The above picture shows one of my small winter projects - a new nest box for the egg laying chickens. In the past I have always made my own nest boxes out of scrap wood from the woodshop for, as this was the cheapest way to go for me. But there were a few factors that made these homemade nesting boxes less than desirable. One of the things I didn't like about the old nest boxes is that they had to be cleaned out every few week. This was usually a pretty yucky, smelly job so I tended to put it off which of course made things worse. This new nest box will not have to be cleaned out near as often because it does not contain the traditional hay or straw for the bird to nest in. Instead they lay their eggs on a sort of astro turf type of material. But the main difference (and the real reason I bought it) is that the floor the chicken lays the egg on is sloped. This means that when the chicken stands up, after laying the egg, the egg automatically rolls into a compartment that the chicken is unable to reach. This is important because there is always a percentage of chickens who will lay their egg and then turn around and eat the egg. This makes quite a mess in the nest box plus the obvious issue of egg loss. So I am looking forward to cleaner eggs (of course I will still need to clean them anyway) and way less cracked and eaten eggs.
bestnestbox.com to check out their products and order.
Last week Marla went back to Ohio with her girl friends for their annual rug-hooking convention. It's nice that she can go to this because she can also visit her family at the same time. While there, my brother-in-law, Rick, gave her something to give to me - and it is blogworthy. So here it is - a bumper sticker.
day. So, 4,320 acres lost every day x 365 days a year = 1,576,800 acres lost to farming and ranching every year. That's not just 1,576,800 acres of lost pretty scenery but it is 1,576,800 acres of lost food producing acres a year.
So what does that say about what America does or does not value? I think it primarily says that America values "economic development" while at the same time devaluing locally produced food and most sadly local farmers. While this is indeed sad it is not hopeless. In the last few years the tide has begun to turn.
I'm sure you have noticed. Local farms and farmers are slowly but surely increasing in numbers. And have you noticed something else? Next time you go to your local mall / strip mall take a look at how many of those store fronts are sitting empty. E commerce is beginning to take it's toll on the traditional brick and mortar store fronts. Are we beginning to see the "beginning of the end" of mall upon strip mall in America? Instead of pillaging prime farmland to build malls maybe we are on the precipice of tearing down malls to return the land to fertile, food producing farmland. Now there's a novel and exciting idea! !
Thanks again for taking the time to read. Lots more happenings here at LBF
to come. Take care my friends.
Todd