Author Archives: niffer

Our guest chickens are back home and settling in.

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Late last fall we received a phone call from the Peri-Urban Farm Project looking for a winter home for their laying hens. We happily said yes, and a few evenings later a couple of the Peri-Urban Farm staff showed up at our gate with a cage of ISA hybrid hens. They quickly proved themselves to be proficient layers, but their production breeding did not really prepare them for the reality of living with amorous roosters. Roosters latch on to their chosen hen by grabbing with their spurs and gripping the back of the hen’s heads with their beaks. This leads to rather large de-feathered patches on the hen’s back and head.

When the Peri-Urban folks called a few weeks ago to inquire about coming back to get their hens, we were pleased to know that they were going back to their original farm (and to a very nice coop), but we had to explain about the rather scruffy look that they have developed as a result of the constant male attention.

I was relieved to hear that the hens are settling in to rooster-less life and already laying well.

The Peri-Urban Farm Project is a 3 acre farm operating on future development land. Partners Backyard Bounty, the Salvation Army, Biltmore Homes and FutureWatch, along with University of Guelph students and staff are endeavoring to produce good clean food and keep this piece of land productive while waiting for development to happen. Check in on their blog and see what they are up to.

OMG, we are going to be on TV!

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Thanks Abigail and Jeff of CTV News Kitchener. You made us feel very comfortable in front of the camera. We really appreciate you being so patient with us and our sheep. We can’t wait to watch the 6 o’clock news tonight to see the sheep on TV! I wonder if the camera adds 10 pounds to them too?

 

Move over lawnmowers, sheep are coming to cut your grass in Guelph

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Thanks Chris for the great story! It was a pleasure to have you there.

Chris Seto, Mercury staff – Wed Jul 11 2012

GUELPH — Lawnmowers, eat your heart out.

Sheep are stealing your job as grass cutters and will soon make you obsolete. At least, that’s what Jennifer Osborn is hoping.

The Guelph farmer runs a permaculture micro-farm with her husband on Jones Baseline, north of Guelph. Under the farm’s name All Sorts Acre, the farmers are attempting to launch a grass cutting business in downtown Guelph that uses sheep instead of lawnmowers.

“Using animals to cut grass is used in other parts of the world. It’s not too common here yet,” Osborn said. The new business is still feeling around to see if there’s an appetite in the city for residents to choose sheep-mowers over lawnmowers.

Transporting them around in her Matrix hatchback, Osborn brought three Shetland sheep to a house on Dufferin Street on Tuesday morning and set up a makeshift pen in the backyard. She set out a ramp and led them into the yard full of long grass, and put them to work. This was the third time she’s brought the animals to the city to cut longs, and so far the sheep seem to be enjoying the urban vegetation.

“We’ve learned a lot in these three times,” she said. “For urban areas, for small plots of land, these guys are perfect.”

Although they are still testing the waters with this new business, Osborn said there’s more to it than just providing an alternative method of lawn maintenance. She said it’s half about the lawn care and half about collecting research.

 

MORE…

THIS WEEKEND! Introduction to Practical Permaculture

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This 1 or 2 day workshop (your choice) that gives you the tools to take permaculture home and use it in your own life.

Day 1

This interactive workshop focuses on the permaculture design process. You will leave with a much greater understanding of HOW to create a permaculture system in your own home. Some of the things we will explore include:

  • Permaculture ethics and principles
  • Wholistic observation
  • Guilds
  • Relationships in nature
  • Ecosystem web
  • Forest architecture
  • Principles applied to an actual site

Interactive activities make learning fun and makes it stick. You will also get an opportunity to see different gardens in different stages of development and what plants are placed together and why. A great opportunity to see forest gardening in action. Includes a practical permaculture booklet with the $100 Food Forest planting plant to help get you started.

Day 1: Practical Design – July 7: $65 

 

Day 2: Practical Skills

The focus is on the doing. Learn practical skills to take home to your own piece of land. You will be able to work on two projects throughout the day.

The first project is building a rainwater catchment pond and swale.

  • practice wholistic observation for swale placement
  • survey & stake contour lines
  • dig the swale
  • learn about different kinds of swales for different purposes

The second project is creating a new forest garden.

  • learn how to sheet mulch
  • determine plant placement
  • participate in planting the garden
  • help with succession planning for the garden

Coffee, tea, and water are provided. Please bring along a lunch.

 

Day 2: Practical Skills – July 8: $65 

Both Days: $100 

REGISTER

“What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet”.
-David Suzuki

Getting Ready for Market

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ASA_lovelocalbutton.jpg

Love Local button designed by Jennifer

I have had an rocky relationship with the farmer’s market. I did not really like it the first time I went to vend. It was hard for me. I said I would NEVER go to another farmer’s market. We’ll, I guess I am now eating my words. Today is market day.

The Erin market has been a long time coming. The town of Erin is a lovely little place just outside of Toronto. The people are friendly and the landscape is beautiful. A surprising number of small farms are in the area. This time going to market is a little different.  Artisans have been included in the market! A small group of dedicated volunteers have brought this wonderful venture to pass.

So, I am packing up my wares and travelling to market. I have my table, displays, pricing, flyers, and most important of all, the drum carder. Yes, I am going to represent homegrown products, but not food. I am bringing my wool and my herbs. From 3pm until 7pm every Friday throughout the summer I will occupy a small part of the Erin Fair Grounds.

I am really looking forward to it this time. Come and visit me, and my drum carder and see how felt is made!