Margaret Fuller

"Nature provides exceptions to every rule." - Margaret Fuller

Cyril Connolly

"It is only in the country that we can get to know a person or a book." - Cyril Connolly

Chief Joseph

"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." - Chief Joseph

Composters

The chickens have also moved out of the barn. They are currently being employed in the new terraces of the orchard.

We have three more terraces started in the forest garden. We've put in the rock retaining walls, backfilled with branches and manure (high organic matter makes for great water storage as well as fertile soil). We are now in the process of improving the soil.

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We have set up cages made out of lathing. We fill them with the manure that we clean out of the barn, as well as any scraps, viscera and so on. We also add hay and other carbon materials to balance out the nitrogen. We then leave each cage to compost a little. The chickens get on top and around the sides to catch any bugs fleeing the rising heat of the compost. Once it cools down a little, more insects will breed and we will then open the cage up. The chickens will then spread the wonderful soil around the terraces as they dig for bugs.

We've only just started this compost and bug tractor, so we can't really say how it works yet, but we'll keep you posted as we get results.

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Composters

Muscovy Drake

We found a drake for our Muscovy ducks.

If you recall, we got a trio in April, thinking they were two females and a male. It turns out they were all female. We also got some eggs to hatch out, but none of them made it. However, we didn't give up, and after much searching, it seems like we finally have a breeding set of Muscovies. The only slight hitch is that our drake is very young (the Muscovy mask only just starting), so he can't yet do his job.

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While we wait for him to come of age, the two oldest females were getting broody, so we started putting some Guinea eggs in a nest. Guineas are notoriously bad at setting their own nests, so we figured we might as well use the ducks' strong motherly instincts as a natural incubator. Both of them are now setting their own nests, one with 11 eggs, the other with 9. We're excited to see if it'll work.

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Meanwhile the other, youngest female has become best friends with the drake. The two of them are inseparable and spend most of their time splashing around in their pool. They are a joy to watch. Of all the poultry we've had, Muscovy Ducks have by far the most relaxed and endearing characters. Plus they're prolific layers during season and great setters. The meat is also supposed to be delicious, but we can't yet confirm that.

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Muscovy Drake

Mattie Stepanek

"Sunset is still my favorite color, and rainbow is second." - Mattie Stepanek

Wallace Stevens

"Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake." - Wallace Stevens