The Perma Life

I have a not so secret wish to be a farmer. I don’t have any grand romantic notions of the farming life…I know it is a hard life where you are at the mercy of everything and everyone…the weather, the consumer, the goverment, ag policy, Monsanto. All the same, I can’t think of anything more enjoyable than working in the dirt. There is something so magical about the concept of putting a dry little seed in the earth and getting back a watermelon or a pumpkin. What a concept! In my current urban setting, a full fledged farm is out of the question, but idea of growing for (a tiny) profit has always sounded fun.

Now, I think I might have my chance. There is a new open air market opening in a neighboring town that is looking for local vendors. The Windmill Market will have a wind generator, grey water system and demonstration gardens. Sounds like my kind of place. I went to the vendors meeting a few days ago and I think I might take the plunge.

What will I sell? Herbs. All herbs all the time. I am busy preparing my backyard greenhouse for herb propagation and I have to say I am really excited. I don’t really know what I am doing, but I figure I will learn as I go. Anyone have any advice or ther words of wisdom? How about a name? Every herb farmer has to have a name.

Stay tuned…

I will confess. I am a nerd. A giant nerd. I love planning things, I love lists. And I had approximately a month between the time we decided to get chickens and the time that any would be available, so I used that time wisely and developed a chicken spreadsheet to help me pick the best chickens for my needs.

A few questions to ask yourself to help you pick the best breed:

Do you want chickens for meat, eggs or both? Some breeds, like the Leghorn chicken, are bred to be egg laying machines. Others make great meat birds.

Do you live in an extremely hot (or cold) climate? Some birds are better suited to withstand cold temeratures.

Do you want your chickens to be like pets? Some chickens are flightly and nervous creatures that won’t like to be picked up and handled. Others are inquisitive and friendly.

My chicken characteristic wishlist:

Colored eggs (brown, blue or green)

At least one “heirloom variety”

Friendly pets

Decent egg layers

After controlling for the above variables, I settled on the following three breeds:

l-r Easter Egger, Dominique and Wellsummer chicks

Alas, these three beautiful chickens met an untimely end before they started laying. I bought 4 more chickens in February from the local feed store:

Rhode Island Red, Easter Egger, Plymouth Barred Rock, Buff Orpington

Plymouth Barred Rock

Rhode Island Red (front) and Easter Egger

Me and my Buff Orpington