The New Flock Arrives!

So, if you've been following my blog at all, you know I am a chicken-lover. I grew up with chickens and here I am - 30 years later - reverting to my hen-ish ways! 

When I initially got my 4 hens two years ago, I got them as dual-purpose birds - 2 years laying then into the freezer. Well, as you know, I ended up with only 2 hens after 2 years. The 2 remaining hens - Daisy and Buff (yes, the ones that were attacked) - are now resting peacfully in my freezer. Last week Buff somehow broke her leg in the coop and was completely unable to walk... and I couldn't leave Daisy by herself so it was off the the butcher... they otta be pretty tasty on the Traeger!
(Thank you to Scott @ Harrington Poultry for taking care of my girls!)

Hangin' With My New Peeps! 

I have re-established my flock with 6 new little ones... actually, they're not that little but new nonetheless. I got 3 Wellsummer (brown) and 3 Columbian Wyandotte (white). Both breeds are decent layers and are also dual-purpose birds... so in another 2 years we'll start again!

These two breeds are similar in may ways:  (check out this great Chicken Breeds site!)

• good layers; Welsummer - terra cotta brown, Wyandotte - lighter brown
• moderately early maturing
• cold hardy
• larger sized breeds
• good backyard bird

Welsummer - 4 weeks old

Columbian Wyandotte - 3 mos old

Right now they're hanging out in the safety of the coop, getting used to their surroundings and each other. Still pretty skiddish, they mellow out a tad each day and in about 10 days I'll let them "downstairs" to roam the grass. I try to handle them so they get used to me, but being caged since day one, they're not exactly standing still to be caught. Both breeds are fairly calm so eventually they'll come back down to earth!

Will keep you updated on the progress...

PEAS OUT!
~ GP

A Great Day for a Coop Tour!

The weather, although a bit chilly to start, turned in our favour for an awesome day to tour area chicken coops. Many turned out to take part in the 2nd Annual Chicken Chat & Coop Tour, hosted by The Wade Creek House.

Our wonderful speakers, Nona & Mary Shearer, are local experts well known in national poultry circles. They covered everything from starting a flock to diseases, and everything in between! With live birds in tow, they shared some great information and answered many questions from those in attendance.

These two entertianing educators are part of our local Clackamas County 4H Poultry Club called the Oddstock and Crafts 4H Club. Started three years ago as a Poultry club who cooked and did some crafts, they are a Poultry, Rabbit, Cavi Cooking and Crafts club with a main emphasis in Poultry. The proceeds of our 4H raffle will benefit this deserving club.

4H Raffle Donors & Prizes:
PGM Construction - Eco-Roof Cedar Chicken Coop
  ** tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5

Amber Carpenter, The Wade Creek House - Glass Mosaic Chicken Window
Wilco Farm Store - Chicken "Starter Kit" (heat lamp/bulb, feeder/fount, 25lb chick feed, book)
Terra Casa - Imported Organic Olive Oil Body Products
  ** tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5


Raffle tickets are still available, so stop by The Wade Creek House and purchase yours today!!
Raffle ends at 6pm April 30th - winners will be drawn and announced on May 1st.

The Bantam House

Chicken Tractor

The Tour included the coop at The Wade Creek House, 2 local Feed Stores - Barton Feed & Country Store & Gerber Farm Supply, and 9 other private coops in the area. To view a few more of these coops, visit www.thewadecreekhouse.blogspot.com




The Shibley Ice House


Tour-goers dropped tickets at free drawings at each of the tour stops for a chance to win great prizes. Prizes were donated by local, national, and international businesses - THANK YOU for your generous support of our event!! The drawings took place April 15th and winners have been notified. Congratulations to all our winners!


Tour Stop Drawing Donors & Prizes:
Backyard Poultry Magazine - Assorted Magazines
Barton Feed & Country Store - Purina Flock Block
Burns Feed Store - Basket: Egg Wipes, Poultry Protector, Mealworms
Gerber Farm Supply - $20 gift certificate
Hobby Farm Publications - Assorted Magazines
Mary Lake-Thompson, LTD - Chicken print Apron, Linen Napkins, Floursack Towels
Practical Poultry Magazine (UK) - March 2012 issue (thanks from across the "pond"!)
Storey Publishing - Keep Chickens! book & Chicken Enclycopedia
Wilco Farm Store - 25lb Purina Scratch Grains, 25lb Purina Layena, Galvanized 12lb Feeder, Galvanized 2gal Fount


THANKS AGAIN!  to:
Tri-County HVAC, Inc for printing our Tour Maps this year!
Ferrellgas for the portable heater & tank ... 'cause you never know about the weather!
The Wade Creek House for hosting this event and so many other great events and classes throughout the year!


Most of all...
THANK YOU to all the private coop owners for opening up your coops to us all for a day and sharing your time, information, and stories with all of us!

We are already looking forward to next year's event, so stay tuned for an official 2013 tour date. We already have local residents who have expressed interest in being on next year's tour! If you are a coop owner in the local area and would like to be on the 2013 tour, please contact The Wade Creek House.

Chicken Chat & Coop Tour - Sponsors & Donors

This great event is happening on Saturday, April 14th. It starts at 9.30am, but you'll want to be there early for parking & seating!
** check out my 03/31/12 post for more information

I would like to personally thank those individuals and businesses that have so graciously donated items for both our tour stop drawings and the 4H raffle!!


4H Raffle Donors:
Amber Carpenter,  The Wade Creek House  -  Glass Mosaic Chicken Window
John Gawlista, PGM Construction  -  Eco-Roof Cedar Chicken Coop
Wilco Farm Store  -  Chicken "Starter Kit" (heat lamp/bulb, feeder/fount, 25lb chick feed, book)
Terra Casa - Imported Organic Olive Oil Body Products


Tour Stop Drawing Prizes:
Backyard Poultry Magazine  -  Assorted Magazines
Barton Feed & Country Store  -  Purina Flock Block
Burns Feed Store  -  Basket: Egg Wipes, Poultry Protector, Mealworms
Gerber Farm Supply  -  $20 gift certificate
Hobby Farm Publications   -  Assorted Magazines
Mary Lake-Thompson, LTD  -  Chicken print Apron, Linen Napkins, Floursack Towels
Practical Poultry Magazine (UK)  -  March 2012 issue (thanks from across the "pond"!)
Storey Publishing - Keep Chickens! book & Chicken Enclycopedia
Wilco Farm Store  -  25lb Purina Scratch Grains,  25lb Purina Layena, Galvanized 12lb Feeder, Galvanized 2gal Fount


And also to:
Tri-County HVAC, Inc  for printing our Tour Maps this year!
Ferrellgas  for the portable heater & tank  ... 'cause you never know about the weather!
The Wade Creek House for hosting this event and so many other great events and classes throughout the year!

Most of all...
THANK YOU  to all the private coop owners for opening up your coops to us all for a day and sharing your time, information, and stories with all of us!


We could not put on such a great event without the generousity and support of each and every one of you!!  THANK YOU!!!!

The Wade Creek House 2nd Annual Chicken Chat & Coop Tour

*** SAVE THE DATE!! SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH @ 9AM ***

Rowdy - official poster chicken!

Thinking about raising a few sweet hens for fresh eggs or raising baby chicks from “scratch”?

Learn about what it takes to successfully raise & care for backyard chickens then hit the town and tour 10 local private chicken coops & 2 feed stores!

Meet Rowdy & the girls!

9.30am-10.30am  -  Chicken  Chat

Local poultry experts share their “eggs”pertise on everything to do with backyard birds including equipment, breeds, and tips on raising and handling chickens.    Come with your questions!

Come see this Chicken "Condo"

11am-5pm  -  Local  Coop Tour

See how friends & neighbors are keeping happy hens & check out the coops (or condos) they call home. Visit local feed stores to see the chicken breeds and supplies they have to offer.

Enter drawings to win great prizes at all tour stop locations!

$10 per person • $15 per couple  ($5 ea additional family member)
Kids 10 & under FREE
Click on the tab above and print off a  "coop"on  for 10% off!

**** RAFFLE TO BENEFIT LOCAL 4-H POULTRY GROUP ****
 TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW AT THE WADE CREEK HOUSE

Raffle tickets: $2 ea or 3 for $5

PGM Construction, located in Portland, OR,  has donated a beautiful cedar chicken coop for our Raffle. This custom-built coop comes complete with a green roof!! It's an amazing structure you will want to have in your own yard. This coop was on display at the 2012 Better Living Show in the NW Natural "Blue House" yard.  Retail Value: $895.00

Need a quality coop built or help with your landscape? Contact PGM Construction: www.pgmconstruction.net

Raffle tickets: $1 ea or 6 for $5

Amber Carpenter, glass artist & member of The Wade Creek House, has donated a wonderful glass chicken mosaic window. The amazing color and detail makes this window a must-have!  Retail Value: $175.00

Raffle Tickets: $1 ea or 6 for $5

Looking to get baby chicks this spring? Wilco Farm Stores has donated a "starter kit", complete with fount & feeder, heat lamp & bulb, a 25lb bag of Start & Grow, and & Pocketful of Poultry book. Get your flock off to a great start!
  Retail Value: $65.00

Participating Sponsors:

Backyard Poultry Magazine,  Barton Feed & Country Store,  Burns Feed Store,  Ferrellgas,  Gerber Farm Supply,  Hobby Farms Publications,  Mary Lake-Thompson, LTD.,  Practical Poultry Magazine (UK),  Storey Publishing,  Terra Casa,  Tri-County HVAC, Inc.,  Wilco Farm Stores

THANK YOU
TO ALL OUR COOP OWNERS, SPONSORS, AND DONORS!

WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!!!

****  PLEASE NOTE  ****

Advance purchase of Tour Maps available, but will not be issued until the day of event

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

www.thewadecreekhouse.com

thewadecreekhouse.blogspot.com

The Wade Creek House
664 NW Wade Street
Estacada, OR  97023

503.630.7556

Is it Spring Yet???

March 21, 2012

For those of us living in the Pacific Northwest (more specifically the Portland Metro area), Winter came late this year; I can't remember the last time we had more days of snow on the ground in February & March! When that goundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter this year, he wasn't kidding! While my location didn't receive the "snow-mageddon" that hit the southern valley last week (Salem/Eugene), it was still enuf to make the morning commute treacherously beautiful.

corn salad & leeks

I will admit, I have not done anything in the garden this Winter. We had a really nice day a couple Saturdays ago where I finally got the front yard looking somewhat presentable, but my raised garden beds still lay dormant with last year's potatoes (which are still delicious!), while others are luschously green with mache (corn salad) and leeks that remarkably made it thru the crazy weather the last 3 months. *The corn salad acted like a living mulch, which has proven to be a great double-duty edible!

Though the weather is still cold and rainy (10-15 deg below normal), I can no longer wait -  it's finally time to get planting! Lettuce, spinach, radish and peas will all get planted this weekend, followed by cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. As mentioned in earlier posts, I have these wonderful raised beds that allow me to garden practially year-round. Not only do I have warmer soils - when I use row cover - I have amazingly friable soils & can dig these beds even after heavy rains, usually the next day!

So if you can, get planting!
And don't forget, it's still not too late to get your tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants started (indoors, of course).

PEAS OUT!
~GP

Capture the (Kodak) Moment

I'm going to stray from giving you gardening tips for just a minute... well, not entirely.

While we are busy pouring thru the seed catalogs that are showing up in our mailbox, and planning our gardens for this growing season, nature is quietly going about its business. The occasional warm day brings out bugs and critters that would otherwise still be hunkered down for the winter; morning fog settles in and then lifts just at sunrise giving the earth a glorious shimmering display of yellow, orange and blue reflections off of frost-kissed plants...

I love taking pictures. I have this little point-and-shoot camera that looks like hell (it has been around the world with me) but - up until recently - took the most amazing pictures. When I bought it 5 years ago it wasn't the biggest or best, but I was perfect for me since I pack my camera with me everywhere I go. Most of the pictures on my blog and all of the pictures in my 2 calendars were taken with this little camera. None of my photos are "photoshopped" - I don't have the software and wouldn't know how to use it anyway.

It's been a few years and I don't know where I heard, saw, or read this, but I someone said their goal was to take at least 1 picture every day. What a novel idea - I really wanted to follow thru with this and create something amazing... then life happens and good intentions are followed by "maybe tomorrow". While I don't take a-picture-a-day, I have my moments where I am surgically attached to my camera for days then won't touch it for a week.

If you know The Wade Creek House here in Estacada, Oregon you probably have seen the postcards they use for promotions; it is also The Wade Creek House blog banner. I staged and took that photo - which also happens to be the cover for the 2012 Garden Calendar. Yes, I am bragging, but damn, it is a great photo! See?!?!?!

I am really proud of that picture and it amazes me every time I look at it. There are other photos I have taken over the years (with my 'lil camera) that I really love. Let me share a few with you...

Please note these pictures are my personal property and under copyright.

My friend Sharon is a professional photographer and does take the most amazing photos (her camera is WAY bigger); she has also had a pretty amazing opportunity present itself. Her work has been installed at the Clackamas County Services Building (4th Floor).
      "... and even tho they are mine, and so familiar to me, the photo's impress me as I watch the elevator doors open to the hallway they hang in."

 ** Check out Sharon's blog: oregonshar.blogspot.com. She also has a wordpress blog - check out more photos and info about her professional photo services.

I invite you to take a-picture-a-day... you never know when or where your own masterpiece will show up!

PEAS OUT!

~GP

Fresh out of the garden - in Winter!

If I have learned anything about gardening over the course of my life, it's that you can always shift the odds in your favour by taking a bit of extra time & care into harvesing something from your garden every month of the year. Whether it's the first springs greens of the year or the sweet crunch of summer corn you don't need to kill your self in order to have fresh produce on your table - a la garden.

(Setting the scene:)
January 8th, 2012   6.48am

freshly harvested Pontiac Red & Yukon Gold

I wake up to find the earth frosted in a blanket of white as the fog that was hovering last night has now rests peacefully as a shimering cloak; the day welcomes me to a clear chilly 28 degree morning. Raised beds lay dormant under a blanket of straw - there are no signs that anything was planted here...  The day warms slightly, though enough for me to grab my pitchfork and push aside some of the straw that protects buried treasures of red & gold (of the Pontiac & Yukon type!)

Well protected, and planted in well-drained soil (mine are planted in raised beds rich with compost) potatoes can be left & harvested fresh thru the winter; roast with fresh sage & rosemary and enjoy!

And remember... fresh from the garden includes those sage, rosemary and other biennnial or perennial herbs you have growing in your yard!

** in case you're wondering, those are leeks planted in the raised bed, and the green "carpet" is corn salad (mache) that reseeded into my garden paths.

PEAS OUT!
~GP

The GardenPurl Toy Box

Last January, I got wildly inspired and produced a garden calendar and filled it full of gardening tips, ideas, and photos I'd taken. As a member of The Wade Creek House here in Estacada, I included the events and workshops held at the shop and made a few copies available for sale to the public.



Back by popular demand, The Wade Creek House 2012 Garden Calendar has been available at The Wade Creek House since November. Don't have yours yet? It's not too late - there are still a few calendars available for sale at The Wade Creek House. 503.630.7556 Call to reserve or stop by to pick up yours today!  $15.95

I added a new TAB on my blog "Gotta Have That!"
It is the GardenPurl Toy Box and will have various & sundry items for purchase. Check it out as must-have items will be added periodically.
You can also send me a message (click on the Lady Bug) with a request to purchase. All transactions are made through PayPal and items are shipped out within 48hours Monday-
Friday.

Thanks for supporting small-scale business!
Peas Out!
~GP