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