Washingtonians

[SadieSue]

Well, I just dropped the kids off for their last day of school. Finally. They have a 2-hour day today. Seems silly, but the school can count 2 hours as a full day.

I'm looking forward to having my 10-year-old home and helping me finish the coop and build the run. The run is an easy build, but I need someone to hold long boards up while I screw them together. He's matured significantly in the 9 weeks we've had chickens. He's seen Drama's leg injury and what it took to get her walking again. Then, he was in the house during the dog attack, and he knows we almost lost Rhodie, the bird that was in the dog's mouth. I think he's finally beginning to understand responsibility and the importance of helping out. He seems excited to help me build the run. He wants the chickens in a safe environment as much as we do. He has high functioning autism so it's really nice to see him begin to grasp the concepts of caring for others. I didn't expect a tiny flock of backyard chickens to have the impact it has on any of my children. Such a good thing!

The connection between people and animals can be such a miraculous thing to witness! Glad your son is enjoying the chickens so much, is such a big help to you and it's turning into a wonderful learning experience at the same time.

 

[itsren]

After all, right out in the yard is a chicken tractor full of tasty butter-ball cornish...............easy targets.

That's what I want to raise next year. Also in a chicken tractor. I know I'd have to make a sturdy one - not a PVC chicken tractor that my pullets hang out in during the day. I want to build a meat-bird chicken tractor that has a coop attached. When we get to that point, do you sell fertilized eggs? We want to incubate those - so the kids can watch the entire process. For us, chicken raising chickens is part education for our kids, part reducing our carbon footprint, part providing food for the family.

 

[nikki1]

To FireWifeJess,

Yep! We're neighbors of NW Trek! We're maybe 5 miles south of it. Even before we moved here we always had a Zoo/Trek pass so we could go to either as often as we like. The kids just love it, but we were addicted before we ever became parents.

Have you ever been to Pioneer Farm? It's here, too, and it's great. They teach you all about pioneer life, and have LOTS of hands-on stuff. Kids can dress up, wash with a washboard, grind wheat, jump into a hay pile, milk a cow, pet every animal on the place, take a short horse ride, pound on hot metal in a forge, use pioneer hand tools, and lots more. My little kids love it, but when I worked in a 1-room K-5 school (REALLY) we took all of our students there, and 5 year olds and 11 year olds alike had a blast. It's between NW Trek and Eatonville on Ohop Valley Road.

Thanks for asking. I love my new town.

--Nikki

 

[SadieSue]

To FireWifeJess,

Yep! We're neighbors of NW Trek! We're maybe 5 miles south of it. Even before we moved here we always had a Zoo/Trek pass so we could go to either as often as we like. The kids just love it, but we were addicted before we ever became parents.

Have you ever been to Pioneer Farm? It's here, too, and it's great. They teach you all about pioneer life, and have LOTS of hands-on stuff. Kids can dress up, wash with a washboard, grind wheat, jump into a hay pile, milk a cow, pet every animal on the place, take a short horse ride, pound on hot metal in a forge, use pioneer hand tools, and lots more. My little kids love it, but when I worked in a 1-room K-5 school (REALLY) we took all of our students there, and 5 year olds and 11 year olds alike had a blast. It's between NW Trek and Eatonville on Ohop Valley Road.

Thanks for asking. I love my new town.

--Nikki

I have just got to get to NW Trek one of these days! I kept telling my daughter we'd go one day. She's 20 now but I'll bet she'd still enjoy a visit with her Dad and I!
Pioneer Farm is new to me - but sounds like a wonderful place to visit with young people. I'll have to let my gf know about it so she can take her grandson.

 

[BerrytangleFarm]

I have to take time to tout the character of a fellow BYCer --

Christie Rhae in Ocean View HI worked with me on our recent trip to surprise my father & stepmother at their anniversary party. She helped me get them 6 of her EE chicks to surprise them with. They were most enthusiastically received and the surprise was really fun!!

 

[pettec63]

Hi everyone!
Ok so now I'm 1058 post behind!! LOL!!
Jeez! I'm sure I've missed a bunch! It just has been crazy here! I really had no idea how much milk I was going to get, and so I have one whole fridge I keep storing it in, and aside from feeding the babies, I am going to have to start freezing it!! Problem is I don't have a bunch of plastic jugs to freeze in! So, we have now 6 doelings and one buckling, and two does left to kid. Milking has been a pain cause my right hand is falling asleep and it's coming from the elbow?? Not carpal tunnel. We did get a little milking contraption and Terry used it this morning and said it worked slick!
My buckeyes and B RIRs and B ams are doing awesome, but, probably neglected, just trying to keep up is tough! No word from the VA on the orthopedic apt, I'm not pushing it right now with everything going on, and I think I will have our insurance take care of it anyway.
Hope everyone is well! Weather has been a booger!!?? It's really ticking me off! I still have a flat that I planted and the plants are like 6 inches tall and I still don't have them planted!! LOL!!
Ok well

to any newbies! hope your learning lots! Still waiting on my rennet and cultures to start cheese making! But, I did find a recipe for a Queso Blanco using apple cider vinegar, so I'm going to try that today. Don't have the funds for the soap making stuff, that will be a little later.
Hugs to all! Miss you guys! as soon as we calm down here, and I have a chance to breath I will be back more often!!

Taco is grown a bunch! but he is a very smart pup and getting spoiled when we have the time!
Everyone take care and hope you are enjoying at least some of the summer??!

 

[StarryEyzz]

OK first THIS NOT ABOUT RELIGION ! ! ! Just intended as a funny. Please don't anybody twist it.

Sorry Dave I can't believe none of them warned you.

HAHAHAHAHA. Love it.

 

[itsren]

I was hoping that next time we all get together I could have a nice mink edging on my coat

RainWolf has been working on a hydroponic water/fish/fish poo type garden.
I have been waiting to see how it is going.
She was going to use crawfish instead of fish, though....interesting, no ?

Ahhh... hydroponic gardening. Chubby Chicken, is that what you were referring to? We have a neighbor who has the most amazing hydroponic garden. I haven't researched that enough - it looked like my neighbor has a lot of $$$ invested in his. I don't know if it has to have an expensive start-up though. Maybe some day.

I'm stepping slowly, but deliberately into this urban homesteader lifestyle thing. Initial raised garden beds were started, then fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries, then chickens, then more raised gardens. Next year I'm hoping to build a large beautiful arbor to grow grapes in our hot backyard to shade our house (reducing cooling costs) and provide fruit. And, I'd like to add meat birds. Then more gardens. Lots to do! Some day it should be beautiful. Right now, most of it is immature.

 

[VelvettFog]

OK first THIS NOT ABOUT RELIGION ! ! ! Just intended as a funny. Please don't anybody twist it.

Sorry Dave I can't believe none of them warned you.

 

[CailetTempest]

To FireWifeJess,

Yep! We're neighbors of NW Trek! We're maybe 5 miles south of it. Even before we moved here we always had a Zoo/Trek pass so we could go to either as often as we like. The kids just love it, but we were addicted before we ever became parents.

Have you ever been to Pioneer Farm? It's here, too, and it's great. They teach you all about pioneer life, and have LOTS of hands-on stuff. Kids can dress up, wash with a washboard, grind wheat, jump into a hay pile, milk a cow, pet every animal on the place, take a short horse ride, pound on hot metal in a forge, use pioneer hand tools, and lots more. My little kids love it, but when I worked in a 1-room K-5 school (REALLY) we took all of our students there, and 5 year olds and 11 year olds alike had a blast. It's between NW Trek and Eatonville on Ohop Valley Road.

Thanks for asking. I love my new town.

--Nikki

I have to say that I loved pioneer farm and northwest trek when I lived over there. I graduated high school from EATONVILLE in 1992. nwtrek was only 4 miles from my house and so was kapowsin lake. both were a fun bike ride in the summer. in high school as part of my landscaping class we raised salmon from eggs. They were at pioneer farm where we raised them. AH the memories. time for my 20 year reunion this august. I can't wait.