1. Tending chickens, like any other pet, does take time. Some make it an extensive hobby but it doesn’t have to be. A lot of it depends on how the tending is arranged. Getting the right coop makes a huge difference. Make sure the family is on board in their participation, and get connected with other chicken owners. There is a vast online community happy to help. Owning chickens 20 years ago and owning them now are worlds apart (kind of like raising kids).
2. Chickens are a long-term investment and require upfront capital to get started, but keep in mind the returns are more than saving a few bucks at the grocery store (reference the list above). A hen can lay eggs for many years. A good coop can also last many years. In any case, certified organic eggs are the most expensive eggs to purchase so breaking even in the long run is not impossible.
3. Modern society is all about convenience. We want it all with little effort on our part. Well chicken coop manufacturers have caught on and the options appear endless (like that helps). I recommend a chicken-tractor for backyard poultry owners because of its size and benefits. These can be tricky to build so getting a reliable, prefab one will save a lot of heartache. Believe me, there is a whole science to building a quality coop. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand. You get what you pay for.

Here are some quick shopping tips for making a selection:

• Make sure the coop is durable against weather and predators. In suburban areas dogs are the biggest problem. Many coops come with a sunroom or run which are good for chickens but can be an area of weakness for predators if not built well.
• Use accessories like nipple waterers and feeders with a storage bin. This keeps you from having to feed the chickens twice a day (unless you want to).
• The coop should have nests and a way to collect the eggs externally. You don’t want to climb into a coop and search for eggs. The coop also needs a roost to so the hens can sleep comfortably.
• A chicken-tractor coop helps keep chicken poop under control. Regular coops require the poop to be removed (that’s a thankless job). A mobile coop moved every day or so spreads the manure as fertilizer. The coop should still be periodically cleaned (sprayed down) a couple times a year. Access doors make this easier. See a comparison between a traditional coop and a mobile coop.
• If looks are important, there are many cute coops on the market. Just don’t fall victim to only aesthetic charm. Function will matter more to you than form in terms of convenience.
• Most cities have a regulation regarding poultry or livestock in your backyard. Many cities allow for chickens in small numbers and without roosters. If you aren’t sure and don’t want to risk a fine, check it out in advance. If they aren’t legal you can bet there are citizens already petitioning for a change. Help them out. Chickens are becoming very urban.

Besides eating healthy, backyard chickens are a great family project or personal hobby. If you have computer savvy kids, get them to research chicken breeds, coops, and social networks for support. Set aside a family day to build or assemble the coop. Pick chicken names. Argue over who gets to collect the fresh eggs. Wow friends and extended family with a tasty, fortifying quiche (spinach from the garden, right?).

Organic living is not just about consumption choices, it’s about quality of life. With homegrown organic eggs there is never a dull moment. You can learn more about chicken coops and care at Tuf Climate Coop. Also find your closest source of organic chicken feed at Organic Feeds.

This guest post was written by Marguerite Inscoe, a homemaker and part-time employee of Egganic Industries and co-authored by her dad, the inventor of the Henspa and many other backyard chicken coops. Inscoe also has her own organic feed blog.

Post from: Blisstree

Getting Started with Homegrown Organic Eggs

That said, chickens and having your own organic egg system might be for you, so today and tomorrow we’ve got a couple of cool guest posts to tell you all about it. The post author, Marguerite Inscoe, is a homemaker and part-time employee of Egganic Industries and her co-author is her dad, the inventor of the Henspa and many other backyard chicken coops. Enjoy!

Homegrown Organic Eggs

For those of us who live an organic lifestyle (or try really hard to), it’s knowing where our food comes from that matters to us most. What confirmed my conversion was learning my son’s developmental delays were due to a dysfunctional digestive system and vitamin deficiency. Since his system can’t efficiently remove toxins, I have to minimize his exposure. My sister’s organic choices are based on healthy eating and being environmentally conscious. Both of us have chicken coops in the backyard because homegrown organic eggs are an important way we can contribute to our family’s health and be environmentally “green”.

Many supermarkets today do a terrific job carrying organic products, but that still requires us to trust a label. The term “certified organic” can be really confusing because of differing state regulations and industries. Raising your own backyard hens in a chicken-tractor has some distinct advantages over the carton of organic eggs purchased in a store. It can be achieved in even very small backyards. Here are some of the advantages:

1. No egg is more rewarding than eating the one you just collected that morning from your own chickens.
2. You know exactly what you are eating because you feed the chickens – grass, scraps, organic feed, soy-free feed, etc… Grass-fed or pastured chickens have the highest levels of Omega 3, beta carotene, and vitamin E in their eggs compared to store bought.
3. Unless you buy local organic eggs, there is the carbon footprint from shipping and transportation (may even be out-of-state).
4. If you have children, chickens are perfect way to communicate the values of responsibility and informed food choices. Kids these days are disconnected to the origins of food. Many have never seen a live farm animal, much less tended one.
5. Proper use of a chicken-tractor fertilizes the yard with no use of chemicals. It’s green living.
6. Chickens are fun and beautiful animals. They can provide hours of entertainment (running, pecking, exploring) and many become beloved household pets.
7. Home raised chickens are happy chickens. They don’t live in tiny cages or have their beaks cut off. They aren’t stuffed with medication or forced to molt. They can live a carefree lifestyle envious of anyone.
8. Chicken owners are like a special community. You’ll connect with people who have a fascinating view on life, just like you.

Even with these terrific reasons for raising backyard chickens, many still hesitate. There are the questions of time, money, convenience, city regulations, and all that chicken poop. For you doubters, we’ll look at some answers in the next post…

Thanks to Marguerite Inscoe for the post! Very interesting info.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Homegrown Organic Eggs

True, she hated vegetables. And she expressed this in their household openly, not willing to touch any dish with vegetables because she hated how they tasted. Little did she know her four-year-old was absorbing this all, and took to imitating his Mom on the hatred for vegetables.

Children imitate what adults do. Sometimes we think what we do is beyond their comprehension, when in fact they are like sponges! They quietly absorb what’s going on in their environment. And from the eyes of a child, if an adult does it, it must be right, isn’t it?

Sheila still hates vegetables, but she’s become more conscious about what she eats in front of Ned. He still dislikes vegetables, but when he sees his mom put some on her plate, he does the same thing. It takes some getting used to, Sheila shares. But at least she’s getting her vegetable nutrition too!

Image credit: sxc.hu

Post from: Blisstree

If You Don’t Eat Veggies, Why Should I?

For a smarter, healthier salad, use the following tips:

*Reach for the darker lettuce and cabbage. Darker leaves contain a higher amount of vitamins and minerals.

*Get as much color in that bowl as possible – carrots, broccoli, peas, tomatoes.

*Add protein with beans instead of bacon or cheese.

*Steer clear of creamy mayonnaise-based dressings. Use a vinaigrette instead.

The best choice is to bring a salad from home. You know exactly what is in your bowl that way.  Here are a couple of low-fat alternatives that are easy and inexpensive.

Low Fat Baked Croutons

*3 cups cubed bread – I use sour dough
*1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
*Cooking spray
*Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 325.

1) Pour cubed bread into a bowl.
2) Spray with cooking spray, then stir, spray again. Repeat several times until all cubes have a little spray on them.
3) Transfer the cubes to a cooking sheet, laying them out in a thin layer.
4) Sprinkle with garlic, salt, and pepper.
5) Place in preheated oven.
6) Bake for 5 minutes, until they start to brown. Watch the cubes close.
7) Flip cubes over, brown the other side.
Remove from oven. Cool.

Low Fat 3 Bean Salad

*1 can kidney beans, drained
*1 can garbanzo beans, drained
*1 can green beans, drained
*1 cup purple onion, cut into thin, round slices
*1/2 cup fat free Italian salad dressing

1) Pour all ingredients into a bowl.
2) Allow to marinate for an hour at least, stirring every so often.
3) Cover and refrigerate.

Serve spooned over the top of a green salad.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

Post from: Blisstree

Build A Healthier Salad

I found a great list of diet tips from AOL Health. These tips are tried and true favorites of top US registered dieticians.

Some are no-brainers, like switch out your whole milk for 1% (I use Fat Free myself). Did you know that if you drink one glass of milk a day, then this switch could generate a 5 pound weight loss in one year?

Here are a few more of the tips that were provided to AOL, by Prevention magazine:

“Eating out? Halve it, and bag the rest. A typical restaurant entree has 1,000 to 2,000 calories, not even counting the bread, appetizer, beverage and dessert.” Be sure to put your leftovers into a refrigerator promptly.

“Get calories from foods you chew, not beverages. Have fresh fruit instead of fruit juice.” Fresh fruit has fiber and fills you up. Juice does not.

“Have a V8 or tomato juice instead of a Diet Coke at 3PM.” Excellent! I just purchased some Spicy Hot V8 yesterday. 

“Mix three different cans of beans and some diet Italian dressing. Eat this three-bean salad all week.” I suggest adding finely sliced slivers of red onion to the mixture. Tastes excellent when spooned over a green salad.

“As obvious as it sounds, don’t stand near the food at parties. Make the effort, and you’ll find you eat less.” I saw something on TV that said to turn away from the food, because if you face it, you’re more likely to reach for another serving.

Image credit: Sxc.hu

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5 Easy Ways to Increase Weight Loss

I ran into this man who reminds me of a sort of hybrid version of my two Grandpas. He likes to tell me about the produce and today he introduced me to Elephant Heart Plums. Elephant Heart Plums. I looked Elephant Heart Plums up at Specialty Produce and they call them “the wildest and sweetest of all Summer fruit.”

Heart-shaped with mottled dark reddish-crimson colored skin, the rich firm flesh of the elephant heart plum is, of course, blood red and very juicy. One of the best tasting of all plums, it offers an extremely sweet flavor. This flavorful Japanese variety has a nice just-right balance between sweet and tart. These plums are clingstone fruits, that is, their flesh clings to the pit.

Plums are high in both vitamins A and C. They run about 55 calories per fruit.

The Elephant Hearts are easier to find at Farmer’s Markets than supermarkets. This is due to their thin, delicate skin. They are larger than the average plum. The Hybrid Grandpa held them up and showed me how they are heart shaped, with a pointy end. Such a charming old guy. He also explained that Cling Peaches are called “cling” because the fruit’s flesh holds onto the pit.

Image credit: Michelle Smith

Post from: Blisstree

Elephant Heart Plums

The kits will help “integrate healthy eating and activity into daycare settings for preschool children.” If anyone can do it, the people at Sesame Street surely can. If healthy eating becomes a part of children’s everyday lives at a very young age, it will be easier for them to maintain a good diet as they get older.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: Blisstree

Sesame Street Teaches Good Health

IMG: Sxc.hu

So what are they doing? The free summer lunch program, this is when many families that need it can show up at the school to get their free lunch during the week. Have you tried it? I know some schools offer a variety of services for this, some are free, reduced or just regular price.

Tampa Bay Online:

The program targets children 18 and younger who qualify during the school year for free and reduced lunches. But there are no qualification requirements for the program. Any child can walk into a participating center and get a free lunch.

“They don’t have to fill out anything,” Coney said. “They just have to show up at one of our sites.”

The Summer Food Service Program is the largest federal initiative available to local sponsors who want to combine food programs with summer activities for children, according to the USDA Web site. But only a fraction of the children who take advantage of free and reduced lunches during the school year participate in the summer program.

“Too often, many children are left searching for unhealthy foods to eat when their parents are working or not in the home,” according to a USDA press release. “When there is not enough food to go around, their nutritional needs are not met and their choices are not always the best.”

It’s all about the nutrition, Coney said. “They need that to play, grow and learn.”

I remember using the reduced program when we were still in the military and just before the children entered school. I was very happy to see them eating healthy and around children their age, plus I didn’t always have to cook. This was the perfect way to make sure my picky and slow eater would be prepared for school lunch.

Is your school doing this? In Hawaii they have 57 schools that are participating in the free summer lunch program this year. My children’s school use this as well, no we haven’t tried it yet. Due to the economy many schools want to participate and get the school children to take part, however some are having to close the program due to how costly it is for the school. Find out if your school is doing it.

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Are You Using the Free Summer Lunch Program

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Best budget easy family meals from Delish!

Image: Public Domain

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Healthy Video Addiction