Chickens:
The chickens came to the LynDon Hobby Farm from Chick Days in Harrisonville June 20, 2016. My dear cousin, Vicki from Texas, has raised chickens for years and loves them. She enabled me to buy every cute variety of chick at the event. Was supposed to say “No” occasionally but she just couldn’t do it.
So, our flock consists of Barred Rocks, White Laced Wyandottes, Buff Orphingtons, Pheonix, Rhode Island Reds, Red Sexlinks, Black Morans and Americaunas. Eggs range from ivory to browns to green. Each dozen contains multi-colored surprises and all are fresh and delicious. We have two roosters – Stewie, a Phoenix who could be dinner if he doesn’t start behaving better, and Jack, a huge and sweet Buff Orphington. Stewie and Jack protect the flock and make sure all the girls are aware of hawks during the day and are safely tucked away in the coop at night.
Our chickens love greens!
The coop is a re-purposed large children’s playhouse, with nest boxes and roosts added. Windows and other ventilation are covered with hardware cloth to keep the chickens safe from predators. The birds are cage free, free range but not technically pastured as they are confined to their 45 x 45 bird netted yard. Fresh greens are in the diet, though. We don’t use herbicides and pesticides here at the farm. Each day, we chop dandelions, dock , clover, alfalfa and other grasses and weeds for them. Chickens eating grass and other greens have healthier eggs. Some studies found over twice the level of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Also 38{371a41f34a2b2158e587bd2ae6c9e6c335185b06b4e989b0585320c24d29286b} higher concentration of vitamin A. The flock also eats cucumbers, squishy tomatoes, squashes, watermelon and other produce during the gardening season. Win, Win. Healthier chickens and better quality eggs while we get weed control without herbicides and pesticides.
Early Pea Shoot
Garden:
This is the first year for a large garden at the farm. Last year, we planted a few tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, banana and green peppers, watermelons, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. Enough to feed us and a few friends and inspire the farmers market stand this year.
Over the fall and winter, we worked leaves and compost into the garden area and the new fruit orchard and berry patch soil to improve the clay. Had the soil tested by the University of Missouri extension service and added the nutrients they recommended.
It is April 4 today. So far, radishes and snap peas are coming up. Carrots are planted but aren’t sprouted yet. Will be growing some heirloom tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, cucumbers, zucchini, other squashes, cantaloupe, watermelons, eggplant, and anything else that strikes our fancy.
We will be at the Independence Farmer’s and Craft Market on Saturday mornings and Thursday afternoons at the Sugar Creek Farmer’s Market.
Flowers:
My first passion has always been flower gardening. So, a cutting garden is in the works. Sunflowers, Zinnias, Gladiolus, Ox Eye Daisies, Cosmos at the least and hopefully other varieties. It isn’t time to plant yet and it is so hard to wait for warm soil! Keep an eye out for further developments…
Succulent Starts
Plants:
Succulents, succulents, succulents. Have been busy propagating many varieties. Burrow tail (large and small) hens and chicks, sedums, Christmas cactus… Will be selling small plants and collections at the markets. Hope you will be as intrigued by these plants as I am.
Also propagating Angel Wing begonias, Rex Begonias, Spider Plants, Snake Plants, Ivies and African Violets. Will be in danger of being known as “the crazy plant lady” –
Fruit:
LynDon Hobby Farm has a few old Apple, Pear, Peach and Cherry trees. Last year, the birds got all the peaches and cherries. We got hundreds of pounds of apples and pears. Ate them fresh, made apple butter and pear chutney until we couldn’t peel another piece of fruit. Harvesters Food Bank got the rest.
(Hoping for an) Owl Box
This year, we are planting new fig, apple, pear, peach, cherry and apricot trees. Won’t have a lot of fruit for another few years, but planning for the future is a big part of gardening.
Bees:
So excited at the prospect of having hives on the farm this year. An established bee keeper from Independence will tend the hives. The bees will be happy feeding on clover and a couple of acres of pollinator plants. We can’t wait to taste the honey at the end of the season!
Baked Goods:
Baking is another activity that just makes me happy. Look for chocolate cherry almond chunk cookies and other goodies at the Thursday afternoon Sugar Creek market.
