Photo Project - Black & White

Linking up to the 2012 Color Photography Project 

hosted by An Offering of Love and Insert Metaphor

Brooders - Versions 1 & 2

When we got our first batch of chickens 2 years ago, we really had no clue what we were doing.  We got 5 Ameracaunas thinking that we'd wind up with 3 (after looking at statistics we found online we thought that maybe 1 would be a rooster and maybe 1 would die).

4 of our original 5 in their cardboard box brooder.
Spring 2010

We kept the chicks in a big cardboard box (brooder #1) in the garage with some wood shavings, food and water and heat lamp.  We wiped their butts (necessary grossness), held them lots and realized quickly that we needed to get started on their coop!  Chicks turn into chickens remarkably fast!

1 of 4 in our 2011 batch

Last year, knowing we definitely wanted to continue keeping laying hens, we got 4 new chicks: 2 Ameracaunas and 2 Rhode Island Reds, but instead of throwing them in a tub again, Tool Lady designed an actual brooder (brooder #2) for them.

It is basically a box (2 feet wide X 2 feet deep X 2 feet tall) with wire mesh floor and a drawer that slides out at the bottom like any regular drawer would.  The lid is a wooden frame with wire stapled into it to allow for air circulation and the heat from the lamp to reach the chicks (the lamp hangs from either a bungie, a large hook or a bamboo stake, whatever works and we have on hand).

Our 2012 newest Newbies in Brooder #2

You see, inside the box, there is a ledge built around the entire bottom.  Onto this ledge is stapled the wire mesh.  For the first week - week & a half we put a paper bag directly on top of the mesh and then put shavings on top of that.  This allows the babies to get their footing and gives them a cozy bed to sleep on.  

After that (once the chicks are about 2 weeks old), we remove the paper bag and simply put the shavings directly on top of the wire mesh in one corner.  What this does is allows all the chicken shit to fall down through the mesh while still giving the chicks a cozy spot to sleep in.  

Here's a downward shot of the wire mesh flooring at the bottom of the brooder.

Then, all you have to do to clean out the brooder is to pull out the drawer, throw the contents into a bag or directly onto your compost and put the drawer back in.  The drawer is lined with plastic (stapled on), so clean up is extra fast and super easy.  Add some new shavings as needed to your brooder and you're all set.

Here's a shot of the open drawer underneath.
It is about an inch deep to catch shavings & shit
as they fall through the mesh above.

Now, this brooder worked brilliantly for 4 chicks, and worked fine for the 9 we got this year while they were super tiny, but would not be big enough for all 9 chicks to be in there much longer than a few weeks.  So, of course, Tool Lady designed and built a brand new (outdoor) brooder for the newest Newbies last weekend.  Stay tuned for pics, general instructions and our experiences with it so far...

In the meantime...Happy brooding!

Blue Corn...

Last spring we tried our hands at growing blue corn.  It grew well...strong and tall...and we wound up harvesting about 15 ears from our tiny experimental patch.  The thing about blue corn is that you don't eat it fresh, you dry it and then grind it up into a flour.  We were thinking it might be something fun and different to grow, dry and grind our very own flour...

Well, almost 6 months later, this is as far as we've gotten.

 

Yeah...I know...it's not flour yet, but it will be someday.  Someday we will grind these pretty little kernels up and make our very first homegrown flour that will then become yummy pancakes or tamales or tortillas.  In the meantime, it really is gorgeous, isn't it?

Harvest Monday

Happy Monday everyone!

This week I'll be posting two weeks worth of harvests since I didn't make it into this space last week.  Even still, trust me, there's not a lot to post about ;-)  Just a few greens, some spinach and a few carrots (yep, again) to report this week.  Everything is still slow to come, but the hoop houses are beginning to look more and more promising as the days get longer and the temperatures continue to be unseasonably warm.

The spinach is sizing up wonderfully!

The beet greens are quite beautiful,
though the beets themselves are still quite small.

The kale is starting to spread out nicely :-)

The carrots are still quite short, but they sure look healthy!
They also taste amazing!

Something funny is definitely up with my carrots...
at least the orange ones...this is the second time in a row
that they've had multiple...um...legs.  Weird.
Anyone have any ideas?

This weeks totals:

• Mixed Greens = 2 ounces
• Spinach = 1 ounce
• Carrots = 2 ounces
• Eggs = 14 last week + 18 this week

Happy harvesting!

Linking up to Harvest Monday @ Daphne's Dandelions

& Macro Monday on Lisa's Chaos

Sunshine and New Feathers

Today it is absolutely gorgeous outside!  The sun is shining, the sky is bright blue and there is very little wind.  We thought it was the perfect day to let our newest Newbies have some time in the sunshine!  So, out of the brooder they came!

At first they were really hesitant and stayed huddled together in the middle of the lawn.

Then, they hung out with Tool Lady for a few minutes.

Soon, though, they started venturing out a bit.  Not too far away from each other, but far enough to taste a little freedom :-)

Then, suddenly, they were all in one of the beds, scratching around...pecking at everything... squawking like crazy!

Needless to say, they were very unhappy when it was time to come inside!

Next on our list of Things-To-Do is the build a bigger and better brooder for these ladies.  They need more space and we want them to be outside more often without us having to babysit them.  We're thinking we'll build something into one of the corners of the chicken run, but we're not quite sure yet.  I'll let you know when I know more :-)  As always, I'm open to suggestions!

I hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!  Cheers!

Independence Days

Happy Independence Days!

Plant something (under the grow lights):

• 3 broccoli
• 24 green bunching onions

Harvest something (veggies & basil from under the grow lights):

• 2 oz mixed lettuce
• 1 oz spinach
• a couple of basil leaves
• 20 eggs

Preserve something:

• We froze a half gallon of red chile purchased at a local restaurant.  It's the best red chile in town, hands down and is worth buying already made :-)

Waste not:

• Not sure if this counts, but last weekend Tool Lady consolidated our compost pile.  We are thinking it will work better with its new configuration.  Hmmm...maybe this goes under the Skill Up category?...
• We've saved seeds from the acorn and butternut squash we grew last year & ate a few weeks ago...I just keep forgetting to mention them!

Want Not:

• Ordered our seed potatoes and some veggie seeds from Seeds Savers Exchange this week.

Eat the Food:

• 1 lb ground beef from the freezer
• 1 roast from the freezer
• 1 quart of canned pinto beans
• 1 half pint of pickled beets
• 1 loaf of home made bread

Build community food systems: Nothing here this week.

Skill up: 

• Lots of research into straw bale gardening as an option for our impending back yard re-do this spring
• I completed our excel spreadsheets for 
• tracking expenditures vs. expenses for 2012 forward (I'll share this soon in it's own post)
• tracking sowing, transplanting and harvesting dates

Note:  I didn't post a Harvest Monday post this week (on 2/20) so the Harvest Totals above are from the past week and a half...and I haven't looked in the hoop houses in a while either...I hope to get back on track this weekend :-)  Life and work and school, oh my!

Independence Days Challenge is hosted by
Sharon @ The Chatelaine's Keys

I'd love to see what you've been up to!  If you'd like to join in simply leave a link to your Independence Days post and I'll pop on over!  If you don't have a blog, feel free to let me know what you've been up to in the comments below! 

Can Your Own (Pinto) Beans - DIY

Growing up, I never even though about canning my own pinto beans.  Every bean I ate, unless I was at a restaurant or a friends house, came from a can.  They were good.  They were fast and easy.  Open a can, add some salt, pepper and garlic powder and you're set!

Fast forward 30(ish) years and you'd find me cleaning beans, soaking them overnight and then cooking them on the stove top for an eternity.  Almost quite literally.  At our altitude (almost 7000 feet), dried beans can take all day to cook.

While it was great to have our own fresh beans, when something takes you a day and a half to make, you want to keep it around, right?  So, we started freezing batches of beans for later convenience.  Gross.  They get freezer burn quickly and turn quite mushy.  I don't recommend it.

Hmmm...enter the Pressure Canner!  We got this guy at the end of 2011 (December 27th, I think) and have been playing with him ever since!

Now, please don't think there wasn't some hesitation...there certainly was...and still is.  This guy feels quite... intimidating.  Size, bolts, weight, it's ability to crush small objects.  Right.  Anyhow, by reading and re-reading the instruction manual, and keeping it very close (still) while canning anything, we've pulled off a couple of great batches of beans and various veggies!  My favorites so far being beets and beans!  Really and truly, once you can your own beans, you will never eat them out of an aluminum can again!  The taste is amazing, and the savings are substantial (especially once you start re-using your jars)!

Alright, enough chatter!  Let's can some beans!  We use the quart size jars because they are perfect for feeding our family of 3 (2 adults and one teenager).  A quart of beans will make 3 big burritos or about 6 smaller, side-sized portions.

To start, take your dry beans and weigh them.  A little less than half a pound will make one quart of beans.  Let's say 6 ounces.

Next, clean your beans.  Dump them out on your counter and go through them all a few at a time.  Put the good beans in a bowl or colander and separate out the bad beans and any rocks you find.

Bad beans will be discolored, shriveled or just plain gross looking.  Without a doubt, you will always find at least one rock in your dried beans, making it imperative that you do not skip this step!  Broken teeth are not fun.  Period.

Next, rinse your beans under running water and place them in a pot of water to soak for a few hours (4-10 is great - I usually start this process in the morning, then can them in the afternoon).  This helps them soften up and release some of their gases.  Your belly and your family will be grateful for this step, trust me.

While your beans are soaking you can sterilize your jars and utensils.  (I have read that this step isn't necessary when pressure canning, but it makes me feel better to complete this step anyway.)  My dishwasher is my best friend when it comes to this job...just don't ever put your lids in the wash, they'll lost their ability to stick properly.  Those should be washed by hand with warm-ish to hot water.

Then, place your pot on the stove and heat your beans until their almost boiling.  This allows you to hot pack your beans.  You're not "cooking" them, just heating them up.

While your beans are heating up, chop up some garlic (1-3 cloves per quart depending on your preference) and throw it in the bottom of each jar.  Also add a half a teaspoon of salt to each jar (add more or less to taste).   You'll have to experiment with your ow seasonings.  We keep it simple and add more later if we want to for a specific meal.

Ladle your beans into your quart jars until each jar is about 3/4 full...

Top them off with the remaining bean liquid in your pot.  If you run out of bean "juice" you can just add some hot water to the top.

Make sure to leave enough room (head space) at the top of your jar and check for bubbles.  Wipe the rim of your jar, put on your lids and rings on and place the jars in your pressure canner.

Here is where it is imperative that you follow your canners instructions.  You want to have enough water in the bottom of your canner, the lid to fit right, the bolts to screw on evenly and the timing to be pretty close to perfect (too long and your beans will be mushy, to short and they will be hard...gross).  Read your manual and keep it close.  The weight you use and the timing will depend on your altitude and the size of jars you're using, so (for your safety) I won't give you specifics here.

Once you've completed the canning process and have opened that guy back up (always remember to lift the lid away from your face - it is hot in there and steam burns!), carefully remove your jars with your lifter and place them on a towel on your counter top to cool and continue to seal (the popping sound of sealing cans has become one of my favorite sounds).

Viola! You have your very own canned beans!

After they're completely cooled, make sure they're sealed by pushing down on the lid (it should not move) and by pulling on the rim with your fingertips (it shouldn't move then, either).  If they're not sealed properly, put the jar in your fridge and eat those beans in the next few days.  If they're properly sealed (yay!), label them (I write with permanent marker on the tops of mine) with the date and what they are and put them on your pantry shelf or in the cupboard.  I usually wait until the next day to do this step...this allows the jars enough time to cool completely and gives me piece of mind that they have actually sealed correctly.  You also might need to wipe down the outside of your jars before you put them away if there's been any seep-age during the canning process or if your water leaves any minerals on your jars.

There you have it!  Your very own canned beans!  Enjoy!!!

If you're looking for some more information on canning, you can find tons of info on the National Center for Home Food Preservation's website.  

Happy Canning!!!

Linking up to Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #16

Chick Roosting

Why do chickens roost?  To stay safe from predators at night, of course :-)  Apparently the Little Ones like to roost even though they're safe (er...trapped) in their nice, warm brooder!

I have found, at different times, both the Ameraucanas and the Astralorps on their mini, impromptu roosting bar.  I have not, however, found the Buff Orpingtons on said bar.  Interesting.  The Buffs also seem to be the most skittish of the bunch.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see how they all mature :-)

Now, they're not sleeping up there yet, but they do like to hang out up there...

This might be my favorite picture of this bunch so far.  These two cuties fell asleep, nose to nose, and formed  an (almost) perfect heart!  Love, love, love them!!!

365 Days Ago...

It's my Blog-iversary!!!

Yep, one year ago today I ventured into this space having really no idea what I was getting myself into!  Little did I know I was entering into a wonderful space of creativity, shared experiences, a love of writing, a knowledge base that is simply staggering (you all are quite phenomenal, you know that, right?!) and a whole lotta fun!

Now, at the time of this writing, if we stick to just the facts, we have:

• 298 published posts (including this one)
• 1087 comments
• 61 followers
• 14,959 page views

These stats are just amazing to me!  A year ago I never would have guessed that I would have so much to say or that anyone would actually want to read any of it!

So, based on page views, what have some of your favorite posts been???

• The Pantry
• Garlic Powder - DIY
• Re-finishing Cast Iron Pots DIY
• 2012 Garden Planning
• Harvest Monday 12/26/11
• A Quarter of a Cow
• The Chickens Are Molting!?!
• Cranberry Chutney

Looks like you all enjoy reading about how to do things as much as I enjoy writing about how we do things ;-)  Awesome!  But really...those are just statistics!  I would LOVE to hear what your favorite post has been!   Please share!

One of my favorites wasn't one of your favorites, but maybe it just got lost in the shuffle?  Or maybe it was just too gross for some you?  Understandable.  Regardless, I loved writing And Then There Were Seven!!!  I look forward to more culling in our future.  Hmmm..."looking forward" to culling sounds kind of strange, but you know what I mean, right?!

Now, the intention behind the creation of this blog was to allow myself a space to share our adventures in Urban Homesteading as well as to share information with anyone who might be looking for a glimpse into what we're doing and how we're doing it.  Now, while this blog is really about us and our experiences, we are also a part of a planet wide revolution of sorts now aren't we?  So, given that, Dear Reader, what would you like to see more of?  I am open to suggestions :-)  Recipes?  DIY?  Poetry?  Gardening?  Chickens?  Bees?  Feel free to give me specifics and then I can evaluate what I think I'm capable of writing about ;-)

Lastly, thank you all for being a part of my blogging community!  I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to get to know each of you a bit through your blog postings and comments and look forward to the continued sharing of Blog Love that I have grown to love so much!  You all are Rock Stars!  Thank you for being you!