Comments on Chickens.

Ning has his new chickens. 2 little Rhode Island Reds. I dont know what the other 2 are - something "blue" - I'll have to look up photos for identification when they are grown. They will be raised fo eggs (and pets, I think)

What's green about chickens at home?
- not raised in massive chicken farms, little environmental impact.
- chicken poop / is great for compost.
- they eat insects and grubs, reducing pests in the garden without chemicals.
- they connect us to a source of or nutrition, providing a mental link to earth as our provider.
- they eat kitchen scraps, providing another way to recycle food waste.

Apparently, chickens are allowed in most urban and suburban communities. However, not roosters. The numbers and locations have some limitations depending on individual city codes.

We bought a book on this topic from a local author. I may quote from it later (I've misplaced it tonight but it can't be far).

Ning's chicks

Antiwar Rally, Portland OR 3/18/07

Today in Portland. Interesting - a lot of gray hair at this rally. Why is that? (I know this is off topic for the blog but it IS where I spent the afternoon today. )

Unknown Soldier 1907

There is no identification on the photo. It was taken in San Francisco, probably 1907. Look into his eyes. It's haunting.

I don't know why I've been posting these photos. Some are at least 100 years old. I dont know the people in them, not even their names. They do something to me.

The soldiers, in some of the photos, may not have survived another year after their photos were taken. Or they may have lived 65 years more. No way to know. I like the photos of people with their favorite shrub, or in their garden, because they remind me of... me. Actually, the same with the soldiers, too, since I was one (over 30 years ago).

To some extent, I look at these and think, their lives were not so different from our lives today. Then I think, yes they were, it's a different world entirely now. Then I think, what about tomorrow? If we waste the gift of this green earth, who will be there to remember those who went before? Will it matter?

Nothing to do with gardening, maybe a little about being greener - a protest against the Iraq war is planned for downtown Portland tomorrow. I wonder if an old veteran like me should be there?

Garden Log March 17 2007

Geranium Overwintering Experiment. These are scented leaf geraniums. The brown sticks were kept "dormant" in the garage. The smaller, but leafy plants were cuttings taken from the plants behind them, last fall, and kept in the bathroom windowsill with minimal watering. Unless the "dormant" ones start to do something, I think I know which method "wins" for these varieties.
Back Yard, Strawberry bed and Chinese Chive Barrel. The Chinese chives were fertilized wtih granular "Alaska fish" fertilizer, then about 1/2 inch leaf compost added. The strawberries were thinned to about 1 plant every 18 inches or so. The thinnings were planted elsewhere. The daffodils add character and in the summer, the strawberries fill in when the daffodil leaves die down. There are some iris bucheriana. Slugs love it. The white spots are Sluggo which claims to be safe and organic, and works very well. I added some overwintered Tradescantia pallida for color, and some variegated "society garlic" Tulbaghia violacia for color and in hopes of deterring pests (even in the truck that plant is stinky! like garlic only more so)
Some overwintered Chinese Celery among the heirloom potato onions. I think there are finally enough potato onions to start eating them in large amounts at harvest this year, instead of saving all of them. I though they were dead - only a few grew last fall. Now it looks like they are all alive.
Even more daffodils, These are in about their 3rd year. Next to them is a daphne - barely seen flowers, but they make the entire yard smell like fabric softener. Yum.