our winter garden - first egg!

Winter is in the air and we are preparing for a cozy few months snuggled by the fire. But there is still lots to do outside and the garden is still a place of excitement and discovery for us. 

With the cold weather upon us, we were prepared not to expect our chickens to start laying eggs until spring yet each day  we check for that mysterious little miracle and what do you know........AN EGG!!!!!! You would have thought we won the lottery we were so excited. Jumping up and down, taking pictures. The neighbors must have had a laugh over us. Since then we have had an egg a day. And they are the best looking and tasting eggs!

And here is the little layer now....Stripy. We are pretty sure she is the one laying the eggs. 

One of the kids jobs is to clean the coop and feed the chickens. They give them yummy salads with all their favorite wild edibles each day. Probably why their eggs are so good. 

These chickens are well loved.

And this is the first egg! We split it five ways.

More new from the garden: We still have lots of Chinese radishes and beets which we make soup from...greens and all. 

The kids are great harvesters. Even Scout gets in the mix washing the veg. 

We harvested the last of the peppers. and put that into our soup as well.

 With these mini hoop houses we should be able to eat from the garden all winter. I have baby collards growing now and some chard and arugula too. Next on the list is to wrap the fig tree a bit to protect it from the cold. Well, that is what is going on in my little piece of earth. I hope you are finding ways to get out and enjoy your garden this winter. No matter what the weather, there is always something to be grateful for. 

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this morning in the garden

As the first sign of light shone through the trees, I put my new blue garden boots on and headed out. 

The bright red tomatoes begging to be picked.

My happy Cuban Oregano plant.

Greens needing some good fertilizing next to what I think is a lambs ear.

Chinese radish and beets......hmmmm....I think we will make kimchi.

Stripy looking perky and excited to see me.

Loving their morning salad.

A view from the compost.

Edible weed lined path.

Jetta woke up and joined me. Proud of her find.

Almost ripe.

Finding some peppers.

A red one!

Chinese What!!!??? 

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They are almost bigger then her!

Just a pretty view. 

Oh yes, our new addition. A swing made from an old papsan chair we found on the side of the road. Hours of fun I tell you.

Making a bouquet after pruning the rose bushes. As she worked she said, "Most kids are going to school right now, and I am cutting roses." And she continued with a pleasant look on her face. 

Have a wonderful Day!

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away from the farm

It has been a while since I wrote much. We have been traveling down the east coast and enjoying the sun, the waves, and the warm sand. While we have been away, our wonderful family and friends have been taking care of our little urban farm for us. We hear that the chickens have been loving their daily treat of dandelion greens from grandma and I hope someone has been enjoying the abundance supply of peppers that are growing in the garden. I wonder if we ever got a red tomato? Oh, I so hope that we are not too late to eat a few figs. There was just one ripe one before we left. Remind me to never take a trip during fig season again. We are looking forward to seeing how big the chickens are and if we are getting any eggs yet. I am planing my winter garden now. Not sure what I will plant this year,. The collards did well last year under the hoop houses.

As wonderful as traveling is, we feel our little house and farm calling to us. This year more then ever I am feeling that call back to my life at home. We have truly loved visiting family and exploring new places these last few weeks, but I guess there really is no place like home. In my past I always felt the need for an escape from life, time to regroup and de-stress. now I see that we really have created the life we dreamed of in each day on our little piece of earth we call home. We are not needing a vacation from the daily grind. Though vacations are always fun, it is the 'need' that is no longer there. It feels so good to be free from that. It feels good to be happy just where we are and  be able to see the wonder and joy in each ordinary day right at home.

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end of summer

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It is the end of summer. We are looking forward to fall and yet still not sure about parting with the warm free-time that those summer days hold.. What will this new season bring? What challenges and joys will it illuminate with it fresh cool shift? Already I am aware of the light changing. Now I wake before the sun once again. Enjoying the stillness that comes right before the light makes it's colorful appearance in the sky. Yes, I do enjoy living in a place that has all four seasons. Each with its magic and beauty. As much as I do love Autumn, I still feel that I have one foot in Summer and not sure if I want to take it out just yet.  I am still loving the warmth and the easy of babies playing outside in just a diaper. 

a coop warming

I have been very busy with my summer camp this week, but I wanted to update you on our coop and chicks. Well, we finished the coup on Sunday and  our permit was approved on Monday. On Thursday, the chicks spent their first night in the coop. They all seem happy, and I am very happy to have my bathroom back. It is so nice to walk out at sunrise to the coop and see the chicks making their way down the ramp to greet me. It really feels like my little peace of farm paradise.

Can't wait to find eggs in little egg door. 

 Pilot just loved playing in the coop and sliding down from it. 

 As John put the last finishing touches on the coop, we all gathered inside to show the chicks their new home.  How many people and chickens can fit in a coop? It was the best coop warming party I have ever attended. 

Scout had fun in the dirt with the chicks. That will be the only time he gets to get down and dirty with the chicks in the coop since there was no poop in it yet.

 I think they like it!