This site is an archive of ChiotsRun.com. For the latest information about Susy and her adventrures, visit the Cultivate Simple site.
Thank you for all your support over the years!

Cheep, Cheep, Cheep

April 30th, 2013

That’s what we hear on our back porch right now. On Sunday evening, we picked up 17 chicks from our neighbor who incubated them. They’re a mix of Delwares and barnyard mixes from his other layers. These birds are mostly being raised to be broilers, but some of the females may be kept as part of our laying flock.
chicks 1
How’s that for a bucket of chicken?
chicks 2
chicks 3
My seedling heating mat comes in handy when it comes to brooding tiny animals, if you put it under the brooder it helps keep the floor warm for them.
chicks (1)
I love how they dart around and then the next second they’re passed out sleeping on the floor. They’re entertaining to watch.
chicks 4
It should be interesting to watch these little guys grow up, I’ve never had chicks before. In a few weeks we should also be getting ducklings and goslings.

Have you ever raised birds from chicks?

Cultivate Simple 28: Our Menagerie

April 29th, 2013

Today on Cultivate Simple we’re talking about what’s going on around the run. It’s been busy, busy, busy around here. Since our last couple podcasts have been about other topics, we decided it was time for an update about what we’ve been doing around the farm. We’re talking about everything from timberframing to chicks.

Google SketchUp Timber Frame Raised Bed

Quote of the Day: Susan Cain

April 28th, 2013

Unhappy people tend to see setbacks as contaminates that ruined an otherwise good thing (“I was never the same after my wife left me”), while generative adults see them as blessings in disguise (“The divorce was the most painful things that ever happened to me, but I’m so much happier with my new wife”)? Those who live the most fully realized lives–giving back to their families, societies, and ultimately themselves–tend to find meaning in their obstacles. Where we stumble is where our treasure lies.

Susan Cain in Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

flowering_dogwood
Mr Chiots and I have always said that mistakes and difficulties are often the most valuable things in our lives. Through them, we learn what to do and what not to do. We learn about ourselves and we become more of who we were meant to be. This only happens if we embrace the difficulties and look at them as a learning experience. We often cannot change some of the things that happen to us, but we can change our attitude towards them. It’s amazing how your attitude can make a world of difference.

Have you noticed how easily your attitude affects how you react to certain situations?

Black Gold

April 27th, 2013

This past Wednesday, I headed up to Kinney Compost to look at their products. I met Wes Kinney, the owner, and we chatted while he gave me a tour of his place. Wes certainly has a love for compost and his products show it.
kinney compost 1
Sadly, I wasn’t able to make my own compost last year, I should say, I wasn’t able to pack it up and bring it with me to Maine. Thank goodness for people like Wes. Now I can have good quality compost for my garden even though I wasn’t able to make it myself.
kinney compost 2
I’m already setting up my compost pile for next year, so this should be the only time I need to purchase it. That’s a good thing, because good quality compost isn’t cheap!

Do you make your own compost?

Friday Favorite: Weeding

April 26th, 2013

Weeding is a garden chore that I don’t mind, there’s something very relaxing about it.  I guess it’s the repetitious nature of it, it allows me the freedom to let my mind wander.   Once again, it’s the season for weeding.  I spent a half hour outside yesterday evening trying to rid an area of quack grass.
Weeding 1
Weeding 2
Weeding 3
For me, it’s a wonderful way to spend an evening.

What’s your favorite garden chore?

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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