Week #45 & #46: First Snow, Trail Maintenance & Yet ANOTHER Upgrade to the Chicken Run?!

We recently had our first little dusting of snow this fall which melted away in a day.  In fact, as I type this blog, we may break a record high for November 17th with severe thunderstorms in the forecast!

After testing out our new and improved chicken run, some of the chickens have still managed to escape.  There is a little space between the top of the door and the horizontal wooden beam above the door that they can go through, while the rooster can fly up and land on the actual beam!  After seeing two dogs in the yard one Saturday morning (and chasing them off the property) we added more wire above the door and above the wooden beam so hopefully no more chickens escape.  We shall see.....

Unrelated to a blog about trying to live a more self sustaining life,  for awhile we have been itching to place up trail signs at the entryways to the small trail that runs through the bush beside the property.  A few years back we bought little markers at the Algonquin Outfitters and now we finally got the chance to use them.  Aaron drilled them onto 4x4x10 posts and with the help a post hole digger, we placed trail signs at three different locations.  There's also a little separate trail in the bush which was perfect for a privy so Aaron built one.  We even have a little sign on the trail to show it's location as well.

The original length of the pole with the little trail marker sign

 

Finished sign at the beginning of the trail.  Not a good photo as it was a dark cloudy day.

 

Call it what you like: A privy, a treasure chest or a thunderbox, this is a luxury when you are back country camping in the woods!

WEEK #43 & #44: Chicken Run Upgrade

The chickens have had it kinda rough the past few weeks.  Everyday while at work we would keep them shut up in the coop and when we got home they only had maybe an hour max (sunset is now just after 5:00pm!) to be outside before having to go back in again for the night.  It was time to fix up their run so they can no longer fly out, and that they can actually be outside and go back in when they please while we are away at work.

We first raised up the height of the door, made a doorway for support, nailed a few more pieces of wood for support, and lastly attached more chicken wire on these supports around the run.  The run is now around 6 feet tall so hopefully they won't figure out (there are ways) how to get out.

Chicken "Fortress"

Everything outside is pretty much done for the year.  Our oats, peas and barley cover crop is coming up now in the garden plots which will be turned in next spring.  We are still eating the bounty of our garden and will be into 2014.  The latest thing that Aaron pressure canned was our potatoes into a potato leek soup.  For Marianne, having acorn squash cut in half and cooked in the oven with some butter and brown sugar makes for the best dessert in the world right now! :D  Along the pea trellis Aaron planted garlic bulbs.

Cover crops of various heights in the gardens

Marianne got a little creative and made a centrepiece for the table from various tree branches, flowers, and grasses from the property. The only thing that isn't real are the yellow flowers to add some colour.

 A fall centrepiece