This year I’m on a mission to grow 4,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables in my suburban backyard. In 2012 I was able to grow 2,028 pounds, and in 2013 I’m going double or nothing. I have absolutely no idea if I’ll be able to achieve my goal. But, as with any adventure, half the fun is getting there. ~Mavis
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Francisco stopped by last night with his son to deliver some gnomes. What a sweetie! I sent his little man home with some sugar snap pea plants for their new garden.
But I think I may have a problem on my hands. Francisco has become OBSESSED with our chickens. He loves holding Baby Fat {our small black australorp chicken} and I’m pretty sure by the end of summer he will have a flock of his own.
Can vegans have chickens as pets? Hmmm.
Anyway, I didn’t harvest much this week, just some chives, sprouts {I tried a new variety and I’ll share a little later} and another boatload of eggs. And in case you didn’t know, eggs are like gold on the bartering market. Yep, they sure are. Chino the Handyman and I have been trading back and forth recently and it is awesome.
Meat for eggs? Heck yeah!
Are you harvesting anything form your garden yet, or are you still planting seeds?
~Mavis
Here is what I have harvested so far this year:
Beets – 14 ounces
Carrots – 3 ounces
Chives – 3 ounces
Egg Count – 614
Last week we collected 81 eggs. That is almost 1 dozen eggs a day!
Lettuce – 6 ounces
Microgreens 5 ounces
Potatoes – 2 pounds 9 ounces
Sprouts –11 ounces
Swiss Chard 11 ounces
Wheatgrass – 7 ounces
Total Food Harvested in 2013: 6 pounds 5 ounces
Total Eggs Collected in 2013: 614
Get out there and grow!
~Mavis
Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills for Sustainable Living
Knitting with Olof says
I’m about to go out and harvest the first part of spring for me and that is yummy Asparagus! My chickens aren’t laying yet so no eggs but look forward to June when my lovelies will start!
Also about to add a beehive to my backyard. Oh how I look forward to it!
Leslie says
Didn’t you just get @ 90 lbs of seed potatoes? PLEASE tell me that those harvested potatoes are not from them! I planted probably 7-8 lbs of red and gold potatoes in January this year, and so far, I don’t think they’ve started making anything yet… JEALOUS!!!!!!
Leslie says
Didn’t you just get @ 90 lbs of seed potatoes? PLEASE tell me that those harvested potatoes are not from them! I planted probably 7-8 lbs of red and gold potatoes in January this year, and so far, I don’t think they’ve started making anything yet… JEALOUS!!!!!!
Heather T. says
Mavis my son came home with a cabbage plant, I garden but have never grown cabbage any suggestions also I live in Wisconsin and we are still very cold, like snow cold so what should I do with this little guy until he can be planted? He is in 3rd grade and they grow these for a scholarship.
Kelly R. says
Well, I’m a vegan and I grew up with a pet pig, so why not chickens? I’m definitely more of a farm animal person than a cat or dog person.
We’re currently still planting, but I’m afraid we’re being a bit overly ambitious. Moving day is in a month, so this year’s garden is just a bunch of containers. A BUNCH. My husband thinks I’m crazy, but our middle son is my accomplice, and we have too much fun playing in the dirt to not go at it full-steam.
ann says
I just gave away two dozen duck eggs. I’m not much of a baker, so I give them to some friends who bake occasionally (more often than I do). No trades, but I’m sure I’ll get something out of it later on, some banana bread or cupcakes or something… =)
Jean Barnicoat says
Of COURSE vegans can have pet chickens! I have vegan friends with chickens. They don’t eat the eggs but don’t have a problem with non vegans eating them so they give them away!
CathyB says
Hmmm. I would think that if you are a vegan for ethical reasons, like you don’t want to use any animal products because it exploits the animals, then it would actually be fine to use the eggs from your pet chickens. The hens are your pets one way or the other, you know they are not being exploited, and if you have no rooster then the eggs will not be fertilized and will have no chance of developing into chicks. The eggs are sort of by-products of your pets that will just rot if they are not used. But I am not vegan, so maybe I am analyzing it all wrong. If you are vegan for health reasons then I guess you wouldn’t eat the eggs.