Free Chicken Feed

So simple...

A few days ago I watched this video.



How easy is that?  I went to Lawton's site, watched the full video, and the follow up videos.   So easy.  When the chicken's free ranged they were always digging through the compost piles.  It never occurred to me to give them their own compost piles after we beefed up their security.

#4 unloading a trailer of heavily worm infested compost.

We've always given the birds the kitchen scraps, and weeds.  I've done the maggot buckets- meat in a five gallon pail for flies to lay their eggs on.

Building up a nice pile of barnyard waste.

 I've given them sunflower seeds, sprouted trays of barley, wheat, and lentils.  I've given them ant infested logs and the occasional scoop of doggy stew.  I still pay way more than I want to for grains.

Minutes after we left the pen.

And all this time, the answer was right there in front of me.  Free for the taking.

Happy birds working their way through a free lunch.

So sad that I didn't see this earlier in the year.  I'll be aiming for a grain free summer next year.  For this year, I'll watch and see how long a pile of manure keeps them entertained. 

Peas Versus Rice

In my ongoing fictional TEOTWAWKI story, Wendy's Colony, I am about to run out of rice!  This will have dire consequences, as without imports, trades, or any form of supply depot, rice can not be replaced in our area, at least not in the sort of volume we are accustomed to consuming.

Rice has been a staple in our home made dog food, doggy stew, for several years.  The birds get a nice scoop of doggy stew every day through the winter too, and then there are all the ways we humans eat rice here as well.  What would we do without rice?

As I was making Husband a pot of pea soup this week, it occurred to me that I could easily grow and store the peas for the little bit of pea soup we eat each winter, rather than buying them.  In truth, I could probably make a pot of pea soup from the peas I saved for seed this year, and still have enough to plant come spring.  And that's without even really trying- just the peas that we miss while picking fresh peas to eat raw, that get too fat and mature to eat the way we like.  With just the slightest bit of effort and maybe another row or two in the garden, I could easily harvest enough dried peas to feed the beasts all winter.  Peas grow incredibly well here, and I don't even have to bend over to pick them!

 

So what about nutrition?  According to wikipedia- White Rice versus Green Peas, rice is a little higher in energy, while peas are higher in carbs, sugar, and protein.  Peas also seem to win on the vitamin and mineral content.  There's an interesting article on the history of pea soup as well.  Somewhere along the line a nutritious winter staple became a rare winter treat.

Ok, so I'm comfortable with the nutritional value, the question is, what will the dogs think?  Well, they certainly have no issue with gobbling up leftovers :)  They don't get gassy upset stomachs like they are prone to with beans, either.  A quick internet search reveals peas as a suitable veggie treat for dogs. 

I think I will start mixing some dried peas into the doggy stew pot overnight, and gradually increase the amount they eat over the next few weeks.  If they do well, we may have a solution.

Now what about us?  I don't think pea soup will ever be a suitable replacement for chicken fried rice, however having a pot of soup (pea or otherwise) on the stove at all times is an age old tradition.  Soup before or with a meal would probably be sufficient to replace the need for a side dish like rice. 

Cabbage rolls?  I think oats would be better suited than peas.  Oatmeal works well in meatballs, meatloaf and salisbury steak.  More growing to do!

Cream of mushroom rice?  Well, we won't have any mushrooms to worry about, unless I find someone in the woods someday who will teach me whats safe to eat. :(  Or unless I get off my butt and finally do something about growing my own.  Not in the plans for this year though.

What happened To Fall?

Last October I was butchering turkeys, getting firewood, canning, and winterizing the garden.  All things I still need to do this year.    I sure hope this doesn't stick.  It's awfully deep for a first snow though.  Almost two inches...

In other news, I'm still canning.  Down to the crabapples- probably two batches left to do, and any odds and ends I buy.  I'm just doing my canning/recipe posts on my recipe page now, The Country Kitchen, rather than here and a shorter post there.

I'm also writing a fictional little blog, Wendy's Colony, about what I think we would do if the apocalypse started now.  It's a fun writing experience, and it makes me think about things a little differently.

It's also moose season.  We only have calf tags this year, so I guess my heart really isn't in it.  I'd rather be bird hunting.  Especially since Smitty is now The Best Dog Ever!  From day one my boy has shown me he has all of his Grandpa's instincts, and so many more.  He doesn't have his Grandpa's stomach though- not yet anyway.  The girls are thankful for that, as they get a treat when we get back.  If I could just convince him to bring the birds to me, instead of just pinning them to the ground.  Honestly though, at 4 months I wasn't expecting much more from him than to go for a quad ride, so I am super excited for the future.

Here's hoping for a bit of Indian Summer before winter really sets in.  I still have lots of work to do.

Return of Indoor Plumbing

Oh, how I've missed you, lol.  And the floor's not bad either.

Notes for TEOTWAWKI:  While a bucket with a toilet seat will work, a camping chemical toilet like this feels so much more civilized.  The sealed compartment makes carrying the contents to the outhouse much less icky, and less smelly indoors. 

 

Sure, we can all manage to go out to the outhouse through the day, but overnight?  I'd much rather the convenience of the bathroom down the hall...