I framed up the grow bed this week and set it in place to get an idea of how I want to mount it.   First thing I noticed is that it seems much bigger than it did on the drawing.   There is lots of garden space and I expect good production out of such a large area.  That said, it is a little close on the sides for getting around. Yet to do: Sheet the bottom of the grow bed line the pond line the grow bed mount grow bed install plumbing & electrical It’s hard to get a sense of the size from the picture, but the grow bed is 10′ x 4.5′ and will sit atop of the fish pond which is 5’x4′.    The front portion of the pond will have a slatted lid which should make a nice bench to sit on while out there.    In the … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

It is a little more than 10 weeks since we received our chicks.   They seem huge compared to the day they arrived.   I’ve been surprised that there really hasn’t been any squabbling to establish a pecking order. I’ve still got a lot to do on the yard, but they don’t seem to mind.  They love to roam around the entire yard always searching for something good to eat.      2 weeks ago I had a water leak in the hen house.   I’ve been amazed how little there is to do in the way of care for keeping chickens.  My entire family has been amazed at the complete lack of smell and noise from the girls. Then a couple of weeks ago, we noticed it was starting to smell a bit.   I found the water regulator I had purchased began to leak causing a moldy stink in the hen house.   … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

The shade is now complete and part of the coop.   Left to do is build the fish pond and garden bed.    … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

The girls are 2 weeks old now.   After just having them one week, they had grown so much that we had to move them out of the brooder bin and into the hen house.    Since the move they have seemed very comfortable and happy.             … [CLICK TO READ MORE]

It was a long day but I got lots done!   I finished the hen house, framed the windows, cabled up the pop door, and painted almost all the green trim pieces.   I just need to get the roof on and put up some roosts and I’ll be done and ready to move on to the aquaponics garden.   I should have the entire coop completed just in time for our pullets arrival Friday.                      … [CLICK TO READ MORE]