What's Up With Chickens?

I got a question the other day about the status of the Brahma chicks we had been raising. As you will recall, they had started out in the house and then were moved to the outdoor brooder. I have been negligent in keeping you updated on their progress.

We encountered a timing problem, in which the chicks grew faster than their lodgings could be completed. They were getting terribly crowded in that horse trough on the back porch, and I began to fear that they would start picking on each other. Chickens can be the most savage bullies if they feel crowded. DH had been working on our new mobile chicken coop in the front yard since July, but it still wasn't quite ready for inhabitants. The chicks were caught in a squeeze play.

For their health and welfare, I sold them to my friend Cyndi D. down the road, who houses her chickens in a nice big cozy barn. I knew they would get good care there, and would have enough space to continue growing into the handsome pullets they were meant to be. It's been a couple of weeks since I've seen them and my intention today was to go by and take a few pictures for you to see. But, you know about the best laid plans of mice and men... that didn't get done today. I'll try again tomorrow.

But I did take some pictures of the "Coop De Ville" that now lives in the south pasture, and is very close to being finished. I decided that in the spring we could either start another batch of chicks when the weather is more favorable, or we could get some pullets that are just reaching laying age. That way, we don't have to tote food and water to chicks all winter, and we won't lose any time waiting for them to grow up. We're all anxious for egg production to kick in again.

So what do you think of the Coop? I sometimes call it the Silver Bullet. Or Fort Knox. It should keep out the most pernicious of predators!

You're Part of a Miracle

After a tough climb up a hill, it's always fun to turn back and let out a low whistle as we see how exceedingly far we have come. That's my position today as I see our one-year anniversary as a CSA approaching. Wow. It was only this past January that I sat down with Susie Gibbs and picked her overflowing brain at a Barnes and Noble in Fort Worth about how she made this innovative business model work with her sheep and goats.

Susie showed me how to take my love for fiber, my animals, and my spinning friends, and roll them all together with some guerrilla marketing to create an incredible dynamic fiber community. Adding all these components together produced something that completely surpassed the sum of its parts. Our fiber CSA has engaged folks from one end of the country to the other, in addition to a bunch of wonderful folks right here in our backyard. I've made some deep, deep friendships. It's only partly about the fiber.

In this past year we've fired up a (nearly) daily blog, a (sort of) monthly newsletter, an occasional podcast with an exponentially growing audience, and a lively Ravelry group. We've enjoyed monthly spin-ins, sheep shearing, spinning and knitting classes, picnics, an Easter Egg Hunt, a story-telling and music day, and some impromptu herd health endeavors.

Oh, and the fiber. We just recently distributed healthy shares of alpaca, wool, and blends to our charter group of shareholders. We're still tweaking our way of harvesting and distributing our fiber so that this part of our CSA experience is as good as it can be, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

And now, from this lofty perch, we look ahead to 2010. Shares have already sold like hotcakes, and we have just a handful left so that we'll end up with nicely sized harvests at the end of next year. In the coming year we'll again shear the sheep, spin together regularly, enjoy picnics and find other excuses to put our hands on the critters. I'm working on some new ideas for the coming year as well. Hint: watch for our Chicken Sponsors program, coming soon.

It's too early for a chorus of Auld Lang Syne, but I think it's important to take soundings from time to time. I'm grateful to my friend Susie for sharing her ideas with me, and I'm thankful for the fantastic community of farm friends who have banded together to make this CSA work. The fiber is important, but the people are the heart and soul.

And speaking of heart, let's pull some more Yarn Storming stash together when we meet on December 19 to spin. If you don't have stash to contribute, I have an email address where we can send cash donations for the Yarn Storming postage fund. We are wealthy, and we can afford to share. And if you don't have any cash to contribute, see me, and we'll pour some of these blessings into your lap.

Christmas + Simple = JOY!

The simple solution is often right under our noses.

That's where I found my solution for how to celebrate Christmas with integrity, with such short prep time. No time to knit sweaters or afghans, no time to compose lengthy prose to highlight the occasion, no time to load up on glittery wrappings and create elaborate presentations.

But plenty of time to honor my loved ones with gifts of hope, sustainability, emergency care, and spiritual nourishment to those who really need it. It was "right under my nose" because I've known about World Vision for years. Our family has sponsored a 13 year old girl, Noeme, in Peru for two years through WV. But I always forget about their program (like The Heifer Project) of gifting needy families with livestock to raise, to help them pull themselves out of poverty and illiteracy. Different kinds of animals are appropriate for different countries and for people in different situations. Donors can also choose different animals based on their personal budgets (e.g., chickens are less expensive than alpacas).

In addition to their gift-animal program, WV works tirelessly for women and girls in poverty, helping them start small businesses and pulling them out of the exploiting sex-trades, and bringing clean water to destitute communities. World Vision has consistently received the highest rating from watch dog groups who evaluate charities' business practices: financial accountability with low overhead costs, etc.

I'm so excited, thinking about the families who will enjoy the companionship and products that come from new livestock in their homes or yards - just like me. We share the love of the animals, and they get to eat regular meals and maybe go to school. What a privilege for me to contribute to that sweet family in that way!

As you can see, I'm a sold-out fan. And now, I'm just about ready for Christmas. And my heart is filled with JOY!

Christmas Prep - Finally

The last arts festival is behind me, and I can finally focus on my favorite season of the year: Christmas. Except I usually like to really take my time, especially on the gifts. I like to spend some focused attention matching up recipients with handmade or store-bought gifts. But this year, because of the farm and developing the CSA, the time has gotten away from me. (A sound investment of time that I do not at all regret!)

Lookie! A red-headed shepherdess!

Now we all know that the Spirit of Christmas--the real Spirit--has very little to do with stimulating the economy, or stressing out about getting things "perfect." It has to do with being quiet, hushing the strife, with listening, stepping out of the flow of the zeitgeist. Because of Christmas, we're relieved of all the vain toiling to be "good enough," and given Grace as the best gift of all. We respond by loving our friends and family like we'd like to be loved.

So with the little time left before the big day, I'll need to heed the advice I got from a friend at church Sunday: Keep it Simple.

Tonight after supper, we pulled the few boxes down from the attic and set about decorating. It doesn't take long because there's so little room around here to put things out. This is one of the few times I miss my larger house in the suburbs. Tomorrow after the rain stops, I'll get the garland and lights up on the porch, and the wreath and garland up on the front gate. We'll tell the world that we believe in Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men.

Yeah, I got this one at Tractor Supply. Honest.

Jack Frost

Looks like winter is here to stay. Trouble is, Mary and I had one more outdoor craft fair this season, yesterday. I jumped up early to get the critters fed and situated and took a couple of minutes to enjoy the frosty sights.

Solomon dramatically demonstrates how alpaca fiber insulates against the cold - his body heat does not melt the frost. I wonder if anyone has ever measured its R factor?

We got our booth set up fairly quickly, and when the day started, we were warmed by the sun and protected from the wind. But as the day wore on, the our booth moved into shadow, and the blinking wind changed direction. By early afternoon, Mary and I were wearing some of our inventory and cowering under blankets. Mary's DH also brought us a propane heater to keep our feet from going absolutely numb. We were definitely envying our alpacas and sheep, who hardly seem to bother about the cold.

On the upside, lots of people who had not intended to spend money this way, came by our booth and begged for hats and scarves just to survive the parade and tree lighting ceremony. Our booth was pretty well picked over by the end of the evening.

So that's it for craft fairs this year. And look - a whole 2.75 weeks till Christmas. Time to get the decorations down out of the attic.

Meet Samson

Our second new Jacob sheep has a name! New shareholder, Liz, dubbed our little white-faced boy Samson, "because we keep him around for his hair!" Makes perfect sense. It also means I get to play Delilah, come spring, when that lovely fleece has to come off...


If you're in the vicinity of Wylie tomorrow (Saturday), come by the park right off of Highway 78 and see Mary Berry and me at the Wylie Arts Festival. There will be lots of Christmas stuff going on - a parade, Santa, local choir presentations, food, other artists' booths, etc. Should be big fun. And plenty cold enough to inspire people to buy our woolly accessories! Tis the season!

Wintry Morning

Got another nice taste this morning of winter to come. But it was still and peaceful out, and not at all unpleasant, working with the fiber kids. I think they actually enjoy this weather. Here's a few photos of our feeding/scritching/mind-melding time together.

Thin ice on the water buckets.

Jethro sorts through the hay feeder.

The big boys eat straight out of the shed.
That saves me hauling it to the barn.

Sweet Boaz allows me to touch his face and his back from time to time.

Jonah keeps his legs warm by tucking them up under his very thick coat.

Esther and Itzhak enjoy breakfast together.
She is finally much less tentative around me. ;-)

Of course, Shadrach just wants to know if I have any treats,
and would I give him an extended ear rub, please.

Good to the Last Drop

Confession time. I drink instant coffee. I know, I know, I can hear you moan - don't judge me. Instant is quick and easy, and I'm a busy girl. But it's not coffee, you say. Right, I'll give you that. I'm reminded every time I run by Starbucks while running errands, or when sitting down with a friend. "Oh yes," I sigh, "real coffee."

This past weekend I got real coffee every day while we were visiting my sister-in-law. She reminded me that real isn't that much more trouble, and I was worth it. Enjoying the moment is worth it. With my busyness set aside for a bit, I could see how I had been missing out on the little moments in life that add richness and depth.

So I bought myself an electric tea pot to heat my water (no more nuking), dusted off my little French press, and opened up the package of lovely German coffee my SIL sent home with me. Mmmm-mmm, good. I'll need a little practice to get the balance of coffee and water right, but it is really nice. I'm working on getting into a new habit. Turning over a new leaf. Taking a little better care of myself, so that ultimately, I'll have more to give back.

What other little moments of life are slipping by us that we will miss someday?

Christmas Spirit? Yeah, This Helps

I know, it'll be 65 tomorrow, but it's pretty cool today!


I wouldn't drag out the one-horse open sleigh just yet, but we can start humming carols. It's official.