Last fall at the end of gardening season we still had a bunch of kale growing where we had planted a lettuce/greens mix. The kids weren't big fans, but my chickens loved the stuff. When a severe frost was forecast, I cut all the remaining kale, chopped it into maybe 1 inch strips and stuffed it in a giant zip-lock storage bag and put it in the freezer. I also broke up several pumpkins that I had purchased for autumn decorations and froze the chunks in zip-locks. During the winter, when there wasn't much to forage, I occasionally defrosted a chunk of pumpkin or added a generous handful of kale to my chicken's morning mash. They seemed to relish the variety.
Now that I'm starting to purchase fresh turnips and beets at the farmer's market (mine are still a few weeks away) I have more greens than my chickens can keep up with, so remembering my success last winter I'm freezing the excess. Hoping to snag pumpkins from friends and neighbors when they're done with them. Fortunately we have a big chest freezer, so storage shouldn't be a big deal.
Now that I'm starting to purchase fresh turnips and beets at the farmer's market (mine are still a few weeks away) I have more greens than my chickens can keep up with, so remembering my success last winter I'm freezing the excess. Hoping to snag pumpkins from friends and neighbors when they're done with them. Fortunately we have a big chest freezer, so storage shouldn't be a big deal.
