The Beautiful Sweet Buff Orpington

If we could only raise one breed of chicken in our flock, I would choose the Buff Orphington. I think of this breed as the golden retriever of the chicken world. Their fluffy, yellow, friendly, obedient, loyal, and great with kids and adults. They’ll sit in your lap, come when you call and play withContinue reading “The Beautiful Sweet Buff Orpington”

Let’s Talk About that Brooder…

Yesterday you saw the brooder that we used for our first chicks, and for many others that have come along since then. As I mentioned we made it out of a twenty gallon glass aquarium that we’ve used over the years as a temporary home for creatures that need care. Many wounded birds and strayContinue reading “Let’s Talk About that Brooder…”

In the Beginning… Our Very First Day as Chicken Keepers

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to structure this chicken series. I’m hoping that it will be useful to aspiring keepers so I’m working on organizing my posts in a way that will be most helpful.  That said, I’m just going to start at the beginning of our journey… Here’s day one, March 31,Continue reading “In the Beginning… Our Very First Day as Chicken Keepers”

Thinking About Raising Chickens? Well You’ve Come to the Right Place!

And that’s because I herby declare March 2014 to be Chicken Month at The Salem Garden! If a crocus or snowdrop decides to miraculously appear in our garden you’ll see it before the camera cools down, but I’m going to focus on chicken keeping for a few weeks. This is the time of the yearContinue reading “Thinking About Raising Chickens? Well You’ve Come to the Right Place!”

On Turning Fifty and Fighting a Cold

Wow, nine days can go by like nothing. I was just starting to work on a post about constructing our chicken coop on Saturday when I started to feel kind of sniffly. Within two hours I was in the middle of a full fledged head cold. Then my oldest son walked into the house toContinue reading “On Turning Fifty and Fighting a Cold”

Zebra Finches, Guitars and a Chinese House–Just a Typical Afternoon in Salem

It’s hard to believe that this afternoon we threw on our shoes, drove five minutes and walked into this amazing building in downtown Salem. Then paid nothing (because Salem residents are admitted for free), and waited in line for twenty minutes to view from here to ear, an exhibit featuring zebra finches playing electric guitarsContinue reading “Zebra Finches, Guitars and a Chinese House–Just a Typical Afternoon in Salem”

Making Pots From Newspaper

Originally posted on Bass River Gardens:
Here’s another fun activity that we did this week to help us get ready for spring. We made seedling pots from newspaper! We used a sheet of newspaper, a soup can and a little bit of tape. First we folded the newspaper in half lengthwise… then we rolled it…

Pinterest Gardening

In the middle of winter when it’s snowy and cold and spring seems a very long time away… I Pinterest garden. I love Pinterest but not in a “check out what other people pin and re-pin it” way. Not that I never do that, but my time is limited and once I start I reallyContinue reading “Pinterest Gardening”