I’m leaving town for the week, but there are several upcoming events I’d like you all to enjoy in my absence!  They are:

• Winter’s Day on the Farm – February 5: Fosterfield’s will show you what life was like on a farm in the 1920s during the winter months.  12-4 p.m.
• Slow Food Winter Market – February 11: This event is a great way to stock up on locally-produced foods during the winter months.  Numerous farms and artisans will be exhibiting and selling their goods.  Don’t miss it! 12-4 p.m. at the Morristown High School. $3 admission.
• Snowshoe Clinic and Hike – February 11: Schiff Nature Preserve and BaseCamp Adventure in Basking Ridge are teaming up to present a snowshoe hike – snow or no snow!  Let’s hope for snow.  8:30-11:30 a.m.
• Gasland Screening – February 12: The Bernardsville Green Team is showing Gasland, The Movie, on February 12 at 2 p.m. at the Bernardsville Library.  Sign-up required; email bernardsvillegoesgreen@gmail.com.

The last time I wrote about my chickens, I shared the story of how I learned that a hen is not a hen when it is a rooster.  Please read my tale of stupidity here.   Since last September my six hens were reduced to three when I let them forage outside of their run for a few too many hours, and then from three to two as the run was again penetrated by a raccoon.  Sadly, I think the two remaining hens were suffering from PTSD and spent very little time outside as a result.  They were not laying regularly, and we found ourselves asking other chicken farmers for eggs.  Something had to be done, so I started to look for more pullets.

After unsuccessfully scouring Craigslist for a little while, I called the farm where I purchased my original hens.  They said they still had plenty of birds that were about 16 weeks old (they start laying at around 18-20 weeks), which was perfect.  A friend of mine was actually looking for more birds as well so we headed down there together.  I got four more birds and he got ten.  We each got one Black Star hen and the rest were all Rhode Island Reds.

It was dark by the time we got back, which, as I have read, is a good time to introduce new chickens into a flock.  The older chickens will be more accepting if they wake up with the new chickens as opposed to throwing them together during the day.  Of course my two older birds  were establishing the new pecking order the next morning.  This is a noisy and painful looking ordeal.  Lots of chasing, feather pulling, and general bullying which makes you feel bad for the new birds.  I tried removing the two older birds for a while to calm them down and added a head of cabbage for distraction, but I think it was mostly time that calmed down the bullying.  It was also helpful that there were four new hens to the existing two hens.  The new ones weren’t outnumbered, and the bullying was spread out among the four.

Sadly what happens next is another lesson in backyard farming: sometimes you get sick chickens.  Unfortunately the owner of the farm where we got the new birds was not in when we picked up the chickens.  She later told my friend and me that we should have quarantined them and given them antibiotic before adding them to an existing flock (my flock of two, and my friend’s flock of 25 birds).  We  both had introduced the new birds directly to our flocks only to realize later that they had given our flocks a bug.

The birds displayed a range of symptoms including lethargy, head shaking, snotty beaks, watery eyes, and in the extreme case of one of my hens rattled breathing and gaping for air.  My friend feared it was gapeworm, a type of parasite that causes difficulty breathing due to the worms hanging out in the bird’s airway.  That usually kills them, but could be treated with a dewormer.  My birds displayed very little gaping, and I thought they had a cold.  I was able to talk to a vet friend of mine who told me he would give me an antibiotic that would help clear up their upper respiratory infection.

Well, it was probably a couple days too late as I ended up losing one of my older birds.  She was the hen who had the worst symptoms, though I thought she had turned the corner and was getting better.  The hens are all recovering nicely with the help of the antibiotics they are getting through their water.  They are all outside all day eating scratch and showing healthy appetites.

Another lesson learned and, unlike my friend who lost almost a third of his flock, I only lost one bird.  Thankfully the owner of the farm said she would replace the birds that my friend had lost.  While we weren’t too keen on using antibiotic at first, it was the only way we saw to keep them alive.  Aside from learning a valuable lesson, the other good thing that came out of the situation is that while the older bird is still at the top of the pecking order, she is much more relaxed about her bullying.  The hens are all getting along very well.  Here they are on their outdoor perch enjoying a sunny December day.  Now hopefully they get to laying some eggs.

Ladies enjoying the sunshine

flickr: cmcottone

It’s almost criminal how long it’s been since my last blog post, and now that my academic ventures are winding down, I hope to be able to focus more time to writing posts.

Along those lines, I have a lot of catching up to do!  Here’s a brief mash-up of things going on this time of year that interest me.

• Raw milk: There’s a hearing on the raw milk bill next Monday, December 12 in Trenton.  The Foodshed Alliance is asking people to come in support of legalizing raw milk in the state of New Jersey.  There’s been momentum building, and an advocacy group called Garden State Raw Milk has formed as a response.
• Winter Farmer’s Market: The town of Newton, in Sussex County, has established a Winter Farmer’s Market open on Saturdays November through April from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  It’s a little far from Morristown, but could be a good model for future winter farmer’s markets in the area!
• Acupuncture class: Morristown’s own North Jersey Community Acupuncture is holding a class this Friday at 7 p.m.  Attendees will learn the theory behind acupuncture and its benefits, and this will be the first of six more in-depth classes on the topic.  A $5 donation is requested.
• Music in the Woods: Schiff Nature Preserve is having its Annual Music in the Woods celebration on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 7-9:30 p.m.  Spend an evening by the fire listening to acoustic music and viewing stunning nature photography.  Members $8; Non-members $10.
• Gingerbread & gifts: Have a little holiday shopping to do? Check out the 20th Annual Gingerbread Wonderland and Holiday Craft Show at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum this Saturday and Sunday from 10-5 p.m.  The kiddos will enjoy marveling at the gingerbread houses on display, and adults can buy locally-made gifts and crafts for the holidays.  Suggested donation of $2.
• Bernards Green Drinks: Clink glasses with like-minded individuals at Bernards Green Drinks this Thursday, Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. at Dolce Hotel’s Vita restaurant.
• Pork: I just got an email this morning from River Bend Farm.  Now is the time to place your order for locally, pasture-raised pork, which will be ready in January.  Plus, they have a spiffy new website.

In many of my group projects for school, I come across many like-minded individuals, and it’s a great way to share resources and ideas.  Most recently I learned about the concept of Collaborative Consumption.  In essence, rather than owning everything you use, create a shared ownership with others.  As an example, my classmate pointed out that a vacuum could be a shared resource since it’s not something you use every day.  This not only reduces expenses, but it greatly reduces consumption and the waste associated with it.

My classmate introduced me to a website and company that I’d like to share with all of you: CollaborativeConsumption.com.  They’re a great resource for all kinds of nifty “stuff-sharing” websites, including a few that I’ve already heard of or used… Swap.com, ZipCar, Airbnb, RentTheRunway.  But, there are so many neat ideas that I’d never heard of — things like Art.sy (for renting art), Toygaroo (renting toys –that are sanitized) and ShareSomeSugar (for sharing with neighbors).

I encourage you all to explore the various links and sites on Collective Consumption and do a little sharing of your own!

If the (mostly) warmer weather gives you the itch to get outdoors, you could try doing it on your way to work this month.  TransOptions, a nonprofit organization that encourages alternative transportation commuting in the region, is hosting a Bike to Work Challenge for the month of May.  They’ll be holding events throughout Morris County this month for those biking by on their way to work.  Check out their website for more information.

If you’re as jazzed as I am by the idea of a Morristown EcoCenter, I encourage you to be a part of it from the beginning.  Attend one of the design charrettes this week/weekend and give input on the design and components of the LEED-hopeful facility.  As a recap for those who didn’t read my blog post about the Morristown EcoCenter, it will hopefully include: a Farm-to-Table Restaurant, a Local Food Hub, a Green Retail store, a Commercial Kitchen, Creative and Event Space, the Business Incubator, Rooftop Greenhouses with demonstrations of urban agriculture technology, educational and event programming, and inspiration for further economic development in harmony with the neighborhood, the community, and the bioregion.  If that doesn’t get you excited, you are reading the wrong blog!

Participate in one of the following charrettes this week into next (updated 5/3/11):

• Wednesday, May 4: 5-9 p.m. Kickoff
• Thursday, May 5: 12-7 p.m. Key Stakeholders: Planning, Parking, and Footprint
• Friday, May 6: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Key Stakeholders: Measurable Goals, Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing
• Saturday, May 7, 12-5 p.m.: Initial wrap-up
• Monday, May 9, 2-7 p.m.: Community feedback

All charrettes will be held at 55 Bank Street in Morristown.  If you can’t attend a charrette, check in on the progress as they live blog it here!  If you do plan on attending, please email admin@morristownecocenter.com. 

I’ve RSVP’ed to attend Saturday’s charrette as I’ll be in class or my internship at other times.  I’m excited to see what kind of fabulous ideas circulate!

Gate Installation at Chester Community Garden

If you live in or near Chester and you have garden envy (a clinical condition of those who don’t have yard space for a garden, but yearn to grow their own vegetables), you’re in luck!  Chester Township has created the Chester Community Garden, opening for the first time mid-May, which will have a whopping 120 plots (measuring 8′ x 16′).  Plots cost $30 for Chester residents and $40 for non-residents and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.  The garden is located at Highlands Ridge Park (100 North Road) in Chester.

If you’re interested in registering for a spot, visit the township’s website to print a form.  Orientation will be held on Sunday, May 15, so hurry!

Installing the spigots for the garden plots

Morris County Parks Commission is holding the county’s annual Earth Day affair this Saturday, April 30!  I went last year and it was lots of fun.  There’s live music, lots of vendors, food samples from local businesses and farms, and information from local non-profits.  Plus there’s lots of fun things for the kids to do as well!

Sadly, I can’t attend (I’m going to a baby shower out of town), but I expect everyone will have a great time!

If you haven’t seen the Daily Record this morning, it’s worth a look at the front cover!

Credit: Daily Record

That’s us!  A reporter and photographer from the Daily Record came to our house last week to interview us for a piece on backyard chickens.  We had no idea, however, that we would make the front page!  It’s a fun little piece, even if it does make me look a little like a crazy cat person right off the bat (my friends will laugh because it’s mostly true). There were a few other slight misquotes, but overall the article makes a great case for why more people should have backyard chickens.  I encourage you to read the article in its entirety.

If you’re joining us because you read about ecoMotown in the article, welcome!

Did you know that it’s illegal to dispose of electronic or computer waste in your trash in New Jersey?  The law just went into effect this past year as many of those goods contain toxins that municipalities are trying to keep out of the landfill.  May 7 is Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Morris County, and in addition to the usual hazardous waste (paint, household cleaners, CFL lightbulbs, batteries, etc.) the county will be accepting e-waste as well.

Here’s a video put out by Morris County to make this all crystal clear for everyone.

Drop off your waste from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, 500West Hanover Ave., in Parsippany.

Click here for more specific guidelines on what they’re collecting. Mark your calendars now!