New Readers and The Port-A-Coop Update

I was excited (giddy actually) to find out our Port-A-Coop was featured on the Community Chicken Mother Earth E-news letter! This is a great sight that I go to all the time for information.
   So first, I want to welcome our new readers and thank those who have e-mailed asking about the port-a-coop. It has brought to my attention, some things that need to be addressed.
We have been using the prototype port-a-coop since mid May and so far it is holding up wonderfully.
 I should mention, that we picture the girls moving the coop, and they do. When it is going across the yard they pick it up and swivel it to the side, or they can move it down hill. It is heavy enough that when we are moving it up the hill, it takes Dad, or myself and my teenage son to help me move it. It would be nicer if it was lighter and easier to move, BUT that would have a down side too. After it was built in May, we had a large storm that was taking down trees and sending horizontal rain, but the Port-a-coop stood strong. You can't really tell from the pictures, but our backyard is quite a hill. Our garden is at the bottom where it it almost flat. I really believe a lighter one would have gone down the hill into the gully behind our yard and been broken or at the least tipped over. So I can't complain about the weight, as it helps it stay put when you don't want it moving.
The cost to build was roughly 300.00$ to build.
It has 4, nesting boxes, the house is 4'by 4' and the yard is 4' by 8'. It can hold 4 large hens comfortably or more of a smaller breed.  We will be keeping 5 mixed breed in ours. 4 are going to another home, as soon as he has his place for them ready... I hope it is soon.
I have added some wood chips to the inside (we use the deep litter method) but have not had to change it out yet. I will probably change it out before it gets cold so it will make it through the winter before it needs changed again, and so I can use it on my garden to help winterize it.
If you have anymore questions about it, please ask in the comment section below. I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge.
Thank you for reading!

Gardening, Chickens and Food Freedom.

The Homestead.

 Life gets crazy sometimes. I have been busy getting ready for the start of school. Summer seems to be very short these days. So... as you all know...I am way over due for a post!
The garden is about done. It has been so hot, the peppers have been drying up on the plant! We keep pulling them off and tossing them into the compost. Our peppers are normally the one thing that do really well! We have had almost no rain the last two months. We are watering twice a day but it is not the same as a good rain.
I was going to do a big fall garden but have changed my mind. I am going to plant some beets, spinach, and lettuce, and plant clover as a ground cover.

Big Red

The chickens are almost old enough to start giving us eggs. I can't wait! I can almost taste those fresh homegrown eggs.
Speaking of fresh and homegrown... Warning: Alisha is climbing up on her soap box!  Have you seen the attacks on raw milk? (I was raised on raw, fresh from the udder milk!) I don't know what to say except it is organized crime sanctioned by our government. They come for the milk, cheeses, supplements, juices... when do they come for our eggs? Our gardens? In the name of our safety of course. You know, those FDA, clean, safe, egg factories are much cleaner and safer than the ones in your back yard. Right? I mean, they know whats best for you and your family better than you do. You just need to trust them.
If you are not up to date on the grab for our healthy foods click on the words government and milk up above. You need to know what is going on.
Okay! Climbing off my soap box.
Back to gardening. Here is a great link for planting a fall garden, if you are so inclined.

Don't forget, you can get plans for this awe inspiring Port-a-coop!

I am going to start keeping a list of topics to blog on. I will have a great idea, then when I am ready to blog, I can't remember what I wanted to blog about. So I am going to keep a list next to my computer. What would you like to see on here? I am open to suggestions.