"Now We're Farmers, Dad!"

Last week, while I was out shopping and running errands with the kiddos, Joshua had a delivery. He rented a chicken tractor and bought 10 chickens for the backyard from Pilgrims' Acres. These friends of ours have a real working farm, and diverse products including free-range eggs, fresh milk, pastured chicken, pastured pork, and salad bar beef. They are an inspiration to our family as we are still dreaming, praying, and learning about being able to have that opportunity. We currently buy milk and eggs from their farm each week. The kids and I have made butter from the cream several times. There is something extra special about fresh homemade butter on fresh homemade bread. This last week, I was given this beautiful hand-made cutting board from the division of their farm "Cutler Wood Crafting." If you want to know more, or see their operation in Foristell, Missouri...

http://www.pilgrimsacres.com

Back to our chicken tractor story. The kids and I were surprised by the sight in the backyard. We have a small pen which houses the chickens and their food and water. The kids go out with Joshua in the morning to move the chicken pen to a new spot. After another 4-5 weeks the chickens should be ready to be butchered. So, we are as of right now the only subdivision neighbor who is growing their own vegetables and meat in their backyard! So to stay within the city codes...we are either now an official farm (we checked and there are not specific definitions of a farm in town so we qualify)...or you could look at it as if we are planning to eat our pets! Their names are Henny, Penny, Lenny, Denny, Benny, Jenny, Kenny, Renny, Vinnie, and Minnie. Vinnie is the tough guy and puffs his chest out to the other chickens defending his territory each morning when the pen gets moved. That's when all the action starts. The chickens get excited to have new ground with new bugs, and all scurry for their breakfast. We are learning valuable lessons and hopefully getting 10 tasty birds out of this experience. We invite you over to see the chickens or have dinner in November - whatever you prefer!