Comments on: Create a Food System for Your Small Space http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/ The Politics and Practice of Sustainable Living. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:03:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: M Parker http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-11349 M Parker Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:41:21 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-11349 Hey from a fellow chicken fan - I'm looking forward to more! Hey from a fellow chicken fan - I’m looking forward to more!

]]> By: Arctic Homesteader http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-8709 Arctic Homesteader Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:30:37 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-8709 Opps, I also forgot to add that I read the book "Fresh Food from Small Spaces" by Mr. Ruppenthal and found it an inspiration. What used to be a 4 month garden season has turned into a year-round adventure for us even though some days we are lucky to have only a couple of hours of sunlight, and crummy light at that. However, we are enjoying sprouting, and what I call "bathtub gardening" in containers . . . with radishes, bunching onions, herbs, tomatoes, and pole-beans. It is so dark here in the winter that we do need lights on in the house just to get around, so we use well placed grow lights that serve double duty, for us and for the plants. Thanks Mr Ruppenthal for a great book that got us started . . . and also some great older ones from the '70's like "The Apartment Farmer" by Duane Newcomb and also "Tub Farming" by Mary Johnson . . . both wonderful books too, but harder to find now. - - - Now our only problem is keeping our 110 lb Malamute from eating the tomatoes off the vine, she discovered she really likes those a lot! Opps, I also forgot to add that I read the book “Fresh Food from Small Spaces” by Mr. Ruppenthal and found it an inspiration. What used to be a 4 month garden season has turned into a year-round adventure for us even though some days we are lucky to have only a couple of hours of sunlight, and crummy light at that. However, we are enjoying sprouting, and what I call “bathtub gardening” in containers . . . with radishes, bunching onions, herbs, tomatoes, and pole-beans. It is so dark here in the winter that we do need lights on in the house just to get around, so we use well placed grow lights that serve double duty, for us and for the plants. Thanks Mr Ruppenthal for a great book that got us started . . . and also some great older ones from the ’70’s like “The Apartment Farmer” by Duane Newcomb and also “Tub Farming” by Mary Johnson . . . both wonderful books too, but harder to find now. - - - Now our only problem is keeping our 110 lb Malamute from eating the tomatoes off the vine, she discovered she really likes those a lot!

]]> By: Arctic Homesteader http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-8707 Arctic Homesteader Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:19:00 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-8707 In agreement with Amy. Coops are good, and also safe, but yes the chickens need fresh air and fun. Imagine keeping chickens when the weather is -40 with snow and ice on the ground over 6 months of the year. They need those coops, protected from the weather of course often right inside (garage area) with us, but they also enjoy running in the garage or family room (no carpeting of course) and picking through astro-turf mats layed out for them. Would I be guilty of animal cruelty if I also had worms in the compost pile that were sacraficed to their enjoyment? Mom used to take her pet laying chicken "Puck-puck" out of the coop in the evening and watch TV with her tucked in her apron. Much like a crib for a child or a crate for a dog, chickens also love to have their private space . . . it is not always just a 'jail' cell. That depends on the humanity and kindness of the human in charge. In agreement with Amy. Coops are good, and also safe, but yes the chickens need fresh air and fun. Imagine keeping chickens when the weather is -40 with snow and ice on the ground over 6 months of the year. They need those coops, protected from the weather of course often right inside (garage area) with us, but they also enjoy running in the garage or family room (no carpeting of course) and picking through astro-turf mats layed out for them. Would I be guilty of animal cruelty if I also had worms in the compost pile that were sacraficed to their enjoyment? Mom used to take her pet laying chicken “Puck-puck” out of the coop in the evening and watch TV with her tucked in her apron. Much like a crib for a child or a crate for a dog, chickens also love to have their private space . . . it is not always just a ‘jail’ cell. That depends on the humanity and kindness of the human in charge.

]]> By: Chicken Housing http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-7814 Chicken Housing Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:59:53 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-7814 This is a wounderfull post. Keep it up... This is a wounderfull post. Keep it up…

]]> By: Amy http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4830 Amy Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:50:12 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4830 Oh my goodness you guys, with regard to the chicken cages mounted on the walls of the house, they were talking about the COOP. Chickens don't stay in their coop all day. They strut down the chicken ladder and have a grand old time the rest of the day. This is not inhumane in the least, but rather brilliant I must say. However, we do NOT allow our chickens to strut around our yard free range all day. They'll get some "outside of their really big run" time once in a while, but there are way too many hawks and raccoons and other critters living in our very urban neighborhood who would love nothing better than to have a chicken meal handed to them in the irresponsible free range yard. Ample space for keeping chickens more often than not in a run is about 10 sq feet per chicken, if they are the bog hens. About 6 sq feet for banties. The run should be at least 8 feet high so the humans can easily clean it, but also so those flighty hens can stretch their wings a bit and fly to the higher roosts those same and loving humans put up there specifically for this reason. Oh my goodness you guys, with regard to the chicken cages mounted on the walls of the house, they were talking about the COOP. Chickens don’t stay in their coop all day. They strut down the chicken ladder and have a grand old time the rest of the day. This is not inhumane in the least, but rather brilliant I must say.

However, we do NOT allow our chickens to strut around our yard free range all day. They’ll get some “outside of their really big run” time once in a while, but there are way too many hawks and raccoons and other critters living in our very urban neighborhood who would love nothing better than to have a chicken meal handed to them in the irresponsible free range yard. Ample space for keeping chickens more often than not in a run is about 10 sq feet per chicken, if they are the bog hens. About 6 sq feet for banties. The run should be at least 8 feet high so the humans can easily clean it, but also so those flighty hens can stretch their wings a bit and fly to the higher roosts those same and loving humans put up there specifically for this reason.

]]> By: Mallory Liberto http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4688 Mallory Liberto Sat, 30 May 2009 05:19:58 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4688 The other day I {tried|{ate|consumed|eaten|ate up|ate on}|{tasted|tried|sampled|savored|savoured}} omega 3 {rich|full|valuable}, free range eggs and they were {really|truly|real|genuinely|very|rattling} {good|pleasant|great|superb|healthy|wholesome|hearty}. Made me {want|wish|desire} to {raise|produce|grow|farm|nurture} chickens of my own to get {more||to a greater extent|more such|more some|more numerous} eggs into my {diet|dieting}. I used to {have|{own|possess}} a {duck|duck's egg} coop a while ago, now {I'd|I would|I think I } {like|wish|care} to get {started|started out|initiated} {again|over again|once more|once again}. The other day I {tried|{ate|consumed|eaten|ate up|ate on}|{tasted|tried|sampled|savored|savoured}} omega 3 {rich|full|valuable}, free range eggs and they were {really|truly|real|genuinely|very|rattling} {good|pleasant|great|superb|healthy|wholesome|hearty}. Made me {want|wish|desire} to {raise|produce|grow|farm|nurture} chickens of my own to get {more||to a greater extent|more such|more some|more numerous} eggs into my {diet|dieting}. I used to {have|{own|possess}} a {duck|duck’s egg} coop a while ago, now {I’d|I would|I think I } {like|wish|care} to get {started|started out|initiated} {again|over again|once more|once again}.

]]> By: Simple Living News Update: Week of April 27th http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4039 Simple Living News Update: Week of April 27th Mon, 04 May 2009 14:02:34 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-4039 [...] Create a Food System for Your Small Space [...] […] Create a Food System for Your Small Space […]

]]> By: RJ Ruppenthal http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3943 RJ Ruppenthal Fri, 01 May 2009 17:55:13 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3943 Author's Response: In fact, I strongly agree with all of you who have posted. The passage quoted above was an excerpt from the book, and unfortunately, it ends up seeming incomplete or inadequate with respect to the chicken portion...a fact which you folks have rightfully seized upon and pointed out. Chickens need space to roam and run as free as possible, which can still be accomplished in smaller urban living spaces. With a smaller space in the city, you don't want them running out into traffic, so there generally needs to be some sort of wire fencing, etc. In the book, the space recommendations for chicken cages and chicken runs are based on the number of hens, and I have taken these directly from chicken experts (not factory farming experts, mind you, but people who keep chickens on a smaller scale and treat them like family). Chickens need a place to roost and lay eggs, which does not need to be very big, but they also need a place to run. In the book, I strongly recommend some garden or lawn space for them to roam. Pens in these spaces can be moved around also, giving chickens diversity in terms of what to peck and what to poop on. All in all, these are going to be much happier chickens than the ones that lay most of the eggs in your supermarket. Author’s Response: In fact, I strongly agree with all of you who have posted. The passage quoted above was an excerpt from the book, and unfortunately, it ends up seeming incomplete or inadequate with respect to the chicken portion…a fact which you folks have rightfully seized upon and pointed out. Chickens need space to roam and run as free as possible, which can still be accomplished in smaller urban living spaces. With a smaller space in the city, you don’t want them running out into traffic, so there generally needs to be some sort of wire fencing, etc. In the book, the space recommendations for chicken cages and chicken runs are based on the number of hens, and I have taken these directly from chicken experts (not factory farming experts, mind you, but people who keep chickens on a smaller scale and treat them like family). Chickens need a place to roost and lay eggs, which does not need to be very big, but they also need a place to run. In the book, I strongly recommend some garden or lawn space for them to roam. Pens in these spaces can be moved around also, giving chickens diversity in terms of what to peck and what to poop on. All in all, these are going to be much happier chickens than the ones that lay most of the eggs in your supermarket.

]]> By: Liz McLellan http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3894 Liz McLellan Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:58:47 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3894 Oh...and you might try hyperlocavore dot com - a free yard sharing community to find people and organize your yard share. Oh…and you might try hyperlocavore dot com - a free yard sharing community to find people and organize your yard share.

]]> By: Liz McLellan http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3893 Liz McLellan Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:57:11 +0000 http://www.chelseagreen.com/content/create-a-food-system-for-your-small-space/#comment-3893 Folks also might consider joining up in a yard sharing arrangement with friends, family or neighbors who have more space. Apartment dwellers might gather a yard share group together and make a roof garden. Not all landlords will go for this but many are open to the idea - especially if you make sure they are included in the harvest. You can get a lot done in a group, shared time, tools, space and strength mean you can get a lot more done. Folks also might consider joining up in a yard sharing arrangement with friends, family or neighbors who have more space. Apartment dwellers might gather a yard share group together and make a roof garden. Not all landlords will go for this but many are open to the idea - especially if you make sure they are included in the harvest. You can get a lot done in a group, shared time, tools, space and strength mean you can get a lot more done.

]]>