The Count of Monte Chickens

Our chickens keep getting out of the coop and it’s maddening.  For one, they’ve been laying eggs all over the place which is just a chick-fest waiting to happen.  Secondly, they have been coming into the barn to eat the cat’s food and poop.  Granted, there is already pile of seasoned chicken manure in the barn stall next to my bedroom…but, this stuff is fresh.  And, there is also the slip factor to think of.  Anyway, Friday night was our THIRD serious attempt to resolve the weak spots in the fencing, but lo and behold, Saturday morning comes and there they are, out by the compost pile clucking around, free as a bird. (Or so I was told by Bill who made a surprise special appearance at Saturday Market!).  The frustrating thing is, our work was so not shoddy.  We attached a new piece of fencing on top of the 7 foot piece that was already there, patched up holes and loose ends, and locked down the front portion of the coop like a high security prison – or so we thought.  And I always placed chickens on the low end of the intelligence scale, a now glaring underestimation because that is some Shawshank action right there. 

Bill and Lisa attempting to herd the chickens back into the coop. Back in February. 

We had a great spinach harvest on Friday, something that I have been anticipating for weeks.  Spinach Rocks Everything.  On top of being super dense in nutrients, it looks and tastes a-mazing, and in my opinion, is the most fun crop there is to harvest.  There’s a rhythm to it, as there is with all harvests, but for me, the motions unique to spinach feel like a qi gong session.

 I’m still refining my technique and gain inspiration from watching Debra harvest!

Lisa and Ashley lead  "Spinach-Washing 101"

Check.

-Rachael

Rollin up row cover cuz our basil's gettin big!