I'm going to Colorado Springs, CO tomorrow

Said to me about 12 hours ago:

"My dad told me to tell you not to get too close to my grandpa, because if you do he will grab your hand and not let go."

City Slicker

I spent most of my life planning to live in a big, bustling city throughout my 20s.  Now I'm in my mid-20s, living in the 3rd largest city in the U.S. and I have decided I'd actually like to live on a farm.  And grow my own things.  And have chickens and goats.  Seriously.

The change came when these happened:

These are some tiny red-leaf lettuces that I'm growing from seed on my window sill.  In about a month I should be eating my epiphany salad.  Something happened while doing research at work for a episode we're doing on the Relocalization movement.  After watching the video for PathToFreedom.org, a homestead located in Pasadena, CA where the family grows 6,000 lbs of food a year on their 1/5th of an acre in the 'burbs, a change came over me that has left a permanent impact.  I checked out a high pile of books from the library on how to grow vegetables and I'm actively reading blogs like yougrowgirl.com and small-mart.org.

It's too long to fully explain here, but basically I'm yearning to become a more sustainable person and to learn how to focus in on what's around me locally and make the most of it.  Luckily there is space for me to grow a vegetable garden behind our apartment and we also have a big back deck where I can have a container garden, but things like the chickens and goats are going to have to wait.  

After talking with our friends Emily and Josh the other night, I'm also starting to get this itch to visit Portland.  They're thinking about moving out that way and the way they describe it sounds wonderful.  My friends Haley and Jason are also having Portland conversations, and I have one friend in particular who I bet would be quite thrilled to have myself and one of her best buds living in the same city as her.  There's so much there that appeals to me, I think (won't know until I visit.)

I know I just arrived in Chicago three months ago, and I know we'll probably be here for a few years to come...and it's not that I don't like Chicago, it's just that the odds of me getting a big yard to grow and moderate temperatures throughout the year are, well, extremely not likely.

For now, I'll eat me lettuces, hope Miro lays an egg, and continue to try to figure myself out.  Ah, 20s.

The second I have a yard, I'm getting one, seriously.

Ten Reasons to Keep a Chicken
(from mypetchicken.com)

Great-Tasting, Nutritious Eggs
We all love our dogs, cats and fish, but do they actually produce something edible? Or pay their own way? Chickens do, and once you've dined on their eggs you'll never reach for a dozen in the supermarket again. They're so much more flavorful, in no small part because you'll eat them when they're only minutes or hours old, not weeks or months. You'll even see the difference in the yolks, which are a healthy orange - not the pale yellow you're used to.
Plus, you can feel good about the organic eggs you'll be feeding your friends and family. All it takes to get organic eggs is organic chicken feed! Research shows that chickens allowed to roam freely and eat grass lay eggs that are higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E and at the same time lower in cholesterol than store-bought, too. (Think of your hair and skin...)

Chickens Have Personality Galore -- Seriously!
Each chicken has their own completely unique quirky, kooky and endearing personality. They're stunningly beautiful too, parading around in a variety of colors, patterns, shapes and sizes. You'll name them, spoil them with treats, and pick them up and hug them any chance you get.

Get One Step Closer to Sustainable Living
Do you find it disconcerting how far removed we all are from the animals and plants we need to survive? How our fast-paced lives and ever-increasing demands are trashing the planet that sustains us? Believe it or not, keeping a few chickens in your backyard equates to taking a stand against all this. Read more about sustainable living with chickens

A Healthy Lawn without the Chemicals
Chickens LOVE to range freely, and allowing them to do so kills the proverbial two birds with one stone: they'll eat any garden pest they can get their beaks on (earwigs, grubs, beetles, even moles) and they'll turn it all into treasure in the form of fertilizer. Say goodbye to toxic, costly pest control solutions and wasteful bags and bottles of store-bought fertilizer. Chickens will even cut down on the amount of mowing you do because they love to eat grass. That's right -- you sit in a lounge chair with your mint julep while they do the hard work for you.

One Man's Unappealing Leftovers are another Chicken's Feast
Chickens can eat almost anything people can, and they adore "people food" -- so you can throw those unwanted leftovers into the chicken run. No more feeling guilty about letting them rot in the fridge or throwing them out! Watch out for the garlic and onion, though, unless you want your eggs tasting funny.

A Balanced Compost Pile
Composting is a wonderful way to reduce your ecological footprint, and a nitrogen-rich compost pile is a healthy compost pile. What better to provide the nitrogen than chicken poo? Eggshells are a great addition, too, especially in areas where there's lots of clay in the soil. At the end of the composting process you'll have "black gold" soil, so called because it's so rich and fertile.

Handy Leaf, Weed, and Grass Clipping Removal
Leaves, weeds and grass clippings are a treat for Gallus gallus domesticus. They'll happily dig through whatever you give them, eat what they can, and pulverize the rest. Give a small flock a heap of yard and garden debris and a week later it'll be gone without a trace. No need to bag it and pile it by the curb!

Save a Chicken from a Factory-Farm Life
If you're aware of conditions in factory farms, even in some of the so-called "free range" farms, we needn't say more. If you're not, please research it. Factory farming is terrifyingly cruel. The good news is that by keeping a few pet chickens of your own, you're reducing the demand for store-bought eggs and sending a message to those factory farms that you don't want what they're selling.

The Very Definition of Low-Maintenance
Chickens don't need to be walked, brushed, or fed twice a day. Essentially all you have to do is gather eggs daily, fill their food and water containers a couple of times a week and change their bedding once a month! (For more on chicken care, take a peek at our free chicken care guide.)

Be the Coolest Kid on the Block
Despite their many merits, backyard chickens are still relatively uncommon. Wow neighbors, friends and family by being the first person they know to have chickens. Amaze them with the green eggs from your Ameraucana hens. Confound them by scooping up your pet chicken and cuddling it. Astound them when your chicken falls asleep in your arms after you've lovingly stroked its comb and wattles. Make them green with envy at the lawn your flock has made effortlessly fabulous.

Chickens are, after all, the most "chic" pet you could possibly have. And we think it's time everyone knew.

Bryan Schutmaat's Photography

A few weeks ago, Dave and I had the distinct honor of being photographed by pal Bryan Schutmaat.  Currently residing in Houston, TX, he's definitely an up-and-comer in the photography world and recently has work being displayed in Venice, Italy.  A trip to his website or Flickr is sure to bring many moments of clicking and viewing pleasure.

Below are a few of my other favorites of his.  Enjoy!

(we will have a copy of this one in our home soon!)

ADDICTED

FRANKMUSIK

Go here, listen to "Done Done" then watch the video for the song "In Step."

You can thank me later.