A life less ordinary

From the suburbs to the country in Independence Township, this is our journey. We are two suburban yuppies who always had a dream to leave it all behind and become country dweller's. Now we are on part two of this adventure. We just bought our Historical farm. We have six acres, a barn, some outbuildings, three excited kids, three dogs, one cat, a tortoise and us, the wonderstruck parents who are beyond thrilled and a little bit clueless about what the next chapter has in store for us!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Pride and Joy

So, now we are building a large outdoor chicken run off of the barn for the ladies. We got the frame done, which was a bit challenging due to the uneven ground and the uneven barn which it is attached to! But now it's framed and ready for chicken wire and a roof. We decided to do a metal sloped roof this time, better for keeping the ground from getting too muddy, and for shade. And we made it tall enough to walk in, without hitting our heads on the top. I think the ladies will be very happy with it. It's a large area, half shady, half sun, and they will be able to go in and out of the barn at will. We also decided to keep the old, "starter coop" for our young hens coming in. It's better to keep them separated when you have very young birds with an older, established flock. That way you can ease them into the flock when they are big enough and they won't get picked on. Our baby chicks arrive at the post office on May 23rd. So we can't wait to get them home and put them in the brooder box. We won't move them out to the farm probably until the end of June.
Meanwhile, we are pricing materials for the kitchen and bathroom, and have a plan in place. The first job is to tear up the old subfloor, and start over. It's just too uneven, many layers and years of wear and dammage. Better to start clean and do it right. Then we will lay new subfloor, and tile and then work on the cabinets, and fixtures. It's a daunting task, but hopefully by the end of the summer, it will be 90% done. We also planted some hydrangea bushes along the back side of the house, and 2 rose bushes in front. We are hoping that they take root and we see some green pushing through this weekend. Roger had poached them from a tear down at one of his job sites.
So, the house, barn, and coop are all coming along nicely. It's been a little more than a year, and with most of the work being done by ourselves, I'd say that's decent progress. I look forward to doing more landscaping and gardening this Spring and Summer and staying out there for days at a time. Every time we go, it is the same feeling of pride and joy.
It never feels stressful, only happy. And it's a love affair that fulfills that deep passion for all things country! I wouldn't want it any other way...

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Inspiration that helped me get here.

Food for thought

The increase in U.S. food prices from 1982 to 2009 rose 128%.In the same period, prices paid to farmers rose only 34%.

1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 is expected to develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Jargon-food sovereignty: the right of peoples to eat healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

(from the declaration of Nyeleni, 2007)

32 hours, 50 minutes- The amount of on-screen media, including television, videos and video games that American children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old consume each week, according to the Nielsen Company.

Chicken-ism

I loved this so much that I had to post it. I cannot take credit, I found it on the web.

All I need to know I learned from my chickens.

Wake up early, stay busy, but always stay alert.

Visit your favorite places every day.

Scratch out a living.

Routine is good.

Plump is good.

Don't ponder your pupose in life, your brain is too small.

Accept the pecking order and you know your enemies.

Weed your garden.

Protect your children fiercely, sit on them if you need to.

Take them for walks, show them the little things, and talk constantly.

Brag on your accomplishments.

Don't count your chicks before they hatch.

Protect your nest egg.

Test your wings once in a while.

Squawk when necessary.

As you age, demand respect.

Leave a little something for those who care about you.

Chase butterflies.