Scrufflechook Becomes a Chicken Again

March 16, 2010 – 5:09 pm
The Scrufflechook saga is turning a new corner. She is now a very healthy and happy chicken living in the office. She has come from being the picked on, shunned chicken to a bright eyed, egg-laying chicken again. Of course we can't get rid of her now as she is a productive egg layer and friendly to boot. Unseasonably warm weather has prompted us to begin acclimatizing her to being outdoors again. Having a chicken in your office is fun for a while but I am sick of the shavings and the extra cage to clean every morning (the litter boxes are enough). She is a chicken after all. For the last couple of days we have tried to re-introduce her to her flock with mixed results. They will gang up on her in typical chicken behaviour, of course the boys think she's great. It is almost like watching a high-school movie. We will keep trying as I would like to be able to reintroduce her, but there is a reason it is called pecking order.

So on Saturday we went to see a breeder about a couple of new chickens. Theresa is an 82 year-old woman who runs a farm just outside of Guelph. She is quite amazing. She is still raising birds of all sorts and has been on the same farm for 60 years. We have a number of chickens to choose from, she has crosses, Houdans, but the ones we were after are the Silkies. Now Silkies are a bit of an odd chicken, they look like walking pom-poms. Silkies have a sweet disposition, aren't know for flying, and are great broodies. As we are planning on hatching some of our Chantecler eggs this year this works out well. So these new little guys with their black bones and black skin should make great additions to All Sorts Acre. Oh, and are they ever cute!

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By jennifer | Posted in General | Comments (0)

All Sorts Acre courses for this year

March 15, 2010 – 2:41 pm
It was such a thrill last week to see the Grand River District School Board Course Guide. I usually like to get them but this time is was extra special. this time I am actually in the guide! I am going to be teaching 6 courses this spring with them, two in Guelph and four in Fergus. Here they are:

GUELPH – Urban Homesteading
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn, Deb Quaile
Learn how to create a more sustainable and satisfying lifestyle. You will look at gardening models, small scale livestock, outdoor skills, home economics, and food storage. All sizes from condos to estate homes can be turned into an Urban Homestead.

GUELPH – Urban Chickens
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
In many municipalities chickens are fast becoming urban residents. Learn about how to care, feed, and house your feathered friends to keep them happy and healthy. Find out how easy and rewarding urban chickens can be.

FERGUS – Beyond Tea
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Have you ever wanted to do more with herbs? Herbal remedies don’t have to be hard or time consuming. There are many things you can buy at the supermarket and make yourself. 
room with sink

FERGUS – Plant Your Own Indoor Salad Bar
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Learn the basic of container gardening by making your own indoor salad bar. This indoor garden is easy to maintain and lets you have fresh vegetable and herbs right at your fingertips. This will introduce you to interplanting, transplanting, potting, and a new way of eating.

FERGUS – Wonder of Wool: Intro to Needle Felting
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Needle felting is a fast, fun and enjoyable way to paint and sculpt with wool. Using only a few shred of wool, a needle, pipe cleaners,  and you imagination you will begin a unique and adorable animal or amazing image. Come and impress yourself with your talents.

FERGUS – Needle Felted Purse
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Needle felting is a fun and easy way to customize a piece of clothing or accessory. You will learn how to needle felt a design on a felted purse so you can make your own unique statement.

Courses to be held at All Sorts Acre:
Intro to Permaculture: Making the Most out of Your Yard
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Nature is full of relationships that seem to work effortlessly. Permaculture helps bring some of those designs and systems into your own yard to make it more beautiful and less work. Learn about basic Permaculture ideas and principles by creating a basic Permaculture design for your own home.  You will see the All Sorts Acre forest garden on site.

Urban Homesteading
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn, Deb Quaile
Learn how to create a more sustainable and satisfying lifestyle. You will look at gardening models, small scale livestock, outdoor skills, home economics, and food storage. All sizes from condos to estate homes can be turned into an Urban Homestead.

Urban Chickens
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
In many municipalities chickens are fast becoming urban residents. Learn about how to care, feed, and house your feathered friends to keep them happy and healthy. Find out how easy and rewarding urban chickens can be.

Plant Your Own Indoor Salad Bar
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Learn the basic of container gardening by making your own indoor salad bar. This indoor garden is easy to maintain and lets you have fresh vegetable and herbs right at your fingertips. This will introduce you to interplanting, transplanting, potting, and a new way of eating.

Wonder of Wool: Intro to Needle Felting
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Needle felting is a fast, fun and enjoyable way to paint and sculpt with wool. Using only a few shred of wool, a needle, pipe cleaners,  and you imagination you will begin a unique and adorable animal or amazing image. Come and impress yourself with your talents. The All Sorts Acre sheep will be providing much of the wool.

Needle Felted Purse
Taught by: Jennifer Osborn
Needle felting is a fun and easy way to customize a piece of clothing or accessory. You will learn how to needle felt a design on a felted purse so you can make your own unique statement.

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By jennifer | Posted in General | Comments (0)