Washingtonians

[FirewifeJess]

Early this evening, a Vietnamese woman shows up at my front door crying her eyes out. I don't know her from Adam. Between the accent and the sobbing, she was very difficult to understand. It seems she lives in the nearby trailer park. Her landlord has told her to get rid of her chickens. She was hoping I would let them live here where she can visit them. The only other people willing to take them wanted to eat them. She has a friend coming to build a coop and run in my backyard on Sunday. I'm out of my mind, but what can I do? I'm just a softie. She and her daughter will come and clean all the coops every week. She has nine hens. I suggested she ask her landlord if he would let her keep her three banties. I hope he will.

That's crazy! You *are*, indeed, as softie...and that's so sweet of you! I wish you were my neighbor

Can't wait to see what they come and build! How much property do you have?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

This is for those who are planning on attending Freezer Camp 101 2012

Okay I am hoping to remember all things we will need, and some of things that you may wish you had with you. With most of the group planning on attending the auction in the late morning. I am going to plan on having a bite of lunch ready for everyone. I am planning sandwiches, vegies, and fruit. I may get crazy and make potato salad, but it will depend on how much I can get done tonight.

Everyone should try to bring an apron if they can. I have a few extra, but I only have one favorite that is vinyl. Waterproof is the best option. I have disposable gloves here for those who are planning on being in the middle of the process. If you want to bring your own knives, it's optional. I have a good set, and I know at least one other person is planning on bring their set. A butcher knife and a paring knife are the best options. I have a wet stone that can be used to sharpen your knives. You can opt to not bring knives, and are welcome to share the knives that I have on hand. I also have plastic bags for the meat to go home in.

There will be a propane turkey fryer set up for scalding birds, and a station for using CL's fancy chicken plucker. This is messy work so were clothes that you expect to get dirty in.

We will be starting about 12:30pm or so. Kiddlets are welcome to come! We will have the 2 boys that live next door join us for the class. I can set up a movie for the kids to watch if they get to bored. I must admit that I don't own any new kids movies. I have things like The Gods Must Be Crazy and such.

Also my house is rather disarranged at the moment. The living room is full of kitchen cabinets. I would prefer that these were not messed with by anyone. There isn't anything that can be damaged in the existing kitchen, except for the new refrigerator, and the range. Feel free to get something to drink from the refrigerator in the garage. I may be a good cook, but I am a lousy waitress. I planning on staying focused on the meat birds, and making sure that everyone knows how it's done.

Everyone should plan on taking home some fresh meat with them. I have a few extra roos, that can be shared with those that do not have a bird of their own to process.

I think that this is most of what everyone needs to know before coming to Freezer Camp 101 2012.

If you need more help at a later time, my DH has agreed that we will be willing to come to your house and help you out for the first time. I hope that everyone will be able to understand, and know what it is like to take a bird, and get it ready to eat by the time they leave tomorrow, but I also want those that are planning on going ahead with meat birds to be able to know that they will have back up in the future if they need it.

Christina

Can I just come for the free lunch ???

 

[itsren]

I worked for the state for about 3 years. What I learned during that time is that our government enables people to continue to be dependent on the system, from the welfare system to the unemployment system and everything in between. Instead of teaching people to fish, we give them the fish. I read somewhere that it takes 8,000 sq ft to feed a family of 4. And you could probably feed more if you grow a vertical garden.

Again, it comes down to looking at situations from other points of view. It's easy to cast judgement on people when you don't know them. As you get to know them, it changes your level of understanding. In many cities, very few people have 8,000 sq. feet of growing space, and even more have more than 4 family members.

I do understand that many people are "users" of the system. I'm not discounting that at all. But, I know many, many more who work very, very hard and still not make enough money to make ends meet. Even if we did teach them to garden, they wouldn't have time to do so because they are working long days at their jobs, only to come home and work long evenings to raise their children.

My land is 10,000 sq. feet - and I have a big lot for my city. I have a small house sitting on that lot, 2 sheds, a chicken coop (soon to be 2 coops). I have a play set for my kids to play on and grass for them to run on. I am blessed and fortunate. I do have some space to convert to edibles. I grow vertically. But I doubt that, no matter how good I get at gardening, that I will be able to feed my family of 5 on my lot.

I don't know about other cities, but in our city, the average sized new lot is 5,000 sq. feet and their huge house takes up most of that space. Those people are blessed by the size of house - but they can't grow squat. And then there are even more people who live in apartments or condos - they can't do much, either.

I have neighbors who don't like that I am tearing out my part of my front yard and most of my side yard for edibles, but again, I am fortunate. I don't live in a neighborhood governed by home owner associations. The worst I'm going to get are quizzical looks, the occasional disapproving comment, glares or stares. I know many people who would get fined if they went against their home owner's associations landscaping regulations.

 

[Ogress]

That wild geranium that smells so bad when you pull it.

I never heard the name before. I called it "wet dog" weed

 

[itsren]

Someone forgot to tell these folks that what they are doing is impossible

http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2011/01/02/urban-homestead-i-am-la/

Ha! Ha! I remember sending you the link telling you about that family. I've followed them for years. What you have to understand with them - they are 3 grown children who live with their dad. None of them work a traditional "job" other than farming that quarter acre farm. All 4 of them are needed to work full-time on that quarter acre to keep it going. The children have never married because they heavily rely on each other to care for that one lot. The son handles the gardening and bio-fuel. One daughter handles the house cleaning and cooking via solar methods. The other daughter takes care of the animals and the web-site. If anyone one of them left the family, got married and had their own children, they would not be able to pull that off.

 

[itsren]

I don't know about that Russ....Look at RainWolf...she has it ALL going on, green house, garden, poultry, composting & she also gets out there and gets cast off edibles for her bird's feed, and trades for fish & other goodies.
She does it all & works full time as well....she is also a great connecter, (can connect anyone up with what they are looking for) she is an inspiration, but has goats, no mules.
I have removed the 4 1-gallon bags of green beans and 2 1-gallon bags of peas frozen last year, and will dice for the birds.
Gotta make room for all the produce I am growing this year, and my garden would fit easily twice, in RainWolf's back yard.
I have 5 acres, but a small very efficient & jungle crazy garden.

5 acres is a lot of space to grow a garden. How much land does RainWolf have?

See... circumstances dictate what you can and can't do. Very few people own a quarter acre - let alone 5 acres.

 

[JNB]

You mean like this ??? Yes I am always looking for the pink tanks. These have been pretty popular.

CR...I used to collect them for a little old neighbor that cut them up for different uses but he has been moved to a home. I feel so aweful because we just cleaned out my Moms garage for her and my hubby just took 4 of these pink tanks to the dump.... He was suppose to see if he could recycle them somewhere but gave me a fishy story about not being able to because they were pink and too lightweight???????????? I was kinda ticked at him.. Anyways we do end up with these empty pink and non pink... If you would like them just let me know Ill set them aside.

 

[itsren]

Renee, I would be glad to give you fertilized eggs, or some of these chicks should be sexed and ready for new homes by later this year.

That would be awesome. I'd like to get eggs in the spring. It would be fun for the kids to watch them incubate. If you end up with 3 pullets, let me know though - there's definitely a benefit to knowing what you're getting ahead of time. We can't keep roosters.

The Silkie coop is coming along great (cat's out of the bag, might as well call it what it is... DH guessed what it's true intention was - it's pretty obvious it is a coop/run combo and not just a 2nd run). The goal is to have it done before we get 3 Silkies. Over the winter, I'll let the LF use it as extra run space. It is turning out very cute. I had to break down and buy two 2x4's. Thought I was going to have to buy a 1x1, but I ran over to my friend's house and she had a very long old 1x1 that had been pulled out of her attic during the remodel. Awesome! I may have to buy a few more boards before I'm done with it - but considering I'm building a rock solid coop for next to nothing, I can't complain.

 

[itsren]

She may be having surg today to remove 10" section of strictured intestine.
We are waiting to hear, but great she is in the best hospital & has the best docs.

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. My cousin has had that surgery. As far as we know, he's doing better now. I hope it goes well for her.

 

[itsren]

I *could* be bringing two six year olds and an almost 8 year old. Is that alright with everyone?

I'll be watching for a response on this. The only way I'd be able to come now is if I bring my 10-year-old and 7-year-old twins. DH is working this weekend.

I'm wondering if that might be too many kids, though...