On the night stand

As the ground still works between the freeze, thaw, soggy cycle of springtime - I have been picking up some good reading materials that consume a portion of my nightstand and I would recomend to just about anyone:

Hit by a Farm - it's a good light read- and funny stories about experiences in starting a farm, lambing, and general tales of tails.

Pastured Poultry Profits - THE authorative book in raising broilers via the pasture method... which is the movable pens that allow "free ranging" and keep the birds healthy and tasty. (You may ask why is Andy reading this book... well... because Kelli feels a bit like the author of book number 1 - we are getting chickens!)

Backyard Vintner - Book on grapes, growing them, harvesting them and making wine.

Comments

[Jeph]

I go to a chicken farm, Emma's Eggs, a short drive down the road from us to pick up "all natural" eggs at $2 a dozen. Lisa just warned me they're talking about raising their price to $2.50 a dozen, but that's still cheaper than what you get in the stores for "organic", which is what these essentially are without the expensive liscense. I've met the chickens - they have a good life roaming around in their huge tractor-moved pen.

I've got four dozen of their eggs in the fridge that were just lain late last week (hey, it's a long enough drive that I buy more than a dozen at a time!), and I delivered another six dozen to coworkers who put their orders in with me. Big, brown, beautiful and of various sizes.

Here's the blog by the Hit By A Farm author:
http://www.hitbyafarm.com/farm-tales.html

Annnnnd she's got a new book coming out:
http://www.compassionatecarnivore.com/

So what convinced Kelli you guys need chickens?! I can't wait to come visit them!

[Jeph]

PS What are your thoughts on growing just a small amount of grapes for snacking?

[Andy & Kelli]

We are gonna do broiler chickens... basically - get the chicks, feed and water them, have a "free range" pen that moves around on the pasture... and in 6 months, kill, pluck, and process them for many dinners.

Depending on how we feel about that whole experience - we may or may not have a few egg layers... but a healthy chicken - with good lighting (spring / summer months) lays up to an egg a day... that's a LOT of eggs to eat.

As for some grapes for snacking - give it a go... I am still on the fence about starting some vines this year... I would love to - but time is metered, dreams are not.