15 Sep
Home to Roost will be teaching two workshops with Angelic Organics Learning Center this fall. Registration for both workshops is via Angelic Organics Learning Center’s website. Venues are still to be confirmed.
23 Aug
At a special meeting Monday, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development removed Right to Farm protection for farm animals raised in neighborhoods with more than 13 homes within 1/8 of a mile of the animals, or with any home within 250 feet of the proposed facility….
The Right to Farm Act was created in 1981 to protect farmers from the complaints of people from the city who moved to the country and then attempted to make it more urban with anti-farming ordinances. These new changes will affect residents of rural Michigan too. Shady Grove Farm in Gwinn, Michigan is on six and a half acres and homes 150 egg-laying hens that provide eggs to a local co-op and a local restaurant. This small Michigan farm also homes sheep for wool and a few turkeys and meat chickens to provide fresh healthy, local poultry.
Read more about this change here and here.
17 Aug
Roosters’ fertility problem hits U.S. chicken supply, lifts prices (Reuters) – The world’s largest chicken breeder has discovered that a key breed of rooster has a genetic issue that is reducing its fertility, adding to problems constraining U.S. poultry production and raising prices at a time when beef and pork prices are already at record highs.
21 May
Urban Ag Camp July 14-17th 9am-3pm
Sponsored by Triton College’s new Sustainable Agriculture Technology program, this experiential 4-day summer camp is designed to provide high school students with a hands-on perspective of our local food system. Participants will learn about opportunities in the emerging green economy through site visits to urban farms, conversations with innovative entrepreneurs, and tastings at local restaurants. The way that we think about food and farming is being turned up-side-down. Register now to learn more!
Taught by Nathan Wright (Triton College) and Cheryl Munoz (The Sugar Beet Coop). Camp materials to be provided. 24hrs of class time.
COST: Free
REGISTRATION: Contact Triton College’s Continuing Education Department, (708) 456-0300 x 3500 and register for CMP C50 101 Sustainable Urban Agriculture Camp. Registration is limited to 20 students, 14 to 18 years old.
FOR QUESTIONS (or to be added to our waiting list): Contact Nathan Wright, Faculty Membernathanwright@triton.edu or (708) 456-0300 x 3073.
20 May
My work with Heartland Housing involved designing and installing a chicken coop for a hotel that was converted into affordable housing units. It was a fun and challenging project, and included working with the architects’ ideas of aesthetics and the hens’ need to be chickens!
The end result earned the architectural firm, Landon Bone Baker (LBBA), a first-place Driehaus Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design! Congrats to LBBA and Heartland for all the hard work on this project. It was a delight to be part of the process!
16 May
5/24 Oak Park Conservatory: chicken keeping class: To register, call the Registration office at 708-725-2031
5/31 Oak Park Conservatory: chicken health class: To register, call the Registration office at 708-725-2031
6/21 Homewood: chicken keeping and coop building classes
6/23 Lemont: chicken keeping class
6/28 Toyota Park: Cook County 4-H Fair judge
7/21 Northlake: chicken keeping class: to Register call (708) 562-2301, ask for Adult Services.
7/26 Deerfield: chicken keeping class
7/?? Location TBD:Chicken health class with Angelic Organics Learning Center
9/20-21 Windy City Coop Tour
Need personal assistance? Check out my services page for information on housecalls and other personalized services.
16 May
Here is a link to a previous post on what to consider before getting chickens. If you’re considering chicken ownership, think through these points before getting chicks!
16 May
Here’s the piece from WGN! A fun piece: Chickens in the City: Urban coops growing in popularity
Thanks to producer Pam Grimes and the WGN team for the coverage.
Interested in keeping chickens? Check out my upcoming events and classes.
14 May
Note that the WGN piece will run Thursday, May 15, 2014, at 9 PM, not May 17, as originally reported.
14 May
The Avicultural Society of Chicago is hosting a vet panel on avian health, including top-notch avian vets in the area. It will prove to be an educational day! For more information, click here.
When building a coop for your hens, it is important to choose a design with the right dimensions, features, and materials. Get all this information on the Chicken Coop Spec Sheet, now available from Home to Roost! Purchase on PayPal using the button below.
NOTE: I will e-mail you the spec sheet after I receive your payment. Your e-mail address will automatically be included in the notification I receive from PayPal.
Home to Roost 