It's been a sad year for me. My last two posts featured animal friends that are no longer in my life. Esmerelda succumbed to cancer after a long and joyous life and my heart still aches a little when I think of being without her. More recently I had to let Rocky go. He had gotten more dangerous and unpredictable. His aggression was starting to have serious consequences.
Back in early Spring I was away from home for a couple of days. When I returned the dynamic of the flock had completely changed and Rocky had been deposed as the dominant Rooster. Sparky had suddenly asserted himself and for the first time, Rocky was completely cowed. He was fearful and spent most of his time trying to keep a very low profile. It was also the first time I was able to approach him without my broom and several layers of clothing. (He's even spurred me through layers of jeans, socks and boots.)
I opened up the flock to free range to give him more room to avoid the others if he needed to and we became good friends for a while. He would follow me around and let me pet him and no longer seemed wary of me. At night he would put himself to roost in a shed away from the flock. At first he stopped crowing, but over time his confidence returned bit by bit. It made me very happy the day he began crowing again.
Eventually he worked his way back in with the flock and seemed to sort out a truce with Sparky. He only seemed to want to be back with his family. There was no sparring and he learned to stay out of Sparky's way, sneaking into the hen house at night only after Sparky was good and groggy. As long as I made sure to open the door at first light in the morning, there was no problem.
As Rocky's confidence returned, so did his temper. I think having been relegated to 2nd Rooster, and not being able to show aggression to Sparky made him suddenly remember his old "feud" with me. A mere 3 months after embracing me as his friend and advocate/benefactor, he began attacking me again. He started things off by spurring me without warning one day. Sparky came to my rescue and chased Rocky away.
From then on I had to go back to my old strategy for being in the hen yard--go armed with broom. Sometimes even that wouldn't work, and I would find myself sometimes calling for Sparky to come and help me, which he always did.
You have to keep your sense of humor in a situation like that. Caution and a lighthearted approach help to smooth the way. I held no grudge against Rocky because he was doing what he thought was his job. At night, I would go in and speak to each hen and say "well done". And I would pet Sparky and Rocky and thank them for taking care of the flock. Each would close their eyes as I touched them and relax. It was, and still is one of my favorite activities of the day.
One day Rocky just seemed to snap. He came after me determined to do damage, and that is just what he did. He spurred my ankle to the bone and I believe he hit a vein, judging by the blood which filled my shoe.
I couldn't walk well enough to go into the hen yard for a couple of days. Mike was going in my place, but now Rocky was going after him too and even attacking Sparky, though Sparky always won. For the first time, Mike took a good look at Rocky's spurs. He was impressed because he'd never really seen them before. And he agreed with me that it was time for Rocky to go.
We took him back to the farm I got him from nearly 3 years ago. I have seen how they harvest chickens and knew they would be compassionate and humane. I knew I could trust them with Rocky.
Mike was worried we wouldn't be able to catch Rocky. He was picturing a violent and bloody battle, but somehow I persuaded him to trust me, and follow my lead. I went into the hen house at the very end of the day-just as the sun was setting. With Mike just outside, I said good night to the flock as I always did, petting Rocky last, as usual. Then I picked him up and gently hugged him a moment, before putting him into the carrier we had ready for him. Mike put the lid on and we placed him in the other shed for the night. His little inquisitive crooning sounds nearly tore my heart from its moorings and I don't think I stopped crying for hours after I closed the shed door.
I have learned a great deal from my flock and I am grateful to Rocky for being a good protector, increasing my flock and most of all for providing Sparky. But I am also grateful for the experience he gave me in our day to day interactions.
When you have a "back yard" flock as opposed to hundreds of chickens, you have the opportunity to observe and become aware of chicken culture in a way you might not otherwise notice.
Rocky was first and foremost the patriarch of the flock. His strategy after being deposed, was to fade back, go underground for a time and then to find a way back to his family. (Because the entire flock was his family!) He didn't care about being top rooster once Sparky had the job. His only goal was to be with his family. And he made concessions and adjustments, even risking serious injury, to make sure that happened. I watched all of this unfold over these last 4 months, and I find it remarkable how complex a flock can be.
For instance they know their names. Not only do they know their own personal names, (no surprise to me since they told me their names in the beginning), but they also know the others by name.
As in any family there are close relationships and there are rivalries. After not seeing Rocky for a whole day, Tricksy asked me where he was. I told her that he had to leave. That it was his time to move on. I heard "Oh" in my mind as she walked away, but her response triggered in me a loneliness and I wasn't sure if it was hers or mine. Later when I was thinking about it, I realized that of course Tricksy would be the one to ask about Rocky. She was closer to him than any of the others. Always attentive when he wasn't feeling well or when he was injured. When sleeping, he would bury his head in her wing as often as in his own.
Rocky was born old, it seems (or should I say hatched). Although he seemed full grown, he didn't yet have his spurs when he came to us and we watched him grow larger and larger still, until we thought he'd never stop growing. Mike and I used to joke about having a giant rooster towering over us in the yard. Thank God it didn't come to that!! But it didn't take him long to develop a stiffness in his wings, and he often reminded me of an old feller with his "trick" wing. It would get stuck up in the air sometimes when he'd fly out of the hen house in the morning, and if I was around to see it happen, I would help him release it with energy work in a hands off approach.
In Bill Mollison's permaculture system, chickens are a zone 2 animal. Meaning you may end up visiting that area about twice a day. I do think of the hen yard as zone 2, because it must be separate from zone 1 which is home to the garden. But I easily visit more than twice a day on some days. Especially when the weather warms up and the growing season begins. That's where the action is. Everything is going on there. There is soil being created, there is a language to be learned, and there are eggs to be found. Out of 8 hens, Ruby, Tricksy and Fanny are 3 years old, and Ruby's brood (Blossom, Flora and Yarrow) are 1 1/2 years old, with the other two being just 11 months now. I feel very rich indeed, if I get 6 eggs in a day, but I average about 4 per day.
Today was a rare, rich day though. I found 3 eggs in the shed, and then I found a new nest in the hen house with three large eggs in it. Beautiful and clean, I nearly collected them and then I suddenly changed my mind. It was last year at this time, and in almost the same location that Flora went broody. I decided to see if we could increase the flock. So that's where we're at now.
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Winter Rooster
 |
| Rocky and Daughter |
We woke up to the merest skiff of snow covering the land. I went out with my camera to record the contrast on the land shown by this rare occurrence and couldn't resist taking this shot of my original rooster, Rocky who is the patriarch of the flock. He always, always keeps an eye on me.
We got along just fine after I brought him home about a year and a half ago. He was nearly full grown, and stuck close to the matriarch of the flock, Ruby. But he never quite trusted me. Then one day I tripped over him when I was running to untangle the neighbor's cat from a temporary fence I was constructing in the hen yard. I was instantly viewed as a mortal enemy and combat ensued. I have since learned to make my trips to the flock with my trusty broom in hand.
Never the less, it is thanks to Rocky that the flock has been kept safe, and that it has increased. He and Ruby gave us 4 hens and Sparky. (Sparky is my teddy bear of a rooster and even now that he is bigger than Rocky, I never have to worry about him. In fact, I suspect he has run interference a time or two for me by distracting Rocky).
I love this photo because it shows Rocky in his true light. A devoted patriarch and protector of the flock.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
A Word of Explanation
A couple of days ago, I embedded The Story of Stuff video into my post. I would usually offer a few words (or 1,000) to accompany the post, but I didn't this time. Partly because I was anxious to finish binding 6 more copies of The Golden Key for customers on our book website.
I got thinking about Earth Day on Friday because Google reminded me that there was such a thing. I suppose if I still did Facebook, I would have been reminded much more. But social media aside, the concept of Earth Day kind of annoyed me a little, but perhaps not for the reason you may think.
As I pondered this idea of Earth Day, I suddenly felt like it was only a pretense. Only a sham. It's just our culture going through the motions as we continue to destroy the thing that means more to us than anything else could possibly mean to us--The planet that supports us. Our Home. Our Mother. Our beloved planet Earth. If she loses her ability to sustain life, then we die. I don't understand why this is not obvious to everyone. I've been aware of the fragile balance of our environment since I was 9 or 10 years old. How is it possible that the adults making the decisions to continue the destructive practices we have engaged in for too long would not be aware of something that is blatantly obvious to a child. The answer to that question is that they are aware, but they have lost touch with their ability to care about consequences.
That describes a sociopath. Sociopaths are identified as narcissistic with a huge sense of entitlement. They are lying and manipulative, lacking in empathy or remorse. They are charming and superficial, and live to please themselves, while disregarding laws, rules and the rights of others.
Those are the people who murder without remorse. Those are the people who destroy without feeling. Our society punishes 99% of the population with jail time and sometimes even by execution when they have been found guilty of engaging in those practices.
But the privileged few are allowed to go their way murdering and destroying, with no accountability for their actions. They are also the ones running things on planet Earth. They make the laws for the rest of us to abide by, but they--the 1%--are above the law.
Those are the things that cycled through my thoughts as I considered the social media flurry around this particular day, we call Earth Day.
As if we need a day to notice the planet.
But apparently, we do. And I wondered how many people were profiting from Earth Day. If I sound disgusted, it's only because I am.
But now something is giving me hope for the first time since the overtures of awareness rippled through with the Occupy Wall Street movement. In this election cycle we are seeing something I've never seen before as a voter. We are seeing people --both conservatives and progressives, mind you-- supporting the candidates that are outside of the norm.
And I love that!
To break out of that old routine that isn't serving us anymore. Now that's progress.
So why did I post The Story of Stuff here? Because the very first time I saw it, maybe six years ago now, I realized that this was a really good way to get that message out to people. Here was a whole community of people all actively doing something to deconstruct the old ways of thinking by educating people.
I also wanted to stop censuring myself on my own blog. I am passionate about resisting the status quo for the sake of the planet. I think that The Story of Stuff is a good introductory video to hold a conversation around. It's profound, non threatening/non triggering, and eye opening.
I hope you enjoyed it, and if you missed it, I hope you'll watch it.
I got thinking about Earth Day on Friday because Google reminded me that there was such a thing. I suppose if I still did Facebook, I would have been reminded much more. But social media aside, the concept of Earth Day kind of annoyed me a little, but perhaps not for the reason you may think.
As I pondered this idea of Earth Day, I suddenly felt like it was only a pretense. Only a sham. It's just our culture going through the motions as we continue to destroy the thing that means more to us than anything else could possibly mean to us--The planet that supports us. Our Home. Our Mother. Our beloved planet Earth. If she loses her ability to sustain life, then we die. I don't understand why this is not obvious to everyone. I've been aware of the fragile balance of our environment since I was 9 or 10 years old. How is it possible that the adults making the decisions to continue the destructive practices we have engaged in for too long would not be aware of something that is blatantly obvious to a child. The answer to that question is that they are aware, but they have lost touch with their ability to care about consequences.
That describes a sociopath. Sociopaths are identified as narcissistic with a huge sense of entitlement. They are lying and manipulative, lacking in empathy or remorse. They are charming and superficial, and live to please themselves, while disregarding laws, rules and the rights of others.
Those are the people who murder without remorse. Those are the people who destroy without feeling. Our society punishes 99% of the population with jail time and sometimes even by execution when they have been found guilty of engaging in those practices.
But the privileged few are allowed to go their way murdering and destroying, with no accountability for their actions. They are also the ones running things on planet Earth. They make the laws for the rest of us to abide by, but they--the 1%--are above the law.
Those are the things that cycled through my thoughts as I considered the social media flurry around this particular day, we call Earth Day.
As if we need a day to notice the planet.
But apparently, we do. And I wondered how many people were profiting from Earth Day. If I sound disgusted, it's only because I am.
But now something is giving me hope for the first time since the overtures of awareness rippled through with the Occupy Wall Street movement. In this election cycle we are seeing something I've never seen before as a voter. We are seeing people --both conservatives and progressives, mind you-- supporting the candidates that are outside of the norm.
And I love that!
To break out of that old routine that isn't serving us anymore. Now that's progress.
So why did I post The Story of Stuff here? Because the very first time I saw it, maybe six years ago now, I realized that this was a really good way to get that message out to people. Here was a whole community of people all actively doing something to deconstruct the old ways of thinking by educating people.
I also wanted to stop censuring myself on my own blog. I am passionate about resisting the status quo for the sake of the planet. I think that The Story of Stuff is a good introductory video to hold a conversation around. It's profound, non threatening/non triggering, and eye opening.
I hope you enjoyed it, and if you missed it, I hope you'll watch it.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Baby If You Could Cook, I'd Marry You!
Well, I can.
But I'm already married...
Whenever I go to a pot luck, I'm at a loss. People have different dietary needs than they did 20 or 30 years ago. Today I had lunch with friends. One can't eat grains and one is a vegetarian. That combination limits the choices a bit, but last night I emailed my friends and announced I would be bringing "a potato, veg, cheese thing".
So here's my recipe for
One Large Russet Potato
Start with a large russet potato and grate it into a bowl of hot (not boiling), salted water to remove the excess starch. If you don't do this, your spuds will get sticky as they cook. Use the large hole size grater because you will be making hash browns. Rinse a few times if needed to remove excess starch. Drain the potatoes well before cooking.
Hot Skillet with sunflower oil
Next get a large cast iron skillet with a little sunflower oil and heat it over a medium to medium high burner. Spread the potatoes thinly over the skillet in the hot oil (without splattering yourself).
The secret to getting really crispy hash browns is to leave them alone. Just let them cook. If you turn them too soon, for some unfathomable reason they will mush up, instead of crisp up.
So to help keep you from micro managing your potatoes, now is a good time to grate some onion, using the same grater you just used for the potatoes and set it aside until needed.
Now is a good time to peek at the potatoes. Using a spatula, test to see if the bottom of the potatoes are crispy. If the spatula slides under the potatoes fairly easily, than it might be ready to turn. You should be able to turn the whole thing in one piece like a large pancake. Once you've flipped it, you will see a nice crispy brown layer of grated potato. Allow the other side to get crispy. Add a little drizzle of oil around the outer edge of the potatoes if needed.
When the potato is crispy on both sides remove it to a pie tin and set it aside.
Onion
Now reduce the temperature to low and add the grated onion to the skillet. I dry cook the onion on a lower temperature to remove excess moisture which might otherwise cause the potatoes to lose their crispness. Remove the onion when cooked and layer it on top of the potatoes.
Mushrooms
Heat a combination of butter and olive oil gently in the skillet and add sliced mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms until they are lightly browned. Remove from skillet and layer in the pie tin with the onion and potato.
Mixed Veg
Now add a little more olive oil to the pan and lightly sauté a combination of fresh, sliced vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste. Today I had on hand, broccoli, asparagus, carrot, snow peas and spinach, and I added a little garlic to the veg. When finished, layer the veg into the pie tin.
Cheese
Grate a combination of cheeses that you like over the top of the layers, and place in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes to rewarm the dish and melt the cheese.
There you have it. Gluten free, grain free, and fine for any vegetarian who eats dairy. This is a versatile dish which can be made to taste, using any veg you like, or spices. You can also add meat. And for a variation you can make a quiche by adding eggs and cream, but you have to use a slightly different method if you want the potatoes to stay crisp.
But I'm already married...
Whenever I go to a pot luck, I'm at a loss. People have different dietary needs than they did 20 or 30 years ago. Today I had lunch with friends. One can't eat grains and one is a vegetarian. That combination limits the choices a bit, but last night I emailed my friends and announced I would be bringing "a potato, veg, cheese thing".
So here's my recipe for
Potato-Veg-Cheese Thing
One Large Russet Potato
Start with a large russet potato and grate it into a bowl of hot (not boiling), salted water to remove the excess starch. If you don't do this, your spuds will get sticky as they cook. Use the large hole size grater because you will be making hash browns. Rinse a few times if needed to remove excess starch. Drain the potatoes well before cooking.
Hot Skillet with sunflower oil
Next get a large cast iron skillet with a little sunflower oil and heat it over a medium to medium high burner. Spread the potatoes thinly over the skillet in the hot oil (without splattering yourself).
The secret to getting really crispy hash browns is to leave them alone. Just let them cook. If you turn them too soon, for some unfathomable reason they will mush up, instead of crisp up.
So to help keep you from micro managing your potatoes, now is a good time to grate some onion, using the same grater you just used for the potatoes and set it aside until needed.
Now is a good time to peek at the potatoes. Using a spatula, test to see if the bottom of the potatoes are crispy. If the spatula slides under the potatoes fairly easily, than it might be ready to turn. You should be able to turn the whole thing in one piece like a large pancake. Once you've flipped it, you will see a nice crispy brown layer of grated potato. Allow the other side to get crispy. Add a little drizzle of oil around the outer edge of the potatoes if needed.
When the potato is crispy on both sides remove it to a pie tin and set it aside.
Onion
Now reduce the temperature to low and add the grated onion to the skillet. I dry cook the onion on a lower temperature to remove excess moisture which might otherwise cause the potatoes to lose their crispness. Remove the onion when cooked and layer it on top of the potatoes.
Mushrooms
Heat a combination of butter and olive oil gently in the skillet and add sliced mushrooms. Sauté the mushrooms until they are lightly browned. Remove from skillet and layer in the pie tin with the onion and potato.
Mixed Veg
Now add a little more olive oil to the pan and lightly sauté a combination of fresh, sliced vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste. Today I had on hand, broccoli, asparagus, carrot, snow peas and spinach, and I added a little garlic to the veg. When finished, layer the veg into the pie tin.
Cheese
Grate a combination of cheeses that you like over the top of the layers, and place in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes to rewarm the dish and melt the cheese.
There you have it. Gluten free, grain free, and fine for any vegetarian who eats dairy. This is a versatile dish which can be made to taste, using any veg you like, or spices. You can also add meat. And for a variation you can make a quiche by adding eggs and cream, but you have to use a slightly different method if you want the potatoes to stay crisp.
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Comedy Relief
Every evening, after the sun goes behind the trees, and the yard begins to cool off, I go down to the back of my place to work on the fence. The easiest way to get there is through the hen yard.
Every evening Rocky puts up a little resistance as I pass through his domain. Last night I decided to bring my camera with me in case I found something fun to photograph while working on the fence. Since Rocky was crowing I thought I would video him.
He obviously knew he was being filmed (the big ham) so he gave me an extra hard time. We usually have a brief skirmish which last about 30 seconds, and then he lets me pass. I ran out of memory on my camera before he was finished with me, and I actually pulled a leg muscle fending him off, while he launched himself at me and bounced off the bottom of my extended boot. (He hates those boots!)
Backing away in retreat, a branch knocked off my hat...it was all just very silly.
And now...Heeeeres Rocky!
Every evening Rocky puts up a little resistance as I pass through his domain. Last night I decided to bring my camera with me in case I found something fun to photograph while working on the fence. Since Rocky was crowing I thought I would video him.
He obviously knew he was being filmed (the big ham) so he gave me an extra hard time. We usually have a brief skirmish which last about 30 seconds, and then he lets me pass. I ran out of memory on my camera before he was finished with me, and I actually pulled a leg muscle fending him off, while he launched himself at me and bounced off the bottom of my extended boot. (He hates those boots!)
Backing away in retreat, a branch knocked off my hat...it was all just very silly.
And now...Heeeeres Rocky!
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