Archive for the ‘Urban agriculture’ Category

20 Apr

Eggzy Tracks Backyard Egg Production

Posted by chickenwoman in Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , , , , , .


A new website, Eggzy, is available for US chicken owners to track egg production. Can we take a bite out of the battery cage operations? This site wants to track that progress.

Chicken owners can track and log stats, including the number of chickens they have, dozens of eggs they have produced, and their location.

Caveat emptor: It is the internet after all, so data could be skewed. But it looks like a fun site!

20 Apr

4/20/2011 – New chicks at Belmont Feed and Seed

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken stuff to buy, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , .


New Chicks at Belmont Feed and Seed

New chicks & ducklings coming in today. We are receiving: Araucanas,
Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Isa Browns (Red Stars), Rhode Island
Reds,Silver Laced Wyandottes Light Brahmas & Silkie Bantams along with
some Pekin ducklings.

3036 W Belmont Ave
(between Albany Ave & Whipple St)
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 588-1144

5 Apr

UIC’s Family Farmed Expo

Posted by chickenwoman in Events, Urban agriculture.


UIC’s Family Farmed Expo was nicely done and well attended! There was a great selection of topics and vendors, and the chicken panel had a great turnout!

The panel included Martha Boyd, Program  Director of Angelic Organics Learning Center; John Emrich, owner of Backyard Chicken Run; and Jen Murtoff, owner of Home to Roost Urban Chicken Consulting. Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, founder and director of the Academy for Global Citizenship, did a fabulous job as moderator!

We discussed our chicken-related interests and businesses, then did a brief presentation on the backyard chicken movement in Chicago.

Then we turned to the audience for a great round of Q&A! A fun time was had by all!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

5 Apr

April 16, 2011: Home to Roost at Green Metropolis

Posted by chickenwoman in Events, Urban agriculture.


Where can you find the most interactive, family-friendly green fair in Chicago? Check out the Green Metropolis Fair, hosted by Mindful Metropolis magazine and Green Parents Network! April 16, 10am-4pm, at the Irish American Heritage Center (IAHC), 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago.

The festival features an amazing day of activities for both adults and children with an emphasis on fun for the whole family.

Green Living Topics!

  • Chickens! Home to Roost will have a vendor table and a panel discussion from 12 to 1 PM.
  • how to compost effectively in the city with the Urban Worm Girl, Stephanie Davies,
  • growing and preserving fruits and vegetables year-round in small spaces
  • participate in interactive workshops
  • making your home energy-efficient and sustainably beautiful

Petting zoo! Children will get an opportunity to pet goats, rabbits and other furry critters!

Movies! The festival will screen two films:

  • Dirt! The Movie, narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis. This film focuses on the wonderment of the soil. “Made from the same elements as the stars, plants and animals, and us, dirt is very much alive.”
  • Vanishing of the Bees explores the lives of honeybees and the phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder associated with the mysterious disappearance of honeybees across our planet.

Green Merchants! The festival also features a retail marketplace where vendors from all over the Chicago area will be selling their wares.

  • organic baby and children’s clothing
  • naturally scented soy candles
  • beautiful jewelry
  • home furnishings made from repurposed ordinary items

Admission is free, but a non-perishable food item donation is requested. All are welcome regardless of ability to donate.

The IAHC is conveniently located off I-90/94, the CTA Blue Line stop at Montrose and multiple bus routes. There is also ample free parking.

Visit www.greenmetropolisfair.com for more details, call 312.281.5199 or email info@mindfulmetropolis.com. This event is part of the MindfuLive! Event Series. More information about these events can be found at www.mindfulmetropolis.com.

 

Mindful Metropolis magazine and Green Parents Network will host a Green Metropolis Fair on April 16, from 10am-4pm, at the Irish American Heritage Center (IAHC), 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago. The festival features an amazing day of activities for both adults and children with an emphasis on fun for the whole family.
Learn how to compost effectively in the city with the Urban Worm Girl, Stephanie Davies, get information on keeping backyard chickens, growing and preserving fruits and vegetables year-round in small spaces and participate in interactive workshops. Suppliers and contractors will showcase tips to make your home energy-efficient and sustainably beautiful, while children will get an opportunity to pet goats, rabbits and other furry critters!
Along with the interactive experiences, the festival will screen two films: Dirt! The Movie, narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, this film focuses on the wonderment of the soil. “Made from the same elements as the stars, plants and animals, and us, dirt is very much alive.” And, Vanishing of the Bees, which explores the lives of honeybees and the phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder associated with the mysterious disappearance of honeybees across our planet.
The festival also features a retail marketplace where vendors from all over the Chicago area will be selling their wares. Try out a Balance Board, feel the softness of organic baby and children’s clothing, smell the relaxing aroma of naturally scented soy candles and marvel at the talent of local artisans who turn stones to beautiful jewelry and repurpose ordinary items into fine home furnishings.
Admission is free, but a non-perishable food item donation is requested. All are welcome regardless of ability to donate.
The IAHC is conveniently located off I-90/94, the CTA Blue Line stop at Montrose and multiple bus routes. There is also ample free parking.
Visit http://www.greenmetropolisfair.com for more details, call 312.281.5199 or email info@mindfulmetropolis.com. This event is part of the MindfuLive! Event Series. More information about these events can be found at http://www.mindfulmetropolis.com.

15 Mar

Chickens (and Home to Roost) Featured on YouTube Video

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken care, Media coverage, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , .


Northwestern grad student Heather Perlberg interviewed me on 3/9, along with several other members of the Chicago chicken-raising community! She captures the pros and cons of urban chicken raising.

Check out the results here.

6 Mar

April 30, 2011: Home to Roost at Green and Growing, Garfield Park Conservatory

Posted by chickenwoman in Events, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , .


Home to Roost will have a vendor table and be doing a six-point inspection demo on how to assess a chicken’s health on April 30 at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

19th Annual Green and Growing Fair

Saturday, April 30th
Hours: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Place: Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60624-1996

Cost: Free admission

Kick off the growing season with the 19th Annual Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory. The fair, sponsored by GreenNet, Chicago’s Urban Greening Network, plunges into spring by hosting a variety of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and family activities to get your rusty green thumb up and running.

On the Schedule for the Day

Gather resources for starting community gardens at GreenNet “Stop & Grow” Member Stations.

Purchase heirloom seeds, unique seedlings, and other inspirational garden materials to jumpstart the growing season.

Participate in family take home planting activities

Attend mini workshops, hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation

Visit outdoor demonstration stations on the Bluestone Terrace from 10 am to 2 pm:

  • Basics of Composting, facilitated by U of I Extension Master Composters Learn about the basics of composting, from backyard bins to indoor worm composting.
  • Rot Pot Seed Starting, facilitated by GPCA Volunteers Plant One Seed Chicago Candidates in a newspaper rot pot, then make a recycled garden marker for your future garden.
  • Tool Sharpening, with Chicago Botanic Garden Green Youth Farm Watch and learn how to sharpen your own tools. Bring your own tools, and get them sharpened for a small fee.

The winner of One Seed Chicago’s Seed of the Year will be announced at Noon. Vote before April 1st at http://www.OneSeedChicago.com. Free packets of the winning seed will be distributed at the Green and Growing Fair. Complete the season by submitting what you’ve grown to the annual Harvest Showcase at Garfield Park Conservatory’s County Fair in September.

Share food and live music with friends in our Green Café

Participate in a silent auction of urban gardening treasures

Shop our used gardening book sale

For more information, please contact Robin Cline at 773-638-1766 x.18 or rcline@garfieldpark.org. Interested vendors and exhibitors should contact Julie Samuels at 312-863-6292 or jsamuels@openlands.org. Please visit GreenNet Chicago’s website at http://www.greennetchicago.org.

19th Annual Green and Growing Fair
 Saturday, April 30th
 Hours: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Throughout the Conservatory

Cost: Free admission

 

Kick off the growing season with the 19th Annual Green & Growing Fair at the Garfield Park Conservatory. The fair, sponsored by GreenNet, Chicago’s Urban Greening Network, plunges into spring by hosting a variety of vendors, workshops, demonstrations, and family activities to get your rusty green thumb up and running.

 

On the Schedule for the Day:

 

•

Gather resources for starting community gardens at GreenNet “Stop & Grow” Member Stations.

•

Purchase heirloom seeds, unique seedlings, and other inspirational garden materials to jumpstart the growing season.

•

Participate in family take home planting activities

•

Attend mini workshops, hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation

•

Visit outdoor demonstration stations on the Bluestone Terrace from 10 am to 2 pm:

 

•

Basics of Composting, facilitated by U of I Extension Master Composters Learn about the basics of composting, from backyard bins to indoor worm composting.

•

Rot Pot Seed Starting, facilitated by GPCA Volunteers Plant One Seed Chicago Candidates in a newspaper rot pot, then make a recycled garden marker for your future garden.

•

Tool Sharpening, with Chicago Botanic Garden Green Youth Farm Watch and learn how to sharpen your own tools. Bring your own tools, and get them sharpened for a small fee.

 

•

The winner of One Seed Chicago’s Seed of the Year will be announced at Noon. Vote before April 1st at www.OneSeedChicago.com. Free packets of the winning seed will be distributed at the Green and Growing Fair. Complete the season by submitting what you’ve grown to the annual Harvest Showcase at Garfield Park Conservatory’s County Fair in September.

•

Share food and live music with friends in our Green Café

•

Participate in a silent auction of urban gardening treasures

•

Shop our used gardening book sale

 

For more information, please contact Robin Cline at 773-638-1766 x.18 or rcline@garfieldpark.org. Interested vendors and exhibitors should contact Julie Samuels at 312-863-6292 or jsamuels@openlands.org. Please visit GreenNet Chicago’s website at www.greennetchicago.org.

6 Mar

Support Batavia, IL, as they move toward chicken keeping!

Posted by chickenwoman in Urban agriculture.


Batavia, IL, is seeking support for backyard chickenkeeping.

Here is more information on the City Council meeting.

Please come and show your support, please phone in, please email and please pass this information.

Public comment for the City of Batavia chicken initiative is next Tuesday, March 8th at 7:30pm. See the information below and plan on attending, send an email or forward to friends & family living in Batavia and near Batavia. We need people to voice their support to get this passed.

If you are a Batavia resident, or non-resident who is just interested in this initiative, please consider coming to the public hearing this Tuesday, March 8th, at 7:30 p.m. at Batavia City Hall (City of Batavia 100 North Island Avenue Batavia, IL 60510). At this meeting, the City Services Commission will be hearing all comments on this issue. If you come, please consider getting up and stating your name, address and saying “I support backyard chickens in Batavia.” You are encouraged to say more if desired.

Other Actions you can take now:

• ***Email chickens@cityofbatavia.net – provide your brief words of support. The city is collecting these emails to unofficially tally public support and opposition….let’s not forget the power, the strength in numbers

• Call or email Mayor Schielke at mayor@cityofbatavia. net – tell him your opinion

• Email your alderpersons. Their email addresses are located on the city’s webpage at http://www.cityofbatavia.net/Content/templates/?a=692

• Email members of the City Services Commission – these are the people who will hear public comment on Tuesday.

  • Michael F. O’Brien – mobrien@cityofbatavia.net
  • Victor Dietz –vdietz@cityofbatavia.net
  • Janet Jungels -jjungels@cityofbatavia.net
  • Jim Volk –jvolk@cityofbatavia.net
  • Eldon Frydendall – efrydend@cityofbatavia.net
  • Robert Liva – rliva@cityofbatavia.net
  • Dawn Tenuta –dtenuta@cityofbatavia.net

If you live in a community where backyard chickens are permitted we would love to hear from you!

Please take a moment and show your support by writing a quick email.

18 Feb

REMINDER: Sign up for the Backyard Chicken Basics Workshop

Posted by chickenwoman in Events, Urban agriculture.


Chickens – you know you want some!

With a face like this, what’s not to love!?

Come join this new crazy urban trend! Get the scoop at the Backyard Chicken Basics Workshop on March 12! Check out the webpage for more information and to sign up!

 

13 Feb

April 16, 2011: Home to Roost at Green Metropolis

Posted by chickenwoman in Events, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


Celebrate Earth Month!

Home to Roost will attend the Green Metropolis Fair at the Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox, Chicago, IL, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Come join this fun event with lots of great activities for kids and adults and learn about sustainable living!

The Green Metropolis page will keep you posted on events and vendors.

13 Feb

March 19, 2011: Home to Roost at Family Farmed Good Food Expo

Posted by chickenwoman in Chicken care, Events, Urban agriculture. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .


Join Us for the Midwest’s Premier Good Food Event

March 17 – 19, 2011 UIC Forum — University of Illinois at Chicago

Good Food, Good Know-How, Good Fun: FamilyFarmed EXPO is a three-day conference, trade show, and food festival for farmers, businesses, the trade, individuals, and families.

Home to Roost will take part in a panel on Saturday, March 19, 2 PM – 3:15:

No Yolk! Chickens in Your Back Yard

Enjoy fresh eggs everyday by raising chickens in your own backyard. Sarah Elizabeth Ippel from the Academy for Global Citizenship will be the moderator of the panel:

  • Martha Boyd, Program Director, Urban Initiative, Angelic Organics Learning Center
  • John Emrich, Backyard Chicken Run
  • Jennifer Murtoff, Urban Chicken Consultant

For other events, see the Family Farmed Expo website.

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