Author Archives: jkmcintyre

Kale Flowers Are Yummy

Posted on May 3, 2012 by jkmcintyre

Last weekend a neighbour was surprised to learn that chickens eat foods other than grain. OK, fair enough. Except that he grew up on a farm. With chickens. It is a good reminder of the general ignorance in our industrial … Continue reading →

Posted in chickens, education, food, kale | Tagged | 6 Comments

One-dead-baby-chicken, two-dead-baby-chicken, three-dead-baby-chicken …

Posted on April 30, 2012 by jkmcintyre

The day I found that first dead baby chicken (Thursday) I left town for a conference in British Columbia. On the train that evening, I got a call from the homestead. Our friend Darryl said, “There is an egg with … Continue reading →

Posted in baby chickens, broody hen, chickens, eggs, nest boxes, update | Tagged , | 3 Comments

One is the loneliest number

Posted on April 26, 2012 by jkmcintyre

This morning I found a beautiful, perfect, dead baby chick in the nest box with the fertilized eggs. Down still matted, eyes still shut tight. Calamity Jane, the would-be mother hen, was sitting on a clean empty nest next door. … Continue reading →

Posted in baby chickens, broody hen, chicken coop / run, chickens, eggs, update | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Asparagus = Spring

Posted on April 17, 2012 by jkmcintyre

[caption id="attachment_1514" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="1-yr old asparagus shoots"][/caption]
Seriously excited that spring has finally arrived in Seattle. Some crops have overwintered in the garden; kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots. That’s great and all, but it is asparagus that tells me it is Spring – at last. Continue reading →

Posted in food, rain, spring, vegetable garden | Tagged | 7 Comments