and another word on chickens.....

These are photos of my new chickens, who recently needed a new loving home. They have been here a week, and are gradually getting used to their new, and much more rugged, surroundings. One unfortunately discovered, at a very early stage, that she could get out, and fly over the fence. She keeps coming back, to see her sister and step-sister, but is proving elusive in being lured back into the coop. However, the Chicken Whispering continues.....

For those seeking the truth about biodynamics, and for all others interested, my nother word on chickens is:

Chickens Make the Best Lawnmowers! yes I know that is four words, but I feel the discovery warrants it.

Here are some interesting facts about lawncare, from 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Self-Sufficient Living", by Jerome D. Belanger (2009, Alpha Books, published by the Penguin Group):

"

• Americans spend $28-40 Billion a year on lawn care, more than the GDP of entire countries such as Vietnam and Iceland


• The average homeowner spends 40 hours a year - one whole work week - on lawn care


• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that lawn mowers use 800 million gallons of gas per year


• Seventeen million gallons of gas per year are spilled refueling mowers: the Exxon Valdez spilled less than 11 million gallons


• One gas mower running for one hour creates as much pollution as eight new cars going 55 mph for one hour"

OMG!

Chickens really are fantastic lawnmowers, according to biodynamic principles, because:

- no petrol or diesel is required to operate them, or spilled in the refueling of them

- the human labour required to operate them, involves feeding them, singing to them, cuddling them, laughing at their antics, cleaning out their cage, collecting their beautiful feathers and lovely fresh warm eggs, and spending time in their company

- the human labour NOT required is endless hours of boring, back-breaking, bone-shaking, pushing and shoving a noisy, hot, smelly, usually recalcitrant, heavy metal machine, with more than one, Very Sharp blade, spinning around Very Fast, Very Close to one's feet, and possibly the electrical cord if one is required, up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down.......

- chickens keep the grass short, neat, and cleared of weeds, all by themselves. all year round

- chickens eat the slugs and snails, thus protecting valuable plants

- chickens dig up the ground, aerating the soil and allowing air-borne nutrients to settle and nourish the land

- chickens eat up all the scraps, thus efficiently reducing waste

- chickens provide chicken poop, directly on the land, fertilising and feeding our beloved Papatuanuku

- chickens provide eggs! happy chickens provide happy eggs - big, fat, juicy, bright yellow, full of protein and vitamin B.

show me the lawnmower that can do all that....?

happy gardening

lou

rural-itis and spring chickens

A while ago, I enrolled for a course, and went along to the orientation. One of the higher up people was talking about procedures and processes for making complaints, or getting help with solving any issues that may arise. "That's great!" I thought, and settled back in my chair to listen more. However, the longer I listened, the more I became aware that I could not understand a word she was saying.

Now I'm pretty smart and educated, I have several degrees and post-grad degrees, and they are not all off the internet or from the University of Life either. But, when she started talking about ways in which we could make time to come into her office and 'interface' with her, I became convinced that I had left my home planet, and been beamed up by aliens. All very "It's Life Jim, but not as we know it". I wanted to fling myself into a rousing chorus of 'There's Clingons on the Starboard Bow', but I wasn't convinced that it was entirely appropriate.

I am aware that I live alone on top of a windy hill, far away from 'civilisation', which seems to be a little less civilised every time I visit it. I am aware that things happen in the world, and it can take me a little time to catch up. But I had great trouble trying to envisage ways in which I could possibly, now, or ever, 'interface' with this person.

Still haven't figured it out! Just as well I didn't have any issues I guess. It is interesting to observe that, the longer I live in the country, and work with plants and animals, the more difficult I find it is to understand the general human population. Plants and animals are so straightforward, and honest, and up front and easy to understand, all qualities which are a great comfort in these mad mad times. People - not so much.

Now please don't get me wrong, I do like some people! I am very fortunate and very blessed to have a circle of family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, people I have known for a long time, and people with whom I celebrate that time of knowing. They are fantastic people, and I am so grateful for their presence in my life. But, they are all like me also - individuals, free thinkers, people who see the greater good, and see their life on this earth as a caretaker of the planet, and a giver, and a helper of each other. I think these characteristics are the norm, and I truly love these people. But, apparently these characteristics aren't valued in the marketplace, and are notably absent in the majority of the human race.

When I do meet a new person from the general population, I often am confused at their bizarre mannerisms and vocabulary that probably isn't in the dictionary, and doesn't have a real meaning outside of their office environment. I don't understand the human games they play, trying to impress me with irrelevancies and one-up-manship; shoving, lying and bullying their way through life in order to have more, be bigger, be better, in some kind of workplace or life competition; or trying to convince me of their oh-so-wonderful character and qualities, without even being able to honestly look me in the eye or shake my hand.

And don't get me started on handshakes! I was always told that a firm handshake was a sign of good character. I find though, that generally people flop a limp lump of muscle, tendon and tissue at me, and I don't know whether to shake it or rescusitate it. So, I go with what I know, and try to attach a lead rope to the person, or feel around underneath them to see if they've laid an egg. It's amazing in how many places that doesn't go down so well.....

So, back to the garden! and growing big food for the whole planet, in a very small way. Makes far more sense to me.

Swan plants have grown massively this year, sturdy and hardy despite the atrocious weather and land conditions. It was exciting to see their seed pods bud, grow, explode, and all the seeds get blown around by the wind, self-sowing for another season. Here's how they looked when they were growing:

and here is how their seed pods look when they are opening:

Spring planting has happened earlier this year, mainly because I know what to expect (mostly!) from the weather, and so was able to get ready for spring a bit earlier. It makes it easier and more efficient that there are vege beds already prepared and good to go.

Here are little corn, and lettuce, spinach, and chilli.

Here also is worm juice, from my worm farm.

Worm juice really is liquid gold. This 1 litre bottle is full of concentrate, to be diluted: 1 part worm juice, 10 parts water, so a little goes a very long way. This has been responsible for the massive growth of the veges, particularly the zucchini, which turned into monsters as big as my forearm! How cool to be able to harness such fantastic fertiliser, to nourish the plants and the ground, for just the cost of a few vege scraps.

The animals are just fabulous too, they make me smile. Particularly on one of thooooose days, when one difficult person or another has refused the lead rope and not laid any eggs.

Fluffy the chicken still makes me, and most of my visitors, go 'woooah, what a cool chicken!' She's so much a baby still, yet showing definite signs of the queenhood which awaits her.

Molly makes sure Fluff doesn't get too above herself too fast, queen or no queen, and Flossie takes off around the corner to see if there is any food left, while they're distracted.

And there are eggs! Fresh out of the chicken's bum......

So, all in all, it is very fortunate that I have inherited another three chickens. This brings the chook total up to 6, quite a feathered household. For all people reading this, who have the best interests of animals at heart, please be assured that my chickens are all happy chickens, well fed and looked after, fiercely protected, sung to, and loved heaps. I only have them for the eggs, not for eating, and they have all been adopted chickens who are in need of a new home. And, due to the space, I won't accept any more chooks now, as they would be overcrowded.

The new chooks are all settling in, already laying eggs, and will be gradually introduced to Molly, Flossie and Fluffy, in the next couple of weeks.

Avocadoes have shot up, in the front vege bed, sheltered from the wind, and fed heaps of kitchen compost, and coffee grounds. They have been dug up, and safely repotted, so that they don't grow down too deep, and overshadow the house. Because the property is a rental, I also cannot put in any permanent plants, and trees tend to be pretty permanent. So, they are recovering inside, with fluids and enouragement, so that they will come with me wherever I go. I began growing them in my previous house, then brought them with me in the house move, which included a month in transit in my caravan at a campground, with my little garden all set out in the front, and neighbours from adjoining caravans stopping by to see what was growing.

The grand plan is to have a permanent piece of land, preferably close to and overlooking the sea, and not constantly bashed and battered by gale force, year round, highly destructive winds, where I can plant my avocadoes and lemons in the ground, have a proper full-on community vege garden, and chooks, and let them all grow naturally to meet their full potential. I believe it is a very very good thing to bring more plants and foods into the world, and I am looking forward to their, and my, new home.