farm-away-from-farm

Faithful readers! Sorry for my absence. Even though I am away from my sweet little farm, I should and will document farmy stuff around me here in suburbia. Admittedly, it has felt a little painful to consider blogging when I am so removed from all of my beloved plants and animals. We are coming up on one month away, and I experience a stab in the chest whenever anyone mentions my pups. or my goats. or just chickens.
Enough!
Within the confines of your typical Californian suburban neighborhood, I am proud and inspired by the amazing and industrious projects of my favorite aspiring-farmer niece!

Paige's passion for animals led her to summer camps at Hidden Villa, an educational farm, and on to 4-H with whom she has undertaken an awesome and ambitious agricultural enterprise.

A surprise awaited me in the family garage,,,BABY CHICKENS!

The fluffy chicks were delivered into Paige's care in early April--she is a loving mother hen, refilling food and water and cleaning out their bedding with care and attention. The garage flock is growing fast! In even the few weeks since I met them, their fuzz has turned feathery.

Paige is responsible for rearing the market chickens to about 8 lbs, when they will be plump enough to be auctioned off at the 4-H fair. Chickens who weigh in at over 8 lbs do not qualify, so feeding and monitoring is a serious job. Generous donors have been known to pay HUNDREDS of dollars for a chicken (and to support 4-H of course)!

Luckily, Paige has chicken experience! In the backyard the family's very own egg-laying flock free ranges in the grass amongst bicycles, skateboards, and gardening tools. Here I find my antidote to farmsickness :)Pufflegeorge and her 2 hen-friends sleep soundly in a funky garden shed turned coop, safe from urban raccoons and possums. Like our hens on the farm, they contribute about 3 eggs a day to the human family's diet.

Good luck to Paige at the fair,

and Thank you for the farm fix!!