My last blog entry was last October, and though it seems like Christmas was just last week, it is actually March 1. It seems befitting that I've been too busy to write, seeing as October was when we decided to get chickens. Those who know me well, immediately thought I had lost my whole and complete mind, but upon second thought, they realized this venture is so me. I like living off a dirt road, where there are only three of us living on my street (but the city girl in me also likes being only 15 minutes away from my nail shop). I've tried gardening, which proved to be a success in getting my seedlings started (I even harvested a few green peas) but the rabbits loved my veggies much more than I did. Over the winter I successfully forced tomatoes (which means exactly what it sounds like, I started tomato seeds indoors in a window) and now I've transplanted them outdoors under plastic until there is no fear of frost. My desire to eat healthy (and to know where my food comes from) as well as to save money, has driven me towards looking at ways to become more self sufficient. I wanted to eliminate the amount of "acceptable" hormones and other harmful products in my daily diet. I recently was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that is often triggered by hormones. So in attempts to decrease outbreaks and the need for medical treatment, what other natural course to take but to raise your own food (especially when you have the space to do it).
I have been warned against naming my chickens, but in true Andrea "I'll do it myself" fashion, I named them (not all 15 original chicks, although I did have a name list going), well the four that I had left. As I have learned to seek out additional research when it comes to growing vegetables and herbs (and protecting them), George has learned the importance of protecting our flock (as well as getting rid of a seriously demented dog who insisted on ripping through the fence to pull chickens out and kill them). Our trials and errors have taught us some fun and hard lessons on our journey. I started self canning veggies and meats last year (a skill my great-great grandmother taught me that I told no one about), and continue to preserve left overs in this fashion. Spaghetti has proven to be so much more flavorful when all of the seasonings have been slow cooked in a glass jar.
Last week I tried canning potatoes, and so far so good. I still work five days per week at 8 plus hour a day, but George is getting used to having to actually wash dishes and clothes. Just that one adjustment on his part has made me a happy camper.
My free time has been occupied by the start up of baseball pre-season with Dorian (who also starts guitar lessons again after a three month sabbatical), and my obsession with Pinterest. I often yell from the other room asking George to come look at something that I'm adding to the list of cool things I want him to build to help us be more self-sufficient. In typical George fashion, he raises one eye brow, leaves the room without saying a word and silently contemplates why he actually came into the room when he saw me with my Kindle Fire in hand. Even as I sit and write this (on this perfectly wet day), I'm wondering why we didn't buy those rain water barrels to add to the rain gutters of the house that are pictured in the other tab of my web browser. My next venture, is how to make soap entirely from scratch without all the harmful chemicals and I'll be building an automatic chicken waterer and feeder that won't require refilling for a month.
I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
I have been warned against naming my chickens, but in true Andrea "I'll do it myself" fashion, I named them (not all 15 original chicks, although I did have a name list going), well the four that I had left. As I have learned to seek out additional research when it comes to growing vegetables and herbs (and protecting them), George has learned the importance of protecting our flock (as well as getting rid of a seriously demented dog who insisted on ripping through the fence to pull chickens out and kill them). Our trials and errors have taught us some fun and hard lessons on our journey. I started self canning veggies and meats last year (a skill my great-great grandmother taught me that I told no one about), and continue to preserve left overs in this fashion. Spaghetti has proven to be so much more flavorful when all of the seasonings have been slow cooked in a glass jar.
My free time has been occupied by the start up of baseball pre-season with Dorian (who also starts guitar lessons again after a three month sabbatical), and my obsession with Pinterest. I often yell from the other room asking George to come look at something that I'm adding to the list of cool things I want him to build to help us be more self-sufficient. In typical George fashion, he raises one eye brow, leaves the room without saying a word and silently contemplates why he actually came into the room when he saw me with my Kindle Fire in hand. Even as I sit and write this (on this perfectly wet day), I'm wondering why we didn't buy those rain water barrels to add to the rain gutters of the house that are pictured in the other tab of my web browser. My next venture, is how to make soap entirely from scratch without all the harmful chemicals and I'll be building an automatic chicken waterer and feeder that won't require refilling for a month.
