The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[beginnergirl]

[/quote]
I want an auger! Funny SH and OHLD that your DHs love mowing things down.

I wonder if I can get advice on what to do with this little hill of old sod?

I dug up lawn by hand, made a pile with most grass upside down in April. Only a few weeds coming up. Can I plant a cover crop without breaking it up? Should I cover the sod pile with coop bedding and plant in spring? I want this to be a grazing garden for the girls but the soil here is horrible. Tested it and nutrients? are 35 Ph 5.9. We are in zone 7.

 

[JanetMarie]

What's interesting is trying to find a salad dressing that doesn't use canola or soy oil. I pretty much make my own now.

And why does "whole foods" use canola (or soy) oil in almost all their prepared foods on their food bar....

We (me & my hubby) make our own mayonnaise and salad dressing now too. It is so much better tasting than store bought (and not toxic).

I corrected my previous post.

 

[Leahs Mom]

An article on the subject...with footnotes for anyone that wants to read.

http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/the-great-con-ola/

 

[Purpletie3]

We (me & my hubby) make our own mayonnaise and salad dressing now too. It is so much better tasting than store bought (and not toxic).

I corrected my previous post.

Isn't it amazing how good things taste when you actually make them yourself or grow from scratch....it's a whole different culinary experience!

 

[lalaland]

We (me & my hubby) make our own mayonnaise and salad dressing now too. It is so much better tasting than store bought (and not toxic).

I corrected my previous post.

Once you make your own mayonnaise and salad dressing, its hard to go back! I found out that if I use the immersion blender, its a snap, and it makes the oil in the dressing emulsify so fast - hardly will separate out.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had read the immersion blender recipe for mayo on (Healthy Home Economist maybe?) and I was determined to get a stick blender. Just haven't gotten one yet.

Any brand y'all like? I probably don't need anything "fancy-pants" but I don't want to get "junk" either. My main requirement is that the shaft be stainless steel.

 

[JulesChicks]

Hey Everyone! Haven't been on in a while and wanted to say hello.

Leah's mom, do you have a Costco membership/one nearby? I have a Cuisinart immersion blender that I bought there as a kit with some other attachments, very inexpensively. It has 2 speeds and is SS. Works fine, though I mainly use it for pureeing soups.

I also subscribe to the Healthy Home Economist, among others.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Hey...wheelbarrow experts ( @lazy gardener
)

I was debating on getting a "dump wagon" type wagon rather than a barrow.  Any comments on advantages/disadtantages?  I like the idea of having something firmly on 4 wheels with double duty as a wagon...

Something like this except NOT PLASTIC.

I LOVE my gorilla cart. I highly recommend the larger one (1200#). It's much easier to tote and transport things around than a wheelbarrow. It's been great for my bad back and the large wheels go over uneven terrain easily. However, I must note that if your load is very heavy, it will still add strain to your back to release and dump and you'll probably want another pair of hands to help. We've used ours to haul feed, mulch, cement, coop litter, etc. I've even used to haul a cart full of chicken litter to my dad for his garden. He lives 2-3 blocks away, up a hill. I was leery about something plastic, but it's very strong. I also like it because I can blend soil and dirt for gardening in it. I've also used it to catch rain water her in Southern California where it doesn't rain much.

I can't comment on the metal kind with sides that come down because I've never used one. I decided on the Gorilla cart because at the time, Amazon was having a sale on it and I got it for $99 with free shipping. Had the metal version with fold-down sides been on sale at the time, I would've probably give it more consideration.

I think there are pros and cons to both, but I believe Gorilla Cart makes good products. Good luck!

 

[Leahs Mom]

I think I'm going to check and see if there is anything on overstock.com..... There is a costco but I've never been in it! (I'm not much of a shopper....) I wonder how the prices compare?

What model do you have?

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

The 1200# capacity one

Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00B0...arden+cart&dpPl=1&dpID=41947+WDp1L&ref=plSrch