Spring weddings! YEA! YEA! YEA!

in , , ,

I am one of those people who would get married once a year if allowed (same husband).  Lucky for me I avoid the cost of this by planning and designing other people's weddings!  I do love my job. Here are some inspiration that everyone can appreciate!

[caption id="attachment_778" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="

"][/caption]

styled by Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

Published 12.14.2011

From D Weddings Spring-Summer 2012

Honestly, the best bouquet is homegrown by your Mom, and then wrapped lovingly in a big gaudy bow by your very southern Bannie.  Take that fancy pants..

honoring Santiago Calatrava

in , ,

This weekend I designed and managed the following. Super fun, but exhausting.. Here are some photos by my extremely talented friend Tamytha Cameron [caption id="attachment_754" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="The Garden Gate (Dallas)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_755" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="The Garden Gate (Dallas)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_762" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Photograph by Jake Dean"][/caption]

chicken poo..

in , , ,

Everyone knows that keeping a clean coop is 100% must for the safety of your flock and family.  That being said, why not plant some fragrant plants to help with any odors from the coop.  Here are some suggestions! [caption id="attachment_727" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="lilac-white"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_724" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Cotton Lavender"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_725" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Fuchsia"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_726" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="Sweet William Dianthus"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_728" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Spanish Lavender"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Grape Hyacinth"][/caption]

Click here to find what "zone" you are in.  You will need to know so you can pick the best plants for your area.  Rosemary in containers is my favorite for my yard.  Especially since it is drought resistant.

all hail Design Seeds®

in , ,

One of my simple life pleasures is Design Seeds®.  Beautiful, inspiring, and so useful!  Professionally as an event designer, and at home as a color lover! (Lemon lick floor tiles, you betcha) Here are some of Jessica's swoon worthy selections.

[caption id="attachment_703" align="aligncenter" width="403" caption="Design Seeds®"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_710" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Design Seeds®"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_705" align="aligncenter" width="439" caption="Design Seeds®"][/caption]

and of course, some chicken inspiration too!

[caption id="attachment_708" align="aligncenter" width="463" caption="Design Seeds®"][/caption]

I could do this all day!  Enjoy her site, tis a-mazing.

Plants and their acoustic benefits

in ,

Chickens like to chat and report on current events.  Like HEY HEY HEY I am laying in egg in here!  Or the day-to-day soft bok bok bok bok, which is a happy foraging noise. Or Penny (my alarmist) Everybody its getting dark..no seriously..we should go in.. i am not kidding, I want to go in.  Which can be a little shrill and loud.  However, it is nothing compared to the neighborhood dogs.  (Or the bass mariachi coming from the alley) anyhoo... Here are some plants that will muffle chicken noise from your neighbors, and vice a versa.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Bamboo "][/caption]

Bamboo is a great plant for privacy and noise reduction!  Or horsetail reed.

[caption id="attachment_686" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="horse tail reed"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_681" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Feather Grass"][/caption]

Any tall rustling grass will buffer noise.

[caption id="attachment_682" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="ok, this is just regular grass..but look how cute!"][/caption]

Also, plants and trees with seed pods will create a natural wind chime effect.

Hopefully this will help when you are designing a perfect chicken backyard.

chicken run Vs. the ramblers

in ,

We are going to be embarking on a little chicken run project.  We usually let the ladies out during the day, and they wander around our back yard.  However, recently I have been coming home and finding them in the front yard.  I am pretty sure that the people across the street (selling their 300K condo) are none to pleased.  So I have been looking around for ideas.  Here is what I have found!

I think this last one is the best one for our backyard,  a little wider though.  I am looking forward to getting "the ramblers" more fenced in space.  Plus an ivy covered barrel vault will keep them cooler in the summer.  I would 100% recommend this, as free range all the time is just not realistic..even though I have been doing it for a year.

Once we get started I will post more pics.

Thinking about a garden.. Free-Range chicken garden!

in , ,

My girls are pretty hard on anything green, and now my backyard looks like the moon.  We had to fence off the bamboo plants, and they have eaten everything else.. So I have to start over! I am hoping to get this book for Valentines Day: Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard: By Jessi Bloom, Photographs by Kate Baldwin  

[caption id="attachment_649" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="This is the cutest book ever!!"][/caption]

Here are some "chicken proof plants" from inside the book!

Rose of Sharon * Most shrubs and bushes * Blackcurrants * Rosemary * Lavender * Hardy Geraniums * Hardy Fuschias * Foxgloves * Primroses * Pelargoniums * Oriental Grasses * Clematis * Roses * Honeysuckle * Perennial Sweetpeas * Wormwood * Petunias *Andromeda (Pieris species) *Azalea * Barberry * California lilac * Cotton lavender * Euonymus  *Evergreen ferns (Polystichum species) *Fatsia * Forsythia (Forsythia × intermedia) * Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) Will see about that * Hebes * Lilac (Syringa species) * Mahonia (Mahonia species) * Mexican orange (Choisya ternata) * Osmanthus (Osmanthus species) * Pittosporum * Salal (Gaultheria shallon) * Spiraea * Spurge (Euphorbia species) * Viburnum * Weigela *Bee balm, bergamot (Monardaspecies) * Black-eyed Susan (Rudbekiaspecies) * Bluebeard (Caryopteris species) * Calla lily (Zantedeschia species) * Cape fuchsia (Phygelius capensis) * Catmint, catnip (Nepeta species) * Colum bine (Aquilegia species) * Coneflower * Crocosmia * Daylily (Hemerocallis species) * Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) & Grape hyacinth (Muscari species) * Hardy fuchsias (Fuchsia species) * Hardy geranium (Geranium species) * Iris (Iris species) * Japanese anemone (Anemone japonica) * Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) * Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) * Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus species) * Mission bells (Fritillaria species) * Peony (Paeonia species) * Peppermint (Mentha ×piperita) * Russian sage (Perovskia species) * Sedum (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’) * Shasta daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) * * Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Keep Chickens out of anything you plan on eating.  You could get really sick from the droppings.  Here are some chicken resistant herbs/veggies:

Garlic * Onions * Leeks * Potatoes *Squashes * Legumes, Chives * basil * mint oregano * thyme * Tarragon * Sage * Rhubarb (slightly toxic) * Parsley * Cougettes * Climbing beans once established * Current Bushes (without fruit) * Asparagus (once in leaf) * Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Ground covers:

Bishop’s hat * Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) * Christmas rose (Helleborus species)* Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster species) * Deadnettle (Lamium species) * Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) * Geum (Geum species) * Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) 8 Juniper (Juniperus species) *Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) * Leadwort (Plumbago auriculata) * Lilyturf (Liriope species) * Marjoram (Origanum majorana) * Oregano (Origanum vulgare) * Phlox (Phlox species) * Sedge (Carex species) * Sedum (Sedum species) * St Johns wort (Hypericum perforatum) * Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Click here to buy this book for me...I mean you.

Chicken Concierge

in , , , ,

Spring break is right around the corner, and as your finalizing your plans... don’t leave the chickens to the last minute!  Your chickens deserve the best concierge.  Please email me for prices.  Prices depend on where you are located.  I will happily provide the following.

  • AM visit: Let the birds out of the coop, feed, and water, collect eggs.
  • PM visit: Close the birds up in the coop, feed, and water, collect eggs.
  • Extended Service: Watch the birds for an hour while they free range in the yard. (depends on day)
  • Coop maintenance bedding change, mulch flip, straw fluffing
  • Emergency vet visit: Take any birds that appear sick to the vet.

PS. Have a kitty or a dog?  Not a problem!  For an additional fee per pet, I will make sure your furry family is in as excellence shape as your feathered one. 

Cuppow!!

in

I first saw the Cuppow on one of my favorite blogs Food in Jars.  So I quickly scooted over to the Cuppow website.  This solves a LOT of problems my husband has every morning.  It's also sustainable with no BPA. We always drink coffee and tea out of jars. The video cracks me up!  Who knew our KY hillbilly ways were so chic.  Please take the time to check out both these sites.  They are a must have for the simple life!

Also think about ordering an eco-friendly cozies to companion your Cuppow!  Here from goodkarma

[caption id="attachment_586" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="So cute!!!!"][/caption]

Support the DFW Truck Farm rolling into local schools!

in , ,

Join Garden Inspirations on Sunday April 22, 2012 at Earth Day Dallas for the DFW Truck Farm 5k Fun Run!

You will pass by  the Truck Farm as you run through the course and cheering farmers along the way will provide you with delicious water to clear your parched throats.

After you complete the run, you'll be given a picnic blanket and a grassy area to participant in the World's Largest Picnic and enjoy a celebration show!

Once you register you will receive updates as we add them to the event and a ticket to the pre-screening of Truck Farm, a documentary on the fleet of US Truck Farms. 

Your support will help the DFW Truck Farm rolling into schools in the upcoming year - teaching the community about local foods and gardening in small spaces!

Register by clicking HERE

Fees:  $25.00 January 23th - March 25th

$35.00  March 26th - April 21st

$40.00 Race Day

Flock Block

in , ,

We picked up a flock block today at tractor supply!  Thus far, the girls seem to really like it!  I recommend this for:

  1. Boredom, keep chickens busy! (aka less likely to become cannibals)
  2. Helps keep beaks short
  3. Contains oyster grit
  4. Encourages natural pecking
  5. Its 25 pounds of yuummmy!

You could also make your own at home!  I found this recipe here.

Ingredients: almond meal - a little hazelnut meal wheat - 2 cups pistachios - a handful soup mix - 2 cups nibble mix - one bag (pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds and such such) poppyseeds - about a cup raisins - two boxes chopped dates - big bag some other smashed nuts udon noodles - four packs flour - 2 cups oatmeal - 1 cup polenta meal - 2 cups dark corn syrup - 1/2 cup or molasses eggs - 6 coconut oil - 1/2 cup (melted)

I pressed these hard into trays that were very well greased with more coconut oil. The mix was lovely and firm, easily holding shape when pressed into a ball. Into the oven for at 160 degrees for 90 minutes for the muffins, then I turned it down to around 130 and baked the larger blocks for a further hour or so. They came out only very slightly pressable/springy, then dried nicely hard.

They take about a half day to a day to eat a muffin sized block, so I'm really happy with them.

Here they are in the oven:

Vintage Shasta Chicken Coop

in ,

Here is the cute chicken coop of the week.  It has been built to look like a vintage Shasta!  This is a strange phenomenon I keep encountering.  Tiny travel trailer enthusiast (him) and chicken keepers (her) often marry! Here is the link to see how it was built by member; FlyingHam of the Vintage Shasta forum.  He is obviously a saint and has one lucky wife.  LOVE the details.

Have a fun weekend!

Very yummy soup!

in ,

This is a great cabbage soup!  It is tangy and de-lish.  Trust me, you will not be disappointed. 3 tablespoons of butter 1 medium onion (diced) 1 medium parsnip (diced) 2 medium carrots (diced) 2 ½ cups of cabbage (slice the cabbage into thin ribbons) 1 quart jar of canned diced tomatoes with juice 1 quart of pasture raised organic chicken stock 2 tables spoons of Apple cider vinegar 2 table spoons of Honey 1 ½ cups of sauerkraut (drained well) ¼ cup dark raisins ¼ cup yellow raisins 10 prunes (diced) 1 bay leaf 3 cloves of garlic

Place your Dutch oven on the stove. Put 3 tablespoons of butter in and add the onion.  Then add the parsnips, carrots and cabbage. Let that all soften for 10 minutes.  Stir it around and let all the butter soak in. Then pour in the canned tomatoes and chicken stock. Then pour in the Sauerkraut, raisins and prunes. Add bay leaf and garlic. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 45 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with a dollop of sour cream on top.  To make it a little more hardy boils some small red potatoes and pour the soup over them.

For a Meat option, buy pre cooked Kielbasa.  Heat, slice, and place in the bottom of the bowl.. ladle some soup over the top.

a meeting of the minds

in , , ,

Yesterday I went to a networking meeting my Garden Inspirations buddies organized at Ann’s Health Food Center in Waxahachie TX. It was really great to meet other people in our area that have the same interests as me.  Some of their specialties included; food safety concerns, organic farming, natural ranchers, organic gardeners and just other people living creatively.  This group of people is so important to DFW and surrounding area.

I am looking forward to getting in touch with those I met!  Hopefully I will get to conducting some traveling workshops. :)

[caption id="attachment_504" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="if this is your photo please contact me so I can give you credit for being so awesome."][/caption]

12 Must Haves for a coop

in , , , ,
  1. Provides space for all the hens (depends on the breed)
  2. Has ventilation
  3. No drafts
  4. Maintains a comfortable temperature
  5. Protection from the elements
  6. Keeps out rodents, wild birds and predators.
  7. Has plenty of light during the day (not directly across from the nest box)
  8. Plenty of roosting space. (depends on the size of hens you have)
  9. clean nest boxes with lots of fluffy nesting material.
  10. Super cleaning feed and water stations
  11. Easy for you to clean (figure this into your coop design)
  12. Has good drainage in the run (use mulch with no dye like Cypress Mulch)

When it comes to chicken keeping, cleanliness is the most important thing you can do for your flock and family.  A soiled coop is the fastest way to harm your chickens, alienate your neighbors and give the rest of us a bad name.  NO messy coops people!

How to wrap your chicken coop for the winter

in , ,

There is no need to re-write the book on this.  The Garden Coop people have it all figured out.  Here is a great tutorial about how to keep your chickens out of cold rain and snow.

[slideshow]

Tips on wrapping your coop with plastic sheeting

  • Use plastic sheeting that’s durable enough to hold up in the wind. Thickness is measured in mils. I used a roll of 4-mil polyethylene film, which you should be able to get at any hardware store. For comparison, a heavy-duty garbage bag is around 2-mil thick.
  • Roll out your plastic sheet to the length you need and cut it to size. You decide how much your chicken coop or run that you want to enclose based on your local weather, angle of the sun, etc. I’ve found that on our Garden Coop, covering the back, right, and at least part of the front side works well to keep out driving rain and up-splash from the drip line in the back. I bring the plastic up about 2/3 of the way, since the roof overhang does a good job of shielding the top third or so. I might cover more, including the area under the henhouse, if conditions become particularly harsh.
  • Cut a couple of one-by-twos to the width of each section of the chicken coop that you want to cover, one to attach the film at the top and one at the bottom. If you want to secure any side edges, cut one-by-twos for those too.
  • Roll the edge of your plastic sheet around the upper one-by-two a couple times, then attach with a screw on either end (1 1/4″ should do), driving through the plastic and the one-by-two into the studs on the coop. At the bottom, you can do the same thing, or just sandwich the plastic sheet between the one-by-two and the sole plate.
  • You’ll see in the pictures below that my plastic sheet was wide enough to simply fold in half and still cover the height I needed, so instead of rolling at the edge, I just tucked the one-by-two into the fold to mount it at the upper end.