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Celebrating the Backyard Chicken

This coming Saturday, March 3rd, Edible Austin is launching its new Sustain Center with a day chock full of family friendly activities they're calling the Spring Chicken Fest.  (I'm assured that even though I'm no longer a spring chicken, they're not checking ages at the gate.)  Although we don't keep chickens (another story), it was inevitable that I'd be involved in this event as two of my volunteer "families", the Travis County Master Gardeners and the Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards, are participating.


Come on out from noon to 6:30pm.  The Sustain Center is located next to Callahan's at 443 South Bastrop Highway (Hwy 183), Austin.  Check out their website for more event details.  How can you go wrong with kids and chickens and food trailers - well, let's not think about that.


As another way to celebrate all things chicken and gardening, Timber Press is giving you a chance to win a copy of their newly published book called "Free Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful Chicken-Friendly Yard".   All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog by the ides of March (3/15/12).  The winner will be selected at random and your book sent to you directly from Timber Press.  Whether or not you intend to keep backyard chickens, you'll find plenty of inspiration and design ideas you can use in this book by Jessi Bloom.   If you live in the Austin area, come by the Chicken Fest on Saturday and look for me to register for another chance to win!     





PLEASE NOTE: If you post anonymously, and there's no way to contact you, you can't win. Make sure we can find you by linking back to your blog or leave your e-mail address disguised a bit using "dot com" or something to prevent robo-spam

Comments

Diana said…
I'm here, I'm here! That looks like fun. We'll try to make it - I do have my DH on board to do the chicken coop tour later on. And BTW, Da Boyz in your previous post are adorable as always. Give em a pat on the head for me. We're in the throes of puppy-hood -- all good but a lot of work!
March 1, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Pam/Digging said…
Looks like lots of fun chicken-related events on the horizon! I love Callahan's too.
March 1, 2012 at 6:06 PM
katina said…
Et tu, Brutus? Sorry - I had to go look up why we even had 'ides of march'

With you helping, I'm sure the shindig will be a great success. :)
March 1, 2012 at 6:19 PM
Unknown said…
This event will be great and with you teaching, the kids will have an amazing time.
March 1, 2012 at 6:31 PM
Ally said…
I'm a backyard chicken owner who would like to read about creating a chicken friendly garden. I haven't found chickens to be very compatible with gardens, since they eat almost everything, but if someone has some good ideas, I'd love to hear them. Last year, they reduced my 'Katie' Ruellia to a nub. They find a surprising number of plants quite tasty.
March 2, 2012 at 4:56 AM
vbdb said…
Ally, glad you're joining us tomorrow at the Fest. Elaine Dill will be the first speaker and you're sure to get some good ideas from her and other participants.
March 2, 2012 at 8:35 AM
weeder1 said…
I would love to add this book to my library!
March 2, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Susannah of Cricklewood Farm said…
My girls need somewhere beautiful to play. The book seems to have a lot of lovely ideas, so please enter me in the drawing!
March 2, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Catherine McMullen said…
Timber Press has such awesome books, would love this one!
March 2, 2012 at 11:46 AM
vbdb said…
Catherine -
There's pretty good odds at this point - thanks for checking out my blog and leaving a comment. Aren't you loving Oregon?
March 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM
vbdb said…
Susannah -
Your comment reminded me that if any of you keep chickens, you should brag on your girls a little - let us know how many and what kind. Also keeping any roosters?
March 2, 2012 at 12:16 PM
vbdb said…
"Weeder" -
Do you have backyard chickens there? Saw your "caretakers" and wondered how everyone gets along.
March 2, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Anonymous said…
I would love to have this book - we are contemplating having chickens for their eggs of course but also to keep the ticks down.
March 2, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Jeannie Van Popta said…
We're getting chickens soon! Just have to build them a home first :) Would love to win!
fallen_angel62@hotmail.com
March 2, 2012 at 1:20 PM
vbdb said…
PLEASE NOTE: If you post anonymously, and there's no way to contact you, you can't win. Make sure we can find you by linking back to your blog or leave your e-mail address disguised a bit using "dot com" or something to prevent robo-spam.
March 2, 2012 at 1:42 PM
Linda said…
I'm am drooling over this book! Please enter me in the giveaway - thanks!! cokelush at gmail
March 2, 2012 at 1:42 PM
meemsnyc said…
I've always wanted to raise backyard chickens. Maybe this book will inspire me to do so.
March 2, 2012 at 2:16 PM
vbdb said…
Robin -
It really is a beautiful and useful book. Don't know if the plant list would be the same in Missouri, but the design ideas translate very well. Thanks for your comment.
March 2, 2012 at 2:29 PM
vbdb said…
Meemsnyc -
Thanks for commenting. I'll poke around your blogs to see your NYC garden!
March 2, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Rhonda Tenderholt said…
I'd love to win this book. Have been interested in getting chickens, just haven't yet. Please enter me into your giveaway.

Thanks,
Rhonda

Tenderholts at gmail.com
March 2, 2012 at 4:11 PM
vbdb said…
Rhonda, thanks for commenting. This is certainly the right book to get you motivated.
March 2, 2012 at 4:28 PM
Anonymous said…
I want chickens, but my husband is not convinced it is a good plan. I need more info to sell him on the whole idea. This book looks like a good step. I'm hoping to make it out this weekend, because I suspect that here in Texas our summer heat stress raises extra issues and I want to know how to deal with all of that, too.
March 2, 2012 at 5:22 PM
cakrawczyk said…
My 14-year old son and I have been contemplating raising chickens since his class in elementary school hatched eggs in 3rd grade, but hawks and foxes have made us think twice. We're thinking there may be ways to beat those two chicken-eaters and these ideas may be in this book!
March 2, 2012 at 5:31 PM
Sara Sweatman said…
We are getting our new chicks today! We would love to have a copy of this beautiful book!
March 5, 2012 at 7:04 AM
Marie said…
This looks like an awesome book! We love letting our chickens free range but sometimes they eat a little too much of something we'd like to keep. A chicken-friendly garden is a great idea.
March 6, 2012 at 5:14 AM
Brianna said…
This book looks great! Would love to have happy chickens one day.
briannaknotts@gmail.com
March 6, 2012 at 9:13 AM
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
March 8, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Anonymous said…
Looking forward to starting backyard chickens this summer! :) Would love to have this book to get our garden off to a good start. Good luck with your Spring Chicken Fest. Sounds like a fun time! paulancd@yahoo dot com
March 8, 2012 at 9:36 PM
vbdb said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
March 15, 2012 at 9:18 PM
vbdb said…
"Katina" is the winner of the book give away and will be receiving a copy of the new Timber Press publication "Free Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard".
March 15, 2012 at 9:19 PM
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