For the first time in a long time, it feels like things are on an upswing. We’ve made it through five (?) months of a pandemic. Cases are slowing down in the Northeast and restrictions are easing. I’ve hosted a few small gatherings for campouts on my land and will have a few more before summer is through. We hiked, boated, swam, BBQed, and talked around campfires. We wore masks and washed our hands and maintained distance on trails and in antique markets. There is a sense of guilt in spending time with folks outside my household, but the risks are lower out here, and mental health is a factor. I live alone and it’s very likely we’ll be in this mess for a long time. There’s nothing normal about this summer, but we’re trying to get by.
I’ve gone from cast to removable brace to a completely free hand again. You truly don’t appreciate your body until it’s broken, and two months later, I’m about 95% recovered. There’s still some stiffness to work out and strength to rebuild, but I expect to be normal again soon.
The biggest news from the homestead this month: chickens are back! After my last blog post, I got to work with a new plan to safely keep a flock where they won’t cause drama with the dog pack. I picked out an area in the far, front corner of the property, out of view of the dogs’ yards and house. I mowed down a big space in the meadow and put up ~6’ fencing to keep the birds contained, since free-ranging was not going to work with the dogs (and as a bonus, protects the garden). I ordered a bigger coop from Urban Northern with an attached enclosed run–enough space to comfortably house six birds. I bought overalls and designated a specific pair of boots as the “chicken outfit”, to avoid carrying their scent in with the dogs. Shortly after finishing the coop, I found a homesteader selling starter flocks, and picked up a barnyard mix.
The new crew consists of Morticia, the shimmery black Australorp; Jean, the Phoenix; Macaroni and Cheese, the twin ISA Browns; Frosty, the little white Leghorn; and PJ (short for Pajamas), the Belgian d’Uccle. In the week since they arrived, I’ve collected about a half dozen eggs, but I expect that to increase as they settle in and the younger birds mature. So far, the new setup seems to be working. The dogs don’t have any clue that the flock is here, which is what I was hoping would happen.
The dogs are enjoying their off-season break, especially now that we’re through the hottest point of summer. I’m keeping an eye out for mornings in the 50ºF range, but we probably won’t start running in earnest until mid-September. Half of the team (Laika, Sagan, and Hopper) will be getting altered on September 1st, so there will be some recuperation time to deal with as well. Laika is in the middle of her first heat cycle, which adds another layer of complexity to the crate/gate-and-rotate situation I already have with Denali and Willow, but they’re all remarkably good at developing to routines.
Besides dogs and chickens, the homestead’s gardens are producing a decent harvest. After a rough start, I’m relieved to be growing food and reducing my reliance on the grocery store. So far, I’ve had snap peas, green beans, kale, zucchini, lettuce, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, parsley, and mustard seed. I’ve got celery, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, corn, onions, and baby watermelons in progress. Not terrible for my first real growing season in the North Country, with a broken thumb no less. I’ll take what I’ve learned and apply it next spring. I really want to grow enough to share with neighbors and friends.
Growing plants and raising animals fulfills something primal in me, something you can’t get from eight hours in front of a screen. If this pandemic teaches us anything, I hope it’s a return to the earth and some degree of self reliance. Positive thinking, right?
That’s all I’ve got for now. Stay safe out there.
