good luck with your chickens. If you make sure to keep moisture out of the coop, allow for ventilation to let moisture out, use good bedding, keep water warm, and employ the use of heat lamps you should be able to get eggs all winter.

What suggestion do the rest of you have for getting the chickens ready for winter?

~Mike~

Getting Chickens Ready for Winter Part 1

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the year. Zombies and vampires have been roaming the streets. Turkeys have lost most of their hope and have reached the "acceptance" step of the 5 stages of grief as they approach their demise. Santa is gaining weight getting ready for his 2011 Holiday tour. It's also time to consider what you are going to do to get your chickens ready for winter.

First things first. Most chickens will be OK in the cold winter. My Swedish ancestors had chickens and I think it gets cold there. Chickens have been raised and bred to withstand cold. You don't need to do a lot to protect them. If you wonder whether or not your chickens are going to survive check out your breeds and their hardiness here.

So why do we need to help them during the winter. It takes energy to stay warm and survive. We have found that by taking a few measures we can help them stay warm, which in turn gives them more energy to make eggs. It doesn't take much to keep your egg production decent throughout the winter wonderland. The next two articles will cover some of the things to keep your chickens laying.

Check Your Chicken Coop

Your chicken coop needs to keep your chickens dry. When it rains in the fall I go out to the chicken coop to see if there is any water leaking into the coop. If there is, I note where it is and then fix the roof on a dry fall day. Her I am replacing shingles on the roof last weekend. Check the walls for openings or weakness. Essentially you want to batten down the hatches.

reshingling the roof

Another coop issue that a lot of people don't think of is ventilation. You need to keep moisture out of your coop, but at the same time let moisture escape. Chickens create moisture. Your chicken coop can't be an airtight box. Make sure you allow for some airflow in the coop through windows or natural openings. We cover all of our openings with chicken wire.

Bedding

Bedding is important during the winter. It helps your chickens insulate themselves when they nest, and it absorbs moisture and smells. We prefer to use pine shavings for our chicken nesting boxes. We can get a huge bale of pine shavings at the local feed store for about $12. We spread it out in the lay boxes and on the ground of the coop.

Nesting box with pine shavings

You can also use hay or straw as bedding. This is another cheap way to line your coop. In our previous home, Marisa and I noticed that a lot of the neighbors would decorate their porch with straw bales during the fall. Since we lived in suburbia, they had no use for the bales once they were done using them for decorations. We were able to get them for free and rarely had to buy any. Both the shavings and hay break down through the winter. As they decompose they will add some heat to your coop to keep the chickens more comfortable.

We also shred our junk mail, and bills that don't have a lot of ink in them and put it in the coop mixed with the straw and shavings. Its is additional insulation, and it breaks down enough once we put it in our compost pile that we are able to use the junk mail to grow vegetables.

Our next article will talk about additional things to do for your chickens, including what we have found to be the most important in helping chickens deal with the cold, a heat lamp.

~Mike~

11-11-11

2011-11-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

Do you have plans for 11-11-11?

Here are some fun ideas:

Watch Ocean's 11

Run 11 miles with 11 friends

Host a potluck where everyone brings 11 of something

Play UNO

Read the book The Eleventh Hour

Wear 11 pairs of underwear
Do 11 random acts of service

Do you have any other fun ideas?

What are you planning on doing?

Essential Oils Webinar

2011-11-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love essential oils! I mean L.O.V.E them. Over the past few months I have been throwing everything in my medicine cabinet away and replacing with essential oils. I'm proud to say that we don't have ANY over the counter medication in my home, and I feel prepared and empowered. We have taken care of allergies, asthma, ear infections, yeast infections, skin tags, athletes foot, diaper rash, colds, and flu....just to name a few.

A few years ago Michael was put on 3 prescription medications. I went on a quest to figure out how to get him off of those medications. I'm happy to say he is off of 2 of the 3 because of Essential Oils, and we are working towards getting him off of the third. Like I said, I finally feel EMPOWERED.

Not only has it helped the health of of myself and my family, I have also noticed a huge change for the better in my mood, my stress level, and my spirituality.

My best friend Megan, who actually helped me start this blog has been traveling the country teaching about essential oils. I have asked her to host a free webinar here on Backyard Farming. Of course she agreed, she is my best friend!

This class will share insight on how pure essential oils can be used for physical ailments, injuries, skin care and stress management. They can be used on babies, pregnant mothers, children and everyone else. The class is an education into natural healing and how to use them for any of the things you and your family struggle with. Come with questions and gets some answers on how to be a healer in your own home.

OPTIONAL: If you'd like have a sample kit of the 11 oils we will be focusing on during class, you can purchase that for just $10 by using the paypal link on the top left of the blog. I have a limited supply, so once they are gone, they are gone. Please order at least a week before the date of the class Otherwise the class is open to everyone and free of charge!

Thursday November 17

7:30 PM Mountain Time

Webinar Link TBA

Grocery Shopping

2011-11-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Image courtesy of the J Willard MArriot library University of Utah

When I was young in Shelley, Idaho, shopping was easy. What we didn’t produce, we purchased at the only food store in town, “Crook’s Food Center,” a small corner grocery store owned and operated by Niles Crooks, a member of our church congregation. You could fit his entire store in a couple of aisles of a modern grocery store. While he carried all the basics, the variety of his inventory was usually limited to one type of each product. My uncle ran his produce section. I don’t remember the name of Nile’s butcher.

Niles gave my parents credit to buy groceries during the growing season and we paid the bill when we sold our wheat and potatoes. He issued Gold Strike trading stamps for our purchases and I licked and pasted the stamps into the books which my mother would accumulate and redeem for a small kitchen appliance each year. Niles gave mom credit for all the coupons she clipped from magazines, whether she bought the product or not, as long as he carried the item in his store.

One of my biggest decisions each week was what type of breakfast cereal to pick. Mom always let me decide and I chose the one with the best prize inside. Honeycomb had a promotion where you could send in box tops for plastic cowboy and Indian figures. My family got tired of Honeycomb. When Huntsman’s Supermarket opened in Shelley, my mother stayed with Niles. He had earned her patronage. Even with two choices of where to shop, shopping remained simple.

Today, shopping is complex. The closest thing we had to Crook’s Food Center, Boonsboro Produce, sold out when a Weis grocery chain store moved in across the street a few years ago. We have no allegiance to any one and so we have to select from a myriad of store options: Wal-Mart, Costco, Target, and three or four grocery chains (traditional and upscale, depending on the location). Each carries an astonishing assortment of products. We have to not only pick what to buy, we have to pick what brand we want and whether we want the traditional, low-fat, low-sugar, low-carb, or specialty flavored version of it. And we now have the options of natural, organic, hydroponic, GMO, non-GMO, local, pastured, free range, kosher, halal, and thousands of foods from around the world. Then we have to decide what container size to buy. The other day I tried to purchase a bottle of salad dressing—I stood looking at a display 6 feet tall and 40 feet long of options. Overwhelmed, I left without buying any. And with our growing interest in our food sources, we want to buy directly from farmers at farmers markets, road side stands, CSAs, and pick-your-owns. While everyone expounds on the wonders of all the choices we now have, I wish Niles was still around.

~Uncle Dale~

What’s for Dinner? Part 2

2011-10-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

Last January I wrote an article titled “What’s for Dinner?” about the issue of slaughtering horses for meat. I’ve had a lot of exposure to this issue - from eating it as a preferred meat in Kazakhstan to the sometimes raucous debates here in the United States about horse slaughter. I have mixed emotions about it. But last Friday night I got a new perspective.

Dale In Kazahstan

LeAnn and I were invited by friends to go to a horse auction so we decided to make a date night of it. While the tack and equipment auction was going on, we walked from stall to stall to look at the horses that were up for sale. Potential buyers could test ride the horses in the outdoor paddock. There were a few good horses but most were mediocre. When the horse auction started, a horse was lead into the ring or sometimes ridden to show their responsiveness. The auctioneer would describe it and then start his chanting. With the bad economy, horse prices are low right now. A nice looking draft horse topped out at only $750 so the owner withdrew the horse from the sale. A well-trained stock horse that might bring $2,000 in a normal economy went for $700.

It was interesting watching the buyers parlay. I kept my eye on one particular buyer who was bidding on almost every horse. When the price got above $300 he bowed out, but more often than not he got the horse for $100 or $200 after which he would pull a pad and pencil out of his pocket to note the purchase. I kept asking myself, “What is he doing? Why does he want all these horses? Then it occurred to me – horse meat. He is taking them to Canada for slaughter. I turned to our friends, nodded at the buyer and asked “horse meat?” and they confirmed my notion.

Horse Meat Below the Lamb's head

I have seen horse carcasses in the Kazakh butcher shops, I have eaten horse sausage, and I have argued both side of the issue. But at this auction, it became much more emotional to me. After the auction we saw the buyer load them up on his large trailer and my heart just sank. Why does it bother me more than my chickens that I kill myself or the steer in the field that I am going to buy for my freezer? It just does.

~Uncle Dale~

DIY Garden Art: Marbles in the Fence

2011-10-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

I saw this over at Garden Drama, and I LOVE this idea! It is such a great way to add a touch of whimsy to your backyard farm.

How do you add a touch of whimsy to your garden? Maybe a gnome, a fairy garden, a flamingo anyone?

Are we all a little bit crazy?

2011-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

This Mr. Bean video got me thinking about some of the funny, crazy, or maybe some would say creative things Michael and I have tried in our backyard farm. What is your most creative, bizarre, or crazy backyard farming idea? Feel free to leave a link if you have blogged about it.

The Undead

2011-10-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

For Halloween I thought I'd share a back from the dead, zombie story - at least as close as one can find in the garden! I can't tell you how many times I have "killed" this aloe vera plant. We first got it at a farmer's market from a woman selling lots of odds and ends. She came up to us as we were leaving and offered us a small grocery store bag. Inside was a near dead, smelly, soggy, little aloe vera shoot. She said she couldn't sell it since it was in such bad condition so we could have it. Ever since the hippies living down the street with their cactus collection would share their aloe gel with us I've wanted one. So I took it and wondered if I could get it to grow with my barely green thumb.

But it didn't grow. It just sat in a pot on our porch and gave off the smell of death. So I researched a little and thought that maybe the Texas humidity was too much for it. So I brought it inside and put it in my son's bedroom window since it got the most light. And it started to get strong and turn green again. I thought it must be the warmth and was pleased. I was afraid to water it too much since I had read that it needed drought like conditions with a watering every once in a while. And once it was strong enough again I once again moved it out on the porch only to find it dying again. What I didn't know was that every night when we'd give the boys some water to drink my son would reserve some for the plant and give it the last few drops. He knew how to recreate drought like conditions perfectly!

By the time I realized that my plant had turned completely brown and limp with it's few stalks hanging over the edge of the pot. I had completely given up on it but hadn't gotten around to getting rid of it yet when my son asked if he could water it. I told him it was dead but to go ahead since it couldn't hurt now. He doused it with water - like tons and tons. And to my HUGE surprise - a few days later there started to be some green patches appearing on the seemingly dead plant. And it started to come back! We went through this cycle a few more times but after a move across the country this plant was dead for real. This time it wasn't just droopy - it was shriveled, light brown and kind of crispy. I knew it was dead this time and moved it under a bench in the backyard and forgot about it. Well, a couple weeks later this is what it looked like. And it's been thriving ever since. This plant is one tough survivor - no thanks to me! I guess the conditions out west was just what it was looking for!

So now, I don't touch it - I don't even water it. Though I am wondering if it's time to bring it in since the nights are starting to dip below freezing. I am sure some of you wiser gardeners can tell me what my next move should be and how to better care for my little zombie.

~Megan~

Eat the Seasons - Rustic Potato-Leek Soup

2011-10-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

With the changes in the air, nothing - and I mean NOTHING sounds better than a good hearty bowl of soup. So, this past week I made a healthy, simple, and yummy Potato & Leek soup. And here's the recipe(taken from The New Best Recipe):

Serves 6-8

4-5 pounds leeks(clean them well!)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
5 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1 3/4 pounds red potatoes(about 5 medium) - peeled and cut into 3/4 inch dice
salt & ground pepper

1. Cut off the roots and tough dark green portions of the leeks, leaving the white portions and about 3 inches of the light green portion. Slice the leeks in half lengthwise and chop into 1-inch pieces.
2. Heat the butter in a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium low heat until foaming. Stir in the leeks, increase the heat to medium, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are tender but not mushy, 15-20 minutes; do not brown the leeks. Sprinkle the flour over the leeks and stir to coat evenly. Cook until the flour dissolves, about 2 minutes.
3. Increase the heat to high; whisking constantly, gradually add the broth. Add the bay leaf and potatoes, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to med-low and simmer, covered, until the potatoes are tender and the flavors meld, 10-15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately. (The soup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for a day or two. Warm over low heat until hot; do not boil.)

This made a good amount of soup so it was able to warm us up for a few days. I also added a sprinkle of cheese on top.

What's in season? Potatoes & Leeks

(Originally posted October 2009)

Michael Schmidt on Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom

2011-10-11T13:18:00.001-07:00

Across Canada and U.S. Supporters Have Joined Michael On This Strike

(Toronto – October 10, 2011) Michael Schmidt has been fighting since 1994 for the right of men, women and children in Ontario to drink raw milk. He is the founder of Cow Share Canada, which provides health standards for raw milk production, and which lays down some of the most stringent hygiene standards.

Over the last 17 years he has made every effort to co-operate with the authorities to find a solution for the legalization of raw milk in Ontario and Canada. Yet, despite this, his farm was raided in 1994 and again in 2006 (25 armed officers stormed in and terrorized the entire farm family.)

Acquitted on all charges by Justice Kowarsky in 2010, the Province of Ontario subsequently decided to appeal the acquittal and Justice Tetley found Michael guilty September 28 2011 on 15 of the 19 charges.

In addition, Fraser Health in British Columbia has filed to find Michael in contempt of court and impose a $55,000 fine (case to be heard November 2^nd 2011).

On September 29, in the face of continued persecution by the Provincial governments for his "crime" of believing that informed consumers should be able to choose what they eat and drink, Michael Schmidt started the Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom.

Michael Schmidt has stopped consuming any food and now only drinks water. His demands are simple.

"I respectfully ask that the Ontario and BC governments agree to a constructive dialogue on how we can provide a framework to enable people to make real choices about their food and what they eat, beginning with raw milk and the implementation of a framework that grants legal standing for cow share operations in Ontario and BC. This objective also includes the end of the current prosecutions of cow shares which meet proper production standards."

Farmers around the country who believe, as Michael does, that people and not governments, should choose the food they consume, have joined the raw milk fight over the years. These farmers are in real danger today and many of them risk losing everything.

Currently eight people have joined Michael on this Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom:

-Max Kane, Wisconsin (in court many times for his work supporting raw milk farmers)

-Vernon Hershberger, Wisconsin (raw milk farmer also a victim of several Government raids)

-Bernie Cosgrove, Alberta (farmer)

-And five others who do not want to be named are participating in this Hunger Strike for Responsible Food Freedom.

There is also a large group in Toronto who are on a rotational fasting in support and respect to Michael Schmidt and others on this Hunger Strike For Responsible Food Freedom.

The movement is growing. More people in Canada and the US are joining every day. And they are determined that the government will not tell them what they can eat.

For up to the minute info and posts from Michael Schmidt and supporters visit:

http://thebovine.wordpress.com/

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.

Farming Companion

2011-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Thirty years ago and a continent away we had a real farm. My heart would jump as that beautiful young girl pulled up to my combine during grain harvest to bring me sandwiches and lemonade for lunch. She would pay the price with hay fever all night long. During potato harvest, I could watch her all day long as she picked the clods and vines out of the potatoes on the harvester I pulled with my tractor. When the machine was clogged with a lava rock, she was down there with me trying to free it. A sharp corner piece of metal tore a nasty gash in the flesh of her back. She cried but she didn’t quit. She encouraged and comforted me through many sleepless nights after the farm failed.

In Ithaca and College Park our farms were sparse – a couple of tomato and squash plants. We hadn’t caught the vision of backyard farming. For 12 years we hoped and prayed for a real hobby farm. She wanted horses and I wanted chickens. We both wanted to raise our six children in a big garden. The Lord heard our prayers and we have been living our dream for 14 years. The “children in the garden” part didn’t quite work out. They don’t catch the vision of backyard farming until they are adults with their own families but it’s happening now.

At Antietam Glen, my farming companion has never baulked at anything. We fenced the farm and raised a barn. She can drive nails and build rock walls. I split the firewood and she stacks it. She works a shovel better than I do. (I have an aversion to shovels from my early days of setting canvas dams that always washed out and the associated humiliation from a father and brother) She hands me the tools as I repair the tractor or mower. I have seen her late at night with her up arm up the birth canal of a bleating goat, trying to pull a dead kid out. It was as ugly as it sounds and she never flinched at the task. She was at the side of our dog Cinder and our pony Peaches when the vet put them down. I couldn’t bear it. But I can kill a chicken and dress it. I clean the chicken manure out of the coop but she has done her share. We both love picking strawberries and raspberries. She looks beautiful as she works the horses or on her knees as she plants lettuce seeds. She never paints her fingernails. I much prefer dirt under them. Her hair turns frizzy from the steam of canning tomatoes. We have both gained weight from our bountiful harvests but I love trying to walk it off with her on our strolls through the Antietam battlefield which is near our farm.

I look forward to growing old together on our farm. I want to watch her coach our granddaughters as they begin to canter and jump the horses. I want to teach our grandsons to drive the riding lawnmower which we will get some day after the last of our children have left home. I hope for a retirement where I can take a breakfast omelet (courtesy of our layers) with her on the terrace we built overlooking the farm before we begin the day’s work. I imagine resting at lunch to eat a garden salad and lemonade with her in the shade of our wisteria ladened arbor that we built. After a long day of work, we will grill one of our chickens for dinner on the back portico (no, we did not build it). In the cool of the evening, we will eat a piece of her strawberry rhubarb pie and homemade ice cream as we rock in the porch swing of the veranda which we built on the front of our house. At dusk we will read books by lantern light (her novels and my biographies) in the rocking chairs on the porch of the cabin that we built overlooking the Antietam Creek. The cicadas and pond frogs will serenade us as we bed down in the cabin bunks for the night. The dance of the fireflies above the cabin skylight will mesmerize us as we drift off to sleep.

Is our backyard farm as bucolic an idyllic as it sounds? Pretty much so. Will she continue the farm when I am gone or will I continue if she passes first? I pray we have many more years of backyard farming together before one of us has to make that decision. But for now, I will not hesitate like Tevye and Golde in proclaiming my love for my farming companion.

Film Review: Ingredients

2011-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Are we seeing positive changes in our food supply and will we continue to see those benefits in the near future? Ingredients is an interesting 67 minute documentary that attempts to answer these questions as it focuses on food practices in the United States right now.

This movie did not bring a lot of new information to the table. Most of the readers of our blog are already familiar with the importance of eating local, supporting CSA’s, and the evil’s of mega corporations that control what is what available in the food supply. While there were a few stats thrown out, I think this movie bases its arguments more on feel good interviews and anecdotal experiences and less on fact. If you are looking to “convert” someone to eating local this movie will probably not be the best choice. If you are already a member of the local food movement, you will enjoy this movie as an entertaining opportunity to hear from people that have the same ideas as you.

Ingredients admits that local foods are a lot of time more expensive and harder for poor people to eat. It truthfully states that there are hidden costs to cheap, government subsidized food. Some of those costs include; increased medical expenses from obesity problems and diabetes, and increased costs to our environment from the increased use of fossil fuels and other energy sources. The film reveals that one in three children born in 200 will have diabetes and the new generation will be the first in US history to have a shorter life span than their parents.

I agree with the dangers of these hidden costs but I think that there needs to be other choices available for lower income people. I don’t think that someone who has an extremely small budget for food cares about hidden costs. They care about what puts food on their table, which is often the less healthy subsidized, processed foods.

I would like to see more emphasis on backyard farms, growing your own food, and community gardens. We need ideas that will bring food back to lower income areas. Local farmers can help with this, but I think that the best way to improve food choices for lower income families is for the lower income households to learn how to grow their own foods even if it is to a limited degree.

What are some of the methods that you think can be used to provide healthier food choices for lower income families?

Whew! Just Molting!

2011-09-23T09:31:00.000-07:00

Egg production on my layers has been off. I figured that the shorter days and cooler weather were affecting their hormones. Then I went out to take care of them in the early morning a couple of days ago and there were feathers everywhere. My heart sank. A fox must have got them all. I looked in the coop and there they were all still roosting. Then it dawned on me. It has been a year since I got them. They are molting and that is why production is off. What a relief.

Feathers everywhere

One up my Aracuna’s preening.

More Uses for Zucchini

2011-09-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Since our garden got a late start this year, we are still harvesting a ton of Zucchini.One of the many quests of my life is to find good uses for this mutant vegetable that proliferates like the bunny of the vegetable world. In the past we have posted articles on Zucchini Fritters, Microwaved Zucchini Bread, Zucchini Frittatas, and Zucchini Brownie's.

This past weekend we found a really good recipe on www.cooks.com. We tweaked it a little bit and my family really liked it. I don't like to be too surreptitious and sneak veggies into my kids food. I prefer to let them know that veggies help us feel good and live healthy. I find that if our children know the veggies are from our garden, they like to eat it. In this case however, our kids are burnt out on Zucchini so when Mason asked us what the green things were in the meatloaf, I said herbs. There are herbs in there so who am I to say whether he was referring to Zucchini or herbs. It was an honest mistake.

Here is the tweaked recipe taken from the original recipe here.

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb ground turkey

2 c. finely grated, unpeeled zucchini

1 c. whole wheat bread crumbs OR regular bread crumbs

1 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 small onion, finely chopped

2 cloves chopped garlic
2 tsp. instant beef bouillon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1 lg. egg, beaten

Combine all ingredients in large bowl; mix thoroughly. Pack into 9'x5"x3" loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1hour.

The meatloaf came out very moist and flavorful. My oldest said "I don't usually like meatloaf but this is really good." Hopefully this gives you all another use for the deluge of Zucchini that is overtaking your garden. If you don't have any Zucchini just ask your neighbor that has a garden for some. Chances are that they have extra.

~Michael~

White Hats and Black Hats

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

As a child in the early 60’s, I would turn the black and white TV on and more often than not, there would be a western on. I instantly knew who the good guys were and who the bad guys were. Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger, and Jared & Heath Barkley wore white hats and the bad guys all wore black hats (Nick Barkley was kind of a jerk). Nowadays things aren’t so clear. In movies you don’t know who the good guys are or who the bad guys are until the end of the show. In the garden, you may or may not be able to tell who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. For example, in the following photo, it is easy to tell who the good guys are because they are wearing white hats.

This is a horn worm that has been eating my tomatoes – a real bad guy! The white hats are eggs implanted by a parasitic wasp. The larvae from these eggs will kill this horn worm. GO! GO! GO! The Lone Ranger rides again! And there are a whole bunch of Lone Rangers!
Now, check out this guy! Is he a good guy or a bad guy?

Obviously he is a bad guy because he has spines on his back and he had been eating my raspberry plant with that mean looking mouth. Not so! He is a good guy – an assassin bug. Look what he is doing in this photo.

He is sucking the guts out of a stink bug that has been eating my raspberries. GO! GO! GO! I feel like I am watching the Roy Rogers rolling around in the dirt with a bad guy, knowing in advance who is going to win the fight. This one of the funnest parts of gardening, watching the good guys battle it out to save my garden from the bad guys and knowing who is going to win.

Calling All Portland Backyard Farmers

2011-09-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Suzanne, a backyard farming reader, contacted me asking for a little help. She is hosting a free class for her neighborhood on backyard farming. She is need of someone willing to teach a class for 30-45 minutes on gardening and chickens. It would be on Saturday, September 24th.

Please leave a comment if you would be interested in teaching something like this!

Please include a way for us to contact you.

The Day That Changed The World

2011-09-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am terrible at writing sentimental things and I'm not poetic. What I am is, grateful to live in this amazing country with so many wonderful people. 10 years ago I was playing with my only child who was just 1 year old when I got a phone call from my mother-in-law telling me to turn on the news. I still remember the sick feeling I got as I started watching, I remember the fear that washed over me, looking at my baby wondering what the world was going to become. Over the next few days I remember the feeling of pride in my country as I watched the news and listened to the acts of service that were rendered and was inspired by all the people that stepped up and did their part.

Leave a comment and share your feelings, where were you, how did you feel? What are you doing today to remember?

Squashed! Learn from my mistakes

2011-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer

This ...

... should still be attached to this:

This squash never reached its potential to mature, by autumn, into a blue/gray package holding deep orange flesh -- perfect for delicious pies, soups, ravioli and more. And I'm the culprit.

I trained the squash vine up a wire trellis anchored against a fence. Too late I realized that this squash was forming between the trellis and fence. The space was too narrow and the growing squash too large. It actually started to grow around the wire, forming indentations.

I figured I'd wiggle the trellis a bit forward (being mindful of the tomatoes also attached) and try to pull the vine up and over, cradling the squash as I lifted it to the other side. Fail! It broke off the stem and landed with a thud.

So here's the lesson: If you use a frame against a fence or wall on which to train your garden vines. guide the blossoms to the open side so fruit can grow freely.

Either that, or make the most of it.

by Jennifer

Chickens Wearing Sweaters

2011-08-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

My Sister in Law Tasha posted about a chicken rescue group on her Facebook page. They are named Little Hen Rescue and according to their website, they run a not-for-profit organization that rescues battery, barn, free range hens and sometimes other poultry. It sounds like most of the chickens are rescued from farmers after they have lost there use.

The coolest part of the website is a section that teaches you how to knit sweaters for these poor chickens. the pictures are awesome and now I want my chickens to start wearing clothes. Check out some of the pictures.

All dressed up and nowhere to go.

"Does this dress cover my legs enough? I want to show them, but not all of them."

You can donate to this organization, or make sweaters for them. To find out how to help, click here.

These sweaters got me wondering about dressing up my chickens. I would like to dress one up as Sherlock Holmes, but only if I can teach her to hold a pipe. I know, it's pretty geeky to think about, but admit it, it is entertaining. What other good chicken costumes/outfits can you think of?

Baby Buttercup

2011-08-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Our sweet neighbor, Jane, knows that we want to get some goats. She bought a little baby goat this week and invited us to come over and play with her. We had so much fun, and we just can't wait to get our own goats!

Her goat house is immaculate, and Jane is organized and efficient. I know when the time comes, I will have a lot to learn from her.

She has two baby goats, so the milk is all going to them. She put the milk right into the bottles she was going to feed them with.

And Cosmo, licking his lips, anxiously awaits.

And then guzzles two bottles down in less than a minute.

Then it was the baby's turn to feed the baby.

Madelyn just couldn't get enough of Buttercup.

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?

Thank you Jane!

Homestead Makeover Contest

2011-08-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

As more American families embrace the values of simple living, the homesteading movement has moved into many suburban and urban areas. To address the need for products and information that supports the homesteading lifestyle, Manna Pro has launched a new web site at www.thehappyhomesteader.com. The web site offers information about raising backyard chickens, rabbits and goats; gardening in small spaces; and composting in a responsible and sustainable manner.

In support of this increasing popular movement, Manna Pro is holding a Homestead Makeover Contest for people who would like to improve their homestead or get a new homestead off to a great start. To enter, consumers need to record a video between two minutes and ten minutes in length detailing why they deserve to win a homestead makeover. They are encouraged to submit footage of their property showing what they would change or enhance to create a perfect homestead. “We want to know what motivates these consumers, and what inspires them to live a more sustainable lifestyle,” says Jennifer Hojnacki, Director of Marketing at Manna Pro. “Whether you envision a vegetable garden and chicken coop, or a dairy goat station and apple orchard, we want to know how having a dream homestead would change your life.” The winner of the contest will receive a homestead makeover consisting of up to $5,000 in products and services during the spring of 2012.

To enter the contest, consumers should fill out the online entry form (available at www.thehappyhomesteader.com) and email their video submissions to Manna Pro. The videos will be posted to the Happy Homesteader YouTube channel, and one winner will be selected in November 2011. Official entry rules are listed online.

There is also an opportunity for experienced homesteaders to participate in the contest. People who are already very active in homesteading activities and feel confident in their knowledge can submit a video showing their unique approach to creating a successful and sustainable environment. The entrant who illustrates the most expertise and originality in modern homesteading will receive the opportunity to be Manna Pro’s “Happy Homesteader Expert” throughout the makeover project. The winner of this category will also receive Manna Pro products and merchandise valued at $500.

Also in conjunction with the promotion, Manna Pro is launching two new poultry products: Wipe ‘N Wash^TM Egg Cleansing Towelettes and Coop ‘N Compost^TM Coop Odor Neutralizer. Wipe ‘N Wash is a 25 count, pop-top container of recyclable, biodegradable wipes that can be used to quickly and easily clean eggs. Because the wipes are biodegradable, they can be safely placed in the compost after using them. Each wipe can clean up to 2 dozen eggs depending on how soiled they are. Coop ‘N Compost is a natural product used to neutralize odors and moisture in coops, which extends the life of bedding and enhances living conditions for the flock. As an added benefit, when mixed with manure and compost, Coop ‘N Compost makes the natural nutrients more plant-accessible, which is good for the garden.

Ag Stats

2011-08-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

I was trained as an agricultural economist at Cornell, where George F. Warren birthed the discipline of agricultural economics (The University of Wisconsin and Henry C. Taylor would take issue with that statement). As such I love to ruminate on tables like the following. Understandably, you may not be so engrossed with it so let me summarize some interesting points.

1. Americans spent 1.1 trillion dollars on food in 2010. Wow!

2. In 1930, the average American spent 24.2% if their take home pay on food. By 2010 this was reduced to 9.4%. That is amazing! Particularly since through the history of mankind, most people spent most of their time trying to get food. But our agricultural systems have freed up over 90% of our income to use for other things, like big screen TVs. Some would argue that there are other costs to our agricultural systems such as environmental and societal costs. I would not disagree but our agricultural systems are trying to feed almost 7 billion people.

3. In 1930 the average American ate 12.7% of the value of their food outside the home – restaurants, etc.

That number grew to 41.3% in 2010. And a large part of that is eaten in fast food restaurants.

4. Assuming that food prepared in the home is cheaper that restaurants, and it certainly is for us, the average person could reduce their food bill much lower than even 9.4% of their take home pay if they ate out less often. I know this is true because for years we fed a family of 8 on about 10% of my income. However, right now I have a 6’4” sixteen year old who is eating me out of house and home.

Click to Enlarge Table

So what conclusions can you draw from this table?

Do a Good Turn

2011-08-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year when your garden is thriving, ripe tomatoes on every vine, summer squash literally doubling in size daily and fresh backyard food for every meal. Do you find that after eating all you could possibly want and preserving your favorites that you still have a lot left over?

So far this week I've picked over 20 cucumbers. After squash bores destroyed our plants last year we decided to grow a lot more cucumbers in hopes of more survivors. Only problem is we are now getting 10-15 lbs of cucumbers a week and we don't like pickles. My personal limit for cucumber consumption is one or maybe two a day if I eat only salad with lunch and dinner.

In January I heard on All Things Considered about a major problem with food banks, getting nutritious quality food http://www.npr.org/2011/01/13/132864584/high-demand-nutritional-dilemma-vex-food-banks. With unemployment still high nation wide there is a lot of need. Food banks get lots of non-perishable canned and refined foods but frequently lack a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit due to high cost and short shelf life.

Rather than unloading your extra on neighbors and friends please make a regular commitment to deliver your plenty to your local food bank that others might also be blessed by your farm.

~Allen Johnson

The New Guy in Town

2011-08-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

Michael and I had some good laughs picking out the Barry White song. Once the video all came together, it was pretty funny to listen to the words because they seemed to fit......I love you baby, let me run my fingers through your ~~hair~~ feathers.

~marisa

Feed the Birds!

2011-08-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This year, the weather patterns across many parts of the country have been abnormal. Here in Texas we are experiencing the worst drought in our history. So far, here in Houston where I live, we are over 18” behind regular rainfall amounts for the year.

This is having a big effect on all trees and plants and the animals are going to suffer because of it!
Natural sources of nectar are being minimized and this is a concentrated area for migrating birds. For any readers who want to contribute… help the Hummingbirds gain the weight they need! Their migration is happening or will soon be happening (late August through September) when they will need to increase their weight by +/- 40%.

Feeders:
4: 1 water: sugar (dissolve with hot water)
No red dyes in the water
Change out the water every 2-3 days to prevent spoilage
Preferably place it in a shaded location
Keep multiple feeders far apart and in various locations to prevent fighting

Cameron

Did your Farmers Market make this list?
(Image Credit)

Grandparents in my garden

2011-08-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer

When my columbines burst open this summer I was transported to my Grandpa Earl's front steps. A columbine is a rather unique looking flower, with star-shaped blooms atop long, trailing pointy petals. The flower beds flanking Grandpa's front door were full of 'em, presenting a vivid white, yellow and blue welcome mat. Even though I never asked him, I figured columbines must be my grandpa's absolute favorite flower, to have them in such profusion. It was like our shared contempt of cucumbers (among a teasing family that loves them) -- another funny little tidbit to bond the two of us together.

Jennifer's grandfather, age 82, and her children, ages 3 and 11 months. June 1999.

This month marks Grandpa Earl's birthday. He would have been 95. There seems such a huge distance between that number and 88, the age when he died. I wish I could still visit him. I wish my children could play in his sandbox, then saunter inside to open his treat/cookie drawer and hear him call out, "What's a seven-letter word for keepsake?" * while he did the crossword. I miss him.

I miss my other three grandparents, too. All four are gone.

I was mulling my status as a "grandparent orphan" one day as I worked in my garden. The columbines, naturally, made me think of Grandpa Earl. Then, as I started weeding, I heard the words Uncle Willis gave in a funeral tribute to his mother, my Grandma Orton. Sitting is not the proper posture for working, she had taught him as a young boy. When a task requires us to be close to the ground, we summon more strength by kneeling.

I began to think of all the other ways my garden brings my grandparents near:

The mingling scents of flowers remind me of how Grandpa Orton humored fussy Grandma, as shown the time I was 13, visiting from another state. They took me to the mall. Grandma flitted from perfume counter to perfume counter, each time waiting for Grandpa to sniff his approval. "Mmm," he said with the air of a practiced connoisseur. "That stinks pretty good."

I think of GranMarie, Grandpa Earl's wife, every time I brush past a tomato plant and release the aroma of her minestrone recipe. Come winter I make about a batch a week. I look at my apple tree and remember her pushing me high enough on the swing in her yard that I feared hitting fruit.

I have just one zucchini plant this season (one is enough!), but even with such a small quarry there's sure to be one squash that will escape notice -- you know, the kind you never, ever see forming until it's the size of a man's leg. And I'll laugh to remember the time my dad, brothers and I slipped such a specimen beneath the disproportionately puny leaves of Grandpa Earl's squash plant. He was too shocked to notice the curious lack of stem/plant attachment.

I hunted for worms by flashlight in my grandparents' carrot rows, felt my grandmother's patience when I pretended to understand my her grape vine pruning lesson, expectantly planted vegetable seeds with my grandparents, harvested alongside them. That all these memories can take form in my own garden today makes me very grateful indeed.

crossword answer:

*memento

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Madeline from http://madelinekelly.umwblogs.org says:

I have a 3.5 x 8 foot balcony to work with, not to mention the lovely New England climate, so I'm proud to report I have:

2 cucumber plants

2 cayenne pepper plants (loaded with green fruits)

3 beefsteak tomato plants (more than a dozen green whoppers so far...)

7 or so basil plants

8 or so green bean plants

about two dozen carrots (little though they may be)

about a dozen beets

3 baby catnip plants

1 mint plant

1 oregano plant

a small patch of kale

a smattering of lettuce plants

2 marigolds

2 nasturtiums

2 flat-leaf parsley plants

A few of the main challenges I face are (a) watering (because it's hard to reach some of them, and they dry out so fast), (b) pollination (the tomatoes, peppers, and beans are fine, but the cucumbers have been a real challenge -- I pollinate them myself with a small paintbrush) and (c) support for the more gangly plants -- I don't have any cages, so mostly I support the tomatoes and peppers with chopsticks and twine. The balcony railings help, too.

I've attached a few photos of the "farm." The photo that is landscape was taken out our bathroom window and shows our kitchen window on the right. That's where I do all my gardening. The other two photos (one of tomatoes, one of cukes/pepper/catnip/basil/beans) were taken from the kitchen. It's pretty handy to have the garden right next to the cooking room! Oh -- and I attached one last-minute picture of our cat, Akimbo, watching me garden. It's nice to have a garden for her to look at out the windows. (And us, too.) :)

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Check out Allison's blog: www.novicelife.blogspot.com - The Life of a Novice - she is talking lots about gardening failures and wins ;)

Tomato Garden: This photo was taken in June shortly after we were finally able to get in all the tomato plants. Also included in the garden is Basil and some Squash plants in the corner! My 'mater plants are doing to hot this year - next year we'll plant all corn in this garden!

Beans: I have KY Wonder [Pole] Beans growing up a light post in the back yard. Some volunteer squash plant popped up there too!

CR hen house: this is a view down one of our apple orchard aisles that shows our 'soon to be' hen house/chicken coop in the distance!

Herb Garden: this is my herb garden which sits outside my back door. It contains Dill, Lemon Balm, Tarragon, Sage, Chives, Cilantro, Oregano, Thyme and Parsley

Left Orchard: This is a view of the left side of our orchard on an early summer evening. We have 120 trees, 8 which are Pear, 6 which are Quince and the rest, apples!

Main Garden: this is a photo of our main garden which consists of carrots, all kinds of peppers, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet corn, yellow beans, and 3 varieties of pickling cucs -- most plants are of heirloom varities!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd share some photos of my backyard garden. I live in Arlington, VA, which is a close-in suburb of Washington DC. Most of the lot sizes are very small, but I've been blessed with 3 lots in the middle of town, so I put them to good use. I follow the square-foot gardening method (for the most part) and currently have 8 boxes, with some extra items along the fence. These photos are a mix from various days this past spring and summer. I hope you like them! If you'd like to see the entire garden, I've got them in two facebook albums:

2011 Garden and Yard:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1835249316494.2107398.1098271297&l=1828dba94b&type=1

and

2011 Garden Part II

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2169546233708.2127251.1098271297&l=4f2abaab30&type=1

Seedlings that I started indoors and later set out into the garden

Asparagus emerging in early spring.

A view of the garden looking S - this is the most recent photo

A view of the garden looking NW

Sugar Snap Peas!

My son watering the blueberry bushes.

Blueberries!

Thornless blackberries.

Tomatoes in self-watering containers on the front walk. This was an experiment that worked extremely well.

My daughter grazing in the garden.

IKEA Hackers: Bee Suit

2011-08-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever checked out the blog IKEA Hackers? It is pretty funny, inspiring, beautiful, but this post was just funny! It is a wasp suit, but for our purposes, we are going to call it a bee suit.

Materials: FYLLEN Laundry Basket, Duct Tape and Courage

Description: Pretty self explanatory! suit up and you will ready to tackle Bees, Wasps and anything that has the capacity to sting and fly. This was not my idea and was found somewhere in the matrix.

The "Real Food" Evangelist

2011-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-10T06:00:00.002-07:00

My garden is in the south central San Joaquin Valley of California (Sunset zone 8-9) - Oildale to be exact.
I garden for pleasure and consumption. In fact, loads of produce is consumed before it even has a chance to leave my garden gate. Enjoying the garden is key.
You can find me out in the garden working or dancing around listening to some great local country music. Occasionally, I'll simply put my feet up and enjoy the view.
Here's the link to my blog if you want to peek.

http://maybellinesgarden.blogspot.com/

We here at backyard farming just love Maybelline, she always has the funniest comments, her blog is great too. Next time I'm out in Cali, I'm going to look you up and come visit your backyard farm!

Raw Milk -West Jordan, Utah

2011-08-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Good news to you Utah-ites on the West Side. Utah Natural Meat will soon be selling Huckleberry Dairy raw milk. When we lived out there, we had to drive about 40 minutes to get raw milk, and because of the drive, we weren't able to buy raw milk as often as we would have liked.

If you are interested in buying raw milk from them, send an e-mail to sales@utahnaturalmeat.com. Put "milk" in the subject line, they are trying to calculate numbers and are trying to find where their interest is.

On a side note, over a year ago we bought about 1/3 of a cow from Utah Natural Meat, they hold a very high standard with their beef, no hormones, no antibiotics, grass fed etc. We are just finishing up the last of our meat, and we have been nothing but pleased with them and their meat.

~marisa

Goat Shareholders Seek Court Recognition of Civil Liberties

2011-08-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Falls Church, Virginia (August 9, 2011)--The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund on behalf of its California members, San Jose goat farmers Mike and Jane Hulme and San Jose goat owners Ian Gerbode, Sara-Jane Skiwski and Sarah Sullivan, has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and the County of Santa Clara. The suit, filed July 22 in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, asks for a declaration by the court that Gerbode, Skiwski and Sullivan have the inalienable right to purchase, own, possess and use a goat, that they have the inalienable right to consume the raw milk produced by their goat and a declaration that they have the inalienable right to contract with the Hulmes to board, care for and milk their goats. The suit asks for a permanent injunction against the State of California and Santa Clara County preventing Defendants from commencing or continuing any enforcement action against Plaintiffs “or against anyone else in California who wishes to engage in the conduct engaged in by Plaintiffs.”

On May 18 the District Attorney’s Office of Santa Clara County sent a letter to the Hulmes accusing the farmers of illegally manufacturing and selling dairy products at Evergreen Acres. The letter informed the Hulmes that “the unlicensed manufacturing or processing for resale of any milk or milk product is a crime, punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year in the county jail.”

In a subsequent meeting at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, an official from CDFA informed the Hulmes that while it was legal for goat owners to board their goats at the farm and to have the Hulmes milk the goats, the owners could only drink the milk from their goats at the Hulmes’ farm; once they left the farm with the milk, Evergreen Acres had become a dairy processing plant and was violating the law since it did not have a license. The official did not explain to the Hulmes the public health reason for this distinction.

In commenting on the action threatened by the District Attorney’s Office, Milk Hulme said, “It is still incomprehensible to me that a District Attorney would ‘overlook’ the rights of citizens in the pursuit of regulation of a private farm over milk from a goat that was clearly for private consumption by the goat owner only and not for resale. It is a sign that clearly says there is no recognition for privacy, contract law or the vast evidence that raw milk is by its nature a safer product than pasteurized milk.” As for evidence of the safety of the milk produced at Evergreen Acres, a recent standard plate count test of Evergreen Acres’ milk [a test to determine viable bacteria in dairy products] was below 50—California law allows a standard plate count of up to 15,000 for raw milk sold at retail.

Hulme pointed out, “There is no injury here; no one has become sick from milk produced at the farm. There have been no complaints from either the goat owners or officials in the City of San Jose. The only conclusion I can draw is that this is a politically motivated action by the district attorney and CDFA to effectively put a small family farm out of business.”

With the August 3 raid against the Rawesome Food Club in Venice, California by federal, state and local government agents, the lawsuit takes on greater importance. The police state tactics used in the raid should not stand nor should government interference with the rights of individuals to obtain the foods of their choice through private contracts and associations. This is particularly so when the individual has ownership in the animal from which the food is produced.

CDFA and Santa Clara County have until August 29 to respond to the complaint. For more information on the lawsuit, contact the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund.

URL Link for this release: http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/press/press-09aug2011.htm

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund defends the rights and broadens the freedoms of

family farms and protects consumer access to raw milk and nutrient-dense foods. Concerned

citizens can support the FTCLDF, a U.S. based 501(c)(4) nonprofit, by joining or donating

online at www.farmtoconsumer.org or by calling 703-208-FARM (3276).

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

Check out the backyard farm of Candace from http://thecoeurdalenecoop.blogspot.com

Here are couple images of our backyard farm – The 2^nd Street Chicken Ranch in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. We are truly “urban” on a .16 lot in downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The garden image was a couple of weeks ago – it’s been a really wet and chilly summer here – most plants are a good 3 weeks behind normal (but great for peas and lettuce!).

The chicken photos are from when we introduced our 4 new chicks to our 2 older hens for the first time. I’m happy to report that everyone now lives together, happily, in one coop.

Happy Backyard Farming!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

Take a look at the backyard farm of Kara from www.welloneofmyblogs.com

She says:

I've been in my little house for just over a year now-- first came the garden and chickens, and then bees this spring!

The "before" of my barren yard (which is actually kind of an "after" after taking down two shanties, a pigeon coop, old busted chicken run, millions of blackberry vines, and waist-high weeds)

Here's a couple of recent photos of the bigger food-producing parts of my garden.

My three fabulous chicken-ladies.

I have a top bar hive, so things are a bit nontraditional.

Pretty much everything you can see in that last photo is food producing-- a variety of squash, amaranth, and quinoa, a fig tree in the back left, a persimmon tree dangling in the foreground (surrounded by thyme), and in the far background, a tower of beans, more amaranth, a couple of tomatoes, and a few artichokes.. even the apple tree hanging over the fence from the neighbor's yard! Parts of the garden (seen in the other photo) are set up for modified square foot gardening, but I love the random areas that feel more decorative and still are solely food-producers.

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a little view of our little farm, we have some raised beds and some happy hens and two little helpers, we currently eat well on the 1/2 acre we have planted, we still have a couple more acres to clear, fence and plant, maybe when the little helpers are a little bigger.

Theresa & Family
Millstone NJ

http://garden-pixy.blogspot.com/

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Rob, one of Michael's friends from work trained this bird slowly and methodically to grab a peanut right out of his hand! Amazing!

and here is a picture from DJK

It's amazing how much you can grow in a little corner of the yard!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

The following is from

Francisco

Staten Island, New York

www.LettuceBeeSustainable.blogspot.com

I don't quite have a farm, as I live in the heart of New York City. I live smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood. I live and grow vegetables, propagate lavenders and boxwoods, raise chickens and now starting a beehive on a 7,000 square foot lot. I know that sounds crazy but its true. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but I am trying to see if it is possible to achieve sustainability in an urban setting, while nurturing the eco system where I live, Its my own urban experiment.

The working girls.

The boxwoods I propagated, lined them out in growing beds, I have since sold all of them to friends and neighbors.

A carpenter bee visiting one of my lavender.

Well, I'm inspired, how about you?

The Tyke Toter

2011-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

We interrupt these backyard farms for an announcement.

The friendly inventors of the Tyke Toter kindly sent us their product to review, and we are in love. There are a TON of great places to bike around our new neighborhood, but a lot of the best places to ride bikes are on dirt trails (there is one that goes right behind our house). We have loved taking the the kids on bike rides, but we haven't ever been able to ride together as a family. In the past we have just had the bike trailer which is too wide and too difficult to pull on the dirt trails. The Tyke Toter has made it so we can ride together as a family! Madelyn is able to ride right up front with me, and she LOVES it. Just check out this video:

Bike rides in the little trailer never lasted very long, she would be back there all by herself, and she couldn't see much. Now, she is right there next to me, we can talk about what we see, and she feels like she is a part of the ride.

Just look at how happy it makes Madelyn!

The last thing I like about it is that it is easy to take on and off. I tried going on a ride up a pretty steep hill without Madelyn and I regretted not taking the extra minute to take it off, it did get in my way.

So, if you have a bike and you have a little tyke that you want to tote around, go check out their website!

~marisa

(The opinions expressed in this post were all mine, and we were not paid for this post. We accepted their product to review with the understanding that we would give an honest review whether we liked it or not, and we like it!)

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

These are pictures from Erin, you can check out her blog at http://barefootmomof2.blogspot.com/

Aren't these baby ducks the cutest?

Just look at this glorious flock!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from Mel at polloloco-pdx.blogspot.com

I just love this picture!

Thanks for sending these pictures Mel, your girls and garden look great!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Farmer from http://stealthfarming.blogspot.com

sends us these pictures of her backyard farm.

Of course our biggest excitement this summer has been our first ever litters of piglets:

We also raised meat ducks this year:

But the herb garden is doing great too!

It's too early for tomato pics here in the mountains. :(

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from the Brewer Family's mini-farm in Northern Idaho! Our dog, Davidson, thinks the chickens are his...

I got a good laugh out of that second picture!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Kristina of www.ProverbsThirtyOneWoman.blogspot.com sends us these pictures.

Aren't these pictures just beautiful?

I'm so glad we are featuring other backyard farms. It is so inspiring.

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the backyard farm of: http://isagoodone.blogspot.com

Chickens. We have 6 Partridge Chanteclers. One has been laying for just over a week. Hopefully the others join in soon as well. We originally raised 30, but took 24 to the butcher last month.

Raised beds. I have 4 of these. This one has tomatoes, an artichoke plant, and a few onions from last year. The one to the left is just strawberries. The other two of peas, beans, cucumbers, zucchini, winter squash, and asparagus.

Bees! (Don't you love my Mister's bee suit?)

Beans and corn, with squash around the edges in an attempt to create a prickly fence to keep out critters.

Thanks for sharing your backyard farm with us!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Brett and Christine sent us pictures of their parents/in-laws yard that they helped make over. As you can see, this is quite the makeover!

The retaining wall was hired out, but the rest was compliments of family members blood, sweat, and tears.

They currently have:

over 20 citrus fruit trees

6 laying hens

3 grape arbors

herbs

vegetables

compost bin

worm bin

Future plans include:

expansion of the raised beds

aquaponics project

long term food storage in the garage

Even more sustainable living!

BEFORE

And just take a look at what they turned it into!!!

That's a backyard I would LOVE to spend some time in!

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Raeann from My Simple Victory (mysimplevictory.blogspot.com) has a small property in a suburb near Winnipeg, Manitoba that really packs a punch. Whenever she tells someone everything she is growing on the property they say, "Wow! You must have a big yard!" she responds by telling them that it is just "well planned".

- 12 Roma Tomatoes
- 8 Celebrity Tomatoes
- 12 Juliet Tomatoes
- 1 San Marazano Tomato
- 100+ bush green beans
- 100+ carrots
- 1 pumpkin
- 2 butternut squash
- 36 onions
- 1 swiss chard
- 10 potato plants
- 10 sweet red peppers
She also has perennially grapes, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, sour cherries, red currants, mint, chives, garlic chives, saskatoons, roses (rosehips), poppies, bee balm, and catnip. Not to mention a pond, iris's, lilies, peonies, babies breath, brown eyed susans, lilac trees, and more.

And this is only her second year gardening!

grape vines crawling on fence, mint, strawberry batch, raspberry patch, and future chicken coop site.

Raised garden beds (she made them her self!) Using some recycled materials they only cost her $100 for all 3, which included a Starbucks iced latte. Tomatoes, squash, and green beans.

Isn't this a great use of space?

Green beans, potatoes, and carrots.

Your Backyard Farm

2011-07-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

For the next couple weeks we will be featuring YOUR backyard farms. To kick it off we are featuring:

Dog Island Farm in Vallejo, California.

http://www.dogislandfarm.com

And Sheri's Backyard Farm
Bountiful, Utah

We Want to See Your Backyard Farms

2011-07-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

We received an awesome set of pictures from one of our readers. It is a four part series showing his daughter trying to pick up on of their chickens. He wants everyone to know that his chickens are very happy and his daughter normally does a good job of being gentle. Many of the factory farm chickens would love to be held by this cutie. This instance turned out to be a bit awkward, but it is fun to see one so young developing a love for backyard farming.

The photos got us thinking. You all get to see our backyard farms often, but we don't get to see yours. Here is our challenge to you. We would like to make this blog about you next week. Send us a picture or a few pictures of your backyard farms and we will post them next week. We would be glad to include your blog address along with your picture if you would like. Send your pictures backyardfarmingblog@gmail.com along with your blog address if you want it included. We are excited to see what you have to show us. Let's show the world the part we are playing in being self sufficient.

And now, on to the pictures from our reader Michael.

Easy as 1............

2.....................

3....................

Mission Accomplished

~Michael~

A New Home for the swarm

2011-07-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

There is an old saying that goes:

A swarm in May is worth a load of hay;

A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon;

But a swarm in July is not worth a fly’

for it is then too late

to store up honey before the flowers begin to fade.

But we are giving it a try anyways.

I Just Caught a Swarm of BEES!!!

2011-07-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. Last week there was a swarm of bees on our trampoline. Today I looked out my window to check on my fruit trees and there was a swarm of bees on my little baby apple tree.

I learned my lesson from last time. I knew that I needed to work quickly and that I couldn't wait for Michael to get home or the swarm could be gone. I grabbed the bee veil, a long sleeved white shirt, and got the smoker going. I found a tupperware box and drilled some little holes in it for air and put a couple marshmallows in the box. I then remembered that a Backyard Farming reader, Michelle, had emailed me her phone number in case I ever had any questions about bees. So sweet of her! So, I took her up on that and gave her a call. She was awesome and walked me through the process.

The bees had broken off a branch and it was laying on the ground covered in bees. I started with putting that in the box. I then held the box right under the clump of bees and shook the tree as hard as I dared (I didn't want to break my tree). I probably only got about half the bees in the box. Michelle explained to me that I probably got the queen in the box because the bees that didn't make it in the box were trying to get into the box where the queen was.

The next step was a labor of love. Using a bee brush I would tip the lid and brush the bees into the box. I then would have to wait for the bees to calm down and regroup on the box, then repeat brushing them into the box.

I have them in the shade for now, and I'm going to try to round up another bee box.

Wahoo! I'm on a little adrenaline rush right now!

~marisa

Readers Question: Chicken Lice

2011-07-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am new at raising chickens we have 18 between 2 separate houses. The one has ten 20 week old hens, 1 red sex link that started laying in April and one rooster. Roughly 2 weeks ago our sex link started to sit so we assumed she was going broody, but had noticed white bugs crawling on her head…lice. We bathed the whole flock in an organic tea tree and peppermint, cleaned the coop, dusted with De. She seems to be doing better but still have not received an egg from her in these 2 weeks. Our other girls which are 6 red sex links in the other house started decreasing in egg production also within the past 2 weeks….we would get 6 a day….to gradually 5….then we went to three…. to two….one….then none for two days. These girls were treated the same within 1 day apart from the first one mentioned above other… and we just started getting 1-2 eggs a day a few days ago, still not at normal. Nothing has changed in diet (other than brand of feed) they were on pellets, but went to local feed store and got them a layer mash (which they had on one other occasion with no troubles) there are no predator issues, it has been hot but not to terrible, they have access to dust bathe. So I am stumped to what else might be going on. They all are eating/drinking well and look healthy and no missing feathers. Do you have any ideas or no how long it takes them to bounce back to laying after an infestation of lice ?

Thank You,

M&M

Tomato Hornworm

2011-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

We've been infested!

It seemed to happen so quickly! The tomato hornworm is difficult to see, it's like playing "Where's Waldo" since they are green and just lay along the stems and sometimes hide under leaves. Their damage is easy to detect, the hungry munchers eat all the leaves and just leave the stems. My running partner wanted to see our garden, and instead of a morning run, we spent a half hour searching for these little buggers, we found over 20! The best and most organic thing to do is to keep watch, pick them off, and smash them. I've told the kids that there is a 50 cent bounty on each hornworm brought to me dead or alive.

Beware! check your tomatoes, but they can also infest your potatoes, eggplants, and peppers.

Update: in the comments someone asked what the moth that lays the eggs looks like. Here it is:

Image

~marisa

Bee Swarm- Update

2011-07-18T07:14:00.000-07:00

Michael checked our hive and everything looks normal. We think that maybe the swarm was checking out our hive and decided to go elsewhere since it was already occupied.

Swarm of Bees

2011-07-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

The kids discovered a bazillion bees on our trampoline. I really hope our hive didn't decide to swarm! From my estimation, it looks like about 4 lbs. worth of bees, so it could be.

I need Michael to get home so he can check on the hive.

Any suggestions for us?

The Grocery Game

2011-07-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

As food prices rise higher and higher, we are all trying to find ways to save money on our food. Starting a garden is a great way to save on produce. The initial cost may be a little high, but year after year, you will reap the benefits.

As I was driving last Saturday, I was listening to a radio program that promised if you went shopping with him, he could show you how to buy 15 meals worth of food for just $35. I just needed to be one of the first 20 callers. I pulled over and called right then, and I was one of the first 20 callers.

Shopping day arrived and I decided I would buy whatever he said to buy, even if it wasn't something I would normally get. As we walked down the aisles in a caravan of shopping carts, I just couldn't stop saying, "oh, my kids are going to be so excited, we never buy this" and, " wow, we sure are getting a lot of treats, the kids are going to want me to shop with him every week!"

As I was checking out, my total came to $38 due to the tax and the extra head of lettuce I bought. I have to admit, my cart was pretty full for such a small price because of the coupons that were provided by my shopping guide. As I looked at the individual items in my cart, I realized that only about half of it was actually "food".

He wanted a $10 tip at the end and another $10 for more coupons just like we used that day. I had to smile and pass him by. It is against my moral code to tip him for encouraging people to shop and eat that way. And there is no way I'm going to get the coupons if it is going to encourage me to buy those types of items. I will stick to price matching, that way I'm getting the best deals possible on my produce, which normally would fill up at least 1/3 of my cart. I use this website for my price matching. (I have not been paid or endorsed for linking this website, I genuinely like it, and want to share what I like.)

Here is what ended up in my cart.

This is what I actually consider "food"

What are your money saving grocery tips?

~marisa

93 Days in Jail for Planting a Vegetable Garden

2011-07-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

Michigan Woman Faces 93 Days in Jail for Planting a Vegetable Garden

This is not some gated community with HOA regulations. This is an ordinary, working class neighborhood in Oakland County, Michigan.

It just doesn't get more ridiculous than this.

Julie Bass of Oak Park, Michigan -- a mother of 6, law-abiding citizen, and gardener -- is facing 93 days in jail after being charged with a misdemeanor.

Her crime? Planting a vegetable garden in the front yard.

Bass says that she planted the garden after her front yard was torn up for some sewer repairs. Rather than wasting the opportunity to start with a clean slate by planting a lawn, she decided to really put the area to use, and plant a vegetable garden.

Her garden consists of 5 raised beds, where she grows a mix of squashes, corn, tomatoes, flowers, and other veggies. Bass received a warning from the city telling her to remove the vegetable garden, because it doesn't adhere to city ordinances (more on that later.) When she refused, she was ticketed and charged with a misdemeanor. Her trial, before a jury, is set to begin on July 26th. If she is found guilty, she can be sentenced to up to 93 days in jail.

Read the article here, and read about what you can do to help!

~marisa

One More Reason to Eat from the Garden!

2011-07-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

More Ways to Eat Local

2011-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

You visit farmers’ markets. You shop by season. You buy loaves of bread from your local baker. But now you want to do more. Don’t worry, there are plenty more ways to implement local eating into your meal planning! Try these tips to take your local eating habits even further.

Grow a Garden
It’s time to bust out the spade and gloves and get dirty. If you want to go ultra-local, grow a mini-garden in your backyard! There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that are fairly easy to grow, like chives, basil, carrots, lettuce, and berries. If you aren’t sure which foods will work best in your region’s climate, take a trip to the nearest garden nursery and ask lots of questions. You could also join a community garden if you’re feeling less confidant about your gardening abilities. Visit the American Community Gardening Association website to find a community garden near you.

Join a CSA
If you haven’t already, you should join a CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA allows you to get food items fresh off of the farm in exchange for a personal pledge, paid up front. Prices can vary for different farmers and depending on their portions so find a CSA near you on the Local Harvest website and inquire about prices. If you like to cook, the CSA program could be a wonderful way to experiment with new fruits and vegetables.

Get an Animal
For the meat-lovers out there, get an animal! All right, this may sound a little cuckoo, but small farms are starting to sell animal shares. The farm raises, processes, and packages the animal and you simply purchase and devour. For a list of farms that sell beef, check out EatWild.com.

You may also try buying a few chickens. Anyone who has had an egg straight from the nest knows that there is simply no comparison between fresh and store-bought eggs. Not only does raising poultry provide eggs, it can also rid your backyard of pesky insects. Chickens provide one egg every 24-48 hours, so make sure to buy enough for your morning omelet. However, some cities do have limitations on backyard livestock, so make sure you have the green light to get poultry beforehand.

So there you have it, a few more ways to eat local. There are always more ways that you can get fresher food and help your environment.

James Kim is a writer for foodonthetable.com. Food on the Table is a company that provides online budget meal planning services. Their goal is to help families eat better and save money.

Take It With a Grain of Salt

2011-07-08T08:06:00.000-07:00

(image)

Take it with a grain of salt....unrefined salt.

All salts are NOT equal. Our bodies need salt, it is essential in the balancing of water in our bodies. Regular table salt is refined and stripped of everything good, and as a result you are left with plain old sodium chloride. Did you know that natural salt has up to 84 minerals in it? Table salt has maybe 2. Those are minerals that your body needs! Just like refined flour, refined salt should be kept to a minimum. I never thought I would say this, but you need to check the label of your salt, it may even contain an anti-caking agent. The back of your salt container should have a long list of minerals.

We've made the switch to "real salt", and I just can't understand why it is so much more expensive. Shouldn't the refined and processed salt be more expensive? I would think that something that has to be refined and go through extra steps would cost more. Can someone educate me on this?

~marisa

True Urban Farming

2011-07-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

By Allen Johnson

I’m Uncle Dale’s son and Michael’s cousin. I’ve been reading backyard farming for a couple of years now and I’ve been mentioned in some of my father’s articles (Broiler Apocalypse, Proper Snake Removal). My father asked me to describe our urban farm on this blog. I hope that my backyard farm might inspire you to get creative with your situation and start to grow something.

My wife, daughter, and I live in an urban jungle – Arlington, Virginia. Our house was built in 1945 during the post WWII defense boom as part of Ft. Barnard. The army built it right into the side of the steepest hill in Arlington to use every square foot possible. Being on a hill, we have more stairs than anything; 25 to the front door, 15 from there up to the back door and patio, 9 more take you to the highest terrace, and 30 inside that connect each room which is on a different level. As part of an urban neighborhood, our entire property is barely larger than the US median square footage of new homes - 2,600 sq feet.

Last summer we started a garden in the only truly flat piece of land, the 7.5’x13’ patch of soil next to our patio. This year with a toddler we decide that our flat plot needed to be a place for her to play so we had to get creative to grow a garden. We installed raised beds across the front of the house. We built shelves into the retaining wall to support flower and herb boxes. On the highest portion of the hill we pulled out the thick underbrush that occupied the space and put in terraces. We use trellises for vertical gardening. Most of the crops are irrigated with soaker hose. Fortunately, our property has a southern exposure so we get plenty of sun.
We now grow a variety of crops including lettuce, chard, tomatoes, cucumbers, black berries, broccoli, green beans, egg plant, peppers, raspberries, sunflower, squash, and many varieties of flowers and herbs. My father has been jealous of the quantity and quality of our produce. Small gardens produce proportionately more that large gardens because you have to maximize every square foot. My father’s large garden has wide walkways (more room for weeds) and plants that get neglected because of the volume of work to be done.

I hope that our success with a small property will inspire you to find ways to turn your home into a productive backyard farm. If we can do it, anyone can do it. You don’t need the acres that my father has to have a several nice meals a week from your garden all summer long. Grilling fresh vegetables alongside chicken from my father’s farm is a treat after a long days work. If you haven't started yet, get creative and start today. You still have at least 90 good growing days in most of the US.

Urban Arlington Virginia

The hillside challenge

Blackberries in the front yard.

Interplanting vegetables and flowers in raised beds

Front door surrounded by garden

Patio, planter boxes for herbs, and upper terrace

A steep hillside with poor soil, yet the garden is thriving

The reward

A "Firecracker Plant" Salute

2011-07-04T07:03:00.000-07:00

by Jennifer

Every time I see dill's yellow seed heads shoot into the sky I think of my then 5-year-old's son look of wonder when he first saw them. "Wow!" he said excitedly. "Firecracker plants!"

Soon fireworks will be bursting all over America to commemorate the 4th of July, Independence Day. Here's wishing that no matter your country, you can find something in your life -- or in your garden -- worth celebrating!

Enjoy

2011-07-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying fresh peas from the garden. We are eating them as fast as we can pick them.

What are you enjoying from your garden?

Watermelon Cubed?

2011-06-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite websites is instructables.com. It gives you instructions on how to build, make or do almost anything. It is a great way to save money and be more productive. You can find fun science projects for home school, recipes, and many other things. The latest project I want to take on involves a watermelon, a box, and awesomeness. How can you get cooler than a cube watermelon?

Photo from instructables.com

Click on this link to see how to make your watermelon into a magical cube. I think these are so awesome. Now I only want to have square fruit. Regular round circular fruit will not suffice. It has to be square or I won't eat it!

OK, I got a bit carried away there. I should like fruits of all shapes and sizes. No need to be prejudice against regular fruit, but you can't tell me that if a square watermelon showed up at your door you would welcome him with open arms and laugh at his jokes even when they weren't funny. You would give him the benefit of the doubt and try to make him like you. You wouldn't do those things for a regular oblong melon would you? Square is where it's at.

Photo from snopes.com

We at backyard farming seem to be a little behind the loop on this one as I have seen articles on CNN from 2001 that discuss the phenomenon of square watermelon selling for more than $80 each in Japan. This urban farmer website uses the idea of making square watermelon to sell seeds. In addition snopes .com has verified that the existence of cube watermelon is in fact true. Regardless, it is one of the coolest things I have seen in a while.

Michael

Interplanting

2011-06-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

by Jennifer

"Soon-to-graduate" spinach plants encircle a kiddie tomato plant in a space-saving maneuver.

How many of you grew up with older siblings, and remember anticipating how much more space you'd have when they grew up and moved out? How many of you who are now parents alter your children's sleeping arrangements and room sharing as their changing needs require?

Oh, you do, too? Then you already have a grasp of interplanting. In gardening this is the concept of combining crops for maximum use of space. Here is an effective pairing: plants that mature quickly with those that grow slowly -- radishes with carrots, for instance. Seeds of both can be sown at the same time in the same row. The radishes will be ready for harvest before crowding the carrots.

Another method of interplanting is staggered sowing of different season crops. This is what I did with my spinach patch, where I later transplanted my tomatoes right alongside. Spinach is a cool-season crop. I planted those seeds in March in the garden plot. By May, when it was time to plant the tomatoes, the spinach was just getting into a groove, showing no signs of bolting (the seed-producing end of the plant cycle, usually brought on by high temperatures).

I could have removed all the spinach to make way for the tomatoes. Instead, I cleared just enough soil to plant them deeply, keeping most of the spinach plants intact. This pairing rewarded me with a stellar harvest as the spinach kept producing over the next month.

This picture shows my garden bed at peak spinach production. (Look closely around the tomato cage rings, and you can discern that plant's foliage above the spinach.)

Two weeks later, the spinach started to bolt, and I harvested it all. Here are the growing tomato plants ready to fill their space:

Crop season and rate of crop maturity are two factors of interplanting. Other factors are:

• Plant size. Small, ground-hugging plants like radishes can be planted near taller ones, like beans.

• Light needs. Shade-tolerant plants like spinach and lettuce can be planted very near tall plants like broccoli, or where they are partially shaded by squash leaves. Keep this in mind for fall plantings of cool-season crops. You can plant another crop of lettuce where a summer plant is still producing.

• Depth of roots. This was another factor in the success of my spinach/tomato roommates. Spinach forms shallow roots and tomatoes, deep, so they never competed for water. Incidentally, the basil starts I planted near the spinach didn't fare nearly as well as the tomatoes, and perhaps this is the reason. Like tomatoes, winter squash, pumpkins and asparagus form deep roots. Shallow rooted plants include lettuce, corn and cabbage. (Source: Oregon State Extension)

What are some of your successful plant combinations? How do you maximize your garden space? We love all of your ideas!

HIlling Potatoes

2011-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest childhood memories from living on the farm has to do with potatoes. I don't think I remember one instance but rather many times that my Grandpa and I would go out to the potato field and dig up some new baby potatoes out of the potato field. We would bring them back to his house. Grandma would be shelling fresh peas from the garden into a big bowl. For dinner she would make creamed baby potatoes and peas. You can't find anything in the world that tastes fresher and cleaner. I want to have baby potatoes so I grow potatoes in my garden. At least I attempt to grow them.

Our potatoes are big enough that we were able to hill them up for the second time this season. When hilling (or earthing up) potatoes you draw earth up around the vines of the potato plant. There are different schools of thought on when to do this but we usually do it when the plant gets 8 inches high, and then 2 more times as the plant gets about 8 more inches above the soil. It is easiest to hill potatoes in the morning as they tend to be more upright and perky. If you do it later in the heat of the day they tend to droop more. I have found the easiest way to do it is to gather all of the vines together like you would a pony tail and hold with one hand. This should cause them to point up in the air. Then with the other hand throw dirt around the vines. We have probably added an additional 8 inches of soil around the potatoes.

Here are a few benefits that your potato plants will get from hilling.

Gives potatoes extra room to grow and provides ideal loose soil for growth.

Keeps the potatoes from being exposed to sunlight which can make them poisonous.

Potatoes don't like being waterlogged. Hilling allows potato rows to shed water so they aren't waterlogged.

The hilling process kills weeds that thrive in the loose soil created for potatoes.

What suggestions do you have regarding growing potatoes?

Michael

“Growth Ponzi Scheme”; the death of sustainability

2011-06-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

I would like all 800 of our followers to read a 5 part series of articles. You can access part 1 at:

http://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2011/6/13/the-growth-ponzi-scheme-part-1.html

You can then access each successive part by clicking right above the title of each article.

READ ALL FIVE PARTS - PLEASE!

You may ask what this has to do with backyard farming. I think most of our readers are familiar with the term “sustainability” which we use frequently in backyard farming. These articles encapsulate our most fundamental problems related to sustainability, not just sustainability of food production, but sustainability of the economy. I also believe that most backyard farmers are rational, industrious, and productive people – you produce food after getting home from work instead of watch stupid sitcoms, mindlessly surf the web, or endlessly Facebook network. As such, I believe backyard farmers are an example of a rational personal response that the author of the articles did not suggest. That rational response is personal preparedness – improving personal productivity, getting out of debt, and increasing self sufficiency. This is not a solution to the “slow-motion car wreck” described by the authors but it is a way to cope with it.