Freedom and Squashtopia

The girls got a little freedom this morning.  Funny how they stayed so close to their run.  They could have gone into the whole rest of the backyard but just stayed on the hill outside their run.  Do they spend their days longing for the grass on the other side of the wire? 

While they poked around, I planned the squash invasion.  Only three of my squash seeds (yellow straight-neck) sprouted so I decided to go get some transplants.  I picked up some butternut squash and slicing and pickling cucumbers.  I also picked up some sherbet watermelon and mini pumpkin seeds.  Hopefully those do better than the first batch of seeds I put in. I threw in the mini pumpkin seeds and tried again with the pattypan seeds.  I put the watermelon seeds in a different part of the garden.  I've dedicated this entire box to squash. 


They came in 6-packs but I got more than I was bargaining for as each little pack had two or three sprouts in each compartment.  I planted all of the cucumbers in hopes that I will have an abundance for pickling and snacking all summer long.  I planted three of the butternut squash so they'd have room to grow.  Gotta find another place to put the rest.  I already made a little makeshift area for a couple zucchini.  I'm thinking I may have to do the same for these. 


I know I may regret going full steam with all these squash plants.  Experience tells me that even two zucchini plants is one more than anybody needs.  But here goes nothing! 

LET THE SQUASH INVASION BEGIN!!!

Let's meet the girls

Our little flock includes 3 three-year old hens and 3 seven month old hens.  We adopted the three older hens and bought the three younger hens from Sandy, our chicken guru.  We thought we would start out slow with three older hens that were already socialized with children and maybe next spring add to the flock.  But we got the chicky bug bad! 

My hubby designed and built us a totally custom coop and run.  It fits six perfectly.  We could probably push to eight but I don't think we will.  Another day, I'll write about the coop build.  It was an intense two weeks.

So back to the girls.

Cleopatra (Cleo):  Cleo is an Easter Egger.  She's on the top of the pecking order for sure.  Cleo is the name she came with and we kept it because she is beautiful but fierce.  She lays large green eggs.

Wilma:  Wilma is our other Easter Egger.  She loves to eat.  She pushes over anyone to find out what treat is being brought her way.  She lays large blue eggs.  She's Cleo's flunky.

Betty:  Betty is our Buff Orpington.  She was at the bottom of the pecking order when we first got the three older girls.  We were actually concerned that she may not be able to stay because their previous owner said that the Easter Eggers and her did not get along.  Turns out Betty was ill when we first got her.  I didn't know enough about chickens to recognize it at first.  I did notice however that her comb was half black and droopy.  After about ten days of good food and water, I noticed her comb was back to a perky red and she wasn't getting picked on so much.  It took her almost that long to start laying again when we got her.  She lays large brown eggs.

I'm still getting to know the three younger girls.  They all lay medium brown eggs.

Frida:  A Rhode Island Red.  She seems to have a gentle spirit.

Jade:  Jade is a beautiful Black Austerlorp.  She's quiet.

Pepa:  Pepa is a Silver-laced Wyandotte.  She thought she was at the top of the pecking order when she arrived with the other two little ones but she was quickly put in her place by Cleo and the other two older girls.  The merge was the toughest on her.  She's doing okay but I think the descent to bottom of the totem pole has been rough.

Back at it. Now with Chickens!

Well...I got a little sidetracked.  I had a baby.  He's two now.

A lot has happened in the two and half years since I last posted to this blog.  But as I read what I wrote in the About Me section three years ago, I realized that not much has changed at all.  I still love my garden, get inspired by sustainable living, creativity, and people living outside of the box, and am creating the life I want to live on our little piece of land in the Grove.

Our garden is still going well.  That winter garden I talked about planting in 2010 never happened.  I got pregnant and couldn't stomach vegetables.  So I didn't see much of a point.  We finally got around to planting a winter garden this past fall 2012.  It was AWESOME!!!  We planted kale, chard, collards, cabbage, broccoli, and lettuce.

The Napa cabbage was amazing.  I only planted a couple but next year I will make sure to plant much more.  The broccoli was very tasty, much sweeter than store bought.  The most impressive though has to be the rainbow chard.  It's the plant that just keeps on giving.  It's still going strong with all of the new spring plantings arranged around the chard.  I just couldn't bring myself to pull it out when it is still producing so well.  Besides, the chickens LOVE it!


Speaking of chickens....Yep, we got chickens!  

We started with three that we adopted from a family that was moving and just a few weeks later we decided we needed more!  Now we have six:  Cleopatra, Betty, Wilma, Frida, Jade, and Pepa.  They are awesome and although my chores have increased, I am having a great time!  The chickens are actually what brought me back to the blog.  They are an adventure and if my hubby has anything to say, that adventure may continue with rabbits and a turkey too.  My little garden is turning into a little farm!  That's good stuff!