Raising City Chickens–Urban Survivalism!

 The Kansas City Star has a great article today about raising poultry in suburban and urban environments:   Kansas City Star

The perspective of us little survival nuts is this:  Do whatever it takes to feed your family! Grow a garden, raise animals, hunt, fish, gather wild edibles–to survive one more day, a person needs to be adaptable, resourceful and willing to think outside of his or her experience.   

As we quoted on a different page, “The key to survival is mental toughness. The difference between surviving and death is the will to live and a desire to push on.”  –Narrator, Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment

Many municipalities have an incorrect view of poultry and livestock.  The officials often think that ‘farm’ animals have no place in a suburban or urban environment.  What they haven’t realized is that chickens are in the same family as parrots, parakeets, and other birds.  The image of a chicken is that it is a dirty, smelly, and unsanitary creature.

 Chickens come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  They can be as large as a small turkey, and as small as a pigeon.  Chickens also come in a variety of colors and temperments.  Some smaller ‘bantam’ chickens look more like a dove than a chicken.  Chickens are not particularly dirty–at least no dirtier than any other type of bird.  If chickens or their nesting facilities are dirty, don’t blame the birds, blame the owner!

So, if fresh, clean, known-source meat and eggs is what you are after, by all means, raise some Backyard Poultry!

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(or Shovels, Rakes, Buckets, etc.)

by Grandma

What do seeds (http://www.seedsavers.org), tools (tools!), and the good earth have in common? They are all part of the big picture – the garden picture that is.

Can’t grow a garden without ‘em.

Did you choose your seeds from your catalogs yet? Did you order in February? No?

 Shame on you. How do you expect to get a garden in on time if you aren’t ready?

Did we order in February?

Of course not, but that’s beside the point. Actually, we had seeds left over from last year, and we did a seed exchange with some other folks.  We actually prepared well in advance for the planting season.  This may be a first for us!

So why isn’t our garden in yet? Well, for starters we live in Michigan and not only is it “not past danger of frost” yet, it’s been non-stop raining.

In fact, we thought about raising a rice crop. The weather has been somewhat uncooperative– the ground is completely saturated.

Our garden plot is close to being ready. We’ve actually used the area for the past two planting seasons. It is where the chickens used to be. They’re now located out back, behind the barn. Where they were is, well let’s just say we didn’t have to compose the ground. We also try to rotate the crops, even in that small plot, so the soil gets a rest. It’s still rich from the chickens so that’s not a problem.

We’re dreaming of fresh tomatoes, picked right off the plant. Ah, fresh chopped onions for the stew. Carrots, eaten raw (cleaned and washed of course). Corn on the cob – come on picnic time!!

Enough dreaming. There’s work to be done! All those dreams will be for naught if the ground isn’t roto-tilled, raked and planted. All those dreams will be just that, dreams, if we don’t get busy with the hoe and get rid of those pesky weeds.

Hey, the garden isn’t even planted yet. Don’t scare everyone off with talk of weeds!!

So, let’s get going. First, choose your spot. Second, clean up your spot. Third, rototill or turn over your spot. Fourth, rake your spot. Fifth, plant your spot. Sixth, go have a coke and relax a week or so until the weeks show their face — then the work REALLY begins.

Happy gardening!

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