Ditching the City

I had Jury Duty today... I know, not the topic you’re expecting from the title of this post. But, while I was waiting in the jury assembly room, I had the rare opportunity to read uninterrupted for several hours. A luxury and an indulgence on any normal day. I’m currently reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; this is a different book for her. It’s the story of her family’s move to life on a farm in Virginia and their first year of eating only food raised locally or grown themselves. It’s also part investigative journalism, full of facts I didn’t know and I'd bet most Americans have no idea about. An example: most turkeys (the ones you and I serve at our Thanksgiving table each year) can no longer reproduce on their own. That’s right; it seems that the genes that make this possible aren’t useful in animals who live their life in confinement, packed closely together with thousands of other turkeys—so these characteristics are bred out to them, along with the qualities for superior disease resistance and flavor.

As I did when reading Omnivore’s Dilema, I find myself dreaming of making a major change in my life, of ditching the city and “living off the land,” growing our own food—not just the 4 4’x4’ raised beds we are currently tending, but several acres or more. The dream begins with moving to a climate somewhat more temperate than Georgia, after all I’m not crazy enough to think I want to spend 10-12 hours a day outside working in 90°+, buying a piece of land with a farmhouse, barn, and pasture. We’d grow and eat all our own food, raise chickens (both layers and broilers), maybe a cow or two. Sounds crazy right?

Several weeks ago, Mr. Man and I were weeding in the backyard when I noticed three tomato plants I didn’t plant. I quickly pointed them out so they wouldn’t get pulled along with the weeds, and we’ve left them to see what would happen. I’m not sure where these came from... a passing bird perhaps? One of these “volunteers” has more tomatoes than any plant I put into the ground this spring—without any amendment to the soil, and we are talking Georgia clay here. Maybe the seed that can survive under such conditions is stonger than those I planted—in excellent soil amended with compost and planted in the location of our backyard that receives the most sun. Whatever the reason, the cherry tomatoes it produces are wonderful and I’m grateful for the addition.

Hens Without a Rooster

It’s a cool, quiet afternoon; the chickens are strutting around the yard, stopping here and there to scratch back the mulch to look for small bugs. While one may wander a few feet away from the others, they are never very far apart. And when the small flock moves on to another area of the yard, instinct takes over and the stray is quick to catch up; there is safety in numbers.

When my Rhode Island Red, Penny, suddenly raises her head toward the sky—obviously hearing something I have failed to hear—I look up to see what has drawn her attention: a hawk. The girls quickly huddle together behind the feather grass; forming a group, they take on a larger profile. The hawk squawks as he flies on toward the park. The girls slowly relax and begin to emerge from the shield of the grass to continue foraging.

Penny (that’s Buffy in the background)

Without a rooster to signal the girls of impeding danger, I worry that they are oblivious to predators. Roosters do more than just fertilize eggs. They are fierce protectors of their hens and are constantly on the lookout for danger. I have heard that when you have a rooster-less flock, one of the hens will step up and take on the role of “leader.” Is this the case with Penny or was it just dumb luck that she noticed the hawk? I certainly haven’t seen any “dominant” behavior, even though she is the largest. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Letty eating sunflower seeds

Marley wants in on the fun

Chasing Chickens

The Girls

A chicken’s day is quite boring when you live in a 9'x4'x6' enclosure. What’s there to do really—sit up on the perch, scratch around for bugs, take a dust bath, eat, take a nap in the shade.

Buffy is the last to brave leaving the Coop

The highlight of the day is when the door to the coop opens and they are invited out into the garden where more interesting dining options await them—carrot tops, cucumber leaves, tomatoes—and trying to keep a chicken out of the vegetables is impossible unless you stand guard.

Letty

While they are pretty entertaining, most of us have other things to do after work than sit in the garden and shoo the chickens out of the vegetables. Devising a gate or fence to go around each raised bed is a must.

Gate around the tomatoes, eggplant & peppers

Not to worry, there are plenty of other delicacies to be found—worms, grubs, ants...

The Girls in the Garden

And hopefully soon, they'll be big enough and brave enough to find their way outside the garden and into the yard.