Adventures of an urban homesteader growing greens, preserving the harvest and tending a backyard barnyard
To light or not to light the chicken coop? For many chicken keepers, that is the wintertime question. Chickens and other egg-laying creatures (like ducks) take a hiatus from producing eggs in the winter – and it’s natural for them to do so. The decreased sunlight tells them it’s not a good time to make babies, as it can be much tougher for a tender new
It was strange and sad not hearing the quacking of ducks outside our living room window when we re-homed them a couple weeks ago. I realize that most people would find quacking outside the living room window incredibly odd, but that just became the new norm here. Our plan was to replace the ducks with more chickens, adding to our existing flock. I am happy
We have really loved adding Indian Runner ducks to our backyard livestock mix, but it has been a challenge to keep up with their needs over the last year. Although I had reservations, Jay has been patiently making the case to simplify our backyard livestock. We agreed to find a new home for the ducks and instead add to our existing chicken flock. I still
We snagged a beach house for the weekend with an amazing ocean view to show off the Pacific Northwest to family visiting from out of town. It was near the small coastal town of Cannon Beach in Oregon, a community studded with art galleries, coffeeshops, a brew pub and a great fish market. It just so happens that the market owns their own crabbing boats
I am fortunate to live in the mild climate of the Pacific Northwest, but even we have had some pretty chilly days of late. When the temperature dips around or below freezing, the backyard birds need a little extra care. There are water warming trays on the market for backyard livestock, which come in handy in a cold climate. I have never quite gotten around
The duck and chicken coops get cleaned once a week, but a deep clean a couple times a year will help keep pests and disease at bay. Our weekly cleaning process involves raking out used bedding, cleaning out food and water dishes, refilling grit and oyster shell, and laying down fresh dry bedding. Dirt and grime builds up over time though, so this twice annual
It’s high time for an update on those wacky ducks on our homestead! It has been a few months since we finished construction on the duck coop and I finally got around to painting their finished duck coop. On a recent photo shoot in our backyard, the photographer said it looked like a bit of Mexico with all the bright colors. We’re been through enough
It turns out that wishing for a new baby is contagious on the homestead! Our runner duck Ramona has caught baby-fever and wants to hatch her own little ducklings. Poor girl is going to be very disappointed when she patiently waits and the stork doesn’t arrive… Typically, I peek my head out the window throughout the day to check on the ducks and chickens, whose
The growing season is not too far around the corner! Witch hazel is already blooming and my flowering quince buds are days away from opening. If we can get a handle on some garden chores now, we’ll be in good shape to maximize the harvest from our homesteads this year. When it comes to growing your own food, here is my short list of what
