Those crazy Europeans! The French village of Pince has proposed giving villagers chickens with the aim of reducing waste by 330 lb per bird per year. Read more here!
Archive for March, 2012
27 Mar
Benefits of Chickens in Breaking Insect Pest Cycles
Check out this video that describes how poultry rid the garden of insect pests.
20 Mar
Support Chickens at March 23, 2012: Arlington Heights CSA Expo
Mary Green, the coordinator of this event will be collecting names of people in Arlington Heights who are interested in chicken keeping.
Home to Roost will be on hand with informational fliers and to answer questions at around 8 PM.
If you are interested in backyard hens, plan to attend or contact Mary Green at marysgreen@hotmail.com or 847-230-0544 for more information.
19 Mar
March 23, 2012: Arlington Heights CSA Expo
Come out and show your support for CHICKENS in Arlington Heights at
the 2nd Annual CSA* Expo Friday March 23rd, 6:30-9pm
Arlington Heights Library
500 N. Dunton Avenue, 60004
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.
Meet local farmers, taste samples, and find out about CSA options in the Northwest Suburbs!
also featuring a screening of the documentary
King Corn
Two recent college grads discover where America’s food comes from when they plant a single acre of corn and follow it from the seed to the dinner plate. With the help of government subsidies, genetically modified seeds and powerful herbicides, America’s most subsidized crop becomes the staple of its cheapest—and most troubling—foods.
Contact Mary Green at marysgreen@hotmail.com or 847-230-0544 for more information
or visit http://chapters.westonaprice.org/nwcookcounty/
*Community Supported Agriculture
19 Mar
28 April: Second Session of Chicago Botanic Garden Set to Open
Due to high demand, the Botanic Garden and Home to Roost will be offering a second class session on April 28. Watch the Botanic Garden’s class page for the new class time.
14 Mar
March 27, 2012 Green Home Experts Offers Chicken-Keeping Class
City Folks Learn to Raise Chickens at Green Home Experts
Birds of a feather flock to Green Home Experts’ Chicken Keeping Class presented by Midwest’s leading chicken consultant, Jennifer Murtoff.
Lest you missed the start of a major lifestyle movement, urban homesteading is here to stay. Chicken keeping is a growing interest for urban dwellers seeking to localize food sources and ecologically live in the city. Oak Park-based, Green Home Experts recognized the increasing curiosity among its customers who wanted to know more about how to raise chickens. To respond to customer interest, Green Home Experts will host a Chicken Keeping Class on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. http://www.ghexperts.com.
Presented by the Midwest’s only chicken consultant, Jennifer Murtoff, attendees will learn about urban homesteading, get answers to questions about raising chickens, caring for adult birds, and find out how to keep their chickens and their neighbors happy.
Commenting on the upcoming class, Green Home Experts owner, Maria Onesto Moran said, “We’re thrilled to have Jennifer share her extensive knowledge with our customers. She’s built a strong reputation as the Midwest’s ‘go-to’ chicken expert. If you have an interest in raising chickens, or want to take your chicken keeping to the next level, you don’t want to miss this class.”
CLASS REGISTRATION: The Chicken Keeping Class will be held on March 27th, 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. at Green Home Experts, 811 South Boulevard in Oak Park. Attendance is by reservation only. To reserve a space for the class, contact Green Home Experts by March 24th at (708)660-1443. Cost for the class is $20 per person. As a special bonus for all attendees, Green Home Experts will be offering discounted chicken care packages.
About Jennifer Murtoff — The Midwest’s only chicken consultant, Jennifer Murtoff provides compassionate, homespun consulting and emergency care for backyard chickens in the Chicagoland area. A farmer’s granddaughter, Jennifer’s passion for fowl developed as she acquired a number of kinds of birds in south central Pennsylvania. Her flock included chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quail, peafowl, pigeons, and golden pheasants. She offers information and resources on chicken care from chick to adult, and, while she is not a veterinarian, can provide emergency advice and troubleshooting. Jennifer leads workshops on backyard chickens; does presentations for garden groups, schools, and other interested parties; and assists families with their own flocks. See Home to Roost athttp://www.urbanchickenconsultant.wordpress.com, or call (708)524-5038 for more information.
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An Oak Park, Illinois-based specialty retailer in sustainable building materials, green lifestyle goods, and eco-gardening. Green Home Experts offers green alternatives to almost anything customers use in and around their homes.
13 Mar
Egg Scorecard from Cornucopia
Check out this great tool for egg shopping!
This goes hand-in-hand with my blog post on egg carton labels. If you want the absolute best in animal husbandry practices, try Ellis Family Farms eggs at the Oak Park Farmers Market. They are Animal Welfare Approved, which is the highest rating an egg producer can get. And eggs with that rating are not available in stores.
12 Mar
Local Foods Conference in Rockford, March 17
Join the University of Illinois Extension for the Openfields conference, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17 at the Atwood Center in Rockford. Home to Roost will provide the keynote address.
For more information on this event, click here.
12 Mar
Jennifer Aniston Joins Backyard Poultry Movement
Apparently Jennifer Aniston is now a chicken keeper. Her new $21 million Bel Air home came with a coop (not a coupe) and several birds. Los Angeles allows 4 hens. Read more here.
Home to Roost 