4/29/09
A Man With Opinions on Food With a Face - NYT
DID you hear the one about the vegan who mistook his anorak for a sandwich? He realized the error only because it tasted so good.
More of article
Flock of Chicks
I have made it a goal to raise 500.00
Flock of Chicks: A Good Choice
A flock of chicks can help families from Cameroon to the Caribbean add nourishing, life-sustaining eggs to their inadequate diets.
The protein in just one egg is a nutritious gift for a hungry child. Protein-packed eggs from even a single chicken can make a life-saving difference.
Heifer helps many hungry families with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks. A good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year - plenty to eat, share or sell. With Heifer recipients' commitment to pass on the offspring and training, the exponential impact of adding chickens to communities in poverty is truly a model that helps end hunger and poverty.
Because chickens require little space and can thrive on readily available food scraps, families can make money from the birds without spending much. And chickens help control insects and fertilize gardens.
Please consider donating a hive of bees or a flock of chickens
Flock of Chicks: A Good Choice
A flock of chicks can help families from Cameroon to the Caribbean add nourishing, life-sustaining eggs to their inadequate diets.
The protein in just one egg is a nutritious gift for a hungry child. Protein-packed eggs from even a single chicken can make a life-saving difference.
Heifer helps many hungry families with a starter flock of 10 to 50 chicks. A good hen can lay up to 200 eggs a year - plenty to eat, share or sell. With Heifer recipients' commitment to pass on the offspring and training, the exponential impact of adding chickens to communities in poverty is truly a model that helps end hunger and poverty.
Because chickens require little space and can thrive on readily available food scraps, families can make money from the birds without spending much. And chickens help control insects and fertilize gardens.
Please consider donating a hive of bees or a flock of chickens
4/28/09
Chicken Coop School
The Farm School has established a new, small, full-time middle school for local children organized as a homeschool cooperative and located right in the heart of things at Maggie's Farm.
The Vanashing of the Bees
"The Vanishing Bees takes a piercing investigative look at the economic, political and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee. The documentary examines our current agricultural landscape and celebrates the ancient and sacred connection between man and honeybee. The film also highlights the positive changes that have resulted due to a tragic phenomenon known as “Colony Collapse Disorder.” To empower the audience, the documentary provides viewers with tangible solutions they can apply to their everyday lives. The Vanishing Bees unfolds as a dramatic tale of science and mystery, illuminating the greater meaning surrounding the relationship between humankind and Mother Earth. The bees have a message - but will we listen?
This film is a work in progress. If you like what you see, please donate. This film cannot be completed without your support."
Farmer in Chief by Michael Pollan
"But if taking the animals off farms made a certain kind of economic sense, it made no ecological sense whatever: their waste, formerly regarded as a precious source of fertility on the farm, became a pollutant — factory farms are now one of America’s biggest sources of pollution. As Wendell Berry has tartly observed, to take animals off farms and put them on feedlots is to take an elegant solution — animals replenishing the fertility that crops deplete — and neatly divide it into two problems: a fertility problem on the farm and a pollution problem on the feedlot. The former problem is remedied with fossil-fuel fertilizer; the latter is remedied not at all."
All, from NYT
All, from NYT
4/24/09
Jane Goodall - Book about eating
A teacher at school said I should read this book
From Publishers Weekly
Goodall, best known for her decades of work with chimpanzees and baboons, turns to the social significance of the food people eat and of how it reaches our tables. In a style that's both persuasive and Pollyannaish, her guide glides through a quick history of early agriculture, despairs of "death by monoculture" (single-crop farming), warns of the hazards of genetically modified foods and of the disappearance of seed diversity,and bemoans the existence of inhumane animal factories and unclean fish farms—the macro concerns of the environmentally conscious. On a more micro level, she focuses on what individuals can do for themselves. In a grab bag of well-intentioned bromides, Goodall counsels her readers to become vegetarians, celebrates restaurants and grocery stores that seek out locally grown produce, frets about the quality of school lunches and the pervasiveness of fast food–fueled obesity, honors small farmers and warns of a looming water crisis. Most chapters conclude with "what you can do" sections: demand that modified foods be labeled; turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. This book about making healthy choices breaks no new ground, but its jargon-free and anecdote-rich approach makes it a useful primer for grassroots activists, while the Goodall imprimatur could broaden its reach.
Virtual Battery Cage
This makes me so sad I think I need to focus on happy birds and how to prevent this.
The Pig who sang to the moon.
"In this ground-breaking book, Jeffrey Masson reveals startling evidence that farm animals have feelings, even consciousness - and bears witness to the emotions and intelligence of these remarkable barnyard creatures, each unique with distinct qualities.
Curious, intelligent, self-reliant - many will find it hard to believe that these attributes describe a pig. They also dream and know their names when called. Mother cows mourn when their calves are taken away. Given a choice between food that is nutritious or lacking in minerals, sheep will select the former, balancing their diet and correcting the deficiency. Goats display quite a sense of humor, dignity and fearlessness (Indian goats have been known to kill leopards). Chickens are naturally sociable - they will gather around a human companion and preen themselves beside someone they trust."
The Face on Your Plate
Most fascinating, however, is Masson's final section, which addresses the lives and deaths of animals raised for food and the complex psychological gyrations humans must perform in order to accept, condone, justify or deny the production--and destruction--of these animals. "If we have the capacity to imagine the suffering of an animal," Masson writes, "we also have the power to refuse to allow ourselves to think about that suffering." Further expanding this line of reasoning, Masson also posits some answers to the question of whether there is an ethical way to raise, kill and eat an animal.
The Mypetchicken.com guide to caring for new chicks
Clearing Your Schedule
Baby chicks require constant care and monitoring, so make sure your schedule is clear for the first 4 weeks! Don't plan on vacations or even day trips unless you have a seasoned baby chick pro on standby. Make sure you or a member of your family are available to check on them at least 5 times a day.
you can follow them on twitter.com/mypetchicken
4/21/09
4/20/09
My big happy Barred Rock
Isn't she just gorgeous!
The Barred Rock is one of the all time popular favorites in this country. Developed in New England in the early 1800's by crossing Dominiques and Black Javas, it has spread to every part of the U.S. and is an ideal American chicken. Prolific layers of brown eggs, the hens are not discouraged by cold weather. Their solid plumpness and yellow skin make a beautiful heavy roasting fowl. Our strain has the narrow, clean barring so desirable in appearance. Their bodies are long, broad, and deep with bred-in strength and vitality. These chickens are often called Plymouth Rocks, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety. Whatever you call them, you can't beat them for steady, reliable chickens. Baby chicks are dark gray to black with some white patches on head and body.
From Murray McMurray
Which breed is right for you?
Not sure which breed is for you? Just answer these six quick questions and voila! - our website will automatically give you a custom breed recommendation. Click on the breed name for full information including where you can buy them and pictures.
Thanks to mypetchicken.com
Thanks to mypetchicken.com
Chicken coop inspiration
I am designing a new outdoor run for my hens. I want to be sure that they get plenty of sun in the winter months. My understanding is that they need several hours a day. When I tell people I am going to put sky lights in my chicken coop they laugh. Maybe I will just use this clear plastic material instead.
Tour of our local farm - Tendercrop Farms
Farmer Matt spent an hour with me showing me around his farm. He was really helpful.
Healthcare prevention with the HazMat boots. I had just been in my coop and didn't want to bring any disease into his barn so we put on boots.
Each lane is a different age chick. They have plenty of room and lots of sunlight. The sides to the greenhouse even roll up and down to keep them the perfect temperature.
My new rescue ducks - we got them from Animal Rescue in town
The Call Duck is a bantam breed of domesticated duck raised primarily for decoration or as pets. Call ducks look similar to Mallards, but are smaller in size.
The Call Duck is an energetic and active duck. It is small, weighing around 0.68 kg (1.5 lb) with a plump bowl-shaped body; a wide, rounded head; tiny, broad bill and short legs. It is vocal with a high pitched call. The Call Duck comes in a variety of standard colours including White, White-Bibbed Blue, Buff, Pastel, and Magpie. Nonstandard colours include Saxony, Spot, Khaki, Self-Chocolate, Cinnamon and Crested. It produces 25–75 eggs a year.
4/18/09
Read about our restored greenhouse at school
Tim Laird, farm manager of the Food Project, demonstrates a heating system for vegetable seedlings to eighth-graders Lia Ziegler, Ben Alpern, and Kyle Maybury, and teacher Laura Day.
By Wendy Killeen April 9, 2009
Before the independent school Glen Urquhart opened in 1977, the Beverly Farms land on which it was built was part of an orchid farm called Orchidvale.
A 7,000-square-foot greenhouse stood on the farm. Unused for many years, it has now been cleaned out, renovated, and upgraded.
The kindergarten through Grade 8 school has plans to use the greenhouse to enhance the school's environmental science program through the study of growing plants and experimenting with aquaculture. The facility also will allow the school to expand its collaboration with The Food Project.
Started in 1991, The Food Project has become a national model for engaging young people in personal and social change through sustainable agriculture.
Ridgway Hatchery
Our new brown egg layer first generation ISA Brown and Bovan Breeds. Pullets are Red. Cockerels are white. Bred for exceptional laying ability.
Making a living as a Poultry Farmer
A couple working six months per year for 50 hours per week on 20 acres can net $25,000-$30,000 per year with an investment equivalent to the price of one new medium-sized tractor. Seldom has agriculture held out such a plum. In a day when main-line farm experts predict the continued demise of the family farm, the pastured poultry opportunity shines like a beacon in the night, guiding the way to a brighter future.
Perhaps the most doable pastured-based livestock enterprise is poultry. The reasons are numerous: lowest up-front investment, quick cash turnaround, marketability, easily differentiated, child friendly, simple and portable infrastructure, and on-farm processing. In this mature Polyface model, Salatin walks you through broilers, egg layers, and turkeys. They all have distinctive needs for diet, shelter, marketing, and processing. This talk is hard core how-to, going into the intricate details from brooding to processing. This is still the centerpiece enterprise at Polyface Farm.
Apprentice at Green Gulch
My mom would like this
Green Gulch Farm, also known as Green Dragon Temple, was founded in 1972 as a branch of San Francisco Zen Center. Green Gulch is a thriving organic farm located just north of San Francisco, nestled in a valley bordered by Mount Tamalpais, the Golden Gate National Recreation area, and the Pacific Ocean. For twelve years, we have offered a residential apprenticeship program in organic gardening and farming.
Our local markets - The Chicken Survey
My mom and I have been calling our local markets to see where their meat (particularly chicken) comes from.
Fowle's Market - Bell and Evans and "regular cheaper chicken" (factory raised)
Shaw's - "the usual sources". I asked if they new how the chickens were raised "No". "Is Always Grade A Fresh. Meets USDA Requirements for wholesomeness. Arrives daily at our stores. Comes only from suppliers who meet our demanding standard "We do carry Wild Oats Brand" - Wild Harvest brand is a Supervalu brand...
The Butchery-
Tendercrop Farm - I went to visit there farm. Their chickens are very well cared for. If you are going to eat chicken meat I would recommend you buy it from Tendercrop. I will post pictures later.
Market Basket -
Fowle's Market - Bell and Evans and "regular cheaper chicken" (factory raised)
Shaw's - "the usual sources". I asked if they new how the chickens were raised "No". "Is Always Grade A Fresh. Meets USDA Requirements for wholesomeness. Arrives daily at our stores. Comes only from suppliers who meet our demanding standard "We do carry Wild Oats Brand" - Wild Harvest brand is a Supervalu brand...
The Butchery-
Tendercrop Farm - I went to visit there farm. Their chickens are very well cared for. If you are going to eat chicken meat I would recommend you buy it from Tendercrop. I will post pictures later.
Market Basket -
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